A routine drive through Philadelphia can change in seconds when another vehicle crashes into yours. After a Philadelphia car accident, check for injuries, call 911 when needed, move somewhere safer, exchange information, document the scene, and get medical care. If you were partially at fault, you may still be able to recover compensation. Pennsylvania generally allows recovery as long as your negligence was not greater than the other driver’s.
What you do next can affect your health, personal injury claim, insurance claim, medical bills, lost wages, and legal rights. A Philadelphia car accident lawyer can review the crash, explain how fault may affect your claim, and help preserve evidence before it disappears.
Table of Contents
- Steps to Take Right After a Philadelphia Car Crash
- See How Different Crashes Can Affect Fault
- Avoid Mistakes That Can Weaken Your Claim
- How Can a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Steps to Take Right After a Philadelphia Car Crash
Call Police if the Crash Must Be Reported
Police reporting provides an official record of the crash while details are still fresh. Call 911 if there are injuries, traffic obstruction, a hit-and-run, or if a tow truck is needed. According to Philadelphia regulations, any crash resulting in injury, death, or requiring the vehicle to be towed due to damage should be reported to the authorities. Get the report number, officer’s name, and location of the crash before leaving.
Get Medical Care and Keep Records of Your Injuries
Medical care serves to protect your health, as well as to document your injuries and establish a correlation between the injury and the accident. Some of the injuries that seem minor at the time, such as concussions, whiplash, damage to the back, injuries to the shoulders, and other soft tissues, may cause lingering pain long after the initial trauma. Save all the medical papers, including emergency service documents, physician’s reports, diagnostic imaging results, prescriptions, referrals for treatment, therapy notes, discharge summaries, pictures, and witness statements.
See How Different Crashes Can Affect Fault
Understand Fault After a Rear-End Crash
A rear-end collision is relatively simple when one of the drivers was at a stop sign or a red light. The driver in the front is usually not at fault in this case. However, the insurance companies may question your injury to deny the claim by saying the pain started later, it is not serious, you are exaggerating, or it is related to a pre-existing illness or condition. To prove otherwise, make sure you have pictures of the damage, repair estimates, medical records, and proper treatment.
What Evidence Helps in Intersection and Commercial Crashes
Intersection crashes are not just one story, as there is more than one person involved with different viewpoints on the cause of the car accident. One driver may have had a green light, while the other believes they had a green light too. When it comes to commercial crashes, determining liability may involve the driver, company, employer, owner, contractor, or maintenance company. Witnesses, dash cam videos, traffic camera videos, location data, inspection records, repair orders, and vehicle damages can help prove fault.
Avoid Mistakes That Can Weaken Your Claim
Be Careful What You Say After the Crash
Avoid making snap statements following the crash, even if you are trying to be polite. Statements such as, “I’m fine,” or “My apologies,” or talking about speeds may come back to haunt you, because an insurer may use them to imply less serious injuries or equal fault. Always stick to the facts when dealing with law enforcement, medical responders, and insurance adjusters.
Do Not Accept a Settlement Too Soon
A quick settlement can seem appealing after medical expenses and repair costs begin piling up. However, initial offers do not typically factor in future therapeutic treatments, injections, surgeries, loss of earnings, and other pain and suffering damages. In addition, inadequate medical care, pictures, testimonies, and video evidence can prevent you from obtaining a better payout. Therefore, it is essential to hold on to all the documents, texts, and receipts from a crash until the case is settled.
How Can a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Help
A lawyer’s help may be necessary in the case where the insurance company is claiming that the client was negligent or partially responsible for the accident. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law allows the defendant to lower the amount of damages according to the proportion of the client’s fault. The total compensation may be denied if the client’s degree of negligence is higher than that of the defendant. Our experienced lawyers will analyze the evidence, object to the opposing party’s claims, and establish whether the third parties are also to blame.
A serious injury claim should not be evaluated by the first medical bill. There are many costs associated with a personal injury, including, but not limited to, hospital visits, therapy, surgeries, future medical bills, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. In addition, some crashes may involve commercial vehicles, ride-sharing services, delivery trucks, uninsured motorists, underinsured motorists, government vehicles, or employer vehicles. A car accident attorney can assist in determining what coverage applies, obtaining necessary documentation, dealing with insurance companies, reviewing any settlement offers before releasing any documents, and explaining the statute of limitations that may apply to your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Call Police After a Philadelphia Crash?
Call police if anyone is injured, needs to be towed, the driver leaves the scene, or if there is danger. Having a police report can note drivers, damage, injuries, witnesses, the location, and violations. This can be helpful if you need to prove fault, injuries, and the sequence of events to an insurance company.
What Evidence Should I Save After the Crash?
Save photos, videos, witness statements, police reports, medical bills, repair estimates, and any related receipts or wage loss documentation. Dashcam videos, traffic camera footage, and nearby business videos can also help you view the entire situation. This information will help determine who is at fault, the extent of damages, and the compensation you should pursue.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault?
Yes. Pennsylvania may allow recovery when your negligence was not greater than the defendant’s negligence. Your compensation can still be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. Strong evidence matters because insurers may try assigning you too much blame.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Crash?
Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain, future care, reduced earning ability, and property damage. The value depends on fault, insurance coverage, injury severity, treatment needs, and documentation. Some cases resolve through settlement, while others require a lawsuit.