Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents occur every 60 seconds in the United States, often causing life-altering injuries and financial hardship. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) reports that an average of 11,000 car accidents occur each year in Philadelphia, resulting in over 4,000 reported injuries and nearly 90 fatalities.

Why Choose McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC

Your main focus after suffering injuries in a car accident should be your recovery. Our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers can alleviate some of your worries and help you prepare your claim. We will investigate the accident scene, interview witnesses, establish your current and future medical care, consult experts, negotiate with the insurance company for compensation, and represent you in court if your case goes to trial. Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC are dedicated to fighting for our clients and have a track record of securing millions of dollars in compensation.

What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is a crowded city filled with traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, making car accidents common, especially at certain intersections. The most dangerous intersections in Philadelphia include:

• Aramingo Avenue and Castor Avenue: This intersection is well-known for car and pedestrian accidents.
• Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard: The Cottman and Roosevelt intersection is one of the city’s busiest and is known for hit-and-run accidents.
• Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard: Speeding drivers are common in the right-hand lane on Roosevelt Avenue, making it difficult for those on Grant Avenue to turn left.
• Roosevelt Boulevard and Adams Avenue: Roosevelt Boulevard’s high-speed limit causes many accidents in this intersection.
• West Hunting Park Avenue and North Broad Street: This intersection sees many car accidents, often due to drivers running red lights or turning left without looking for oncoming traffic.

What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is one of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania to drive, and certain roads have a higher accident rate than others, including but not limited to:

• Broad Street
• Bustleton Avenue
• Delaware Expressway
• Roosevelt Boulevard
• Schuylkill Expressway

What Are Common Types of Car Accidents in Philadelphia?

Every type of car accident occurs throughout Philadelphia, the most common being:

• Bus accidents
• Truck accidents
• Head-on collisions
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Side-impact or T-bone accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Rideshare accidents

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents in Philadelphia?

Car accidents occur for numerous reasons, largely due to carelessness, inattention, and human error. Some of the most commonly reported causes of car accidents in Philadelphia include:

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Drugged driving
• Drunk driving
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Teenage and inexperienced drivers
• Texting while driving
• Road conditions
• Unsafe or unsecured cargo
• Weather conditions

What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?

A car accident can cause injuries ranging from minor to severe. A skilled Philadelphia car accident lawyer can fight for you to obtain justice and the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Common car accident injuries include:

• Amputation or crushed limbs
• Arm and leg injuries
• Broken and fractured bones
• Bruises and contusions
• Burns
• Chest injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash

Checklist for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Pennsylvania

Evidence is crucial in car accident claims, and it is important to understand what information is needed to ensure you are prepared before filing. With the help of your lawyer, you should gather the following information:

• Evidence such as photos, traffic cam and surveillance video footage, witness statements, traffic citations, and more.
• Copies of all medical bills related to your injuries from the accident.
• Medical records documenting that your injuries resulted from the accident are a crucial element of your claim.
• Copies of all estimates and expenses related to your vehicle and other property damage, such as cell phones and laptop computers.
• Proof of income lost if your injuries prevent you from immediately returning to work.
• Copies of your auto insurance policy.

What Compensation Can I Seek for My Car Accident Injuries?

You can seek compensation for your accident and injuries based on economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the actual expenses of the accident, such as medical bills, lost wages, repair costs, or rehabilitative therapies. Non-economic damages are intangible costs related to the pain and suffering you endured, such as chronic pain, disfigurement, loss of life enjoyment, or PTSD.

How Do I Prove Fault for a Philadelphia Car Accident?

Proving the other driver was at fault requires tangible evidence, such as witness testimony. Some common types of evidence that can prove the other driver’s negligence include:

• Crash scene photos showing skid marks, vehicle location, damage, traffic signals, and more
• Witness statements
• Traffic cam or surveillance video
• Driving records
• Accident reconstruction analysis

Can I Recover Damages if I Was Partially At Fault?

Pennsylvania is a comparative negligence state, meaning each driver is assigned a percentage of fault for an accident. You cannot seek compensation if your responsibility is more than 50 percent. If your responsibility is less than 50 percent, you can seek compensation from the other driver, though your percentage of fault will reduce your total award.

When Are Punitive Damages Awarded in Car Accident Cases?

Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion and are rarely awarded in personal injury cases unless the other driver’s actions were malicious and intended to cause harm. Punitive damages are intended to punish responsible parties financially and serve as a deterrent for committing the same offenses in the future.

Proving a driver’s actions were intentional in car accidents can be quite difficult in most cases unless the driver was flagrantly operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, purposely drove recklessly, or grossly engaged in behavior with willful disregard for others’ safety.  

What Is the Difference Between Full and Limited Tort?

Full tort and limited tort are options when purchasing auto insurance. If you select the full tort option, you can recover compensation for pain and suffering without a threshold. You must establish an additional burden to recover pain and suffering damages with limited tort. You need to prove that the personal injury resulted in impaired bodily function, permanent disfigurement, or wrongful death. There are exceptions, however, such as if the other driver was drunk driving or the vehicle was registered in a different state.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Pennsylvania

Unfortunately, many Pennsylvania drivers either have no insurance or inadequate coverage. You can protect yourself and your family by purchasing both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with your policy.

In hit-and-run cases, you are entitled to file an uninsured motorist claim and order your own insurance company to pay for the damages caused by an uninsured driver. However, you still need to prove the driver caused the accident and was uninsured.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident or death.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

The value of car accidents depends on the type of accident, the severity of your injuries and the insurance coverage for both you and the at-fault driver. To receive total compensation for your injuries and losses, you need to hire an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer with extensive knowledge of the system and a successful record of securing maximum compensation for their clients. Our legal team is a formidable match against insurance companies and opposing legal counsel.

Our Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Represent Clients Injured by Negligent Drivers

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our Philadelphia car accident lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC can help. We have decades of experience and are ready to assist you. Call us at 215-569-8488 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and Abington, Pennsylvania, as well as Wilmington, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas.

Visit our convenient Philadelphia office.