Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

U.S. Federal and State Cases, Codes, and Articles

Select a tab to search United States Cases, Codes, or Articles

Search for cases

Indicates required field

Search by keyword or citation

Indicates required field

Search blogs, article pages, and cases and codes

Indicates required field

District of Columbia Code Division V. Local Business Affairs § 31-2401. Findings; purpose.

Current as of January 01, 2020 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(a) Findings. -- The Council of the District of Columbia finds that:

(1) Motorists, motor vehicle passengers, and pedestrians in the District are not adequately protected, by current law and practice, from the consequences of motor vehicle accidents.

(2) If a person suffers personal injuries because of an accident involving a motor vehicle in the District, he or she is unlikely to recover the amount of his or her actual losses because:

(A) Approximately 50% of the victims do not satisfy the prerequisites to compensation under the present law;

(B) Approximately 40% of the operators in the District do not maintain any motor vehicle insurance or have other financial resources sufficient to pay losses;

(C) The average motor vehicle insurance policy in the District will pay only up to $10,000 for the personal injuries of any 1 victim, a sum that is insufficient to compensate adequately a victim with serious injuries; and

(D) Satisfaction of the prerequisites to compensation under the present law is time-consuming and expensive to policyholders because a victim must establish that the accident was the fault of another person; that the person injured was free from contributory fault; and that the injuries suffered were the natural and probable consequences of the accident.

(3) Far greater protection to victims of motor vehicle accidents is available at a lower price than that afforded for coverage currently available.

(4) The purchase of this better insurance protection should be compulsory because of the great potential of a motor vehicle to cause personal injury.

(b) Purpose. -- It is the purpose of this chapter to provide adequate protection for victims who are injured in the District or who are injured while riding in motor vehicles registered or operated in the District.

Back to chapter list
Previous part of code Next part of code
Back to chapter list

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - District of Columbia Code Division V. Local Business Affairs § 31-2401. Findings; purpose. - last updated January 01, 2020 | https://codes.findlaw.com/dc/division-v-local-business-affairs/dc-code-sect-31-2401.html

Read this complete District of Columbia Code Division V. Local Business Affairs § 31-2401. Findings; purpose. on Westlaw

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Response sent, thank you

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About the Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to find an attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

    More Options
    Copied to clipboard