Philadelphia Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers
Edelstein Law represents people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, rideshare, pedestrian, bicycle, and other serious crashes throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We build claims around preserved evidence, medical documentation, insurance coverage, and the full impact of the injury.
Contingency fees for qualifying cases · Confidential intake · Serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Support Note: If you believe there’s surveillance or dashcam footage, timing matters—video is often overwritten.
Motor Vehicle Accident Representation
Why Serious Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Demand Early Preparation
Motor vehicle accident claims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey often turn on preserved crash evidence, consistent medical documentation, available insurance coverage, and a clear account of how the injuries changed daily life. Edelstein Law moves early to organize that proof and prepare each claim for serious negotiation or trial.
Motor Vehicle Practice
Motor Vehicle Accident Cases We Handle
Explore the collision types and insurance issues addressed within Edelstein Law’s motor vehicle practice.
01 / 06Case type
Car Accidents
Rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, distracted driving, impaired driving, multi-vehicle accidents, and catastrophic injury cases.
02 / 06Case type
Commercial Truck & Fleet Collisions
Claims involving tractor-trailers, delivery vehicles, rideshare contractors, corporate fleets, and work trucks. These cases often require rapid evidence preservation (logs, maintenance, dispatch, training).
03 / 06Case type
Motorcycle & Bicycle Accidents
Claims involving visibility, left-turn crashes, unsafe lane changes, roadway hazards, and serious injuries to motorcycle riders or bicyclists.
04 / 06Case type
Rideshare Accidents (Lyft & Uber)
Coverage can change based on app status and trip stage. We identify policy layers and preserve platform-related records when relevant.
05 / 06Case type
Pedestrian & Crosswalk Collisions
Crosswalk and signal timing issues, visibility and speed analysis, and video preservation.
06 / 06Case type
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage. Available benefits depend on the applicable policy, exclusions, limits, and claim requirements.
Protect Your Health and Claim
What to do after a crash
After a crash, immediate safety and medical needs come first. When it is safe and practical, preserve information that can help explain what happened and how the injury affected you.
Planning your first conversation? Use our consultation preparation checklist and Client Resources guide to organize the information you already have and your questions for Edelstein Law.
- Get medical care first. Follow your clinician’s recommendations and keep the records you receive.
- Photograph what you safely can. Vehicles, plates, debris, injuries, road conditions, and lighting may help document the scene. Do not enter traffic or delay emergency care to collect evidence.
- Get witness information. Names and contact details—don’t assume the police report captures everything.
- Preserve digital evidence. Dashcam footage, texts, photos, and any social posts related to the crash.
- Track symptoms. Keep a simple symptom journal (pain levels, sleep disruption, limitations).
- Understand recorded-statement requests. Ask who is requesting the statement and under which policy. Your own policy may require cooperation; seek legal advice about your obligations before a detailed statement.
- Keep a clear treatment timeline. Record appointments, recommendations, and any barriers to care. Do not delay needed care while gathering claim documents.
Claim Evaluation
Damages we evaluate
Depending on the governing law, proof, and applicable insurance, a claim may involve the following losses. Available compensation and any restrictions require an individual review.
Economic damages:
- Medical bills, therapy, prescriptions, future care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property losses and out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures and daily function
- Disfigurement, scarring, permanent limitations
Records, medical opinions, and other reliable evidence help connect each claimed loss to the crash. No outcome or amount is guaranteed.(Supported by records and consistent medical documentation.)
Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Rules that can change your strategy
Pennsylvania
- Many injury claims must be filed within two years (with exceptions depending on facts).
- Comparative negligence generally reduces a negligence award by the injured person’s share of fault. Recovery is generally barred if that fault is greater than the combined negligence of the defendants against whom recovery is sought.
- PA auto policies often involve limited tort vs full tort elections that can affect non-economic recovery, subject to exceptions.
New Jersey
- Many injury claims must be filed within two years (with exceptions depending on facts).
- Comparative negligence generally reduces a negligence award by the injured person’s share of fault. Recovery is generally barred if that fault is greater than the negligence of the defendant, or combined defendants, against whom recovery is sought.
- New Jersey personal injury protection (PIP) can pay covered medical expenses for covered people regardless of who caused the crash. Eligibility, limits, deductibles, copayments, exclusions, and any health-insurance-primary election matter. This does not eliminate all fault-based claims.
Government-related claims: Claims involving a public agency, government vehicle, or public property can have special notice, immunity, and filing rules. Shorter notices may apply under Pennsylvania’s government-notice statute and New Jersey’s official state-claim notice guidance. Seek a prompt, individual deadline review; do not rely on the general two-year explanation.
Helpful official resources
Start with our Pennsylvania and New Jersey crash-report guide to identify the agency, roadway exceptions and report limits.
Pennsylvania—Request a Crash Report
New Jersey—NJ Accident Report Portal
Building the Record
Evidence that helps explain a motor vehicle claim
Crash reports, photos, video, medical records, wage information, and qualified expert analysis can help explain fault, causation, and the effects of an injury. Their usefulness depends on reliability and the facts; evidence does not guarantee a settlement or a particular value.
Useful records may include:
- Police or crash report info (agency + report number)
- Photos or video (scene + injuries + property damage)
- Witness statements
- Vehicle data (EDR/“black box,” if applicable)
- Medical records and a clear treatment timeline
- Wage loss proof (missed work, restrictions, employer verification)
- Future care needs (when supported by treating providers and records)
Preserve original files and existing records. Avoid altering or deleting potentially relevant material, and ask counsel about evidence held by other people or organizations.Hard truth: The defense rarely pays for what you can’t prove.
Common Questions
Motor Vehicle Accident FAQs
For an overview of investigation, negotiations and possible court proceedings, read What Happens During a Personal Injury Case.
How long do I have to file?
Many Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury claims have a two-year filing period, but the start date, exceptions, and defendant can change the analysis. Government-related claims may require much earlier notice. Seek an individual deadline review promptly; contacting a law firm does not extend a deadline.
What if I’m partly at fault?
Pennsylvania and New Jersey generally reduce a negligence award by the injured person’s percentage of fault and bar recovery when that fault is greater than the defendant’s, or combined defendants’, negligence against whom recovery is sought. The governing law and facts require individual review.
Should I give a recorded statement?
Ask which insurer is requesting the statement and under which policy. A detailed statement can affect a claim, while your own policy may include cooperation duties. Seek advice about those duties and the request before proceeding.
What if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured?
UM/UIM coverage may be available under an applicable policy, but it is not automatic in every case. Policy terms, exclusions, limits, state law, and notice or settlement requirements matter.
How do fees work?
Edelstein Law handles qualifying cases on contingency—no attorney fee unless compensation is obtained. Ask about eligibility, case costs, and the terms of the written fee agreement.
Sources checked October 28, 2026. General information and attorney advertising; not individual legal or medical advice. The facts, governing law, and insurance determine each claim. An inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship or protect a deadline.
Explore the Motor Vehicle Practice
Detailed guidance for common collision and roadway claims
Continue to a focused page for the crash cause, vehicle type, roadway condition, or evidence issue that best matches your questions.