What to do after a car accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The local steps are quoted from Philadelphia agency pages and the Pennsylvania rules from state law, each with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
Choice no fault state
The short answer
The Philadelphia Police Department covers the whole city. Call 911 for an emergency and 311 for non emergency police help.
Philadelphia police do not come out to a crash that caused only property damage. An officer is sent when someone is hurt, a car needs a tow, a driver may be impaired, public property was hit, hazardous material is involved, or somebody left the scene or will not trade information.
Philadelphia crash reports come from the city Department of Records, not from the police. The city runs its own public safety reports site where you make an account and apply online.
Who comes to a crash in Philadelphia
The agency that responds
The Philadelphia Police Department covers the whole city. Call 911 for an emergency and 311 for non emergency police help.
“Non-Emergency: 311”
When officers actually come out
Philadelphia police do not come out to a crash that caused only property damage. An officer is sent when someone is hurt, a car needs a tow, a driver may be impaired, public property was hit, hazardous material is involved, or somebody left the scene or will not trade information.
“Sworn personnel will not be dispatched/respond to the scene of vehicle crashes that result in property damage only.”
If no officer comes
When no officer comes, you report the crash yourself to a Philadelphia police district, either by walking in or over the phone, and the district is not allowed to turn down a phone report.
“Districts shall not refuse to accept a crash report by phone.”
On the interstates and state highways
The Pennsylvania State Police cover Philadelphia County through Troop K and work the crashes on the roads they patrol, including the expressways. Their report 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.”
What Pennsylvania law requires you to report
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.”
Getting your Philadelphia crash report
Where to get it
Philadelphia crash reports come from the city Department of Records, not from the police. The city runs its own public safety reports site where you make an account and apply online.
“You can get copies of public safety records from the Department of Records.”
How long it takes
Wait 2 to 3 weeks after the crash before you ask for the report.
“PLEASE ALLOW 2 TO 3 WEEKS FROM DATE OF CRASH BEFORE APPLYING FOR COPIES.”
What it costs
A Philadelphia crash report costs $25.
“Police accident report: $25”
If your car was towed
Where it goes and how to get it back
When police are called to a crash in Philadelphia, the city's rotational tow program sends an approved tow company and you get to say where in the city your car is taken. For a car under 11,000 pounds the tow is capped at $215 and storage at $25 for each 24 hours.
“$215 FLAT RATE for towing of motor vehicles weighing less than 11,000 lbs, and $25 per each 24hr period of storage”
Storage is charged by the day in most cities, so the bill grows while a claim is still open. Tell your insurer where the car is as soon as you know.
Pennsylvania deadlines that apply in Philadelphia
- 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)
All Pennsylvania rules: fault, insurance minimums and the full deadline list
The Pennsylvania rules behind your claim
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.
If you were partly at fault
Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence with a 51 percent bar. You can recover money as long as your share of fault is not greater than the fault of the person you are suing. Your award is reduced by your own percentage of fault.
“the fact that the plaintiff may have been guilty of contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery by the plaintiff or his legal representative where such negligence was not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants against whom recovery is sought, but any damages sustained by the plaintiff shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributed to the plaintiff”
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.”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- Philadelphia Police Department, PPD Contacts
- Philadelphia Police Department, Directive 9.6 Vehicular Crashes
- City of Philadelphia, Get a copy of a public safety report
- City of Philadelphia Department of Records, Document recording and service fees
- City of Philadelphia Department of Records, Application for Crash Report
- City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Rotational Tow System Disabled Motor Vehicle Consumer Bill of Rights
- Philadelphia Municipal Court, Civil Division
- Pennsylvania State Police, Request a Copy of a Vehicle Crash Report
The state law behind these steps
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
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.