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Winter driving in Washington, DC, is beautiful in many respects. It is only a few times a year do we experience the nation’s capital covered in show. However, for as beautiful as it is, it is equally dangerous. Snow and ice do not just make traffic difficult, they expose every impatient driver this city has to offer, and multiplies the risk of being on the road. When a snowstorm hits the District, crashes spike along major corridors like I-395, New York Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and the Beltway ramps feeding into the city. And because our city is not as well-equipped as other cities with machinery to clear out the snow, we are in ways dependent on the weather warming to clear out the snow. But the consequences extend well beyond traffic. If you are injured, call a DC snow car accident lawyer at Gelb & Gelb immediately.
Drivers often assume that snow and ice excuse careless behavior. However, that is not what the caselaw says in DC. We receive many calls each winter from injury victims looking to sue the District for a car crash. While possible for slip and falls, it is rarely if ever possible for a motor vehicle crash. This is due in large part to the doctrine of contributory negligence. This is a defense available to defendants in DC that bars recovery for a plaintiff if a jury deems a plaintiff to be even .1% responsible for causing the accident. With that said, every winter, Gelb & Gelb is successful in resolving dozens of snow car accidents. Call our office today for a free case consultation at (202) 331-7227.
Here, we cover the most common causes of snow car accidents. But despite the commonality of these causes when there is snow or ice on the ground, snow car accidents are still relatively rare in this region. This is due to the climate of DC itself. As DC snow accident lawyers, we are looking for acts of negligence that qualify as the legal cause of your injury as we do in any other personal injury case.
In most accidents, speed is a culprit. Drivers are accustomed to going a certain speed on a road they are very familiar with. If the speed limit is 35 miles per hour, you may be accustom to going 35 mph. However, a reasonably prudent driver likely drives far below 35 mph in icy conditions. Vehicles require significantly longer to stop on snow or ice, and drivers who do not slow down often cannot avoid rear-end collisions.
Additionally, there is an interesting phenomenon that occurs in DC. Drivers want to show that they are confident driving in snow and undeterred. Unfortunately, this leads to aggressive driving, following too closely to the car in front of them. However, snow and ice make sudden stops unpredictable and at times impossible. Tailgating leaves no margin for error, leading to an exponential increase in the number of rear-end collisions we see.
Moreover, while the snow is still coming down, visibility becomes an issue. This makes it more challenging to see traffic signals, pedestrians, and vehicles on the side of the road. Of course, an obvious cause of snow accidents in DC is the lack of proper treatment of the roads. However, that is rarely sufficient to sue the District, as we will discuss next.
Almost always, the answer is no. While Washington, DC, may be negligent in preparing for a snowstorm or treating snowfall in the aftermath, very rarely is that going to lead to a viable claim. But first, to pursue a claim against the district, certain rules and procedures apply that are not present in the typical car accident case. Before proceeding with your claim, a plaintiff must place the District on legal notice of the intention to make a claim. Under § 12-309 of the D.C. Official Code, you must place the DC government on notice of your claim within six months of the injury date.
As of January 2026, the letter should go to DC’s office of risk management at 441 4th St NW, Suite 800, South, Washington, DC 20001. Your letter should include at least the identity of the claimant, date and approximate time of the accident, location of the incident, cause of the injury, and the circumstances of how the injury occurred.
While the District still will likely not be liable whatsoever for an accident on a public road due to lack of clearing snow or ice, if you are going into a DC-owned building, you may be more likely to succeed for a slip-and-fall claim. Of course, keep in mind that we may sue the District if you are struck and injured by a DC government vehicle such as an Metropolitan Police Department vehicle or ambulance. Nonetheless, it is always best to reach out to a DC car accident lawyer to discuss your options. Our consultations are always free, and we are available to speak 24/7.
If you are in a solo car accident that occurs because there is snow or ice on the road, contributory negligence is almost certainly a factor. Even if the District does share liability for a car accident, odds are, you will not be successful due to the doctrine of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence bars recovery in DC if you are found to be even .1% responsible for causing the accident. While there are exceptions, they seldom apply in snow accident cases. When you are driving in snow or ice in Washington, DC, you must adjust your behavior. The law calls for it. The legal standard is that what a reasonably prudent driver would do in similar circumstances. The District of Columbia, as their defense, may argue that the injured person drove too fast for conditions or failed to anticipate icy roads.
If you are on the road or even outside, you should observe the weather conditions and act accordingly.
These cases tend to play out very similarly to standard motor vehicle accidents, with the exception that the standard is that a driver must act reasonably under winter conditions. While technically that is a different standard, it still often plays out in much the same way. For example, while a driver should leave mroe distance between him and the vehicle in front, it will only be a case worth pursuing if that legal breach is the proximate cause of an accident. In our experience, car accidents in snow can be far more chaotic. For example, an icy car accident in DC can involve multiple parties if the one car that is out of control fails to stop and collides with several parked vehicles. Unfortunately, this is a case we have handled countless times before, as it can be impossible for cars to stop on ice.
One additional party that may be liable for a car accident in snow or ice is if you are parking in a private parking lot that is untreated. Again, contributory negligence likely plays a role and is a bar to recovery in DC, but there may be instances where you can be successful. Accordingly, we recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer immediately for a free consultation. Every fact pattern is unique, and you cannot get accurate enough guidance online without speaking with an attorney as it relates to your exact case. Call Gelb & Gelb today to discuss with an experienced attorney at (202) 331-7227.
If you are hurt in a snow or ice-related accident in Washington, DC, act quickly. A DC snow car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free case evaluation at (202) 331-7227.
Copyright © 2026 Gelb & Gelb, P.C. All rights reserved.