Just Been in a Car Accident in Pittsburgh?

Your safety and the safety of your passengers come first. Before thinking about vehicle damage, insurance, or who was at fault, take a breath and check whether anyone is hurt.

Call 911 even if injuries seem minor. Under Pennsylvania law (75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3746), drivers must report any accident involving injury, death, or vehicle damage that renders a car inoperable. The responding officer will generate an official crash report — a critical piece of evidence for any future claim.

Adrenaline masks pain for hours or even days. Whiplash, concussions, herniated discs, and internal bleeding often produce no immediate symptoms. Don’t tell anyone at the scene “I’m fine” — that statement can be used against you later by an insurance company looking to minimize your claim.

If your vehicle is drivable and you’re not seriously injured, move it to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights. Pittsburgh’s road network is unlike any other city — the Fort Pitt Tunnel, Squirrel Hill Tunnel, Liberty Tunnel, and the tight merge points on Route 28 and I-376 carry heavy traffic with almost no shoulder space.

Pittsburgh has 446 bridges — more than any other city in the world. Accidents on bridges like the Birmingham Bridge, Fort Duquesne Bridge, or Hot Metal Bridge leave almost nowhere to pull over safely. If your accident happened on a bridge or in a tunnel, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and hazard lights on until emergency responders arrive.

The city’s steep hillside neighborhoods — Mount Washington, Troy Hill, Polish Hill, and the South Side Slopes — have narrow streets with limited sight lines. If you’ve been hit on a hillside road, get your vehicle as far off the travel lane as possible to avoid a secondary collision.

Pull out your phone and photograph everything: all vehicles involved from multiple angles, the intersection or road where it happened, traffic signals or signs, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries. These photos become evidence that insurance adjusters and attorneys will rely on.

Exchange information with the other driver: name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license number, and license plate. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers — witness testimony can make or break a disputed fault claim.

Do not apologize or admit fault at the scene, even if you think you might be partially responsible. Fault determination in Pennsylvania is a legal question that depends on all the evidence, not a split-second impression at the scene. Importantly, Pennsylvania law prohibits the use of seatbelt non-use to establish comparative negligence or reduce damages (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102(d)) — so if you weren’t wearing your seatbelt, it cannot be held against you in a civil claim.

Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state, which means your own auto insurance pays your medical bills first through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), regardless of who caused the accident. But the real question is: can you sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering?

If you chose “full tort” when you bought your policy, you have an unrestricted right to sue the at-fault driver for all damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Full tort gives you the broadest legal options.

If you chose “limited tort” (the cheaper option), you can only recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) unless your injuries meet the “serious injury” threshold. Pennsylvania courts have interpreted “serious injury” to include death, serious impairment of a body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Broken bones, herniated discs requiring surgery, traumatic brain injuries, and scarring generally qualify.

There are exceptions to the limited tort restriction. You may still recover full damages if: the at-fault driver was convicted of DUI, the at-fault driver was from out of state, the at-fault driver was driving an unregistered vehicle, you were a pedestrian or cyclist (not in a car), or you were a passenger in a commercial vehicle. Check your policy — many Pittsburgh drivers don’t remember which option they selected.

If the police responded to the scene, they’ll generate a report automatically. If they didn’t respond, you should file a report with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police or the Pennsylvania State Police within five days.

To obtain a copy of a Pittsburgh police crash report, you can request it from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Records Unit at the Public Safety Building, 1 Smithfield Street. Reports typically take 5 to 10 business days. You can also request Pennsylvania crash reports online through PennDOT’s Crash Report Purchasing System at BuyACrashReport.com. Reports cost $20 for a standard report.

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 72 hours of the accident. Concussions, herniated discs, and internal injuries often have delayed symptoms. A medical evaluation creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries — without it, the insurance company will argue your injuries came from something else.

UPMC Presbyterian is a Level I Trauma Center and the region’s premier facility for critical injuries. Allegheny General Hospital (Allegheny Health Network) also operates as a Level I Trauma Center. UPMC Mercy, UPMC Shadyside, and St. Clair Hospital provide additional emergency and urgent care options throughout the Pittsburgh metro.

Keep every receipt, every doctor’s note, and every prescription. If you miss work, document the days and lost income. These records form the foundation of your injury claim.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company will contact you quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours. They may sound friendly and understanding. They are not on your side. Their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible.

You are not legally required to give them a recorded statement. If they ask, say: “I’m not prepared to give a statement at this time.” They may also offer a quick settlement. Don’t accept it — early settlement offers are almost always far below the actual value of your claim, especially before you know the full extent of your injuries.

If you have limited tort coverage, the insurance company will aggressively argue that your injuries don’t meet the “serious injury” threshold. Do not discuss your injuries in detail with anyone except your doctor and your attorney.

Pennsylvania’s tort system — with its full tort/limited tort distinction, PIP coverage, and comparative negligence rules — is more complex than most states. An experienced attorney can review your insurance policy, determine whether your injuries qualify under limited tort, and build a case that maximizes your recovery.

Under Pennsylvania’s Fair Share Act (2011), defendants are generally liable only for their percentage share of fault, not for other defendants’ shares. This means identifying every responsible party is critical — especially in multi-vehicle accidents on corridors like I-376 or Route 28.

Most personal injury attorneys in Pittsburgh work on contingency. No upfront cost. Free initial consultation. You pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.