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Regan Zambri Long’s specialist attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience in representing construction accident lawsuits. Since 1997, our Washington, DC, personal injury attorneys have won verdicts and settlements totaling over $1 billion and earning us more than 100 5 star Google reviews.
If you are the victim of a construction accident, there are limitations on how long a construction firm can be found liable for your injuries. Understanding which time limits apply to you can be complicated, as can understanding whether your deadlines are governed by the statute of limitations or the statute of repose. Our award-winning attorneys are ready to guide you through every step of the process, from filing your case to representing you in a court of law. With our partners Patrick Regan, Salvatore Zambri, and Victor Long all board certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy with the National Board of Trial Advocacy and holding prestigious AV ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, you can rest assured that you and your case are in truly capable hands.
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Whether you are the property owner who has discovered a defect in a construction project or a victim of an injury due to a defect, there are deadlines for filing you must be aware of if you plan to take legal action.
Construction defects have filing deadlines that differ under the statute of limitations and the statute of repose, which can make a significant difference in your filing limitations as, in one case, the date the injury occurs matters; in the other, it does not.
A statute of repose restricts the time frame a claim may be brought against a contractor or property owner for damages arising from defective work on a piece of property.
Statutes of repose in Washington, DC are stipulated by DC Code § 12–310, Actions arising out of death or injury caused by defective or unsafe improvements to real property.
Under the statute of repose, a triggering event unrelated to the plaintiff’s injury only needs to occur.
Instead, the clock on the statute of repose begins from the date of substantial completion of the construction project.
Typically, the statute of repose is much more favorable to defendants.
The statute of repose for construction accidents in the District of Columbia is 10 years from the date of substantial completion. These exceptions can impact the filing deadline as the statute of repose often has hard deadlines compared to the statute of limitations. A construction worker injury lawyer can guide you through certain circumstances to ensure you are not barred from recovery.
The statute of limitations is when an injured party may take legal action to claim damages after suffering losses due to neglect. If you suffer injury and fail to move forward with legal recourse within the statute of limitations deadline, you give up your right to pursue compensation. In Washington, DC, statutes of limitation are outlined under the DC Code § 12–301, Limitation of time for bringing actions.
The statute of limitations for construction accidents following an injury in Washington, DC, is three years. If you have questions surrounding the statute of limitations for your lawsuit or are concerned because your injury was not immediately discovered, Regan Zambri Long can assist you in your claim.
When we think of the statute of limitations, we know there are often exceptions to the deadlines to file a suit. Some exceptions to the statute of limitations include:
The stature of repose sets concrete deadlines and is not subject to any limitations or exceptions.
The statute of repose is intended to protect construction firms from lawsuits years and years after a project has been completed. This ensures evidence is objective and directly related to the work completed instead of a property owner’s negligence.
If the statute of repose has lapsed, you cannot bring suit against the construction firm. But, if the accident has nothing to do with the construction firm’s work, you may still be able to bring forth a personal injury claim.
Your construction site accident attorney will guide you through the differences in filing criteria.
Regarding the statute of limitations on personal injury filings, we know a specific date makes the clock start running. However, when the statute of repose is involved, that deadline becomes stricter and can impact the period available to bring forth a lawsuit.
The laws surrounding your claims can be daunting if you were involved in an accident and suffered harm in a construction accident. But you don’t have to handle the process alone.
With over 30 years of experience in litigating personal injury cases in DC, our lawyers have the wealth of knowledge, expertise, and dedication needed to bring your case to justice. Our outstanding work has been acknowledged with some of the legal industry’s most respected awards, with our firm named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list and seven of our attorneys featured as Super Lawyers, with Salvatore Zambri named to the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, and Zambri, Paul Cornoni, and Patrick Regan all named to the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC as well.
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Our firm has also been listed on Best Law Firms for our exceptional performance and results, and seven of our experts have been honored as Best Lawyers, with Patrick Regan named Lawyer of the Year for Mass Tort Litigation in 2022 and 2024 and Medical Malpractice Law in 2020, Salvatore Zambri named Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation in 2020, and Paul Cornoni celebrated as the 2026 Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation. Patrick Regan and Salvatore Zambri are also members of the American Association of Justice and the International Society of Barristers, and Regan holds fellowship with the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
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Let us put our extensive expertise and skill to work to win your case. We have won more than $1 billion in life-changing settlements for our clients to date, and we are ready to do the same for you.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the construction site accident lawyers of Regan Zambri Long. We will review the time limits for your lawsuit and work quickly to file on your behalf.
The statute of repose describes the time period during which you may bring a claim against a property owner or a contractor for any damages or injuries you have suffered due to defective work on a property or construction site. The start time for this statute begins from the date of ‘substantial completion’ of a construction project.
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The statute of limitations stipulates the time frame you have to take legal action and claim damages after being injured due to neglect. If you fail to litigate before this period ends, you will give up your right to claim compensation.
Under the DC statute of repose, you are granted 10 years from the date of substantial completion of the construction project where you were injured to file your claim. This statute typically has hard deadlines, with very few exceptions applying to it.
The statute of limitations for filing your construction accident lawsuit in Washington, DC is three years from the date of your injury.
Yes, certain factors may affect the deadlines laid out by the DC statute of limitations. If a minor is injured in a construction accident, they will not be subject to the statute’s rules. The statute of limitations will also not apply in situations where attempts have been made to conceal evidence, or when you are delayed in discovering your injuries or damages. The law may also toll your statute of limitations should you be mentally handicapped by your accident, with the time period resuming once you have regained your cognitive capacity.
If the statute of repose deadline has ended, you cannot file a lawsuit against a construction firm or property developer. However, if your accident or injury was unrelated to these parties’ construction work, you may still be able to seek damages for your injury claim.
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Speak to our team at Regan Zambri Long to find out more about your eligibility for a settlement that compensates for your injuries, pain, suffering, and losses. We will evaluate your case fairly and comprehensively and fight tirelessly to secure you the settlement 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.