Washington, D.C. is the nation’s capital and a densely populated urban center with significant commercial truck traffic on I-95, I-495 (the Beltway), and the city’s major arterials. The city’s unique jurisdiction, governed by both federal and District law, makes truck accident litigation particularly complex. The following firms are highly rated for truck accident and personal injury representation in Washington, D.C.
1. Malloy Law Offices, LLC
About the Firm:
Malloy Law Offices is a trusted Washington, D.C. personal injury firm with a 4.9-star rating from over 277 clients. The firm handles a wide range of accident and injury cases including car accidents, slip-and-falls, and workers’ compensation. The firm’s case managers and attorneys, including Niaja Broadus, Anaek, and Nick, are praised for their professionalism, speed, and ability to negotiate extra settlement funds for clients beyond initial insurance offers.
Services:
- Truck and vehicle accident injury claims
- Car accident personal injury
- Slip and fall and premises liability
- Workers’ compensation
- Insurance claim and settlement negotiation
Address: 316 F Street NE, Suite 115, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 464-9955
Website: https://www.malloy-law.com/personal-injury/truck-accident/
2. Gelb & Gelb, P.C.
About the Firm:
Gelb & Gelb is a well-regarded Washington, D.C. personal injury firm with over 225 five-star reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Led by Roger Gelb, the firm is known for its exceptional responsiveness, client transparency, and highly efficient case resolution. Clients dealing with auto accidents, including complex liability situations, consistently praise Roger for his clarity, speed, and professionalism. The firm is trusted for both simple and complex personal injury claims in the DMV area.
Services:
- Truck and vehicle accident personal injury
- Car accident litigation
- Insurance dispute and negotiation
- Personal injury claim resolution
- Out-of-country accident complications
Address: 1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 408-4111
Website: https://gelbandgelb.com/washington-dc-truck-accident-lawyer/
3. Regan Zambri Long, Personal Injury Lawyers
About the Firm:
Regan Zambri Long is one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected personal injury and wrongful death law firms, with over 160 five-star reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Led by Salvatore Zambri and Pat and Chris Regan, the firm handles high-stakes, complex litigation, including international insurance disputes and wrongful death claims involving overseas families. The firm is known for its compassion, legal excellence, and willingness to fight even the most difficult cases to a successful conclusion.
Services:
- Truck and commercial vehicle accident claims
- Wrongful death litigation
- International insurance dispute resolution
- Catastrophic injury representation
- Personal injury and negligence cases
Address: 1919 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 463-3030
Website: https://rhllaw.com/truck-accident-lawyer/washington-dc-commercial-truck-accident-lawyer/
4. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, Personal Injury Lawyers
About the Firm:
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel is a highly regarded Washington, D.C. personal injury law firm with over 222 five-star reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Led by Allan Siegel, the firm is known for its integrity, wisdom, and exceptional client service over multi-year cases. The firm regularly handles accident and injury cases with a high degree of professionalism and legal skill, and clients, including those managing their cases from overseas, consistently praise the firm’s accessibility and thoroughness.
Services:
- Truck and commercial vehicle accident claims
- Car accident personal injury
- Wrongful death litigation
- Insurance dispute and settlement negotiation
- Complex and multi-year personal injury cases
Address: 1232 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 659-8600
Website: https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/truck-accidents/
5. Cohen & Cohen, Personal Injury Lawyers
About the Firm:
Cohen & Cohen is a highly active Washington, D.C. personal injury firm with over 510 five-star reviews and a 4.9-star rating. The firm handles motor vehicle accidents, including truck crashes, with a team-driven approach that consistently delivers results. Paralegal Ella and attorney Kim Brooks-Rodney are specifically highlighted for their thoroughness, compassionate communication, and ability to navigate even protracted insurance negotiations. The firm is a top choice for D.C.-area clients seeking dependable personal injury representation.
Services:
- Truck and vehicle accident injury claims
- Car accident personal injury
- Insurance claim and negotiation
- Wrongful death representation
- Progressive and complex insurance disputes
Address: 1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 955-4529
Website: https://cohenandcohen.net/truck-accident-lawyer-washington-dc/
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Washington, DC
Washington, DC has strict commercial vehicle restrictions, including limits on which streets trucks can use. Does operating on a restricted street affect liability when a truck accident happens near the National Mall or within the central city?
Absolutely. DC’s Commercial Vehicle Weight and Size regulations under DC Municipal Regulations Title 18 restrict certain truck classes from operating on designated local streets, and DDOT enforces designated truck routes that direct commercial vehicles away from residential and historic areas. A carrier routing a truck outside the designated network to save time or distance is violating DC law, and that violation creates an independent ground for negligence beyond whatever the driver did in the moment of the crash. DC’s proximity to federal buildings also means some restricted routes overlap with Secret Service and National Security perimeter requirements, which adds another regulatory layer in cases happening near government facilities.
Truck accidents in DC often involve vehicles operating under federal government contracts. Does the Federal Tort Claims Act apply, and what does that mean for a typical injury claim?
It depends entirely on whether the truck was performing a federal function. A private carrier delivering commercial freight on I-295 or the Southeast Freeway is not doing government work, and the FTCA does not apply. But a contractor operating a government-leased vehicle for an agency like the GSA, the military, or the US Postal Service is a different situation. FTCA claims require filing an administrative claim with the relevant agency within two years of the injury, waiting six months for a response, and then filing in federal district court. FTCA cases have no jury trial rights, remove punitive damages, and apply the law of the state where the incident occurred, which for DC means DC law. The caps and procedures under the FTCA are generally less favorable to plaintiffs than what DC Superior Court offers against private defendants.
What is DC’s statute of limitations for truck accident cases, and how does the city’s unique status as a non-state jurisdiction affect the procedural rules?
DC gives you three years from the date of injury under DC Code §12-301. For wrongful death claims, the window is also two years under DC Code §16-2702. DC’s non-state status means it has its own court system: DC Superior Court handles most personal injury cases, with DC Court of Appeals as the intermediate appellate court. There is no state supreme court. Claims against DC government vehicles or agencies go through the Office of Risk Management under DC Code §2-401, which requires written notice within six months of the incident. The procedural rules in DC Superior Court are distinct from neighboring Maryland and Virginia courts, which matters when the accident happened near the border and venue options might exist in multiple jurisdictions.
Washington DC imposes some of the most geographically specific commercial vehicle restrictions in the country, driven by a combination of historic district preservation requirements, weight limits on aging infrastructure, and federal security perimeter requirements near government buildings. Under DC Municipal Regulations Title 18, large commercial vehicles—generally those exceeding 10,000 pounds registered weight—are prohibited from using Theodore Roosevelt Bridge between DC and Virginia and from operating on I-66 east of I-495 in the District. DDOT has designated an official truck route network that channels commercial traffic away from residential streets and sensitive corridors, and a driver who deviates from the designated network onto a prohibited street faces a traffic violation that constitutes negligence per se in DC Superior Court if the violation contributed to an accident. The District’s aging K Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW infrastructure includes several stretches with posted weight limits below standard Interstate thresholds, and a carrier that permits a driver to exceed posted bridge or roadway weight limits in DC faces both civil liability for any resulting damage and potential DDOT enforcement action. For accidents involving DC government trucks or agency vehicles, the six-month notice requirement to the Office of Risk Management under DC Code §2-401 is a strict condition precedent that bars claims against the District if missed, regardless of the three-year personal injury limitations period.