DC Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury

Are There Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations in the District of Columbia?

There are exceptions to the statute of limitations in the District of Columbia for some instances.

Sexual Abuse

If you were under 35 years old when the abuse occurred, you have until your 40th birthday to file a lawsuit for damages, or you have five years from when you realized the abuse happened.

If you were 35 years or older when the abuse happened, you have five years to file a lawsuit for damages.

Cases Against the District of Columbia Government and the United States Government

You must notify the DC government within six months of your injury. In the notice letter, you must detail when and where the incident happened, what happened and how it caused your injury or property damage, and the estimated costs of the damages.

For cases against the U.S. government, you must fill out Form 95 within two years of your injury or within two years of when the injury was discovered.

Intentional Harms

The statute of limitations for intentional harms, which include libel, slander, assault and battery, malicious prosecution, wounding, mayhem, false arrest, or false imprisonment, is one year.

Wrongful Death

There are two separate statutes of limitations regarding wrongful death suits in the District of Columbia. The first is for damages from the financial support the deceased person provided their family. That is a two-year deadline.

The other time limit is for the deceased person’s pain and suffering from the time of the injury to the time of death. The surviving family has three years from the date of the deceased’s death to bring about a lawsuit against the negligent parties.

Have Questions? Contact a Regan Zambri Long Personal Injury Lawyer Today

As you can see, the statute of limitations in Washington, DC, is not necessarily straightforward for every case. If you need to file a claim against someone who has harmed you, speak to an experienced Washington DC personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long today.

We will help you recover damages for personal injuries, personal property damage, and more. We offer a free consultation to new clients where you will sit down with a top DC attorney who will listen to your case and outline all your legal options. Our lawyers will get to work for you, filing your claim correctly and on time, ensuring the recovery of maximum compensation.