Pennsylvania car accident laws

Fault rules, the filing deadline, insurance minimums and crash data for Pennsylvania, from public sources.

PennsylvaniaPA

Pennsylvania at a glance.

Insurance system

Choice no-fault

Drivers choose no-fault or traditional coverage. On a no-fault policy, your own insurance (PIP) pays first for medical bills and lost pay, no matter who caused the crash. Suing the other driver usually depends on meeting the state's injury threshold.

Fault rule

Modified, 51% bar

You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault, minus your share. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.

Injury filing deadline

2 years

42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2).

Minimum liability coverage

15/30/5

$15,000 per person and $30,000 per crash for injuries, plus $5,000 for property damage. PIP is also required. PIP of $5,000 is required. Choice of full or limited tort (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705).

Crash deaths, 2023

1,211

That's 9.3 per 100,000 residents. Below the national rate of 12.2 per 100,000.

What else moves an estimate.

State law sets the frame. The details of your crash fill it in. Each estimate weighs these against our proprietary data from hundreds of thousands of cases.

Get my estimate

Working with a lawyer: Of everything here, this moves an estimate the most. Your estimate shows the range for cases like yours with a lawyer and without one.
When you got care: Care on the day of the accident ties your injuries to the crash. Insurers often point to a delay in care to argue an injury is minor.
The injury itself: What the injury is, and how long it lasts, shapes most claims. Lasting symptoms usually count for more than injuries that heal quickly.
Medical bills: Medical bills are usually a large part of a claim, including care you'll likely still need.
Missed work: Lost wages can be claimed, and so can lost earning ability if your injury limits your work.
Who caused it: Clear fault on the other driver usually makes a claim stronger. Most states reduce what you can recover by your share of the blame.
A police report: A police report helps show what happened and who was involved.

Frequently asked questions.

Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?: Pennsylvania is a choice no-fault state. Drivers choose no-fault or traditional coverage. On a no-fault policy, your own insurance (PIP) pays first for medical bills and lost pay, no matter who caused the crash. Suing the other driver usually depends on meeting the state's injury threshold.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania?: Usually 2 years from the crash for most injury lawsuits. 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2). Exceptions apply, such as claims against a government agency, so talk to a lawyer soon if time is short.
What if I was partly at fault in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania follows modified comparative fault (51% bar). You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault, minus your share. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.
What car insurance is required in Pennsylvania?: Drivers need at least 15/30/5 in liability coverage: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per crash for injuries, plus $5,000 for property damage. Personal injury protection (PIP) is also required. PIP of $5,000 is required. Choice of full or limited tort (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705).

Sources for Pennsylvania.

Last updated November 2026. Laws change, so confirm your deadline with a lawyer licensed in Pennsylvania.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS state-by-state fatality facts (2023 deaths and rates)
Justia, Comparative & Contributory Negligence Laws: 50-State Survey
AccidentClaimLawyers.com, Accident claim laws by state (deadlines, fault, negligence, minimums)
QualitySpace, US 50-state auto insurance minimum liability limits (2026)
800 Perkins, Statute of limitations by state for personal injury claims
Alabama Department of Insurance, State auto insurance laws (list of tort and no-fault states)

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