Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNN Underscored Money, Investopedia, Credit Karma, The Balance, USA Today, and Yahoo Finance, among others.
Kelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she is a Columnist at Inc. Magazine.
Christy Bieber, J.D.,
Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNN Underscored Money, Investopedia, Credit Karma, The Balance, USA Today, and Yahoo Finance, among others.
Kelly Main
Kelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she is a Columnist at Inc. Magazine.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, is dripping with history. But it also sees more than 117,000 car accidents each year. Each accident means that there is the chance that someone got hurt and may need to navigate the confusing insurance system to get paid.
But getting what you are entitled to in Philly can be difficult. Philadelphia has a lot of accident lawyers to choose from, but Forbes Advisor has you covered.
We compiled a list of the best car accident lawyers in Philadelphia, as well as some guidance on how to choose an attorney that’s right for you.
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Show Summary
- Best Car Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
- Compare Our Top Attorneys
- Methodology
- How To Find a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
- Start With Your Network
- Understand Fees
- What’s Their Speciality?
- Can They Litigate?
- Seek Out Organization
- Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia
- What Type of Communication Can You Expect?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Best Car Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
Compare Our Top Attorneys
Methodology
To come up with the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Philadelphia in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including Philadelphia bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
How To Find a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
It can be overwhelming to choose a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia because there are so many to choose from. By understanding what makes a good lawyer, you can sift through the options and find one who you feel good about. Always interview several to see where you find the best fit.
Here are some tips to consider when looking for your car accident lawyer in Philadelphia.
Start With Your Network
Talk to people you know and ask if anyone has experience with a good car accident lawyer in the area. If someone you know does have experience with a lawyer, ask them about that experience. Find out what they liked about working with the lawyer and what they didn’t. Both points of view help you paint a better picture of working with a particular lawyer. Most people can find a good list to start with by simply asking friends and family for referrals.
Should your network come up short, look online to find car accident lawyers near you. In doing so, be sure to not only consider each attorney’s rating, but also the number of reviews they have to further gauge their skills and expertise.
Understand Fees
A car accident attorney should not be charging an hourly fee. Instead, they charge a percentage of the settlement that is only paid when you get paid. This is called a contingency fee. The average range for car accident attorneys is 33% to 40%, so finding someone within this range should be expected. Higher fees should be a red flag to you.
What’s Their Speciality?
Car accident lawyers are personal injury lawyers who specialize in helping auto accident victims. If possible, find someone who specializes in car accident cases and who has enough experience to easily navigate and negotiate with insurance carriers and their processes. Ask the lawyer about their caseload and what percentage of car accidents are of the entire caseload.
Can They Litigate?
Of course, any lawyer can go to court, but if your case ends up going to court, you want a lawyer who is experienced in the courtroom. Only about 5% of accident cases end up in court, so this isn’t a big number. However, if you experienced serious injuries with a lot of time missed from work, you’ll want to make sure that you are prepared if the case does go to court. Having a litigator on your side means that your lawyer won’t back down from negotiating settlements that you’re entitled to and will take further action if needed.
Seek Out Organization
There are a lot of moving parts with an injury case. Lawyers must coordinate with clients, insurance carriers, medical providers, witnesses and more. You want an organized lawyer who won’t let things fall through the cracks. One key sign of organization is a clean and tidy office. A lawyer who has a stack of files sitting on his desk (or maybe even the floor) might not be the best choice for your case.
Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia
Smaller accidents don’t always need a lawyer to handle the settlement, but if you’re involved in a serious accident with significant injuries or another party who is denying fault, you may want to get a lawyer on your side. Lawyers understand how to work with insurance companies to get the most out of a case and won’t settle for the low-ball offer most victims get directly. Having a lawyer also takes a lot of stress off of victims who don’t need to worry about getting the runaround from insurance carriers and, instead, have someone on their side doing the heavy lifting while they heal.
What Type of Communication Can You Expect?
Each lawyer is different when communicating with clients regarding their accident cases. Clients should expect updates every few weeks. This communication could be by way of an email or a phone call. Remember that the lawyer works on contingency, so you aren’t being charged every time they pick up the phone, but that means they may not always be the most communicative. You should ask a lawyer up front what their communication style is to make sure it follows your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations in Philadelphia for car accidents?
Pennsylvania has a two-year statute of limitations for injuries in the state. This timeframe starts with the date of the accident or injury. If you do not pursue your claim within the statute of limitations, your claim will be time-barred and you will be unable to obtain compensation for your losses.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in a car accident in Pennsylvania?
Yes, you can sue for pain and suffering after a car accident. However, you must be able to prove the extent of your damages. This can involve providing expert testimony, testimony of eyewitnesses, and evidence such as diaries detailing the pain you endure. Pain and suffering is considered part of your non-economic damages, and some insurers will offer you a settlement that pays you a set amount of money per day you endure pain or that is a multiple of the amount of compensation you receive for actual economic damages.
