Washington D.C. Car Accident Statistics [2024]

At the end of 2023, the Washington Post reported that the Nation’s Capitol had experienced the deadliest traffic year since 2007, with 47 fatal accidents within the city proper, resulting in 49 deaths. This was an alarming statistic coming nine years after Washington D.C. launched Vision Zero, an initiative to reduce and eventually stop traffic deaths in the city by lowering speed limits, installing traffic cameras in intersections, and restricting right turns on red lights in addition to other strategies. Department of Transportation officials have recently acknowledged that Vision Zero is not going to make the officials’ overly ambitious goal of reaching zero fatalities in 2024.

What Types of Traffic Accidents Cause Fatalities in Washington D.C.?

Police reports show that the highest number of fatal traffic accidents in 2023 occurred on the city’s east side within wards five, seven, and eight, with the exception of an unfortunate “hotspot” in Ward Two downtown. Reports from 2023, the most recently released data year, show the following numbers of traffic-related accident injuries and fatalities:

• 52 injury victims died in car accidents
• 19 pedestrians were killed and 96 more suffered injuries
• There were 6 motorcycle fatalities
• There were 2 scooter rider deaths
• 32 bicyclists suffered injuries in traffic accidents
• 150 drivers suffered serious injuries
• 61 passengers suffered serious injuries

The Washington Post reported 6,000 traffic-related injuries to residents and visitors to Washington D.C. in 2023.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Washington D.C.?

Washington police cite speeding and intoxicated driving as the two most common contributing factors to car accidents within the city. According to police reports the data breaks down as follows:

• Speeding causes about 40% of car accidents
• 20% of accidents result from drunk driving
• About 20% of car accidents in Washington D.C. result from driver error, including distracted driving

Other causes of car accidents include:

• Failure to yield the right of way
• Unsafe lane changes
• Tailgating
• Drowsy driving
• Improper merging

According to Washington’s urban planning agencies, road infrastructure problems also contribute to car accidents in Washington D.C. due to a lack of speeding prevention methods.

Alarming Accident Statistics in Washington D.C.

Overall, the District of Columbia experienced a startling and steadily rising number of car accidents in recent years. The following Washington D.C. crash statistics highlight the growing problem:

• In 2022, there were 22,000 car accidents in Washington D.C, 300 of which resulted in at least one death
• In 2021, the total number of collisions was slightly less than in 2022 with 18,107 car accidents, indicating a growing problem
• There were 3,974 car accident injuries reported in 2021 with 23 fatalities

Injuries in Washington D.C. car accidents range from mild, inconvenient injuries like sprains and torn ligaments or lacerations, abrasions, and bruises, to life-altering catastrophic brain injuries and spinal cord damage.

Types of Car Accidents in Washington D.C.

Detailed accident data collected in Washington D.C. in 2021 reveals the most common types of car accidents. Statistics show the following:

• The most common type of car accident in Washington D.C. are rear-end collisions or tailgating accidents at 33%
• Sideswipes are the second-most common type of car accident at 19%
• Angle collisions or T-bone accidents make up 16% of car accidents in the district
• Car vs. pedestrian accidents make up 13% of car accidents
• Collisions with fixed objects occurred in 11% of Washington D.C. car accidents

Other types of car accidents include the following:

• Head-on collisions
• Road-way departures
• Rollovers
• Car vs. commercial truck accidents
• Multi-car pileups

In 2021, there were 443,000 registered drivers in Washington D.C., reflecting a 2.5% increase between 2019 and 2020 alone. As of 2024, accident rates are the highest they’ve been in 16 years.

What Washington D.C. Roadways Have the Most Accidents?

Washington D.C. has several crash-prone roadways, with consistently high car accident numbers. Topping the list is a two-mile segment of I-395 which has seen 1,700 crashes in the last four years. This section of highway runs between Washington D.C’s 14th Street Bridge and the Southeast Freeway and averages five accidents per day. Two-thirds of the accidents in this two-mile section occurred to northbound travelers coming into the city.

The remaining roadways in the top five most dangerous roads in Washington D.C. include the following:

• Highway 295 between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benning Road: there were over 1,000 crashes in the section in 2021
• The section of I-495 in the Silver Spring area of D.C’s beltway between Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road: there were nearly 1,000 crashes in 2021
• I-495 running between I-270 and Connecticut Avenue: this section of roadway saw 954 accidents in 2021
• I-66 between Nutley Street and I-495: there were 862 car accidents in this area in 2021

Sadly, the latest reports show that traffic deaths in Washington D.C. increased an astonishing 60% between 2022 and 2023.

As part of the Vision Zero initiative, the city government lowered the speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour in 2022 in high-traffic areas such as Connecticut Avenue. This is in addition to the prior reduction of the city’s default speed limit on residential side streets to 20 miles per hour in 2020.

Traffic Laws and Liability in Washington D.C.

The District of Columbia follows contributory negligence insurance laws requiring car accident victims to prove another driver at fault for the accident to recover compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. If a driver contributed to the cause of the accident, the law prohibits them from recovering compensation. The exceptions to this civil liability law under § 50–2204.52., state the following as vulnerable road users who may still recover compensation after a traffic-related accident:

“A pedestrian or vulnerable user of a public highway or sidewalk involved in a collision with a motor vehicle or another vulnerable user; or a vulnerable user of a public highway or sidewalk involved in a collision with a pedestrian.”

What To Do After a Car Accident in DC 

Car accidents in Washington, D.C. can be overwhelming, but taking the right steps afterward helps safeguard your well-being and legal rights. Here’s what you should do:

• Ensure Safety and Seek Medical Help: Immediately check yourself and any passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and get medical attention right away. This is important to do even if you don’t feel that injured. 
• Notify Authorities and Report the Accident: Call the police to file an official report. This document provides an objective account of what happened, which can be important later on in any claims or legal processes.
• Document the Scene and Exchange Information: Take pictures of anything at the accident scene that seems important. This could include vehicle damage, any injuries you suffered, road signs, and the condition of the road.  Exchange contact and insurance information with other involved parties and collect names and contact details from any witnesses.
• Consult with a Lawyer: Reach out to a personal injury lawyer experienced in car accident cases in D.C. as soon as you can. Legal counsel can help you understand your rights and guide you through insurance negotiations or potential court proceedings.

Taking these steps can help protect your health and your rights after an accident.

Proving Liability in a Car Accident Claim 

Establishing fault in a car accident means proving that another party’s negligence led to the collision and your injuries. Here are some methods used to support a claim:

Documenting the Scene 

Gather photographs and videos of vehicle damage, road marks, and any visible hazards at the scene. Making notes of the layout and conditions can help provide a clear picture of what happened. This documentation serves as important evidence to show how the accident occurred.

Gathering Witness Testimony 

Obtaining statements from people who saw the accident helps support your version of events. Witnesses can describe the actions of the drivers and the conditions of the road during the crash. Their testimonies are valuable in strengthening your claim of negligence.

Reviewing the Police Report 

A police report outlines objective details of the accident, such as the sequence of events and any citations given. This report often includes statements from everyone involved and assessments from responding officers. It is a vital piece of evidence in demonstrating how liability was assigned at the time of the accident.

Obtaining Medical Records

Detailed records from hospitals and doctors capture every step of your treatment, offering evidence that ties your injuries directly to the accident. They include information such as admission dates, diagnostic tests, and prescribed therapies, which help illustrate the severity and progression of your injuries.

Looking at Surveillance or Dashcam Footage

Video recordings from security cameras or dashcams provide an unaltered visual record of the accident as it happened. This footage can clarify the sequence of events, verify witness accounts, and highlight the actions of all parties involved, supporting your version of what occurred.

Utilizing Expert Analysis 

Accident reconstruction experts can analyze physical evidence to determine factors like speed, angles, and how the impact occurred. Their reports can help illustrate the accident’s dynamics and support your claim of another party’s negligence. Expert analysis adds a professional perspective that can clarify complex details for the court.

By carefully gathering and presenting this evidence, you increase your ability to show that someone else’s lack of care resulted in your accident and injuries.

How Can a Washington D.C. Car Accident Attorney Help?

At Lightfoot Law, PLLC, we provide our clients with strong, individualized strategies and assertive legal representation. We seek the largest possible settlements for our injured clients in Washington D.C. and Maryland, defending their rights against insurance companies that prioritize profits over payouts. Call the Washington D.C. car accident lawyers with years of experience to achieve the results you deserve in your Washington D.C. car accident claim.