How to Report a Car Accident in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If anyone is injured or there is significant property damage, call 911 immediately. For accidents within Pittsburgh with no injuries but property damage exceeding $1,000, or if any vehicle cannot be driven safely, call the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police non-emergency line at (412) 323-7800 to request an officer.

If the accident occurred on a Pennsylvania highway or interstate (I-376, I-279, I-79, I-76), the Pennsylvania State Police may respond. State Police Troop B covers Allegheny County. Even if the accident occurred on a city street, the State Police may handle certain situations.

While waiting for the officer, stay at the scene. Pennsylvania law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3742) requires drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to stop immediately and remain at the scene. Leaving is a criminal offense — a hit-and-run involving injury or death is a felony. Exchange insurance information with the other driver, take photos of the vehicles and scene, and collect contact information from any witnesses.

When the officer arrives, provide your license, registration, and insurance information. Describe what happened factually — do not speculate about fault or apologize. The officer will complete a crash report and give you a report number or receipt. Keep this number — you will need it to obtain a copy of the report later.

Pennsylvania's $1,000 property damage threshold applies to total damage — not per vehicle. Most vehicle repairs exceed $1,000 even for seemingly minor collisions, so assume your accident needs to be reported. If you are unsure, report it. There is no penalty for reporting an accident below the threshold, but there are penalties for failing to report one that meets it.

Pennsylvania also requires reporting if any vehicle is damaged to the point it cannot be driven safely and must be towed. This is a separate trigger — even if the dollar amount is under $1,000, an undrivable vehicle means the accident must be reported.

Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state, which is unique. When you purchase auto insurance, you choose between full tort and limited tort coverage. Full tort gives you the unrestricted right to sue for pain and suffering. Limited tort restricts your ability to sue for non-economic damages unless your injuries are 'serious' — defined as permanent impairment of body function, serious disfigurement, or death. Your tort election significantly affects your legal options after an accident.

If police did not investigate your accident and it meets the reporting threshold, you must file a Driver's Accident Report (PennDOT Form AA-600) within 5 days of the accident. The form is available online at pa.gov (search for 'AA-600') or from any local police station.

Complete the form with all required information: your name, address, driver's license number, vehicle information, insurance details, the date and location of the accident, a description of what happened, and information about the other driver(s) and vehicle(s) involved. Be thorough and accurate — the information becomes part of the official record.

Mail the completed form to: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Operations, P.O. Box 2047, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2047. There is no fee to file this report. Keep a copy for your records. Failure to file can result in driver's license suspension.

Pennsylvania requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance: $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage (75 Pa.C.S. § 1702). Pennsylvania also requires $5,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage. If you were involved in an accident and cannot show proof of insurance, you face license and registration suspension.

Because Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state, your first-party medical benefits (sometimes called 'PIP' or 'first-party benefits') cover your own medical expenses regardless of who was at fault, up to your policy limits. This is separate from the liability question of who caused the accident.

If the other driver was uninsured, report this to your own insurance company. Pennsylvania requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, though you can reject it in writing. If you have UM/UIM coverage, it may cover your injuries and damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.

Reporting the accident properly is one of the most important things you can do to protect your personal injury claim. Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar (42 Pa.C.S. § 7102). If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. The police report plays a critical role in the fault determination.

Your tort election (full tort vs. limited tort) also matters. If you selected limited tort, you generally cannot recover pain and suffering damages unless your injuries meet the 'serious injury' threshold. However, there are exceptions — if the at-fault driver was convicted of DUI, was driving an unregistered vehicle, or was from out of state, limited tort restrictions may not apply. The police report documents these circumstances.

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of injury (42 Pa.C.S. § 5524). While 2 years may seem like a long time, building a strong case requires gathering evidence early. The police report is the foundation of that evidence. Report the accident immediately and consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Call 911 if anyone is injured. Move vehicles out of traffic if it is safe to do so — Pennsylvania law (75 Pa.C.S. § 3745) requires drivers to move vehicles that are obstructing traffic when it can be done safely. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Take photos of all vehicles, the accident scene, traffic signs, road conditions, and any visible injuries.

Get names and phone numbers from witnesses. Do not admit fault or apologize — anything you say at the scene can be used against you later. Accept medical treatment if offered by EMS. Adrenaline can mask injuries, and some serious injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding may not produce symptoms for hours or days.

Write down the responding officer's name, badge number, and the report number before leaving the scene. If you seek medical treatment later, tell the doctor that your injuries are from a car accident and describe all symptoms, even ones that seem minor. Medical records connecting your injuries to the accident are essential evidence for your claim.

If you were injured in a car accident in Pittsburgh and have reported the accident, take our free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Pennsylvania's filing deadline for your specific claim, how fault is determined under Pennsylvania's comparative negligence law, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Reporting the accident is the first step to protecting your rights. Understanding your legal options is the second. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to decide what comes next.