Key facts: District of Columbia
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. District of Columbia follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for District of Columbia
Three years for PI from the date of injury (or discovery), and two years for wrongful death from the date of death. The wrongful death deadline was extended from one year to two years in 2013. The discovery rule does not apply to wrongful death claims.
Related: District of Columbia comparative negligence rule
District of Columbia follows a contributory (pure bar) rule. D.C. retains pure contributory negligence by common law; any contributory negligence bars recovery. A limited statutory exception applies to bicycle and pedestrian claims under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, but the general rule is contributory.
Read the full District of Columbia comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed District of Columbia attorney before relying on it.