Best Car Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
Compare Our Top Attorneys
| LAWYER NAME | PA BAR ASSOCIATION STATUS | YEAR ADMITTED TO PA BAR | LAW SCHOOL ATTENDED | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christy Adams | Active | 1994 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| George J. Badey | Active | 1982 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| Scott A. Bennett | Active | 1976 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| Brian S. Chacker | Active | 1999 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| A. Roy DeCaro | Active | 1974 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| Joel D. Feldman | Active | 1981 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| Francesca A. Iacovangelo | Active | 2002 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law | |
| Todd Lasky | Active | 2001 | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | |
| I. Michael Luber | Active | 1969 | George Washington University Law School | |
| Brian A. Wall Jr. | Active | 1988 | Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law |
How To Find a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
It can be overwhelming to choose a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia because there are so many to choose from. By understanding what makes a good lawyer, you can sift through the options and find one who you feel good about. Always interview several to see where you find the best fit.
Here are some tips to consider when looking for your car accident lawyer in Philadelphia.
Start With Your Network
Talk to people you know and ask if anyone has experience with a good car accident lawyer in the area. If someone you know does have experience with a lawyer, ask them about that experience. Find out what they liked about working with the lawyer and what they didn’t. Both points of view help you paint a better picture of working with a particular lawyer. Most people can find a good list to start with by simply asking friends and family for referrals.
Should your network come up short, look online to find car accident lawyers near you. In doing so, be sure to not only consider each attorney’s rating, but also the number of reviews they have to further gauge their skills and expertise.
Understand Fees
A car accident attorney should not be charging an hourly fee. Instead, they charge a percentage of the settlement that is only paid when you get paid. This is called a contingency fee. The specific percentage can vary depending on whether the case is resolved by a settlement or it goes to trial. It is usually between 25% and 40%, with most attorneys charging around 33%, so finding someone within this range should be expected. Higher fees should be a red flag for you.
What’s Their Speciality?
Car accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers who specialize in helping auto accident victims. If possible, find someone who specializes in car accident cases and who has enough experience to easily navigate and negotiate with insurance carriers and their processes. Ask the lawyer about their caseload and what percentage of car accidents are of the entire caseload.
Can They Litigate?
Only a very small number of motor vehicle accident cases end up in court and very few go to trial all the way to a verdict, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. However, if you experienced serious injuries and missed a lot of time at work, you’ll want to make sure that you are prepared if the case goes to court. Having a litigator on your side means that your lawyer won’t back down from negotiating settlements you’re entitled to and will take further action if needed.
Seek Out Organization
There are a lot of moving parts with an injury case. Lawyers must coordinate with clients, insurance carriers, medical providers, witnesses and more. You want an organized lawyer who won’t let things fall through the cracks. One key sign of organization is a clean and tidy office. A lawyer who has a stack of files sitting on his desk (or maybe even the floor) might not be the best choice for your case.
Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia
Smaller accidents don’t always need a lawyer to handle the settlement, but if you’re involved in a serious accident with significant injuries or another party who is denying fault, you may want to get a lawyer on your side. Lawyers understand how to work with insurance companies to get the most out of a case and won’t settle for the low-ball offer most victims get directly. Having a lawyer also takes a lot of stress off of victims who don’t need to worry about getting the runaround from insurance carriers and, instead, have someone on their side doing the heavy lifting while they heal.
What Type of Communication Can You Expect?
Each lawyer is different when communicating with clients regarding their accident cases. Clients should expect updates every few weeks. This communication could be by way of an email or a phone call. Remember that the lawyer works on contingency, so you aren’t being charged every time they pick up the phone, but that means they may not always be the most communicative. You should ask a lawyer up front what their communication style is to make sure it follows your preferences.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Philadelphia in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including Philadelphia bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Philadelphia Car Accident Laws
What is the statute of limitations for car accidents in Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for injuries in the state. This timeframe starts with the date of the accident or injury. If you do not pursue your claim within the statute of limitations, your claim will be time-barred and you will be unable to obtain compensation for your losses.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in a car accident in Pennsylvania?
It depends. Pennsylvania is one of the few states that allows drivers to choose whether to opt into the no-fault system or opt out of it. Here’s how it works.
• Opting into the no-fault system by choosing limited tort coverage. Opting in comes with more affordable insurance premiums, but drivers will recover only out-of-pocket medical expenses and other damages for crashes involving more minor injuries. Drivers who opt in cannot sue the driver who caused the crash for certain damages such as pain and suffering, unless their injuries are severe and fall within an exception to no-fault rules.
• Opting out of the no-fault system by choosing full tort coverage. With full tort coverage, drivers can pursue a claim against the driver who caused the crash. Drivers who opt out can settle out of court or file a lawsuit. Either way, injured drivers should make certain they are compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other economic and non-financial losses caused by the accident.
