{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-2402","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 31-2402","heading":"Definitions.","body":"As used in this chapter:\n\n(1)\nThe term “accident” means an untoward and unforeseen occurrence arising out of the maintenance or use of:\n(A)\nA motor vehicle;\n(B)\nA vehicle operated or designed for operation upon a highway by power other than muscular power with respect only to any pedestrian or any occupant of that vehicle other than the owner or operator of that vehicle; or\n(C)\nAny other vehicle covered by the insurance coverages required by § 31-2406.\n\n(2)\nRepealed.\n\n(3)\nThe term “beneficiary” means a person who is named in a policy of personal injury protection insurance as a person who is entitled to the benefits of personal injury protection insurance.\n\n(4)\nThe term “Department” means the Department of Motor Vehicles established pursuant to § 50-901.\n\n(5)\nThe term “Director” means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.\n\n(6)\nThe term “District” means the District of Columbia.\n\n(7)\nThe term “highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every publicly maintained way, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular or pedestrian travel.\n\n(8)\nThe term “individual” means a natural person.\n\n(9)\nThe term “injury” means bodily harm to an individual that is sustained in an accident, and any illness, disease, or death resulting from that bodily harm.\n\n(9A)\n“Insurance Identification Card” means a document issued by an insurer as proof of insurance for a motor vehicle that lists the name of the insurer, the policy number, the name of the insured, the period of coverage for the insurance, and the make, model, and vehicle identification number.\n\n(10)\nThe term “insured” means a named insured or any other person insured in an insurance policy, with the exception of those persons specifically excluded by endorsement on the insurance policy.\n\n(11)\nThe term “insurer” means any person, company, or professional association licensed in the District of Columbia that provides motor vehicle liability protection or any self-insurer.\n\n(12)\nThe term “license” includes a driver’s license; a temporary or learner’s permit; the privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not such person holds a valid license issued by the District government; the privilege conferred upon a nonresident by the laws of the District pertaining to the operation by a nonresident of a motor vehicle; or any other license issued under authority delegated to the Director.\n\n(13)\nThe term “loss” means economic detriment incurred as a result of an accident resulting in injury, consisting of and limited to medical and rehabilitation expenses, work loss inclusive of replacement services loss, and death benefits. The term “loss” does not include noneconomic loss.\n\n(14)\nThe term “maintenance or use” does not include conduct within the course of a business of repairing, servicing, or otherwise maintaining motor vehicles unless the conduct is off the business premises or unless it is conduct in the course of loading or unloading a motor vehicle.\n\n(15)\nThe term “Mayor” means the Mayor of the District of Columbia or the Mayor’s designee.\n\n(16)\nThe term “motorcycle” means a motor vehicle that has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and is designed to travel on no more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground. The term “motorcycle” does not include a 3-wheeled motor vehicle with a cab and windshield tractor, a motor-driven cycle, or a motorized bicycle unless operated at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour.\n\n(17)\nThe term \"motor vehicle\" means any device propelled by an internal- combustion engine, electricity, or steam. The term \"motor vehicle\" shall not include traction engines used exclusively for drawing vehicles in fields, road rollers, vehicles propelled only upon rails and tracks, personal mobility devices, as the term is defined in § 50-2201.02(13), electric mobility devices, as the term is defined in § 50-2201.02(6A), motorized bicycles, as the term is defined in § 50-2201.02(11A), or a battery-operated wheelchair when operated by a person with a disability.\n\n(18)\nThe term “named insured” means the person identified in the declaration of the insurance policy.\n\n(19)\nThe term “noneconomic loss” means pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical or mental impairment, and other nonpecuniary damage recoverable under the tort law applicable to injury arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle.\n\n(20)\nThe term “operator” means a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle or who is exercising control over or steering a motor vehicle being pushed or towed by a motor vehicle.\n\n(21)\nThe term “owner” means any person, corporation, firm, agency, association, organization, or federal, state, or local government agency or other authority or other entity having the property or title to a vehicle or bicycle used or operated in the District; any registrant of a vehicle used or operated in the District; or any person, corporation, firm, agency, association, organization, or federal, state, or local government agency or authority or other entity in the business of renting or leasing vehicles or bicycles to be used or operated in the District.\n\n(22)\nThe term “passenger vehicle” means any vehicle other than one registered as a commercial vehicle or for livery, rental, sightseeing, or taxi purposes.\n\n(23)\nThe term “person” means any natural person, firm, copartnership, association, government, government agency, or instrumentality.\n\n(24)\nThe term “personal injury protection” means the benefits provided pursuant to § 31-2404.\n\n(25)\nThe term “registration certificate” means a certificate or its duplicate issued by the Director to a registrant, containing any or all of the information that appeared on his or her application for registration, the number of the owner’s identification tags issued to the registrant for use on the vehicle described on the card and other information as the Director may determine, or a registration certificate or its duplicate, issued by the Director to a new car dealer, or used car dealer, containing any or all of the information that appeared on his or her application for dealer’s identification tags, the number of the dealer’s identification tags issued to the new car dealer or used car dealer for use as provided by 18 DCMR and any other information the Director may require.\n\n(26)\nThe term “self-insurer” means any person having received a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Mayor pursuant to § 50-1301.79.\n\n(27)\nThe term “stacking” means a legal procedure wherein the limits of liability applicable to a single motor vehicle liability policy of insurance are added to the limits of liability of all motor vehicles which may be insured by 1 motor vehicle liability policy of insurance involved in 1 accident.\n\n(28)\nThe term “state” means any state, territory, or possession of the United States or any possession or territory of Canada. The term “state” includes the District of Columbia.\n\n(29)\nThe term “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking or the Commissioner’s designee.\n\n(30)\nThe term “survivor” means an individual identified in the wrongful death statute of the District, as one entitled to receive benefits by reason of the death of a victim.\n\n(31)\nThe term “taxicab” means any public vehicle for hire having a seating capacity of less than 8 passengers, exclusive of the driver, except ambulances, funeral cars, vehicles used exclusively for sightseeing purposes, or vehicles for which the rate is fixed solely by the hour.\n\n(32)\nThe term “trailer” means a vehicle with or without motor power intended to be used for carrying property or persons and drawn or intended to be drawn by a motor vehicle, whether such vehicle without motor power carries the weight of the property or persons wholly on its own structure or whether a part of such weight rests upon or is carried by a motor vehicle.\n\n(32A)\nThe term “underinsured motor vehicle” means an insured motor vehicle where the limits on 3rd-party personal liability or property damage coverage under the insurance required by § 31-2406 are insufficient to pay the loss up to the limit of uninsured motor vehicle coverage as requested by the insured.\n\n(33)\nThe term “vehicle” means a motor vehicle; a trailer; or an appliance moved over a highway on wheels or traction tread including draft animals and beasts of burden.\n\n(34)\nThe terms “victim” and “motor vehicle accident victim” mean an individual who sustains injury as a result of an accident.","path":["Title 31. Insurance and Securities.","Chapter 24. Compulsory/No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-2402","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"6022a574747e89d408e21d6b1562301bec7894e5bb93a14e285c764015457758","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-2401","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-2403"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}