Legally Reviewed by Marc Robert Steinberg on June 15, 2026
A car accident can change everything in an instant. The physical injuries, the medical bills, the missed work, and the stress of dealing with insurance companies who are working to pay you as little as possible — all of it arrives at once, while you are still in the middle of recovering. Without experienced legal representation, injured drivers consistently receive less than their claim is worth.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, our Pennsylvania car accident lawyers have represented collision victims across Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Southeastern Pennsylvania for more than 65 years. We know how to investigate accidents, build the evidence record, counter insurance company tactics, and prepare every case as if it will go to trial. An AV-rated firm with offices in Colmar and Newtown, we handle every case personally and never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — Pennsylvania Law Limits Your Window to File
In most cases, you have only two years from the date of your accident to file a Pennsylvania personal injury lawsuit.
More than 65 years of experience. AV-rated. Two local offices. No fee unless we recover for you.
Car Accidents in Montgomery County and Southeastern Pennsylvania
According to PennDOT crash data, Pennsylvania records more than 120,000 reported vehicle accidents each year, with over 1,100 resulting in fatalities. Montgomery County sees a significant share of those crashes on high-volume roads including Route 309, Route 202, Route 422, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the busy commercial corridors through Norristown, Lansdale, and King of Prussia. With nearly five million registered vehicles on Pennsylvania roads, the risk of being involved in a serious collision is real and constant.
Car accident lawsuits in Montgomery County are filed in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Norristown. Our attorneys appear regularly in that court and in Bucks County Court of Common Pleas in Doylestown, and we understand the local procedures and judicial expectations that affect how cases resolve.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
Most car accidents are caused by driver negligence — a failure to act with reasonable care that puts others at risk. The causes our attorneys see most frequently include:
- Distracted driving: Texting, phone use, GPS interaction, and eating while driving are among the leading causes of preventable crashes in Pennsylvania. Taking your eyes off the road for even two seconds at highway speeds covers the length of a football field.
- Speeding: Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the severity of impact. Speeding contributes to a disproportionate share of fatal crashes on Pennsylvania roads.
- Drunk and impaired driving: Drivers with a BAC above 0.08% or impaired by drugs can be held fully liable for all resulting injuries. Pennsylvania’s dram shop laws may also allow recovery against a bar or restaurant that overserved them.
- Reckless and aggressive driving: Tailgating, weaving between lanes, running red lights, and stop sign violations create collision risk at intersections throughout the region.
- Inclement weather: Pennsylvania drivers are legally required to adjust their speed and behavior for rain, snow, ice, and fog. Failing to do so constitutes negligence when conditions are clearly dangerous.
- Fatigued driving: Drowsy driving slows reaction times as severely as impairment. Commercial drivers pushed beyond federally mandated hours-of-service limits and the companies employing them can both be held liable for fatigue-related crashes.
- Vehicle defects: When a crash is caused by a defective part — faulty brakes, a manufacturing-defective tire blowout, or a malfunctioning safety system — the manufacturer or distributor may share liability alongside the driver.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys represent clients injured in all types of motor vehicle collisions, including:
- Rear-end collisions — one of the most common crash types; frequently cause whiplash, herniated discs, and spinal injuries that may not present symptoms for days
- Head-on collisions — among the most severe and often fatal, due to the combined force of both vehicles at impact
- Side-impact (T-bone) collisions — common at intersections; the side of a vehicle offers minimal structural protection to occupants
- Multi-vehicle accidents — complex claims involving multiple parties, overlapping fault questions, and multiple insurance policies
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents — governed by federal FMCSA regulations and often involving corporate defendants in addition to the driver
- Drunk driving crashes — may support both compensatory and punitive damages against the at-fault driver
- Hit-and-run accidents — recovery may be available through your own uninsured motorist coverage when the at-fault driver flees
- Motorcycle and bicycle accidents — riders face heightened injury risk and often greater resistance from insurers
Pennsylvania Car Accident Law: What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania’s No-Fault System and Tort Options
Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state. After a crash, your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays your initial medical bills regardless of who caused the accident. Whether you can pursue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering depends on the tort option you selected on your auto policy. Full tort preserves your unrestricted right to sue. Limited tort limits pain and suffering claims to cases where your injuries meet a serious-injury threshold. We review your coverage at the outset of every case so you understand every source of compensation available to you.
Comparative Negligence
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102. You can still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced proportionally by your share of fault — so if you are found 20 percent responsible and your damages are $100,000, you would recover $80,000. Insurance adjusters routinely try to push fault onto injured drivers to minimize payouts. Building a clear evidentiary record from the start of your case directly counters that tactic.
The Two-Year Filing Deadline
Under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims carry the same two-year deadline measured from the date of death. Missing this deadline almost always ends the claim permanently. Contact our attorneys early — evidence preservation and investigation need to begin as soon as possible after a crash.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
A successful car accident claim in Pennsylvania can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills and future treatment costs, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, property damage and vehicle repair or replacement, and out-of-pocket expenses tied to the accident. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of daily activities, and permanent disability or disfigurement. In cases involving particularly reckless or willful conduct — such as a drunk driver or a commercial carrier that knowingly violated hours-of-service rules — punitive damages may also be available.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident
The decisions you make in the moments and days following a crash can significantly affect what you are able to recover. Here are the errors that most often hurt injured drivers’ claims.
Not Reporting the Accident to Police and Insurance
Pennsylvania requires motorists to report a crash when the damage prevents a vehicle from being driven away, or when there are injuries, deaths, or significant property damage. Accident victims have five days to report if police were not called initially. As for insurance — report immediately. Your policy may require it, and failure to report can result in a denied claim. Your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits activate through timely reporting so your medical bills can be paid.
Admitting Fault at the Scene
Never admit fault after an accident. In the adrenaline-fueled moments after a crash, people often apologize or make self-incriminating statements without intending to. Under Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rules, even a partial admission can reduce your recovery. Focus on getting medical attention and let the investigation determine fault based on the evidence.
Failing to Collect Evidence
If you are able to do so safely, stay at the scene and gather evidence. Police reports do not always accurately capture what happened, and mistakes in the official record can harm your case. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Collect the other driver’s contact and insurance information, and get names and numbers from any witnesses. Your attorney can also help you obtain surveillance footage, dashcam video, and other evidence before it is lost.
Posting on Social Media
Insurance companies and defense attorneys monitor the social media profiles of accident claimants. Photos, videos, or even casual updates can be used to contradict your injury claims or suggest you were not as seriously hurt as you claim. Avoid posting about the accident, your injuries, or your activities while your claim is active. The safest course is to keep private matters off social media entirely until your case is resolved.
Trusting Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to resolve your claim quickly and for as little money as possible. Low first offers often come when medical bills, lost wages, and stress are mounting — designed to catch you at a vulnerable moment. Never give a recorded statement, accept a settlement, or sign a release before speaking with a car accident attorney. What you say and sign in the early days can permanently limit your recovery.
Waiting Too Long to File
Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations is strictly enforced. It is strongly advised to retain legal representation as soon as possible after a crash — not only to protect the filing deadline, but because evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and the insurer’s investigation begins the moment the claim is reported. Early attorney involvement gives you the best chance of the full recovery you are owed.
How Our Car Accident Attorneys Approach Your Case
We begin every case with a thorough investigation — obtaining the police report, medical records, employment records, and any available surveillance or dashcam footage. When the facts warrant it, we work with accident reconstruction professionals and other specialists to establish exactly how and why the crash occurred. We handle all communications with the insurer so you do not inadvertently say or do anything that reduces your claim’s value.
We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That preparation consistently produces better settlement outcomes, because insurance companies take claims seriously when the opposing counsel is known to follow through. Our record includes a $3.4 million recovery in a trucking accident, multimillion-dollar results in wrongful death and medical malpractice cases, and verdicts and settlements throughout Montgomery County and Bucks County. Every client works directly with the attorneys handling their case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
What are examples of negligence in a Pennsylvania car accident case?
Negligence in car accident cases can take many forms — running a red light, failure to signal, texting while driving, speeding through a stop sign, driving while intoxicated, or failing to yield the right of way. As long as you can show the other driver’s carelessness or recklessness contributed to the accident and your injuries, you may have grounds to pursue a claim.
Do I have to prove negligence in a car accident case?
Yes. To recover compensation in a Pennsylvania car accident claim, you must establish that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through negligent or reckless conduct, caused your injuries, and that you suffered real damages as a result. Our attorneys investigate every case to build the evidentiary record needed to establish each of these elements.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Pennsylvania?
Two years from the date of the accident under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524. Wrongful death claims carry a two-year deadline from the date of death. Missing the deadline almost always bars your claim permanently. It is strongly recommended to retain legal counsel as early as possible after the crash — not just to protect the deadline, but to preserve evidence and begin negotiations from a position of strength.
What if the other driver was uninsured?
Pennsylvania requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own UM policy typically steps in to cover your damages. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver’s policy limits are insufficient to fully compensate you. We identify every available coverage source at the start of every case.
Should I accept the first offer from the insurance company?
Almost never. First offers are designed to close the claim quickly and for as little as possible. Once you sign a release, you typically cannot seek additional compensation even if your injuries prove more serious than initially apparent. Have an attorney evaluate any offer before you respond — the difference between a first offer and a properly negotiated settlement can be substantial.
How much does it cost to hire a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer?
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. There is no upfront cost and your initial consultation is free. This means you can pursue your full claim without any additional financial burden on top of what you are already managing after the accident.
Contact Our Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you or someone you care about was injured in a car accident in Montgomery County, Bucks County, or anywhere in Southeastern Pennsylvania, our attorneys are ready to help. We investigate the crash, build the evidence record, handle all insurer communications, and fight for the full compensation you are owed — whether that means a negotiated settlement or a verdict at trial.
Our Colmar office serves Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Our Newtown office at 12 Penns Trail serves Bucks County. Both offer free parking and free initial consultations. To speak with our team, reach out through our contact form or call 215-822-7575. Our phones are answered by staff ready to help — and we are available on weekends when needed.
