What to do after a car accident in Pennsylvania
Every rule below is quoted from Pennsylvania law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
Choice no fault state
The short answer
Pennsylvania is an at-fault, choice no-fault state. Every driver picks full tort or limited tort coverage on their own policy, and if no choice is made, the law treats the driver as having picked full tort. A driver must immediately notify police by the fastest means available if the crash caused injury or death, or if a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it cannot be driven away under its own power without further damage. You have 2 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Pennsylvania.
Deadlines in Pennsylvania
- 2 years
- to sue for injuries42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524(2)
- 2 years
- to sue for car or property damage42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524(3)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a death42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524(2)
- 6 months
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involved42 Pa.C.S. Section 5522(a)
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must give their name, address and vehicle registration, show their driver's license and proof of insurance if asked, and give any injured person reasonable help, including arranging to get them to a doctor or hospital if that is clearly needed or requested.
“shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving, and shall upon request exhibit his driver's license and information relating to financial responsibility...and shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the making of arrangements for the carrying of the injured person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if requested by the injured person.”
When you must call the police
A driver must immediately notify police by the fastest means available if the crash caused injury or death, or if a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it cannot be driven away under its own power without further damage.
“The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice to the nearest office of a duly authorized police department if the accident involves: injury to or death of any person; or damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner without further damage or hazard to the vehicle, other traffic elements, or the roadway, and therefore requires towing.”
Moving your car out of traffic
Pennsylvania's Steer Clear law requires a driver in a crash without an apparent serious injury or death to move a drivable vehicle out of the roadway to the shoulder, emergency lane, median, or another safe spot, if it can be moved safely.
“the driver of any vehicle in an accident that does not result in apparent serious bodily injury or death shall immediately remove the vehicle from the roadway to a safe refuge on the shoulder, emergency lane or median or to a place otherwise removed from the roadway whenever, in the judgment of the driver: The motor vehicle does not require towing and can be normally and safely driven...The motor vehicle can be moved safely.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
If police do not investigate a crash that should have been reported, the driver must send a written report to PennDOT within 5 days.
“If a police officer does not investigate an accident required to be investigated by section 3746 (relating to immediate notice of accident to police department), the driver of a vehicle which is in any manner involved in the accident shall, within five days of the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the department.”
Getting a copy of the crash report
You can request a copy of a Pennsylvania State Police crash report online. It costs $22 and is not available until 15 days after the crash.
“The fee for a crash report is $22. Crash reports are available 15 days after the date of the crash. Use the Online Crash Report Requests site to get a crash report.”
Who pays for the damage
Pennsylvania is an at-fault, choice no-fault state. Every driver picks full tort or limited tort coverage on their own policy, and if no choice is made, the law treats the driver as having picked full tort.
Insurance rules in Pennsylvania
What insurance every driver must carry
Pennsylvania drivers must carry at least $15,000 in liability coverage for one injured person, $30,000 total per accident if more than one person is hurt, and $5,000 for property damage.
“Financial responsibility. The ability to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle in the amount of $15,000 because of injury to one person in any one accident, in the amount of $30,000 because of injury to two or more persons in any one accident and in the amount of $5,000 because of damage to property of others in any one accident.”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Pennsylvania requires every auto policy to include at least $5,000 in medical benefits (called first party benefits) that pay your own medical bills after a crash no matter who caused it.
“An insurer issuing or delivering liability insurance policies covering any motor vehicle...shall include coverage providing a medical benefit in the amount of $5,000.”
When you can sue the other driver
If you chose limited tort, you can only sue for pain and suffering if your injury counts as a serious injury, meaning death, a serious impairment of a body function, or permanent serious disfigurement, or if a specific exception applies, such as the other driver being convicted of DUI in the crash. If you chose full tort, or made no choice at all, you can sue for pain and suffering for any injury.
“Serious injury. A personal injury resulting in death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.”
If the other driver has no insurance
Pennsylvania insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on every policy, but buying it is optional. You can reject it by signing a written rejection form. If the insurer never gives you that form to sign, you get UM/UIM coverage automatically at the same limits as your liability coverage.
“No motor vehicle liability insurance policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth...unless uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverages are offered therein or supplemental thereto...Purchase of uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverages is optional.”
Medical payments coverage
Pennsylvania does not have a separate optional medical payments coverage; instead every policy must include at least $5,000 in first party medical benefits, which pay your own medical bills after a crash no matter who was at fault.
“An insurer issuing or delivering liability insurance policies covering any motor vehicle...shall include coverage providing a medical benefit in the amount of $5,000.”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department online through its Consumer Services Online (CSO) Portal.
“Consumers should report insurance problems online through our CSO Portal”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 2 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Pennsylvania.
“An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 2 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a car crash in Pennsylvania.
“An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for specific recovery thereof.”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
Families have 2 years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania.
“An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a government vehicle or road is involved, you must file a written notice with the government office within 6 months of the crash, before you can sue. Missing this deadline can permanently bar the claim.
“Within six months from the date that any injury was sustained or any cause of action accrued, any person who is about to commence any civil action or proceeding within this Commonwealth or elsewhere against a government unit for damages on account of any injury to his person or property...shall file in the office of the government unit...a statement in writing”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1705(a)(3)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1711(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1702; Section 1705(d)
- 42 Pa.C.S. Section 7102(a)
- 42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524(2)
- 42 Pa.C.S. Section 5522(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 3746(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 3747(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1731(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 3744(a)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Section 3745.1(a)
- Pennsylvania State Police, Request a Copy of a Vehicle Crash Report
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Consumer Help Center
- Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.