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Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney

In an instant, a serious car accident can dramatically change your life – leaving you with significant medical expenses, severe injuries, mounting financial pressures, and even long-term or permanent disability.   Unfortunately, in Philadelphia, negligent drivers, distracted drivers, and drivers under the influence plague our roadways and injure innocent people every day.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a preventable traffic accident, you are likely dealing with uncertainty and frustration, without a clear understanding of what to do next.   At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Philadelphia car accident lawyers can help.  We understand what you are going through and can help build a sound legal strategy to recover the compensation that you need when you need it most.

Call (215) 309-9716 for a free and confidential case evaluation.  Our attorneys will listen to the facts of your case, give you an honest assessment of your situation, and begin working right away to build a strong case on your behalf.

Philadelphia Car Accident Resources:

How Can a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Help?

Philadelphia car accident lawyer

A Philadelphia car wreck could cost you thousands of dollars in medical costs and property damage repairs. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can help you hold the at-fault party accountable for these losses.  While you are not obligated to hire an attorney after a car accident, it is in your best interests to do so.  The insurance claims and legal process can be confusing and difficult to navigate on your own, especially if you are recovering from serious injuries.  Additionally, insurance companies are notorious for taking advantage of injured victims and doing whatever they can to devalue valid claims or avoid paying them altogether.   Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can level the playing field, allow you to focus on your recovery, and give you confidence that your case is in the right hands.

Why Choose Ciccarelli Law Offices?

At Cicarelli Law Offices, we have helped people from all walks of life recover the compensation they deserve after a serious motor vehicle accident.  We have handled thousands of cases, seen nearly every type of car accident injury imaginable, and have learned from our experience with each one. We understand what our injured clients are going through, the battles they are facing with insurance companies, and how to build strong cases to maximize the compensation they need and are entitled to.  Whether you’ve suffered muscle soreness, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, or permanent disability, we’re the right lawyers for you. We specialize in personal injury lawsuits and car accident cases, and we can help you fight for justice and put you on the road to recovery.

  • Our attorneys have represented the people of Philadelphia for over 30 years.
  • We have successfully resolved over 15,000 cases for our clients and recovered millions of dollars on their behalf.
  • Our attorneys have a deep understanding of the laws and processes involved in car accident claims as well as the way insurance companies approach their defense.
  • Our clients are more than a case number to us.  We work extremely hard to maximize the results in every case that we take to put our clients in the best position to move forward.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident in Pennsylvania, contact us today for a free consultation. Our Philadelphia injury attorneys can prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you during your high-value personal injury claim.    Once you have seen a doctor for your injuries, contact a legal representative to discuss your case for free and with no obligation.

Call Ciccarelli Law Offices Car Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia | Free Consultation |(215) 228-0100

How Much is My Accident Claim Worth?

Curious as to how much your car accident case could be worth? The real answer is that the value of a car accident claim depends on a number of factors, including: the extent of your injuries, the losses that you have incurred, your future medical needs, the amount of insurance coverage available, and the circumstances of the accident – among many others.  For this reason, it is not possible for someone to tell you how much your case is worth without a full understanding of the facts surrounding your situation.  However, at Cicarelli Law Offices, we get real results for real car accident victims.

Take a look at just a few of our real victories for car accident clients:

  • $7.5 million recovery for a client who was involved in a work-related motor vehicle accident.
  • $2.7 million recovery for a client who was injured in a motor vehicle collision involving a large commercial truck
  • $2.6 million for a client injured in a motor vehicle crash
  • $900 thousand for a client who suffered serious neck injuries after a Jeep rollover accident.

If you’ve been hurt, our attorneys are ready to listen to your story, put in the work to get a full understanding of how the accident has affected your life, and accurately assess the value of your case.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Philadelphia?

In a car accident case, damages refer to both the accident victims’ losses and the compensation that may be available in a settlement or judgment. Recovering damages takes proving that the defendant negligently or recklessly caused the car accident and that you suffered real losses as a result. An attorney can help you prove your case and obtain the greatest possible recovery award for your damages. While the amount you may receive will vary, the types of damages available in Pennsylvania’s civil courts remain the same.

  • Medical bills: Seek recovery for your past and future medical expenses relating to your car accident injuries. These may cover surgeries, treatments, doctor’s office visits, rehabilitation, physical therapy, live-in care, disability costs, and more.
  • Pain and suffering: Pennsylvania car accident survivors can seek non-economic damages for intangible losses, such as physical pain and emotional suffering. Measuring these damages may take medical testimony.
  • Lost wages and income-earning capacity: If you had to miss work after your car accident, you can seek recovery for your lost wages. You can also request payment for lost future earnings if a disability will make you lose income.
  • Property damage repairs: List the exact amount it will take to either repair your damaged vehicle or replace a totaled vehicle after a serious car accident in Philadelphia. You could recover the full value of your vehicle before the accident if totaled.
  • Punitive damages: A judge may order punitive damages in a car accident case involving criminal activity or gross negligence, such as a DUI case or hit-and-run. Punitive damages provide additional compensation to victims as well as punish the defendant.

Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence law, you cannot recover any damages from a car accident if the courts assign more than 50% of fault to you for your injuries. If you bring a case against the local government, the law caps your damages at $500,000. Claims against the Commonwealth have $250,000 recovery caps. Pain and suffering damages will only be an option in a case against the government if the victim suffered permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, permanent loss of bodily function, or if the victim died.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

Every state has a unique statute of limitations in place to limit how long a claimant has to file a car accident lawsuit. Statutes of limitations exist on civil and criminal cases. The point of a statute of limitations is to encourage timely claims filing and to keep cases fair and just on both sides. The courts in Pennsylvania take statutes of limitations very seriously. It typically will not agree to hear a case if the claimant has missed his or her deadline to file. Even if the courts allow the case to proceed, it will most likely drop it later when the defendant uses the missed deadline as a defense to the claim.

car accident lawyer in Philadelphia

According to Pennsylvania law, you have two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 42 section 5524

§ 5524. Two year limitation.

The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years:

(1) An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution or malicious abuse of process.

(2) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.

(3) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for specific recovery thereof.

(4) An action for waste or trespass of real property.

(5) An action upon a statute for a civil penalty or forfeiture.

(6) An action against any officer of any government unit for the nonpayment of money or the nondelivery of property collected upon on execution or otherwise in his possession.

(7) Any other action or proceeding to recover damages for injury to person or property which is founded on negligent, intentional, or otherwise tortious conduct or any other action or proceeding sounding in trespass, including deceit or fraud, except an action or proceeding subject to another limitation specified in this subchapter

However, different types of accident claims have different deadlines and there are several situations that may lengthen or shorten the filing window, so it’s best to speak to a lawyer about your specific case. For instance, if you do not discover your injuries until after the car accident, such as experiencing back or neck pain a few days later, the clock will not start ticking until the date of injury discovery.  Each case is unique, and yours may have elements that qualify you for a special extension. Our lawyers can discuss your individual deadline during a free consultation.

Philadelphia Car Accident Injuries

While hopefully, most people walk away from a car accident with little to no injuries at all, unfortunately, that’s not always the case. As many as 3 million people in the United States are injured in car accidents each year, with around 2 million of those injured experiencing permanent injuries. Most of these injuries are referred to as catastrophic injuries and include:

An individual sustaining some of these types of injuries will require immediate and extensive medical attention and be left with permanent disability, potentially necessitating ongoing therapy or even everyday assistance. If this is the case, it is also more important than ever to hire a Philadelphia car accident lawyer to help handle your claim and give you the best chance at maximizing the compensation are entitled to.

Additionally Furthermore, if a car accident results in the death of an individual due to another’s negligence, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Philadelphia wrongful death attorneys to help with your auto accident case.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Philadelphia

Philadelphia car accident

There are a number of ways that a collision can occur, but nearly all of them share one thing in common: they are the direct result of carelessness or inattention.  A driver distracted by their mobile device or phone call.  A lane change without looking to see if the way is clear.  A reckless motorist traveling at an unsafe rate of speed or ignoring red lights.  All of these choices or behaviors can have disastrous consequences for other motorists.  At Cicarelli Law Offices, our Philadelphia car accident lawyers, have handled a wide range of motor vehicle collision cases, including:

There are many forms of negligence behind the wheel, and it is becoming more of a problem as the number of smartphone users continues to escalate. Pennsylvania strictly prohibits texting and driving, yet people still do it every day. Speak to a Philadelphia distracted driving lawyer to learn more.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Philadelphia?

There’s no denying that car accidents are extremely stressful events, yet, the moments following one can be some of the most crucial both for your safety and the success of your claim. However, if you follow these steps, it will help to make sure that you and anyone else involved are taken care of by professionals and help you avoid any mistakes, and prepare you before even filing a claim.

Immediately following an accident you should:

  • Check to see if anyone is injured and call 911 if there are injuries.
  • Report the accident to law enforcement to make sure that they get a police report on file.
  • Get yourself and everyone else to safety. If possible, move your car to the side of the road, but make sure that nobody leaves the scene of the accident.
  • Exchange contact information with the driver or drivers of the other vehicles. Make sure that you receive their phone number, license plate number, and any and all insurance information they may have.
  • Go around and take detailed pictures of your vehicle and any others that were involved in the accident. Also, take pictures of the whole scene as well, including traffic signs, road conditions, and anything that might have played a role in the crash.
  • If there were any witnesses to the accident, ask for their information as well as their side of the story, witness testimony can sometimes make or break a claim.
  • Accept any medical treatment that is offered.  Even if you are unsure if you are injured, it is in your best interests to be examined by a medical professional.  Remember that car accident injuries do not manifest themselves immediately but appear over the next few days. This is especially true in cases involving soft tissue injury or nerve damage.
  • Contact a Philadelphia car accident lawyer as soon as possible.  The insurance company representing the other party will try to contact you very early after the incident.  While it may seem that they have your best interests in mind, they do not.  Getting a lawyer involved right away can prevent adjusters from contacting you in an attempt to devalue or deny your case.

Important Evidence in Car Accident Cases

Often, a successful car accident case or wrongful death claim depends on the availability and strength of the evidence.  While some forms may be easy to gather on your own, such as eyewitness testimony and police reports, other forms may be difficult without the help of an attorney. This can include surveillance camera or dash cam footage, tire tread skid marks, phone or mobile data records, a full array of medical bills, expert testimony, and accident reconstruction.  If your case involves a commercial vehicle or defective auto part, the evidence can be even more difficult to obtain and include items such as driver logs, maintenance records, product design specifications or production records.  Finally, collecting evidence is only one step in the process.  A lawyer can sift through the mountain of information and use it to identify who is responsible for the accident, demonstrate the extent of your injuries, and present a strong case to maximize your compensation.

Checklist For Preparing For Your Car Accident Claim

Car accident lawyer in Philadelphia

As you go about preparing your car accident claim, it is crucial that you have a running checklist so that you are as prepared as possible. We strongly encourage you to work with your attorney, and they will make sure that your case is ready to go.

  1. Evidence determining liability. There are various types of evidence that will be gathered in the days and weeks that follow the incident. This can include photographs or video surveillance from the scene, statements from eyewitnesses, traffic citation documentation, and more.
  2. Copies of all medical bills. It is important for you to keep copies of every medical bill that comes in in the aftermath of a vehicle accident in Pennsylvania. Medical bills are a significant portion of compensation recoverable by crash victims.
  3. Medical records. You will likely have to provide your medical records to the insurance carrier(s) involved. Please note that you should only provide medical records pertaining to the injuries sustained in the accident. Never turn over your complete medical history to any other party.
  4. Property damage estimates. You need to keep all estimates of property damage expenses for your vehicle and any other property damaged as a result of the incident (phones, computers, clothing, etc.).  
  5. Proof of lost wages. It is not uncommon for individuals to not be able to work in the aftermath of a crash. If you carry full tort insurance, you may be able to recover lost wage compensation from the at-fault driver.
  6. Copies of your insurance policy. You need to have a copy of your insurance policy ready and available at all times.

Where Do Most Philadelphia Accidents Happen?

Philadelphia is one of the most dangerous places to drive in Pennsylvania. There are a few roads that regularly record higher crash rates than the rest of the greater Philadelphia area. This includes, but it’s not limited to, the following:

  • Delaware Expressway. The Delaware Expressway in Northeast Philadelphia can be incredibly hectic, particularly during rush hour.
  • Roosevelt Blvd. Traveling along Roosevelt Blvd can be precarious, particularly at the intersections with Grand Avenue and Red Lion Road.
  • Schuylkill Expressway. This is another Expressway that is considered dangerous, and this is one of the busiest stretches of highway in the region.
  • Broad Street. This is one of the major arteries in Philadelphia, and there is a significant amount of traffic on Broad Street each day. 
  • Bustleton Avenue. This roadway runs through Northeast Philadelphia and is another area where a significant number of serious collisions occur.

Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Today

Right from the beginning, you will have peace of mind while your lawyer from Ciccarelli Law Offices handles your claim. We will immediately go to work on your case, reviewing your options and initiating the filing process. Your attorney will help you meet important deadlines with your claim, such as prompt insurance claim filing and bringing a lawsuit within Pennsylvania’s year statute of limitations.

For the duration of your case, your attorney will keep you updated about its status and progress. You will keep in constant contact with your accident attorney, not an associate or paralegal. We will investigate your car accident, gather evidence on your behalf, and help you build a strong case against the defendant(s). We will accurately calculate your claim’s worth, and demand proper compensation from the at-fault party. Ciccarelli Law Offices will make sure you have everything you need during the fight for fair financial recovery. Contact us today to start the claims process in Philadelphia.