Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
A crash on I-95 or the Boulevard can upend your health, your work and your week. We deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better.
After a crash in Philadelphia, you need someone in your corner
Philadelphia traffic is unforgiving. Between the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), I-95, Roosevelt Boulevard and the tight grid of Center City, an ordinary commute can turn into an ambulance ride in seconds. When that happens, the bills start before the shock wears off: the emergency room, the body shop, the days of missed work.
Patterson Injury Lawyers represents drivers and passengers injured in car accidents across Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. We gather the evidence, deal with every insurance adjuster and push the claim forward while you concentrate on your recovery. The consultation is free, there are no upfront fees, and we are not paid unless we recover for you.
Attorney Derek M. Patterson has worked for plaintiff firms and for an insurance defense firm, so he knows how insurers size up a claim and where they look for reasons to pay less. That insight shapes how we build every car accident case, from a rear-end collision in South Philadelphia to a multi-car pileup on the expressway. If your crash involved a commercial truck, a motorcycle or someone on foot, see our pages on truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.
Common car accident injuries
Some injuries are obvious at the scene. Others show up days later, which is one reason to see a doctor right away.
- Whiplash and other neck and back injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Herniated discs and spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder, knee and other joint injuries
- Cuts, burns and scarring
- Internal injuries
- Anxiety, sleep problems and other emotional harm after a crash
Truck, motorcycle and pedestrian crashes
Some crashes raise their own questions about evidence, insurance and fault. We cover each one in detail.
Truck Accidents
Tractor-trailers, box trucks and delivery vehicles. We move quickly to preserve logs and black-box data and identify every party responsible.
Learn more about Truck Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders get blamed first. We answer the bias with evidence and pursue the driver who failed to see you, helmet or no helmet.
Learn more about Motorcycle Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Crosswalk and intersection crashes in a city built for walking. We find the coverage that applies and hold careless drivers accountable.
Learn more about Pedestrian Accidents
Pennsylvania's choice no-fault system, in plain English
Pennsylvania is a "choice no-fault" state. In general, the medical benefits on your own auto policy pay your first medical bills after a crash, no matter who caused it. Beyond that, what you can recover from the at-fault driver often depends on a choice made when the policy was bought: limited tort or full tort.
- Full tort generally keeps your right to seek compensation for pain and suffering, in addition to medical bills, lost wages and other out-of-pocket losses.
- Limited tort usually costs less. In exchange, it generally restricts claims for pain and suffering unless the injury meets the law's definition of serious or an exception applies.
Many people do not know which option they have until after a crash, and limited tort is not always the end of the story, because exceptions exist. Bring your policy's declarations page, or just your insurance card, to your free consultation and we will explain how your coverage may affect your claim. Deadlines also apply to injury claims in Pennsylvania. Call us to learn how they affect your case.
Dealing with the insurance company
An adjuster may call within days of the crash. They are often friendly, and they may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick check. Their job is to close the claim for as little as possible. Before you give a statement, sign a release or accept an offer, talk to us.
We handle the communication with insurers, document your injuries and losses, and negotiate from the evidence. Pennsylvania also follows a comparative negligence rule: generally, being found partly at fault can reduce what you recover, so insurers often try to shift blame onto the injured person. We push back with facts.
Every case is different. This page is general information, not legal advice.
How we help after a car accident
- Step 1
Free consultation
Tell us what happened, by phone, any time. We will tell you plainly whether we think you have a case and what comes next.
- Step 2
We investigate and build the claim
We collect the police report, photos, witness statements, medical records and every insurance policy that may apply, including your tort selection.
- Step 3
We negotiate, and litigate if needed
We present the claim to the insurer and negotiate for you. If they will not be fair, we are prepared to file suit. You pay no fee unless we recover.
Car accident questions
Short answers to what people ask us most. For anything else, call us any time.
Check for injuries and call 911. Exchange license, insurance and contact information with everyone involved, photograph the vehicles and the scene, and get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Then call Patterson Injury Lawyers at (215) 383-9959 before you speak with the other driver's insurance company.
They are two options on Pennsylvania auto insurance policies. Full tort generally preserves your right to seek compensation for pain and suffering. Limited tort generally restricts that right unless the injury qualifies as serious or an exception applies. We can review your policy and explain how your selection may affect your claim.
Possibly. There are exceptions to limited tort, and you can generally still pursue economic losses such as medical bills and lost wages. Whether an exception applies depends on the facts, so call us to review your situation.
In general, the medical benefits coverage on your own auto policy pays first, regardless of who caused the crash. After that, health insurance or other coverage may apply, and the at-fault driver's insurer may be responsible for further losses. We help sort out which coverage applies and in what order.
You are generally not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, and what you say can be used to reduce your claim. It is usually better to let us handle those conversations for you.
Nothing upfront. The consultation is free and there are no out-of-pocket costs to get started. We are paid only if we recover compensation for you.
Related practice areas
Injured? Don't wait.
Call (215) 383-9959, 24/7. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we recover for you.