Car accidents upend lives without warning. One moment, everything is fine, and the next, you are dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed work, and an insurance company that is far more focused on its bottom line than your recovery. If you were hurt in a crash in or around Newtown, Pennsylvania, you have the right to pursue fair compensation, and the time you take to act matters. Understanding your options as early as possible can make a real difference in the outcome of your case.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C., we represent car accident victims throughout the Newtown area. With over 65 years of combined experience and recognition as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 2010, our team knows what it takes to build a strong personal injury claim. We listen, communicate honestly, and, when the time is right, fight hard on your behalf.
What Pennsylvania Law Says About Car Accident Claims
Pennsylvania follows a choice no-fault insurance system, which means drivers must choose between limited tort and full tort coverage when they purchase auto insurance. This election affects what you can pursue after a crash.
Under limited tort, your ability to recover damages for pain and suffering is restricted unless your injuries meet a certain threshold of severity. Under full tort, you keep the right to sue for all damages, including pain and suffering, regardless of the severity of your injuries. Many drivers do not realize which option they selected until after an accident, which is why having a knowledgeable attorney review your policy and your case is so important.
Damages You May Be Able to Recover
Beyond the question of tort election, Pennsylvania law allows accident victims to pursue a range of damages. The specific recovery available in your case will depend on the facts, but common categories include:
- Medical expenses: Past and future costs of treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care related to your injuries are recoverable.
- Lost wages: Income you were unable to earn because of your injuries, as well as any reduction in your future earning capacity, may be included.
- Property damage: You may seek compensation for repairs or replacement of your vehicle and any other property damaged in the crash.
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain and emotional toll the accident has caused may be compensated, depending on your tort election and the nature of your injuries.
The strength of your claim begins at the scene. Gathering evidence, seeking prompt medical attention, and avoiding statements that could be used against you are all steps that protect your ability to recover.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Newtown
Bucks County and the communities surrounding Newtown experience steady traffic along Route 332, Durham Road, and other local corridors. Crashes on these roads occur for many reasons, and identifying the cause is central to any personal injury claim.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Crash Facts and Statistics, Pennsylvania recorded 1,179 traffic fatalities in 2022 alone. Thousands more suffer serious injuries each year. Many of these crashes trace back to preventable conduct.
Frequent Factors in Local Collisions
Regardless of where a crash occurs, certain behaviors consistently appear as contributing causes. Some of the most common include:
- Distracted driving: Phone use, eating, and other in-cab distractions cause a significant share of crashes.
- Speeding: Driving above the posted limits reduces reaction time and increases the force of impact.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol and drugs remain major contributors to serious accidents; our firm also handles DWI and DUI defense cases that arise from crash-related criminal charges.
- Failure to yield: Intersections and merges are high-risk points where right-of-way violations frequently occur.
- Tailgating: Following too closely leaves no room to stop when traffic slows suddenly.
Even when the cause seems obvious, insurance companies will look for ways to shift blame. Documenting the scene and preserving evidence immediately after the crash works to your advantage.
What to Do After a Car Accident
The steps you take in the hours and days following a crash can significantly affect your case. First, call 911, even for accidents that seem minor. A police report creates an official record of what happened. Seek medical attention right away, even if you do not feel seriously hurt. Some injuries, including whiplash and internal trauma, do not always produce immediate symptoms.
Photograph the scene, exchange information with all drivers involved, and speak with any witnesses who saw the collision. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney, as those statements can be used to reduce or deny your claim. The team at our Newtown office is available to guide you through every step of this process.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
Pennsylvania imposes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. This deadline begins on the date of the accident. Missing it almost always means forfeiting your right to recover compensation, which is why acting promptly matters. There are limited exceptions, such as cases involving minors, but the rule applies to the vast majority of adult claimants.
The sooner you retain counsel, the more time there is to gather evidence, speak with witnesses while their recollections are fresh, and build a thorough case. Our criminal defense team in Newtown also handles cases where a crash results in criminal charges, so our firm is equipped to address the full range of legal consequences that can follow a serious accident.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. Is Ready to Help
When you have been hurt in a car accident, having the right legal team behind you changes the trajectory of your case. Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. has represented accident victims throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania for over 65 years. We are a nationally recognized full-service firm with offices in Newtown and Colmar, and we approach every case with focused attention on our clients’ needs. Our lawyers listen carefully, communicate honestly, and develop a strategy built around your specific situation.
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees and you pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a crash in or around Newtown, do not wait to get answers. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents
Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence law that does not prohibit you from recovering compensation for your injuries from a negligent party as long as you were less negligent than the other party. Even if you were partially responsible for the accident, you may still be able to recover compensation. Despite this, your overall compensation award will be reduced to reflect your own degree of fault. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault, and awarded compensation of $100,000, you will only be entitled to recover $80,000 (i.e., your award is reduced by 20 percent, your degree of fault).
Determining each party’s degree of fault in a car accident case is not an exact science. All of the facts and circumstances of the case will be examined, and all available evidence will be used to establish fault. Our experienced car accident lawyers will investigate and argue on your behalf in order to prove that the other driver caused the accident. We will examine accident reports, photos of the scene, the other driver’s cell phone records, and any available surveillance videos to uncover evidence of the other driver’s negligence. We can also work with expert witnesses to provide evidence of the other driver’s fault.
