Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
A car crash in Pennsylvania sets off a race against the clock — with insurers, medical bills, and a two-year filing deadline all in motion at once.
What you should know
Pennsylvania is a 'choice no-fault' state. When you bought your policy you elected either limited tort or full tort (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705), and that single choice shapes whether you can recover for pain and suffering. Your own first-party medical benefits pay initial treatment regardless of fault, while a claim against the at-fault driver covers the rest of your losses.
What typically causes them
- Distracted driving
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Impaired driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Following too closely
- Poor weather and road conditions
Injuries we see
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Back and spinal injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
Steps to take after a car accidents
- 1
Call 911 and get medical attention even if you feel fine
- 2
Report the crash and get a police report
- 3
Photograph the scene, vehicles, and injuries
- 4
Exchange insurance information
- 5
Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement to the other insurer
- 6
Talk to an attorney before accepting any settlement
Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence (42 Pa.C.S. § 7102): you can recover only if you are 50% or less at fault, and your award is reduced by your share. Your tort election controls pain-and-suffering claims — but even limited-tort drivers can sue fully if the at-fault driver was DUI, uninsured, driving an out-of-state vehicle, or if the injury is 'serious.'
You may recover medical expenses, lost wages, future care, property damage, and — subject to your tort election — pain and suffering. First-party medical benefits (minimum $5,000) apply regardless of fault.
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (42 Pa.C.S. § 5524). Missing this deadline usually bars your claim entirely, so it is critical to act well before it runs.
Keep reading before you talk to an adjuster
Don't let a Pennsylvania car accidents ruin your future.
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