Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyers Near Me
The Pearce Law Firm is a Philadelphia car crash injury lawyer near you. There are frightening car accidents across Philadelphia every day and night. These collisions can prove devastating for the drivers and passengers involved and for the families of those victims. In the aftermath of a serious crash, victims can face life-altering injuries, sky-high medical bills, a loss of income, and the costs of auto repairs or a new vehicle. That doesn’t even begin to cover the emotional toll a severe injury can have on the victim and his or her family. If you were injured in an automobile collision, you need the help of an accident claims lawyer in Philadelphia that specializes in receiving maximum compensation for car accident victims to get you the justice you deserve. Collisions involving commercial or government vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries, making it essential to work with a truck accident lawyer or a USPS accident lawyer who understands these complex claims. The firm also represents clients in cases requiring a premises liability lawyer, helping victims injured by unsafe property conditions.
No Win, No Fee (Contingent Fee Car Accident Lawyer)
Philadelphia doesn’t go a day without these damaging collisions. In 2024, PennDOT recorded[1] 7,413 vehicle crashes in Philadelphia: 133 fatal injury crashes, 5,013 injury crashes, and 2,267 property damage only (PDO) crashes. That equates to over 20 accidents per day in the city. Many of these incidents involve rear-end collisions, making the guidance of a Philadelphia rear-end accident attorney valuable for victims seeking to understand their legal options.
After an accident, victims and families should be left to heal, but hospital bills and other expenses will show up no matter the circumstances. These hardships are the fault of a careless or distracted driver, and the innocent victims shouldn’t be the ones left to worry over the costs of recovery. In these difficult situations, a local attorney for car accident claims near you fighting for your rights can turn the tide in a battle for compensation.
The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Philadelphia
Address:
1701 Walnut St.
6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
19103
Phone:
(215) 557-8686
Open 24/7
Philadelphia’s Accident Attorney Near You: The Pearce Law Firm
Philadelphia car accident lawyer Edith Pearce, the founder of The Pearce Law Firm, knows the “ins and outs” of car accident law. She worked as an attorney for years for a major auto insurance company. With her wealth of inside knowledge, Edith Pearce has served as an expert local auto accident lawyer for numerous clients, helping them achieve multi-million dollar car accident settlements for victims and their families who have suffered tragic results of car accidents in Philadelphia. This includes cases requiring a motorcycle accident lawyer after a serious roadway injury. She has fought to make sure they receive the compensation they deserve for not only car accidents but other motor vehicle accidents such as motorcycle accidents, golf cart accidents, and hit-and-run accidents.
When You’ve Been In A Car Accident – Protect Yourself and Your Rights
Challenges following an auto accident of any kind include dealing with insurance companies, handling extensive paperwork, and trying to get fair compensation after an auto accident for your losses through a Philadelphia auto accident lawsuit. Most individuals are not equipped to deal with these details and can easily be taken advantage of by insurance companies who want to give you as little as possible. If you were struck by a driver without insurance, an uninsured accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation through available coverage options. Remember, the insurance companies have experienced auto accident attorneys working for them, which is why the cost of hiring an attorney is worth it. And why professional legal help for your car accident case is your best protection. Hiring a lawyer that sues insurance companies in Philadelphia can provide numerous benefits for individuals who have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others. If you’re outside of Philadelphia, you can contact our local car accident lawyers in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Injured in a Philadelphia Car Accident?
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Expertise & Inside Knowledge of Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Laws From a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Near You
With nearly a decade of experience working inside the automobile insurance industry and for an accident defense firm, Philadelphia car accident lawyer Edith Pearce brings invaluable insider knowledge to every case she handles. This unique perspective enables her to anticipate how insurance companies operate, fight back against negligence, and assist injured victims in pursuing the maximum compensation they deserve. As a female personal injury attorney, Edith Pearce combines compassion, experience, and aggressive advocacy for injured victims throughout Philadelphia.
As the founder of The Pearce Law Firm, Edith Pearce has earned recognition as a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She has been honored with the prestigious Super Lawyers® designation. Her firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of car accident victims throughout Philadelphia, focusing on recovering medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and fair compensation for pain and suffering.
Unlike larger firms with dozens of attorneys who may pass your claim from one person to another, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every lawsuit and settlement negotiation from start to finish. She takes pride in offering compassionate, client-focused legal representation where you are never treated like just another file.
To strengthen each case, The Pearce Law Firm uses a strategic combination of aggressive discovery, detailed site investigations, expert witness interviews, and a thorough review of medical and engineering evidence. This comprehensive approach ensures that every client has the strongest possible foundation for settlement negotiations or trial. Whether dealing with a serious injury, disputed liability, or complex insurance issues, Edith Pearce and her team are committed to providing professional, responsive, and effective legal advocacy that prioritizes clients’ needs.
Getting the Compensation You’ll Need After a Car Accident in Philly
The cost of damages that the victim and the victim’s family of an auto accident may be entitled to include:
- hospital and medical expenses
- past and future lost earnings
- past and future permanent physical disability, such as a limp, scars, loss of a limb
- emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety
- grief and emotional suffering caused by the death of a loved one
- loss of love and companionship caused by the death of a loved one
- damage or destruction of property
- physical pain and suffering
- loss of enjoyment of life
Depending on the seriousness of the injuries incurred from your car accident there could be short-term and long-term consequences. Accidents involving buses or public transportation may require a SEPTA accident lawyer who understands the special rules governing claims against transit authorities. Many times an injury will cause a pre-existing condition (such as an old back injury) to be aggravated, causing greater pain and suffering than before. Sometimes a car accident injury does not appear serious at first but may continue to cause pain and disability.
To protect your legal rights following a serious auto accident injury or death due to a car accident in Philadelphia or the surrounding area, it is wise to consult a personal injury law firm with experience in these matters as soon as possible. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may become hard to find. The Pearce Law Firm has experience getting maximum compensation for car accident cases in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Philadelphia car accident attorneys at The Pearce Law Firm will work diligently to arrive at a timely settlement or proceed to trial to obtain fair compensation for your injuries.
Car Accident Lawyer Philadelphia
Why Choose Us As Your Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer?
No Recovery/No Fee/ Contingent Fee Cases Accepted
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania or New Jersey or if you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and your auto accident occurred out of state, please contact us for a FREE auto accident consultation. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about our No Fee Guarantee. Like other reputable contingency lawyers, our firm does not charge any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. Contact a no win no fee lawyer today. If you are ever in a car accident involving public transportation in Philadelphia, you will need to have an experienced Philadelphia mass transit accident lawyer on your side.
We are dedicated to protecting your rights and obtaining full and fair compensation for you.
Read what Sam had to say about us plus other reviews on Avvo:
“I highly recommend contacting Edith Pearce. After an accident I was in, I was scared and worried about the medical bills. Friends suggested I contact an attorney, and I’m so fortunate I found Pearce Law! She reassured me and was patient in answering all my questions. She handled all communication with insurance, doctors, etc, and provided timely updates. I especially appreciated her quick response time! She and her team worked their magic, and I was so surprised and grateful when Edith personally called me about receiving a settlement. I can not thank her or recommend her enough!”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Types of Car Accidents
What to do with a fatal car accident
While an auto accident may be minor and only cause small amounts of property damage, in some unfortunate cases the auto accident could lead to a fatality. Under these devastating circumstances, it is hard to think about what steps to take next, which is why you need a Philadelphia fatal car accident attorney from The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. on your side to help you get through these horrible times. The Pearce Law Firm deals with fatal car accident cases in Philadelphia and can help you through this difficult time.
A wrongful death lawsuit may be brought by the family of a victim who was killed as the result of another person’s actions. In order for a wrongful death to ensue, your family member must not have been 100% at fault for the accident that ultimately caused his or her death, but was instead a result of the other party’s negligence or actions. The wrongful party does not necessarily have to be another driver, but could be a car manufacturer or even a driver in the same vehicle in which your loved one was traveling (if your loved one was a passenger).
Contact a local Philadelphia fatal car accident lawyer today. It is always a heartbreaking and stressful time when you lose a loved one, but having the right attorney on your side can help to make that time less stressful. At The Pearce Law Firm, P.C., we will strive to give you the best help, advice, and services to help you initiate a wrongful death lawsuit.
Types of Car Accident Injuries
When You Break a Bone in a Car Accident
There are several ways to fracture or break a bone in a car accident. Because there are different types of fractured bones, you may not even immediately realize you have one. Broken and fractured bones can occur in car accidents due to blunt force trauma or crushing weight, such as when a person is pinned in a car.
Although a broken bone may not sound as serious as other accident injuries such as head trauma, it can lead to serious complications and create unexpected expenses. And when another driver is responsible for the accident, an entire set of additional complications must be dealt with. Treatment and recovery can be stressful enough without having to manage legal complications, insurance negotiations, and the finances of a car accident injury. However, the Pennsylvania auto insurance claim lawyers near you at the Pearce Law Firm can help you navigate these processes and make sure the right person is held responsible for your injuries.
A broken bone or fractured bone normally heals correctly once set and protected by a splint or cast. There are, however, occasions when a break is so severe that pins or plates installed via surgery may be required. When this happens, it may mean that even after the surgery, the affected limb and bone may be weaker and not function as they once did.
Types of Bone Fractures (Broken Bones)
Bones can be completely fractured or partially fractured, and the fracture can be crosswise, lengthwise, or in several places, causing multiple types of fractures in one injury.
The severity of a bone fracture depends on a couple of factors: where the fracture is on the body and the force of the impact. Though a bone feels like it’s ungiving and sturdy, it can actually bend when force is applied. Once the force reaches a certain point, the bone breaks.
The break may result in a crack or hairline fracture, or a complete break, or the shattering of the bone. There are several types of breaks that typically happen in an impact caused by an auto accident:
- Open Compound Fracture: The bone is fractured and is sticking through the skin. These can happen as incomplete or partial breaks, and the bone is usually visible.
- Stable Fracture: The bone is broken but remains in place and lined up fairly well.
- Transverse Fracture: In this fracture, the break runs crosswise to the length of the bone and is often called a horizontal break.
- Oblique Fracture: The fracture at an angle to the length of the bone.
- Comminuted Fracture: The bone is broken into at least three pieces, and these can be either stable or compound.
- Greenstick Fracture: These happen in very young children whose bones are still pliable, and like breaking a green stick, they break only after bending significantly.
- Stress Fracture: This can be a small crack or even severe bruising of the bone. Typically not caused by an impact but over time from a repetitive motion.
- Pathological Fracture: A break caused by a weakness in the bone which then gives way under a normal stress load.
Common Causes of Bone Fractures in Car Accidents
Bone fractures happen in many ways. The most common way is an impact trauma brought on by a single incident like a car accident. Bones can also break because of a disorder or osteoporosis. Overuse can also cause a break and is commonly a stress fracture.
In a car accident, sometimes the trauma of an impact will hasten a break where a disorder or repetitive stress had weakened the bone. Some of the ways bones get broken in a car accident are:
- Being thrown forward into the dashboard or back of the seat
- Tossed from side to side
- Slammed into the inside roof of the vehicle
- Bounced around inside the vehicle in a rollover.
- Front airbag deployment
- Side airbag deployment
- A seatbelt can cause a fracture or break
- Ejection from vehicle
Although there are several different types of broken bones, they can be roughly divided into two categories: open and closed. Closed fractures are the most common and occur when the damage fails to puncture the skin. An open fracture, conversely, occurs when the bone actually breaks the skin and is then exposed. This type of fracture poses risks aside from the broken bone itself because the open wound can lead to an infection or other complications.
Even a closed fracture can lead to problems aside from the broken bone. For instance, fat embolism syndrome (FES)[2] might occur. This syndrome sometimes occurs when the fat from the marrow of the bone gets into other areas of the body and causes further medical problems.
As you can see, the issues you face with a fractured bone after an accident can extend much further than just recovery time. Whatever you face due to your injury, a Philadelphia broken bone lawyer from our office can help you receive the compensation that you are due.
Symptoms of a Fracture After an Accident
The most common symptom of a broken bone is pain and lots of it. This, coupled with swelling, obvious deformity, or even a bone visible through the skin are all signs of a break. If there is pain and swelling only, this can be caused also by a severe sprain or deep bone bruise. Sometimes the only way to diagnose a fracture is to take an x-ray.
During this time, your ability to work or perform daily functions may be limited. In addition to the medical bills, you may also face lost income and an inability to carry out the day-to-day tasks you once could without a second thought.
Treatment/Recovery of Broken Bones After an Accident
The extent of treatment depends on the severity of the break. In all broken bones, the doctor will take measures to immobilize the area of the break and possibly instruct the patient not to use or put weight on the broken bone.
Casts or splints are used to immobilize the broken bone, but this can only be done after swelling is reduced and the bone has been realigned or reset
Surgery
SurgeryIn many cases, the break is too severe to just reset and then put in a cast. It may require surgery to put the pieces in place or align the bone properly. In many of these injuries, a pin or other fastening method might be used.
Also, an external fixation device might be used to keep the bones from moving. Some of these are left in place under the skin while others are removed. In some extreme cases, a person can be put in traction to ensure that the broken bones are not moved so they can heal.
Recovery
A broken bone heals slowly. It may take several weeks or even months to heal a bone completely. When this is done, it may be yet another while before the patient has full movement of the broken area. The cast, pins or fixation device will not be removed until the bone has healed, and once it is removed, there will usually be more work and time before the patient can have normal use of the area.
It’s true that broken bones happen all the time, which may make them seem like they’re not a big deal, but such injuries can have a significant impact on your life. Children might suffer broken bones from being careless and playing around, but adults are more likely to sustain a fractured bone or broken bone because of a car accident or some other unfortunate circumstance.
While many broken bones heal cleanly, there could also be complications that sometimes occur, resulting in increased medical expenses. No matter what the cause or how well the bones are healing, if you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should speak with an experienced Philadelphia broken bone lawyer from the Pearce Law Firm, PC to seek compensation for your losses.
Drive Safely in Pennsylvania
Factors like weather and vehicle malfunction can play a part in accidents, but a rough estimate puts driver error responsible for 85-90% of all traffic crashes. That may be your mistake behind the wheel, but more likely, it’ll be the careless driver that’s in front, beside, or behind you. It doesn’t matter how careful you drive, a distracted motorist’s mistake can make it impossible to avoid a collision.
You may find yourself the victim of a bad driver and facing injuries and a long recovery. In these cases, you should talk to a local attorney who specializes in car accidents. Trusting your hospital bills and other financial losses to a stranger and his or her insurance company can leave you without the money you’ll need now and in the future to return to a normal life. As the statistics every year show, there’s no shortage of careless drivers on Pennsylvania roads, and chances are they’ll be one in your lane at some point on every trip you make.
Do you have limited tort or full tort on your policy?
Limited tort:
Two types of insurance coverage can be purchased in Pennsylvania, which are known as “limited tort option” and “full tort option.” To find out if you have “limited tort” or “full tort” check the declaration page of your policy. Under Pennsylvania law, those who select the limited tort option may not bring suit for non-economic damages or “pain and suffering,” unless they have suffered a “serious injury.” A serious injury is defined by law as a personal injury resulting in death, permanent and serious disfigurement, or serious impairment of bodily function. At present, the courts in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania are still interpreting what constitutes a “serious injury.” Generally, the courts will look to see if the injury has significantly affected your ability to perform your normal activities of daily living for a long period of time and caused you to suffer a significant amount of pain and discomfort during that period of time. Edith Pearce recommends you choose the “full tort” option or change to the “full tort” option. Choosing limited tort saves you very little money in annual premiums, as little as $100 to $200, yet it may cost you thousands of dollars by not allowing you to recover for certain injuries. If you have “limited tort,” on your auto policy, you may still have a case and you need an experienced Philadelphia auto insurance dispute attorney like Edith Pearce to help prove you have a serious injury to allow you to recover. Learn more on the Pain and Suffering Car Accident Calculator.
Full tort:
Full Tort allows you to retain unrestricted rights to bring suit against the negligent party in an car accident, whether your injury is considered “serious” or not. Do not be fooled by the insurance companies claim to save you money. Make sure you choose the full tort option to protect you and your family.
What Insurance Coverage Can Pay for Your Philadelphia Car Accident Injuries?
There are multiple types of insurance policies that may be relevant to helping you recover from your injury in a car accident in or near Philadelphia, such as:
- First-party medical benefits
- Income loss benefits
- Funeral and accidental death benefits
- Extraordinary medical benefits
- Uninsured motorist coverage (UM)
- Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM)
- Stacked UM/UIM coverage
- Bodily injury liability
- Umbrella and excess liability
- Commercial auto liability
- Rideshare liability coverage (see our Philadelphia Uber Accident Lawyer and Philadelphia Lyft Accident Lawyer pages)
- Employer liability
- Health insurance
- Workers’ compensation
- Dram shop liability
- Government or municipal liability
