The first thing to do after a car accident
The first thing to do after a car accident in Pennsylvania is stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or a car cannot be driven away. Pennsylvania law requires drivers in a crash involving injury to stay at the scene, exchange information and help anyone injured (75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3742, 3744), and to notify police immediately if anyone is hurt or a vehicle needs to be towed (§ 3746).
After that, your focus is simple: get medical care, preserve evidence, and be careful what you say to insurers. The steps below cover each part.
At the scene
If you can move safely, get out of traffic. On a road such as West Chester Pike, I-476 or the Schuylkill Expressway, stay behind a barrier or well off the shoulder while you wait.
- Call 911 if anyone is injured or a vehicle cannot be driven
- Exchange names, addresses, vehicle registration numbers, driver's license and insurance information with the other driver
- Photograph every vehicle, license plate, the road, traffic signals, skid marks and your injuries
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses before they leave
- Note nearby businesses or homes that may have cameras
- Ask the officer for the report or incident number and the name of the police agency
- Do not apologize, guess about speed, or argue about fault
Get checked by a doctor, even if you feel fine
Adrenaline hides pain. Neck and back injuries, concussions and internal injuries often show up hours or days later. Go to an emergency room, urgent care or your own doctor promptly, and tell them you were in a car crash.
Prompt care protects your health first. It also creates a record linking your injuries to the crash. A gap of weeks between the crash and your first treatment is one of the first things an insurance adjuster points to when arguing you were not really hurt.
In the days that follow, watch for headaches, dizziness, numbness or tingling, worsening neck or back pain, confusion, and abdominal pain. Any of these is a reason to go back to a doctor right away.
Tell your own insurer and open a first-party benefits claim
Report the crash to your own insurance company promptly, even if the other driver was at fault. In Pennsylvania, your own policy pays at least $5,000 in first-party medical benefits no matter who caused the crash (75 Pa.C.S. § 1711). Opening that claim gets your medical bills paid while the injury claim is sorted out.
Give your insurer the basic facts: date, time, place, vehicles and injuries. You do not need to describe every symptom or predict your recovery. Say you are still being treated.
Be careful with the other driver's insurance company
The other driver's insurer may call within a day or two, sounding friendly and asking for a recorded statement. You are generally not required to give one to the other driver's insurer, and it is usually wise to decline until you have talked to a lawyer.
Anything you say can be used to argue that you were partly at fault, which reduces your recovery under Pennsylvania's comparative negligence rule (42 Pa.C.S. § 7102), or that you were not badly hurt. Do not accept a quick settlement or sign a release before you know the full extent of your injuries.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer
- Do not say you are fine or feeling better
- Do not guess about speed, distance or who hit whom first
- Do not discuss earlier injuries or medical history
- Do not sign medical authorizations or releases they send you
Check your tort election
Find your declarations page and look for limited tort or full tort. That choice controls whether you can claim pain and suffering. Under limited tort, you can recover pain-and-suffering damages only for a serious injury or when an exception applies, such as a DUI conviction or ARD for the at-fault driver, an at-fault vehicle registered in another state, or an uninsured at-fault driver (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705). Our guide to limited tort vs. full tort explains each exception.
Get the crash report
The police agency that investigated the crash holds the report: the Upper Darby Township Police Department, another local department, the Philadelphia Police Department, or the Pennsylvania State Police. State Police crash reports are available 15 days after the crash for a $22 fee, to people involved in the crash, their attorney or insurer.
If police were required to be notified but no officer investigated, each driver involved must send a written report of the crash to PennDOT within five days (75 Pa.C.S. § 3747). PennDOT's form for this is the AA-600 Driver's Accident Report. Our guide on getting a Pennsylvania crash report covers each agency's process.
Keep records from day one
Start a folder, paper or digital, and keep everything. Claims are built on documents, and the ones that get lost are hard to replace.
- Medical bills, visit summaries and prescriptions
- Pay stubs and a note of every day of work missed
- Repair estimates, towing and rental receipts
- Photos of your injuries as they heal
- Every letter, email and claim number from any insurer
- A short daily note on pain, sleep and what you could not do
Know your deadlines
In Pennsylvania, an injury lawsuit after a car accident generally must be filed within two years of the crash (42 Pa.C.S. § 5524). Exceptions exist, including for injured children, but do not count on one. If a government vehicle or agency is involved, including a SEPTA bus or trolley, written notice is generally due within six months (42 Pa.C.S. § 5522).
Some evidence disappears much sooner. Business and traffic camera video is often recorded over within days, and vehicle data can be lost when a car is repaired or scrapped.
When to call a lawyer
Call a lawyer if you were hurt, if you missed work, if fault is disputed, if you have limited tort, if the other driver was uninsured or fled, or if an insurer denies or delays a claim. Early advice is cheaper to act on than a mistake is to undo.
Warren I. Siegel has practiced in Pennsylvania since 1992, with automobile accidents at the core of his practice, and works out of our Upper Darby office at 8000 West Chester Pike. Our fee is 100% contingency: no attorney fee unless we recover, the firm advances all case costs, and those costs are repaid only from a recovery. Call (267) 412-4601, answered 24 hours a day, or send the free case review form.
Questions People Ask About What to Do After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania
What should you do immediately after a car accident?
Stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or a car must be towed. Exchange information with the other driver, take photos, get witness contacts, and see a doctor promptly.
Do I have to call the police after a minor accident in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires immediate notice to police when anyone is injured or killed, or when a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it has to be towed. For a minor crash with no injuries, calling is still a good idea, because a police report helps with any claim that follows.
What should you not do after a car accident?
Do not leave the scene, admit fault, skip medical care, give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer, post about the crash online, or sign a release before you understand your injuries.
Should I file an insurance claim if I was not at fault?
Yes, with your own insurer for first-party medical benefits, which pay regardless of fault in Pennsylvania. You will also make a claim against the at-fault driver's insurer for losses beyond those benefits.
What should I not say to an insurance adjuster?
Avoid apologies, guesses about speed or distance, statements that you are fine, and details about past injuries. Stick to basic facts and refer the other driver's insurer to your lawyer.
How long after a car accident can I make a claim in Pennsylvania?
Report to your own insurer right away, since policies require prompt notice. The deadline to file an injury lawsuit is generally two years from the crash, and six months for notice to a government agency. Exceptions exist.
Is it better to pay for car repairs myself or go through insurance?
For very small damage with no injuries, some people pay out of pocket. If anyone was hurt, report the crash to your insurer so your first-party benefits are available and your claim is documented.
What symptoms should I watch for after a car accident?
Headaches, dizziness, confusion, numbness or tingling, neck or back pain that gets worse, and abdominal pain. Delayed symptoms are common. See a doctor if any appear.
Does insurance forgive a first accident?
Some insurers offer accident forgiveness as a policy feature, and it varies by company and policy. Ask your agent what your policy includes.
Should I report a minor hit-and-run to the police?
Yes. A police report is required before an unidentified vehicle is treated as uninsured for an uninsured motorist claim, and you must notify your insurer within 30 days or as soon as practicable.
Sources
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3742 (accidents involving death or personal injury)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3744 (duty to give information and render aid)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746 (immediate notice of accident to police)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3747 (written report of accident by driver or owner)
- PennDOT Form AA-600, Driver's Accident Report
- Pennsylvania State Police: Request a copy of a vehicle crash report
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1711 (required medical benefit)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705 (tort options)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1702 (uninsured motor vehicle definition)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102 (comparative negligence)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 (two-year limitation)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522 (notice to government units)
Written for general information by the office of Warren I. Siegel, Esq., Pennsylvania Attorney ID 65342. Last reviewed 2026-09-25. This is not legal advice for your situation, and deadlines vary by claim. Talk to a lawyer before relying on any date.