Call Us Now
202-463-3030
Schedule a Free Consultation
Questions arise from every car accident, from who’s at fault to how long you have to file a claim. Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning Washington, DC car accident lawyers at have spent decades answering those questions through action, standing up for victims and families whose lives were changed in an instant.
Our board-certified attorneys bring nearly 200 years of combined experience, and merge legal insight with powerful resources to deliver results. We front all costs and retain top accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, and financial analysts to calculate the full scope of damages. This strategy has secured multimillion-dollar outcomes, including $15 million, $14 million, $10.6 million, and $10 million settlements for crash victims. With over 100 5 star Google reviews and all six partners listed among the nation’s leading plaintiff consumer lawyers, our reputation reflects excellence and care.
Have you been involved in a car accident in Washington, D.C.? We understand the disruption and uncertainty that follow. Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back personally. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
Complete this form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible
Let’s start with the biggest question: when do I need to file a personal injury claim and do I need a car accident lawyer to do it? It’s a valid question and we have the answer. First, let’s take a few examples of when you do not need to file a claim or hire an attorney:
If any of the above resembles your case, then you may not have to go through with the claims process. However, many car accidents are more complicated than that and require more attention. In 2024, WTOP traffic reporters recorded well over 17,000 roadway incidents across the District, a figure that likely underrepresents the true number of collisions citywide.
A few examples of when you should file a claim and hire a lawyer are:
If you or your loved one suffered serious injuries from a car accident, then you should hire a car accident lawyer immediately. Medical bills pile up quickly and are extremely expensive. At Regan Zambri Long we firmly believe our clients should not pay for someone else’s negligence.
Call today for a free consultation with a Washington, DC lawyer who will help you recover compensation for the injuries and property damage sustained in a car accident.
After deciding if your injuries and the property damage from your car accident are worth filing a claim against, the next step is to determine who you will file the claim against. To determine whose fault the car accident was, you will want to keep this one word in mind: negligence. Negligence is simply the failure to take proper care in doing something.
When drivers are traveling, it is their responsibility to make sure they take every measure possible to keep other drivers as safe as possible. This means they shouldn’t be texting and driving, drinking and driving, driving while they are drowsy, or distracted by anything.
Their focus should be the road. If they fail to take proper care while they are driving and cause an accident, then their negligence was the cause of that accident and they should pay compensation for the harm they caused. Determining the negligent party can be tricky in a Washington, DC car accident. Multiple parties can be held liable:
If there are any questions about who is liable for the car accident you were involved in, speak to a Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney. We will gather evidence from the scene of the accident, speak to witnesses, and consult with experts to determine which party or parties should be held liable for the crash.
Different states have different restrictions on when car accident victims can file a claim against the negligent driver. In Washington, DC, the car accident victim has three years from the date of the injury to file a claim.
Three years may seem like a long time, but you have to be careful: if you do not submit a personal injury claim for your car accident within the three-year window, you may forfeit your rights to compensation. Reach out to a Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney as soon as possible to get your claim started. Your attorney will make sure your claim is filed correctly and on time.
If injuries from the car accident do not present themselves right away, you may be able to extend the statute of limitations to the date of discovery of the injury rather than the date of the injury itself. This is one of the many instances where a car accident attorney will be extremely beneficial to your case.
The Regan Zambri Long car accident attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience in settlement negotiations and trials. Reach out today for a free consultation with a car accident attorney who can give you sound legal advice on your claim.
You can file a personal injury claim immediately after a car accident. The most important thing to do after a car accident is to make sure you and your loved ones receive the medical attention you need. Your health is always the priority. Once your injuries have been looked at by a physician, the next step is filing a personal injury claim.
An important tip from the attorneys at Regan Zambri Long: do not speak with an insurance company until you have a lawyer. Insurance companies are known to speak to accident victims at their most vulnerable times – when they are in physical pain and still in shock from the accident. They use your state of mind to get you to accept a lowball settlement. You are under no obligation to speak with the other driver’s insurance company or your own insurance company until you are ready.
Be sure to speak with a Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney before you speak with anyone from the insurance company.
Yes, Washington, DC is a no-fault system. This means that filing a car accident claim against the other driver’s insurance company can be difficult. The first step in the claim process would be to file with your own insurance company. If your insurance policy does not cover the medical expenses, then you will file a third-party claim against the other driver.
To file a claim against the other driver, the injuries and damages you sustained must meet these two thresholds:
During your free consultation with a Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney, you will have a chance to discuss if your case would be an exception to the no-fault insurance system in Washington, DC Your attorney will be able to give you a reasonable assessment of your case and if you should expect a higher settlement for your injuries.
Unfortunately, Washington, DC is one of the top 10 jurisdictions in the United States with the highest percentage of uninsured motorists. In 2023, a whopping 23.1% of drivers in Washington, DC were driving without an insurance policy. By 2024, that percentage had increased to 25.2%, which is the highest in the nation. Do not worry about this fact though – even if a motorist is uninsured, they still have to cover the costs of medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Having to deal with a driver who doesn’t have a car insurance policy is one of the many situations where car accident lawyers are beneficial. At Regan Zambri Long, we can use our knowledge of the Washington, DC legal system and various insurance policies to make sure you walk away with the highest compensation possible.
In most car accidents, determining fault can be tricky. For example, if one driver ran a stop sign and T-boned another driver, then you would think the fault would lie only with the driver who ran the stop sign. However, what happens if the driver who was T-boned was speeding? Now the case gets more complicated.
You have one driver breaking the law by running a stop sign, which could have been the cause of the accident. But you also have another driver breaking the law by speeding, which could have contributed to the accident, as well.
Washington, DC practices a law called contributory negligence. Contributory negligence states that if you bear any responsibility for the accident, then you may not be able to collect any compensation.
Comparative negligence is practiced throughout the rest of the United States. Comparative negligence allows both parties involved in the accident to recover compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident.
Most defense lawyers in Washington, DC will use contributory negligence right away to get their clients out of paying what they owe. Fortunately, the seasoned car accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long know every trick in the book. They will go into negotiations with evidence to prove the other driver was totally at fault for the accident to secure the maximum amount of compensation possible.
Initially, insurance company adjusters determine fault in car accidents. This is why you should never speak to an adjuster before you have obtained legal counsel. However, if you do not agree with the adjuster’s assessment, your attorney will build a case to challenge the decision.
Your attorney will use the following information to help build a case against the negligent party:
At Regan Zambri Long, our lawyers spare no expense in conducting their investigation of the accident. Our firm has the financial backing to hire expert witnesses, medical consultants, and other legal experts. We will work tirelessly to protect your rights.
Rear-end collisions are all too common in the District and across the United States. According to the National Safety Council, 17% of all reported car accidents nationwide involved rear-end collisions in 2023, making them the third most common type of crash involving other vehicles. Usually, in a rear-end collision, the driver in the back vehicle is at fault for the crash. However, there are circumstances where the front vehicle could be held responsible.
The rear vehicle would be considered at fault in the crash if he or she were:
The front vehicle may be liable for the crash if he or she:
A rear-end collision can result in catastrophic injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. If you were involved in a rear-end collision, contact a Regan Zambri Long car accident attorney as soon as possible.
There are a few steps to try to remember at the accident scene immediately following a car crash. These steps can help keep the passengers in all vehicles as safe as possible following the accident:
While there are many “DOs” following car accidents, there are just as many “DON’Ts.” Below are a few things you should avoid doing following an accident:
The report will be generated by the responding officer at the accident. The officer will issue a six-digit identifying number to your accident (referred to as the CCN). Take note of this number – you will need it to get the accident report.
There are two ways to get the accident report. The first is to make an appointment with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department. They do not take walk-ins. You must schedule your appointment ahead of time.
If you are outside the Washington, DC area, you can request the accident report by mail. It’s important to note that this type of request will take up to six weeks to process. If you need the accident report sooner, an in-person appointment is a more efficient way to obtain it.
Tragically, many car accidents still claim the lives of the drivers involved. If your loved one was killed in a car accident, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Each state has different laws regarding wrongful death, but in Washington, DC, the executor of the deceased person will file the claim on the surviving spouse or domestic partner’s behalf. Other beneficiaries of a wrongful death lawsuit can be the deceased person’s children, parents, siblings, or other relatives.
The victim’s family may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, burial costs, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering. Speak to a Regan Zambri Long wrongful death lawyer today to make sure you and your family receive the compensation you deserve.
In most cases, accidents are not clear-cut. If your case is complex or complicated, it’s better to have an expert legal advocate on your side. There is no law in Washington, DC stating that you need an attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit, but your chances of recovering the maximum amount of damages greatly increase if you have a lawyer on your side.
At Regan Zambri Long, our lawyers are deeply familiar with the legal system in Washington, DC We know how to use all the facts about your accident to build a winning case. Our firm also has the financial backing to take your case to court, if necessary. Smaller firms in the DC Metro Area will refer their clients to Regan Zambri Long if they cannot afford to continue with the case.
The Regan Zambri Long attorneys understand what their clients are going through. They are dealing with physical pain, emotional trauma, exhaustion, and grief. We know that you never asked to be our client. That’s why we will work around the clock to make sure your claim is settled as quickly as possible. Pick up the phone today and call for your no-obligation consultation with one of our compassionate attorneys.
Choosing the right attorney after a serious crash can make all the difference. At Regan Zambri Long, clients gain an expert team of trial-tested advocates who combine compassion with the skill to stand up to powerful insurers and defense firms.
Over the last 30 years, our firm has secured over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for personal injury victims, including:
Our attorneys are recognized leaders in personal injury law, and are consistently honored for excellence in advocacy and results. Every lawyer at the firm appears Best Lawyers’ list of top personal injury lawyers in Washington, DC, and partners Patrick Regan, Salvatore Zambri, and Paul Cornoni have each been named Lawyer of the Year.
Salvatore Zambri has been listed among the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, while Paul Cornoni and Patrick Regan have been named to the Top 100, a distinction earned by only a tiny fraction of the city’s 80,000 lawyers.
Outside the courtroom, our partners are equally distinguished. Our three named partners are AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and are board certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our partners have also been invited to join some of the most elite legal organizations in the nation, such as the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
If you were injured in a car accident, contact Regan Zambri Long today. Our attorneys will review your case personally and fight to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
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.