Dangerous road conditions like crumbling pavement, missing traffic signs, poor drainage, or large potholes can lead to serious car accidents and injuries in Washington, DC, especially on heavily traveled corridors such as Pennsylvania Avenue NW, New York Avenue NE, and K Street NW. If a roadway defect contributed to your crash, you may have legal options for pursuing compensation.
Washington, DC car accident lawyers understand how to hold the right parties accountable. For over 30 years, Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning team has taken on complex claims involving city, county, and federal road agencies and won life-changing results for victims.
Our board-certified attorneys have recovered multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, including $15 million, $14 million, and $10.6 million for clients injured in severe roadway and vehicle collisions. We’re not afraid to take on powerful defendants like government agencies that fail to maintain safe roadways. Backed by more than 100 5-star Google reviews, our firm covers upfront case costs, including expert witness and accident reconstruction expenses, and works with civil engineers, roadway design specialists, and other qualified experts to establish liability and pursue full compensation.
Have you been hurt because of unsafe road conditions in Washington, DC? Damaged or poorly maintained roadways can cause severe collisions, resulting in significant injuries, property damage, and disputes over liability under DC law. Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back personally. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
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When we think of road defects, we may be drawn to consider the faintly painted road lines, cracking potholes, and potential debris scattered about. While these can cause a bumpy or inconvenient ride, these road defects can cause more damage than expected. Issues with infrastructure are highly problematic and can cause car accidents in these highly-traveled areas throughout Washington, DC, including commuter routes near Capitol Hill, downtown DC, and major arterial roads connecting into Maryland and Virginia.
Common dangerous road conditions that may lead to car crashes include:
According to the 2025 roadway infrastructure report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 39% of major roads in the United States are in poor or mediocre condition, costing drivers an average of $1,400 per year in vehicle wear and lost time.
A recent AAA study found that pothole damage alone has cost U.S. drivers $15 billion in repairs over the past five years, with about 16 million motorists experiencing damage during that time. Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they’re concerned about potholes on their local roads.
These poor road conditions impact how commuters can get to and from locations, especially in highly congested, urban areas like Washington, DC, where car accidents cannot only be fatal to other drivers but to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating these dangerous roadways.
A recent national analysis ranked Washington, D.C., 8th in the country for pothole-related searches, highlighting how noticeably deteriorated road conditions continue to affect drivers in the capital region.
Issues with infrastructure are highly problematic and can cause car accidents in these highly-traveled areas. However, so too can secondary road conditions such as:
These road conditions are specifically dangerous to truck drivers and nearby passenger vehicles as the size and speed at which these large commercial trucks operate require larger spaces to slow down and stop the truck to avoid a collision.
If you are involved in a truck accident in DC, VA, or MD, know that you do have options, even if the accident is a result of poorly maintained roadways and not truck driver negligence.
If you are involved in a defective road car accident that results in property damage or injuries because of roadway defects, you may be able to sue.
It is imperative that immediately following the accident, you file a police report and make mention of the poor road conditions’ effect on driving. That way, the police officer can make note of it in the report, which will be valuable to you when it comes to filing a personal injury claim against the liable party. Our defective road accident lawyer will take you through all the steps and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Determining who is liable in a defective roadway accident in Washington, DC, depends on the specific facts of the crash, including who was responsible for designing, maintaining, or repairing the roadway. When a dangerous road condition contributes to a collision, the District of Columbia or another responsible government entity may be held liable.
However, if the road the accident occurred on is supposed to be maintained by government agencies (federal, state, county, or city), you can hold the government responsible for any hazards that occur. In general, the government agency can be held liable for dangerous road conditions if:
In Washington, DC, these types of roadway issues can arise in high-traffic corridors and heavily maintained routes such as Interstate 295, Pennsylvania Avenue NW, K Street NW, and major intersections near downtown and commuter routes. Common concerns may include potholes, uneven pavement, missing or damaged guardrails, poor drainage, and inadequate signage in construction or high-volume traffic areas.
Washington, DC, follows a strict contributory negligence rule. This means you may be barred from recovering compensation if you are found even partially at fault for the accident. In defective roadway cases, the District may argue that a driver should have noticed or avoided the hazard. Because these cases often involve disputes over visibility, warning signs, lighting, speed, and roadway conditions, prompt investigation and preservation of evidence is important.
While these cases can be difficult and time-consuming, a car accident attorney in Washington, DC, can help guide you through the claims process and applicable deadlines.
Claims against the District of Columbia are subject to strict notice requirements. Under D.C. Code § 12-309, the Mayor must be notified in writing within six months of the accident. The notice must include the time, place, cause, and nature of the injuries and damages.
This notice requirement is separate from the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Under D.C. Code § 12-301, most personal injury claims in Washington, DC, including defective roadway accident cases, must generally be filed within three years of the date of the accident. Failure to comply with either deadline may prevent recovery.
However, if the road the accident occurred on is supposed to be maintained by government agencies (federal, state, county, or city), you can hold the government responsible for any hazards that occur. In general, the government agency can be held liable for dangerous road conditions if:
While these types of accidents can be very time-consuming to handle, a car accident attorney in DC can guide you through the claims process and applicable filing deadlines.
If you are involved in a car accident involving a roadway condition or maintenance issue connected to the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), there are specific notice requirements that must be met to pursue a claim against the District of Columbia.
For any actions against the District of Columbia, the mayor must be notified of the accident in writing within 6 months pursuant to D.C. Code § 12-309. Details of the time, place, cause, and extent of injuries and damages must be documented.
This notice requirement is separate from the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Under D.C. Code § 12-301, most personal injury lawsuits in Washington, DC, including defective roadway accident claims, must generally be filed within 3 years of the accident date. Missing either deadline may jeopardize your right to recover compensation. A Washington, DC, truck accident or car accident lawyer can help ensure all notice and filing requirements are met.
If you or a loved one were injured or sustained property damage while operating a motorcycle or bicycle on a government-maintained roadway, you have a right to file a claim against the government entity responsible for your losses.
Because of the size comparison of bikes and motorcycles to standard-sized passenger vehicles and trucks, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic. A personal injury attorney in your state can help you or your loved ones through the claims process.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by poorly maintained roadways controlled by a government agency, know that there are options available for your recovery.
With nearly 200 years of combined experience, the Washington, DC personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long have the resources, experience, skills, and winning record to secure the compensation you and your family deserve to move forward from preventable events.
Our attorneys are recognized among the top legal minds in the nation. Paul Cornoni and Patrick Regan are listed on the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, while Salvatore Zambri ranks in the Top 10 Super Lawyers and has achieved one of the largest settlements ever obtained against the District of Columbia.
All six partners feature on Lawdragon’s 2025 list of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America list and are included on Best Lawyers’ list of the top personal injury attorneys in the District.
Beyond courtroom success, our firm has long been a driving force in the DC legal community. Members of our team have served as presidents and governors of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, and Emily Lagan now serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.
Each of our named partners holds AV-Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, which is a testament to our firm’s dedication to the highest standards of trial excellence and client advocacy.
We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for car accident victims in the Washington metropolitan area and can do the same for you.
Our results include:
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact Regan Zambri Long at 202-960-4596 or by connecting with us online. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay until we win. No upfront costs. Just legal representation you can depend on.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.