Philly Car Accident Attorneys
Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the second most populous city in the Northeast, boasting a population of more than 1.6 million people. The city houses a thriving business district, various art museums, historical landmarks, and three professional sports teams. With these and other notable sites, Philly attracts thousands of commuters and visitors each day, with a heavy concentration of them focusing on Philly’s Center City area. This is the heart of the city that contains the largest skyscrapers along with several government buildings, including City Hall.
These important locations attract a lot of people, which means a heavy concentration of vehicles in one area. With more traffic congregating toward certain popular locations, there are several streets and intersections specifically that have become more dangerous, which means a significant amount of car accidents occurring in those intersections. If you are involved in a car accident in the city, you will need an experienced lawyer on your side. Reach out to our Philly car accident attorneys who can protect your rights.
What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Philly?
With so much traffic traveling in and out of the city each day, the likelihood of car accidents occurring are significant. Over the years, there have been certain hot spots that have become more prone to accidents than others. These roads have demonstrated a consistent record of collisions and significant car accident injuries.
You should avoid traveling on these roads if you can. If your travels require that you traverse one of these dangerous roads, you should do so with caution. The most dangerous roads in Philly include:
- Roosevelt Boulevard: This 11-mile stretch of road is the deadliest road in the entire Commonwealth and runs through the northern end of the city. It has multiple names, including U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 13, and Pennsylvania Route 63.
- Delaware Expressway: This busy road runs along Northeast Philly and can get pretty stressful during rush hour. It has seen its fair share of fatalities over the last few years.
- Schuylkill Expressway: This popular stretch of highway connects Philly to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, which is south of the city. While a popular drive among commuters and tourists, this highway has also seen multiple fatal car accidents when drivers fail to take the proper precautions.
- Broad Street: This is the main artery that runs through the center of the city. It can be a harrowing drive having to navigate pedestrians, traffic lights, bicyclists, and other motorists. Due to the congestion, there have been many fatal car accidents.
- Kelly Drive: This is one of the more scenic drives in the Philly area. This stretch of road extends in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the picturesque Boathouse Row. However, the road has been shut down multiple times due to dangerous accidents, which many have been attributed to speeding. The situation has become such a problem that the city installed sensors in the road to measure congestion and speeds that will trigger red lights to slow down traffic.
- Bustleton Avenue: This is another major roadway on the Northeast section of the city. Those that travel on this road are heading to Feasterville-Trevose or Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. However, they also run the risk of being involved in a deadly accident.
You should drive carefully when traveling on any of these roads. If you do happen to find yourself involved in a collision and suffer injuries, our Philly car accident attorneys can help you seek compensation to recoup the money you had to spend on medical bills.
What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Philly?
While there are certainly roads throughout the Philly area that have proven to be the most dangerous when it comes to motor vehicle accidents, there are certain intersections that have also seen a high number of fatal collisions as well. Each neighborhood has its own group of dangerous and deadly intersections. Those intersections include:
Center City
- Broad Street & Race Street.
- Market Street & 11th Street.
- Market Street & 12th Street.
South Philadelphia
- Broad Street & Washington Avenue.
- Broad Street & Pattison Avenue.
West Philadelphia
- Market Street & 40th Street.
Lower North Philadelphia
- Broad Street & Girard Avenue.
- Broad Street & Lehigh Avenue.
Port Richmond
- Castor Avenue & Aramingo Avenue.
- Allegheny Avenue & Clearfield Avenue.
Roxborough-Manayunk
- Green Lane & Cresson Street.
- Main Street & Green Lane.
Germantown-Chestnut Hill
- Chelten Avenue & Wayne Avenue.
Olney-Oak Lane
- Fifth Street & Olney Avenue.
- Broad Street & Olney Avenue.
Northeast Philadelphia
- Cottman Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard.
- Grant Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard.
Over the years, these intersections in Philly have been the site of catastrophic car accidents. It is important that you exercise caution when traveling through these intersections.
Suffering injuries because you were involved in a severe accident in one of these intersections can be devastating. It may seem as if you have not options or that you cannot afford the medical bills that will arise because of the collision. However, one of our Philly car accident attorneys will be on your side to help you through the situation and help you get the justice you deserve.
How Can I Safely Maneuver a Dangerous Intersection?
Before you enter an intersection, there are certain precautions you should take. Constant vigilance is a quality that not only drivers must maintain, but pedestrians as well. Drivers need to obey all traffic signs and lights and pay close attention to them. They must be wary of pedestrians darting out into the street. State law requires that all drivers yield to pedestrians.
For pedestrians, they must also obey all traffic signs and signals. They should only cross the street using designated crosswalks and wait to cross until they see a signal that allows them to drive. Even then, they should pay attention to traffic in case a driver is not paying attention to the road or traffic signs.
Who Could Be at Fault for an Intersection Car Accident?
Determining who or what caused an intersection accident can be complicated. For instance, many intersections have a certain type of traffic light. In a traditional traffic light, all vehicles must come to a complete stop when the light turns red. If a vehicle fails to do that and enters the intersection, they could hit another vehicle. In this example, the driver who disregarded the traffic light is clearly at fault. However, what if the traffic light malfunctioned or was blinking? Determining fault in this circumstance might not be as easy.
Yielding to oncoming traffic or pedestrians is an important aspect of traversing a busy intersection. You must make sure that it is clear before you proceed. With a traffic light, the flow of traffic is controlled. However, when there is a stop sign, the time of when it will be appropriate to enter traffic will be based on your judgement. A person should not cross any busy road until they are sure that it is safe.
What Should I Do After an Intersection Car Accident?
There are certain steps that you should take following an intersection car accident to ensure your health and safety and to preserve your claim. As best as you can, you should remember the intersection and the direction you were traveling when your vehicle was hit. You should note all traffic signals or signs.
Other steps that you should take include:
- Call the police. An intersection accident can be complicated since traffic is coming from multiple directions. A police officer can sort out what happened and will create an objective report. Be sure to get a copy of the police report.
- Call for help right away. Having an ambulance come to the scene will ensure everyone gets the help they need. You should also have yourself evaluated as soon as possible, even if you do not believe you sustained any injuries. Certain injuries can linger undetected for a while before they surface.
- Speak to all witnesses. Talk with anyone who might have witnessed the accident to see if they have a certain perspective on the crash that you missed. Make sure to at least get each witness’s name and contact information in case you or your lawyer needs to reach out to them later.
- Document the accident scene. In addition to taking notes about the scene of the accident, take pictures as well to illustrate what happened. These pictures should include damage to your car as well as other vehicles involved.
- Cooperate with the police. When the police arrive, make sure to answer their questions and cooperate as much as possible. However, do not admit fault in any way.
- Speak to a lawyer. It is also important to speak to a lawyer following an accident, especially if you have serious injuries. A lawyer will help you explore your legal options and protect your rights.
How Can Philly Car Accident Attorneys Help Me After an Intersection Accident?
In the days immediately after a car accident, a Philly car accident attorney can help you manage the important events that will be taking place. It is important that when you are at the scene of the accident that you cooperate with the police, however, you should not admit fault. Any admission of fault could be used against you by another driver or even your insurance company when you are seeking compensation through a personal injury claim for the accident.
In the days following your accident, a lawyer will represent you and protect your rights. They will also work behind-the-scenes to collect evidence on your behalf. They will speak with witnesses, obtain a copy of the police report, and gather any other documentation related to your case, such as medical tests, doctor notes, and bills. Your lawyer will handle the legal matters while you work on any physical recovery you need to go through.
When it comes to recouping your financial losses, you have multiple options. Your attorney will work with you and lay out your legal options and help you decide the one that you should pursue.
Most people in Pennsylvania will be able to claim a significant portion of their losses through their personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance. Through this benefit, you can recoup your medical expenses, as well as other out-of-pocket expenses you incurred due to your accident. You will not, however, be able to recover any noneconomic expenses, such as pain and suffering.
Your Philly car accident attorney will help you with this process and make sure that you include the correct amount of evidence and paperwork. Your lawyer will also be in an ideal position to fight for you should the insurance company attempt to deny your claim or if your claim will not cover all of your expenses.
If you can file a claim against the at-fault driver, your Philly car accident attorney will know the procedures and how much time they have to file that claim. They will get the process started in an efficient manner. They will use the evidence that they have collected to build your case and determine the proper amount to seek at trial. They can advise you on any problems you might encounter in your case, as well as advise you on potential outcomes.
One aspect they will explain is how Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning that the courts will award compensation based on a person’s level of fault. For instance, if you are found to bear 10 percent liability for a car accident, that 10 percent will be deducted from your overall compensation award. However, it is important to note that you cannot be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. If the court finds that you were more than 50 percent responsible for the car accident, you will not be entitled to collect any compensation.
A Philly car accident attorney will know this aspect of the law and will work to prove that you did not cause the collision.
Philly Car Accident Attorneys at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Are on Your Side if You Have Been Injured in a Collision in Philly
If you have experienced an accident on a dangerous road in Philly, you may have legal options. Our Philly car accident attorneys at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC can help you with your case. Call us at 215-569-8488 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Abington, and Media, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; and Haddonfield, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas.