Pedestrian Hit by a Car in a D.C. Crosswalk

A pedestrian hit by a car in Washington, D.C., has certain rights against the other driver and the driver’s insurance company.

If you were hit by a car while walking in Washington, D.C., you may be entitled to compensation—and you don’t have to face the insurance company alone. Whether the crash happened in a marked crosswalk in Adams Morgan, near Union Station, or at an unmarked intersection in Northeast, D.C. law protects pedestrians in many situations.

Drivers are required to yield to people in crosswalks—even those without painted lines at intersections. And at traffic lights, pedestrians must follow the walk signal and avoid crossing mid-block or against the light.

Understanding these rules is the first step toward protecting your rights after a serious injury in the District.

We help a lot of people in Washington, D.C. who were seriously hurt while walking or biking. Many of these crashes happen because a driver wasn’t paying attention, didn’t yield, or ran a red light. One of the first questions in these cases is often: who was responsible?

Why Witnesses and Evidence Matter

If you’re badly injured and taken away in an ambulance, it can be hard to get witness names or details. But that information can be key to proving your case. Police should collect this at the scene—but unfortunately, they don’t always do it.

That’s why it helps to have a lawyer right away. We know how to investigate and track down important evidence—like surveillance footage from nearby stores or red light camera video that shows what really happened.

D.C. Law Changed to Protect People Like You

Nearly 10 years ago, D.C. changed the law to help pedestrians and cyclists get compensation if they’re hurt. Today, if you’re hit by a car in D.C., you can recover damages as long as you weren’t mostly at fault. That’s a big shift from how other injury cases work in D.C., where even a small mistake could keep you from getting anything.

We’ll Deal With the Insurance Company—You Focus on Healing

Drivers in D.C. often speed, ignore crosswalks, and run lights. If you’re recovering from surgery, therapy, or can’t work, the last thing you need is to fight with an insurance company. We’ll handle that part.

After one phone call, you’ll see how we take the stress off your plate so you can focus on getting better.

If you were hit by a car in D.C., click here for a same-day consultation. Reach us at 202-393-3320 or email info@dkllp.com —we’re here to help you recover your rights.