Local, Aggressive, Effective: Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers Get Results
A serious crash on I-76, a sideswipe on Roosevelt Boulevard, or a SEPTA bus impact at Broad & Olney can leave you facing medical bills, vehicle damage, missed work, and nonstop calls from insurance companies. When that happens, you need a Philadelphia car accident lawyer who knows how to act quickly, protect your rights, and pursue the fair compensation Pennsylvania law allows.
At the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman, we represent personal injury victims after car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death claims, and other serious motor vehicle accidents. Every case is handled by an experienced personal injury lawyer who investigates the crash, preserves evidence, identifies every responsible party, and prepares the claim for negotiation or trial. Because our personal injury law firm works on a contingency-fee basis, you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Most car accident lawsuits arising here are filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Trial Division, at City Hall. Claims involving SEPTA or another public agency can trigger shorter notice requirements and strict deadlines, so early action matters.
From our Center City office, we fight for injured Pennsylvanians across the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties.
Why Clients Hire The Law Offices of Craig A. Altman
For more than 35 years, our Philadelphia legal team has helped car accident victims seek compensation for car accident injuries, severe injuries, and the financial losses that follow a serious accident. We know that after a crash, you are not just dealing with a damaged car — you may be trying to manage medical expenses, lost income, and uncertainty about what happens next.
Local knowledge. We know the roads where serious car accident cases happen, from the Schuylkill Expressway and Vine Street Expressway to Kelly Drive and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Trial-ready representation. Insurance companies track which accident lawyers are prepared to try a personal injury lawsuit, and that reputation can affect settlement offers.
Hands-on support. Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys guide clients through the legal process, help preserve evidence, and deal directly with adjusters so clients can focus on healing.
Free consultation. Early evidence can disappear fast, so contacting our law office quickly can help preserve video footage, black box data, witness information, and the police report.
We also understand that some car accident injuries do not fully appear right away. Hidden injuries, including traumatic brain injury, neck and back injuries, and other serious injuries, may take hours or days to become obvious.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
No two car accident cases are exactly alike. Our firm handles a wide range of claims and tailors the strategy to the crash, the injuries, the insurance coverage, and the evidence available.
Crash Type | How We Approach It | Common Local Examples |
|---|---|---|
Rear-end and intersection collisions | We review vehicle damage, event data, witness statements, and roadway evidence to prove how the crash happened. Rear-end collisions account for nearly half of all fatalities, and side-impact crashes are commonly called T-bone collisions. | Stop-and-go impacts on Broad Street; T-bone crashes at busy intersections |
Distracted driving crashes | We pursue phone records, app activity, video, and witness evidence when a distracted driver causes an auto accident. | Texting-related crashes in Center City |
Drunk-driving accidents | We use police findings, BAC evidence, bar receipts, and other records to support claims for compensatory and, where appropriate, punitive damages. | Nightlife corridor crashes in Old City |
Speeding and aggressive driving wrecks | We work to show reckless conduct through skid marks, camera footage, crash reconstruction, and eyewitness accounts. | High-speed collisions on Roosevelt Boulevard |
Commercial and delivery vehicle crashes | We identify all potentially liable companies and insurance policies, including layered commercial coverage. | Delivery van crashes near Port Richmond |
Head-on, rollover, and fatal crashes | These cases often require accident reconstructionists and expert analysis because head-on collisions can be life-altering and rollover accidents often lead to life-threatening injuries. | I-95 rollovers; head-on crashes on Kelly Drive |
We also handle claims involving uninsured drivers, underinsured drivers, government vehicles, and rideshare collisions. In multi-vehicle collisions involving three or more vehicles, fault disputes can become more complicated because multiple drivers and insurance companies may blame each other.
Pennsylvania Laws That Matter
Pennsylvania car accident law is not always straightforward. Full-tort and limited-tort elections, first-party benefits, comparative negligence, and government-claim rules can all affect the value and timing of a personal injury claim.
Rule | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
Two-year statute of limitations, 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524 | Most injured victims must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the crash, or they can lose the right to recover compensation. |
Modified comparative negligence, 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102 | An injury victim can still recover damages if they are 50% or less at fault, but the recovery is reduced by that percentage. |
Mandatory $5,000 PIP, 75 Pa. C.S. § 1711 | Auto policies provide first-party medical coverage while fault and liability are being sorted out. |
Pennsylvania follows a 51% comparative negligence rule, so proving fault clearly is critical. Proving someone else’s negligence requires evidence of duty, breach, causation, and damages, which is why our experienced car accident attorneys move quickly to gather witness statements, medical records, photographs, surveillance footage, and other proof.
Damages We Pursue
A car accident claim is about more than repair costs. Depending on the facts, an injured person may be entitled to compensation for both financial losses and the human impact of the crash.
Economic damages: Medical bills, ambulance charges, surgery, physical therapy, lost wages, lost income, future medical care, diminished earning capacity, and property damage.
Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non economic damages.
Punitive damages: In limited cases involving severe negligence, such as drunk driving or extreme recklessness, punitive damages may also be available.
Pennsylvania does not cap compensation in most personal injury cases, which means the value of the claim depends on the evidence, the injuries, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life. Our goal is to pursue maximum compensation that reflects what the client has already lost and what they are likely to face in the future.
What To Do After a Crash
The steps taken after an accident can affect both your health and your case. Even what seems like a minor crash can lead to serious injuries, hidden medical issues, or disputes over fault.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem mild at first.
Call 911 so officers can respond and create a police report.
Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, debris, traffic signals, and any visible injuries at the accident scene.
Get the other driver’s contact and insurance information, along with witness names if possible.
Avoid discussing fault or giving a recorded statement to insurance companies before speaking with a Philadelphia car accident attorney.
Keep records of treatment, medical bills, prescriptions, time missed from work, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Contact our office for a free consultation so evidence can be preserved before it is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do most Philadelphia personal injury lawyers charge?
Most personal injury lawyers handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means attorney fees are paid only if money is recovered. That structure allows accident victims to get legal help without paying upfront legal fees.
Is it worth hiring an accident lawyer after a crash?
In many cases, yes. Insurance companies often aim to minimize payouts, and a Philadelphia car accident lawyer can help gather evidence, value the claim, deal with adjusters, and push back against attempts to shift blame.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Most personal injury lawsuits arising from a crash must be filed within two years. Wrongful death claims usually follow that same two-year deadline, although certain exceptions may apply in limited situations.
What if I was partly at fault?
You may still recover damages if you were 50% or less responsible. Any recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, which is one reason insurance companies often try to blame the injured driver.
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
You may still have options through uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage. Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys review all available policies to identify every potential source of recovery.
Can I sue SEPTA if a bus or trolley caused the crash?
Potentially, yes, but those claims are different from claims against private drivers. Government-related cases can involve formal notice requirements and shorter deadlines, so speaking with an attorney quickly is important.
How long will my personal injury case take?
Some car accident cases settle within months, while others take longer because of serious or catastrophic injuries, disputed fault, limited insurance coverage, or the need for litigation. It is often better to understand the full medical picture before resolving a claim than to settle too early and leave future losses uncovered.
How do I choose the right Philadelphia injury lawyer?
Look for someone with experience handling car accident cases in Pennsylvania, a strong track record, and a communication style that works for you. It also helps to ask whether the firm regularly litigates cases, uses experts when needed, and has experience in local courts.
Speak With An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
After a crash, timing matters. The sooner our team can review what happened, the sooner we can work to preserve evidence, identify coverage, and protect the claim from avoidable mistakes. If you need a Philadelphia car accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Craig A. Altman for a free consultation.
$10 Million
Burn Injury in Pennsylvania
$1.3 Million
Bar Patron Assault in Pennsylvania
$750,000
Injury Caused by an Exploding Thermos
$550,000
Neck & Back Injuries
$400,000
Motor Vehicle Accident
$300,000
Minor with a Broken Leg
$300,000
Injuries Resulting From a Trip & Fall
$250,000
Pedestrian Accident
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Cases We Handle in Pennsylvania
Hurt in a car crash, trucking accident, slip-and-fall, or other negligence-based mishap in Southeast Pennsylvania?
The Altman Team focuses exclusively on personal injury law, leveraging a deep command of Pennsylvania tort statutes to win maximum compensation for residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.