What to Do If You Have a Car Accident in the Philadelphia Area

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize safety, call 911, and exchange information calmly.
• Document everything if you’re able to: photos, dashcam clips, witness contact details, and speak to the police.
• Call a lawyer if you have any doubts about your legal rights. This can include serious injuries or property damage, disputes over fault, and insurance company denial.
• See a doctor even if you feel fine; symptoms often show up later.
• Notify insurance promptly and watch your words.

You’re at a Philly intersection, the light turns green, and another bumper hits yours. In those first minutes, small choices matter. Here’s what to do after a car accident so your health and your claim stay on track.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Make the Scene Safe and Call 911

What to do first if you have a car accident? Always check for injuries. If vehicles are drivable, move to a shoulder or nearby lot and turn on hazard lights. Place a safety triangle if you have one. Call 911 and give the cross streets (e.g., Roosevelt Boulevard at Cottman). Ask for police and, if anyone is hurt or dizzy, an ambulance. Stay calm; adrenaline makes memories unreliable, so fewer arguments mean cleaner reports.

Gather Evidence If You Can

Smart claims live and die on details. We’ve watched claims crumble because a driver forgot that one photo.This is what to do if you have a car accident, if you’re able to:

• Photograph plates, damage, the wider intersection, skid marks, traffic lights, and road debris.
• Save dashcam video and note any nearby cameras (corner stores, SEPTA buses).
• Get names, phone numbers, and quick quotes from witnesses.
• Ask for the incident number so you can obtain the police report later.

Keep everything in a single folder on your phone. Email it to yourself the same day.

However, if you’re too injured to gather evidence and you have grounds for a legal claim, your car accident injury attorneys can assist you with this.

See a Doctor – Even with “No Pain”

Neck and back injuries often hide behind adrenaline. Concussions can look like simple fatigue. Get medically checked the same day. Tell them this was a motor-vehicle crash – this is important so records reflect the mechanism of injury.

Following through on referrals and keeping receipts is a big part of what to do if you have a car accident: imaging, prescriptions, copays, and mileage. Those are the first steps to take after a car accident.

When to Call a Lawyer – and Why

If injuries are more than a bruise, the other driver blames you, or a limited-tort problem arises (see below), consulting with a lawyer after a car accident can streamline the process.

Why is contacting a lawyer often at the top of the list of what to do if you have a car accident? Lawyers can obtain video before it’s taped over, arrange for experts, and resist when an insurer tries to force a quick closing of a claim. They also help determine all possible insurance concerns: bodily injury liability, underinsured motorist, and med-pay insurance.

Reasons to Consider Legal Help

Here are practical reasons to get a lawyer after a car accident that we hear from Philadelphia-area clients:

• Medical-expense recovery: Coordinating Personal Injury Protection (PIP), health insurance, and liens is paperwork-heavy.
• Insurer pushback: Recorded statements and quick checks can undervalue injuries.
• Liability disputes: In some cases, deeper investigations are needed; for instance, lawyers know what to do if you have a car accident at an intersection with layered signals, rideshare vehicles, or delivery vans.
• Time limits: Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is generally two years; claims involving public entities may require notice within six months.

Lawyers know the steps to take after a car accident to stop small mistakes from snowballing.

A Quick Vignette

Kendra was rear-ended near Broad and Spring Garden. She felt okay, skipped the ER, and gave a recorded statement that afternoon. Two days later, neck spasms sent her to urgent care. The insurer argued the injury wasn’t from the crash. Her saved dashcam clip and a same-week doctor visit turned the conversation around.

Insurance Notifications and Pennsylvania’s No-Fault Basics

Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state. Your own policy’s PIP typically pays initial medical bills, regardless of fault, depending on the coverage you select.

Timelines matter:

• Notify your insurer within a few days.
• Decline recorded statements until you’ve talked with counsel.
• If you choose limited tort, pain-and-suffering claims can be restricted unless an exception applies.
• Track work loss. Employers can confirm dates missed and wage rates.

What to Do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault? Documentation Is a Must

What to do if you have a car accident in Philadelphia and it’s not your fault? Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence statute means fault can come in portions. Good documentation, lane usage, light timing, broken glass images, or a preliminary drawing can keep someone else’s percentage high and yours low. Share everything you have with your insurance company and, if you hire one, your attorney. Little facts can swing liability.

Local note: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Crash Facts & Statistics indicate that in an average year, there are over 100,000 reportable accidents, with the largest totals occurring in Philadelphia County.

Keep a Paper Trail

When it comes to what to do if you have a car accident, one of the most important steps to take after a car accident is keeping a running list:

• Claim numbers (yours and the other drivers)
• Adjuster names and extension numbers
• Body shop estimates, tow and storage bills, rental car days

For injuries, maintain a simple diary: for example, pain levels, missed events, trouble lifting groceries, and sleep changes. Jurors and adjusters understand real-life consequences better than medical jargon.

A Path Forward

When it comes to what to do first if you have a car accident in the Philadelphia area, remember: take care of yourself first. Initial consultations with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys at Segal, Berk, Gaines & Liss are free, and there’s no fee unless a recovery is made by settlement or verdict.

Questions about next steps or deadlines? Call us today. We’ll listen, review your situation, and help you decide the path forward.

About Derek Liss, Esq.