Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, the law is extremely nuanced, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Anyone injured in a crash should have their specific facts evaluated individually.
Pennsylvania recorded 110,765 reportable traffic crashes in 2024, and Philadelphia consistently accounts for a disproportionate share of them relative to its population. The city logged 123 traffic fatalities in 2023 alone. These numbers are not abstract. Behind each one is a person whose life changed in an instant, and often a family left to sort out medical bills, lost income, and an insurance company that is in no hurry to make things right.
At Kwartler Manus, our attorneys have handled more than 2,500 personal injury cases and taken over 250 matters to jury trial across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We’re here to walk you through what the crash data actually shows, why the numbers matter if you have been hurt, and what to look for in a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia if you find yourself needing one.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Philadelphia Each Year?
Pennsylvania as a whole saw crash totals rise even as fatalities fell. According to PennDOT's 2024 Crash Facts and Statistics report, the state recorded 110,765 reportable crashes in 2024, an increase of 383 from 2023, while fatalities dropped by 82 to 1,127 statewide. That made 2024 the second-lowest fatality year since PennDOT began keeping records in 1928.
Philadelphia's picture looks different from the state's. The city's 2024 Vision Zero Annual Report documented 123 traffic deaths in 2023, and as of October 2024, the city had logged 84 fatal crashes compared to 100 over the same period the year before. Even with that improvement, Philadelphia's per capita traffic fatality rate remains one of the highest among major U.S. cities.
| Metric | Pennsylvania (Statewide) | Philadelphia |
| Reportable crashes, 2024 | 110,765 | Thousands annually, concentrated on a small share of streets |
| Traffic fatalities, 2024/2023 | 1,127 (2024) | 123 (2023) |
| Injuries, 2024 | 66,950 | Not broken out separately in city reporting |
| Trend since 2020 | Fatalities down from 2021 peak | Severe crashes more likely to end in death |
The city's Vision Zero data shows that since 2020, severe crashes in Philadelphia have become more likely to be fatal, with 29% of severe crashes ending in death in 2023 compared to 17% in 2019. Deaths among people walking and biking increased 65% compared to the 2015 to 2019 average.
What's Causing These Crashes?
PennDOT attributes the vast majority of Pennsylvania crashes to driver choices rather than road conditions or vehicle defects. This includes:
- Driver behavior: PennDOT reports that driver behavior contributes to 83% of all crashes statewide, covering distraction, aggressive driving, and failure to follow traffic laws.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol-related fatalities fell from 429 in 2023 to 342 in 2024, but nearly three-quarters of people killed in those crashes were driving drunk themselves.
- Speeding: Speed remains one of the most cited factors in severe and fatal Philadelphia crashes, particularly on high-volume corridors.
- Intersection crashes: Statewide, intersection fatalities actually rose from 301 in 2023 to 321 in 2024, and fatalities at stop-sign intersections rose from 98 to 111 in the same period.
- Distracted driving: Texting and phone use behind the wheel continue to factor into crashes across the city, even though it is harder to isolate in official reporting than speed or alcohol.
Speed limits, texting bans, and DUI thresholds in Pennsylvania are set out in 75 Pa. C.S. § 3362, § 3316, and § 3802, respectively. Violations of these statutes often become central evidence in establishing fault after a crash.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Not every minor car accident requires the involvement of an attorney. However, if medical treatment, missed work, or a disputed insurance claim becomes a factor, the situation changes. Insurance adjusters are skilled at minimizing payouts, and an unrepresented claimant often finds themselves at a significant disadvantage during negotiations.
A lawyer's value typically comes from a few specific functions:
- Preserving evidence before it disappears: Skid marks fade, surveillance footage is overwritten, and witnesses' memories dim within weeks. An attorney who acts quickly can secure that evidence before it's lost.
- Pushing back on lowball offers: Insurance companies routinely dispute or undervalue claims, and a lawyer who understands how adjusters calculate offers is generally better positioned to negotiate.
- Protecting the filing deadline: Pennsylvania law generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the injury under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, and missing that deadline can bar recovery entirely, regardless of how strong the underlying claim might have been.
- Navigating exceptions correctly: There are limited exceptions to that deadline, such as tolling for minors, but they are narrow and fact-specific. That's exactly the kind of determination an attorney should make, rather than something an injured person should guess at on their own.
Whether hiring a lawyer changes the outcome of any individual case depends entirely on the facts involved. No attorney can promise a particular result, and anyone evaluating whether to hire counsel should treat that evaluation as specific to their own situation rather than a general rule.
How to Choose the Right Car Accident Attorney
It is worth asking any prospective car accident lawyer directly about their trial record, not just their settlement totals. A firm that has never taken a case to verdict has less leverage in negotiations, because insurers know what happens if the case never goes to court.
| What to Look For | Why It Matters |
| Trial experience, not just settlement history | Insurers negotiate differently when they know a firm is prepared to take a case in front of a jury |
| Transparent fee structure | You should understand exactly what percentage the firm takes and when, before signing anything |
| Direct attorney access | Firms that route clients through case managers only can slow communication at critical moments |
| Verifiable track record | Look for documented settlements and verdicts in cases similar to yours, not just a general claim of experience |
| Defense-side background | Attorneys who have represented insurance companies understand how claims are evaluated and defended from the inside |
Kwartler Manus attorneys collectively include several who spent years on the defense or insurance side before switching to represent injured plaintiffs, including attorneys who managed litigation for national insurance carriers. That perspective informs how cases are built and negotiated from day one.
What It Costs to Hire a Lawyer: Contingency Fees Explained
Most personal injury attorneys, including the team at Kwartler Manus, work on a contingency fee basis. That means the client pays no upfront legal fees. The attorney is instead paid a percentage of whatever is recovered through settlement or verdict, and if there is no recovery, there is generally no fee owed for legal services.
This arrangement exists for a few reasons:
- No upfront cost: Injured people are frequently dealing with medical bills and lost income at the exact moment they would otherwise need to pay a retainer, so contingency fees remove that barrier.
- Aligned incentives: The firm is only paid if the case succeeds, which ties the attorney's interest directly to the client's outcome.
- Case expenses vary: How costs like expert witness fees or filing costs are handled, and whether they're deducted before or after the contingency percentage, can differ by firm and by case.
- Percentages aren't universal: The exact percentage a firm charges can vary, so it's worth asking any attorney to explain their fee agreement in plain terms before signing anything.
No fee structure guarantees a particular outcome, and the amount ultimately recovered depends on the specific facts, injuries, and liability picture of each case.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
The actions taken in the hours and days after a crash can affect both a person's health and the strength of a potential claim:
- Call 911 and get medical attention, even if injuries seem minor at first. Some injuries, like soft tissue damage or concussions, do not present symptoms immediately.
- Document the scene with photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries, if it is safe to do so.
- Get a police report and obtain the report number for insurance and legal purposes.
- Exchange information with the other driver, including insurance details, but avoid discussing fault at the scene.
- Follow through on medical treatment and keep records of every appointment, diagnosis, and bill.
- Be cautious with insurance adjusters. You are not required to give a recorded statement right away, and anything said can later be used to minimize your claim.
- Consult an attorney before signing any settlement offer, particularly if injuries are ongoing or the full extent of damage is not yet known.
From there, the legal process typically moves through claim investigation, negotiation with the insurer, and, if a fair settlement is not reached, filing a lawsuit. How long that process takes depends heavily on the complexity of the injuries and whether liability is disputed.
Why Kwartler Manus Is the Firm Philadelphia Drivers Call After a Crash
The crash data is clear on one point: Philadelphia's roads carry real risk, and the outcomes of a serious crash often extend well beyond the initial collision.
Kwartler Manus attorneys have secured a $227 million global settlement in the Salvation Army Market Street Collapse case, among the largest personal injury settlements in Pennsylvania history, and the firm holds a 4.9-star rating across nearly 500 client reviews. That combination of large-scale litigation experience and consistent day-to-day client service is what we bring to every car accident case we take on, whether it settles in weeks or requires years of litigation.
If you have been injured in a car accident, Kwartler Manus offers a free case review to help you understand your options. Every case is different, and the right next step depends on the specific facts of what happened to you. Contact us today.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 2024 Traffic Fatalities in Pennsylvania Second Lowest on Record
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Crash Facts & Statistics
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Crash Newsletter, Summer 2025
- City of Philadelphia, 2024 Vision Zero Annual Report
- Pennsylvania General Assembly, 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524 — Two Year Limitation
- Pennsylvania General Assembly, 75 Pa. C.S. Chapter 33 — Rules of the Road
- Pennsylvania General Assembly, 75 Pa. C.S. Chapter 38 — Driving After Imbibing Alcohol or Utilizing Drugs