Dealing with insurance adjusters, medical bills and missed work after a serious accident in Philadelphia can be overwhelming. Proving that someone else caused your injuries, and getting them to pay for what you lost, is hard to do on your own.
You don’t have to handle it alone. The Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers help people hurt in car crashes, SEPTA accidents, falls, dog bites and medical mistakes across the city. We handle cases in every Philadelphia neighborhood, and we can meet you at home, in the hospital or by video, whichever is easiest.
Founding Partner Jon Ostroff and our legal team have recovered millions for people like you, including more than $21 million in verdicts and settlements in Philadelphia County against Greyhound after a single Pennsylvania highway crash. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Injury Cases We Handle in Philadelphia
Our lawyers represent people hurt in many kinds of accidents throughout Philadelphia, including:
Philadelphia’s busy roads, older streets and heavy foot traffic lead to crashes that look different from accidents in the suburbs. Many of the cases we see involve:
Roosevelt Boulevard (Route 1), with its many lanes, high speeds and busy intersections
I-95, I-76 (the Schuylkill Expressway) and I-676, where congestion, merging and sudden stops lead to rear-end and multi-car crashes
Broad Street, Market Street and Center City, where drivers, cyclists and pedestrians share crowded streets
SEPTA buses, trolleys and the Regional Rail, including crashes with SEPTA vehicles and falls while boarding or on platforms
Rideshare and delivery drivers who stop, turn or open doors without warning
Potholes, broken sidewalks and poorly lit stairs at stores, apartment buildings and public property
The cause of the accident decides who may be responsible, whether that’s another driver, a trucking or delivery company, a property owner, a landlord, SEPTA or the City.
Claims Against SEPTA or the City of Philadelphia
Claims against a government agency follow special rules. In most cases, you must give written notice of the claim within six months of the accident (42 Pa.C.S. § 5522). Pennsylvania law also limits the kinds of claims that can be brought against government agencies and caps the amount that can be recovered.
Missing the notice deadline can end a claim before it starts. If a SEPTA bus, trolley or train, a city vehicle, or a dangerous condition on public property was involved, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.
What to Do After an Accident in Philadelphia
Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay
Call the police and ask for the report number (the Philadelphia Police Department handles most crashes in the city)
Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, any hazards and your injuries
Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses
If a SEPTA vehicle was involved, write down the route, vehicle number and time
Don’t give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurance company before talking to a lawyer
Pennsylvania Car Insurance: What Philadelphia Drivers Should Know
After a car crash in Pennsylvania, your own auto policy pays your first medical bills, at least $5,000 in medical benefits, no matter who was at fault. Your tort choice matters too:
Full tort lets you seek compensation for pain and suffering from the at-fault driver.
Limited tort usually limits pain and suffering claims, but there are important exceptions, including serious injuries, drunk drivers and vehicles registered out of state.
Many Philadelphia drivers carry low limits or no insurance at all, so your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be just as important. We review every policy that may apply.
What You Can Recover
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, meaning someone failed to act with reasonable care and caused your injuries. If you can show that another party was at fault, you can seek compensation for:
Medical expenses, including rehabilitation and prescriptions
Lost wages and reduced ability to work in the future
Pain and suffering
Loss of life’s pleasures
Property damage
Loss of consortium
Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 5524, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, your compensation can be reduced if you were partly at fault, and you can’t recover if you were more than 50% at fault.
Results Near Philadelphia
Examples of results our firm has obtained for injured people in and around Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties:
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.See more case results.
Philadelphia Personal Injury FAQs
Do I need a lawyer for a SEPTA accident?
It’s a good idea. SEPTA claims have a six-month written notice deadline, limits on what can be recovered, and rules about which claims are allowed. A lawyer can make sure notice is given on time and that every source of insurance is found.
Where would my case be filed?
A lawsuit for an accident in Philadelphia is usually filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, which sits in City Hall. Smaller cases may first go through the court’s arbitration program. Most cases settle without a trial.
What if I have limited tort?
You may still have a claim. Limited tort has exceptions, including serious injuries, crashes caused by drunk drivers and crashes with out-of-state vehicles. We can review your policy and your injuries in a free case review.
What if the driver who hit me fled or had no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay. Report the crash to the police right away and keep the report number, since most policies require it for hit-and-run claims.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Usually two years from the date of the accident. Claims against SEPTA or the City generally require written notice within six months, so don’t wait.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney
Whatever happened, you deserve fair compensation for the harm you suffered. A Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can explain your options in a free case review. We have helped more than 30,000 injured people, and we can meet you wherever is easiest. Get in touch with our team to get started.
