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Injured in a car accident? Don’t face the insurance companies alone.
Since 1997, the attorneys at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick have represented accident victims and their families throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We combine a relentless work ethic, a team approach and personal attention. When we accept a case, we commit to it fully.
After a Car Accident: What to Do
- Get to safety and call 911. Check for injuries.
- Get medical care right away, even if you do not feel seriously hurt. Some injuries show up later.
- Call the police so there is an official report.
- Gather information: photos, witness names and the other driver’s insurance.
- Call a lawyer before you give a statement to any insurance company.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Admitting fault at the scene
- Posting about the accident on social media
- Signing releases or insurance forms without advice
- Delaying medical treatment. Gaps in care can hurt your case.
- Downplaying your symptoms. Tell your doctors every complaint, accurately.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Rules That Affect Your Case
- Full tort vs. limited tort. If you chose limited tort, you generally cannot recover for pain and suffering unless you suffered a “serious injury” or an exception applies. Examples include crashes where the other driver is convicted of DUI or accepts ARD, or was driving a vehicle registered in another state. Why we recommend full tort.
- Your own policy pays medical bills first. Pennsylvania requires at least $5,000 in first-party medical benefits, regardless of fault.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy can pay when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough.
- Shared fault. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share.
- Deadline. Most lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency, such as PennDOT or a city vehicle, require written notice within six months, and immunity laws limit some claims.
How We Build Car Accident Cases
- Thorough investigation. We gather the evidence, witness statements and medical records early.
- Experts when they matter. In one case, police did not take full measurements at the scene. Our accident reconstructionist proved the other driver was speeding, which changed the liability picture and led to a successful recovery.
- Early pressure. We often recommend filing suit promptly, while still working toward a fair resolution.
- Trial-ready. Insurance companies know we are prepared to try cases to a jury.
We handle crashes on the Turnpike, I-79, I-279, I-376, Route 28, Route 65, Route 22 and roads throughout Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
What You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering and loss of life’s pleasures
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Representative Results
- $2.3 million for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle
- More than $2 million in a highway crash
- $1 million settlement in a highway collision
See more case results. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Related Cases We Handle
Talk to an Injury Lawyer
Every case starts with a conversation with a lawyer. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. Our injury cases are handled by Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel, working with Shawn Flaherty.
Call 412-802-6666 or email Managing Partner Noah Fardo at npf@pghfirm.com. Prefer to text? Use 412-855-5511. More answers: Personal Injury FAQ.
There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery. We advance the case costs and are reimbursed from the client’s share only if we are successful. General information only, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Car Accidents
FAQ
Chapter 1.1 - Understanding Pennsylvania Car Accidents and The Law
1. What should I do immediately after a car accident in Pittsburgh?
Immediately after a car accident, the first and most important priority is your health and safety, and the health and safety of everyone involved — no matter who is at fault. The safety of all parties should always come first.
Steps to take right away:
- Check for injuries to yourself, passengers, and others involved.
- Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or if there is significant vehicle damage.
- If you are unsure whether to call the police, err on the side of contacting them. Police can:
- Document what happened for purposes of determining liability.
- Assist in assessing whether medical care is necessary.
- Move vehicles out of traffic if it is safe to do so.
- Never leave the scene until permitted by police.
- Exchange insurance and contact information with all drivers involved.
- Take photos of the accident scene, vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Get names and contact information of witnesses who saw the accident.
Medical follow-up:
- Even if you feel fine, see a doctor promptly. Many injuries — such as concussions, whiplash, or internal injuries — may take hours or even days to appear.
- Early evaluation helps protect both your health and your potential legal claim.
Things NOT to do:
- ❌ Don’t admit fault — even casually. Fault will be determined later based on evidence.
- ❌ Don’t threaten a lawsuit at the scene.
- ❌ Don’t fight or argue with the other driver — it can escalate the situation and harm your claim.
- ❌ Don’t lose awareness of your surroundings — stay alert to traffic, hazards, and your personal safety.
Yes. Even if damage looks small, having the police document it can be the difference between winning and losing your claim. Without a report, it’s just your word against the other driver’s.
Pennsylvania law adds another requirement: under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3747, if police do not investigate an accident that legally required reporting, you must file a written accident report with PennDOT within five days. That report is confidential and cannot be used as evidence in court (except in narrow circumstances), but it protects you from later accusations of failing to report.
So even in “minor” crashes, documentation is critical.
Yes. Some of the most serious injuries—neckinjuries, concussions, whiplash—don’t show symptoms until days or weeks later.I represented a new mom who told everyone she was “fine” at the scene. Monthslater, she was in serious pain with restricted movement. We secured a strongsettlement, but the defense hammered her for not treating earlier. Protectyourself. Get checked.
Call the police immediately and document everything you can. Pittsburgh juries value honesty—they can smell dishonesty a mile away. What you say and do after a hit-and-run matters. Your uninsured motorist coverage may apply, but these claims require careful handling.
Fault is based on evidence: the police report, witness statements, photos, sometimes accident reconstructions. Don’t assume that what someone admits at the scene will stick. Stories change. Documentation doesn’t.
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar
- If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages.
- If you are 50% or less at fault, you can recover—but your award is reduced by your share of fault.
For example, $100,000 in damages with 20% fault =$80,000 recovery.
What is the difference between “limited tort” and “full tort” insurance?
- Full tort: You can recover for both economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering)
- Limited tort: You generally cannot recover for pain and suffering unless your case qualifies for an exception.
Exceptions include:
- Serious injury (death, permanent impairment, disfigurement)
- Drunk driver accidents
- Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclist
- Commercial or out-of-state vehicles
- Accidents with uninsured drivers
We’ve had countless clients blindsided by limited tort. Always know what you bought.
Yes. As long as you were 50% or less at fault, you can recover, but your award is reduced by your share of responsibility. If you are 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovery.
Chapter 2 – Insurance & Claims
No. Adjusters are professional negotiators. You won’t talk your way into a better settlement, but you can absolutely talk your way into hurting your claim.
The bigger issue isn’t whether your premiums rise—it’s whether you’re properly compensated. I’ve seen clients offered $2,500to settle when their claims were worth $50,000 or more. Don’t leave money on the table worrying about premiums.
This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) comes in. These cases are often the single largest source of recovery in serious accidents. Many times, we’ve had to file lawsuits against our clients’ own insurance companies to enforce their UIM coverage. It feels backwards, but it’s how the system works.
Pennsylvania drivers are required to carry at least $5,000 in medicalbenefits coverage. Your own PIP pays for your medical bills up to your policylimit, regardless of fault.
Never. Recorded statements exist for one reason: to be used against you. I’ve seen innocent, offhand remarks repeated back to clients in court to minimize their injuries. There is no upside.
Coverage can include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, rental carcosts, and in certain cases pain and suffering.
There’s no set deadline. In practice, insurance companies delay as long as possible. They count on injured people getting discouraged—or worse, dying—before the claim is resolved. That’s why pushing cases forward matters.
Chapter 3 – Medical Treatment & Documentation
Yes. If your symptoms don’t get documented, the defense will argue they never happened.
As soon as you notice symptoms. Delays weaken claims, but better late than never. Always be honest, but don’t minimize what you’re feeling.
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state for medical bills. Your own insurance pays first through your PIP (Personal Injury Protection) coverage, regardless of who caused the crash.
An IME is supposed to be a neutral exam, but we call them DMEs—Defense Medical Exams. In nearly 30 years, I’ve never seen one that wasn’t biased. We often send a nurse or advocate with clients to make sure the exam is fair.
Medical records, bills, accident reports, photos, witness statements, and proof of lost wages are all critical.
Yes. We’ve structured annuities for clients—including children—to cover ongoing or future medical costs. These are often vital in serious injury cases.
Chapter 4 – Hiring a Pittsburgh Car Accident Attorney
No. But if you’re seriously injured, you absolutely do. Insurance companies know who the serious trial lawyers are. Representation changes everything.
The earlier the better. We’ve had adjusters treat cases very differently the moment they know our firm is involved. Early involvement means stronger evidence, better documentation, and more leverage.
Look for experience, results, and honesty. Ask lawyers what kinds of cases they’ve taken to trial. Ask about past settlements. And make sure they listen to you.
Accident reports, medical records, insurance information, photos, and a list of your doctors. But don’t stress—we can help gather documents if you don’t have everything.
We work on contingency. That means no upfront fees. There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery.
A percentage of your recovery, agreed to upfront. There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery.
Yes. Always.
Chapter 5 – The Legal Process
Two years from the date of the accident. For minors or cases where the injury wasn’t immediately discoverable, exceptions apply.
We file a complaint in court, the defense responds, and discovery begins. Cases may go through mediation or arbitration before trial.
Most settle. But the only way to get a fairsettlement is to prepare for trial. Insurance companies only pay full value ifthey believe they’ll lose in court.
It depends on the complexity of the case, injury recovery time, and whether it goes to trial. Some settle in months; others take years.
Yes, if you have full tort coverage or meet a limited tort exception.
Your attorney can negotiate further, file a lawsuit, or pursue arbitration / mediation if applicable.
Mediation is a structured negotiation with a neutral mediator. Arbitration is like a mini-trial. Both can be useful, but I prefer virtual mediation so clients don’t get trapped in long, draining sessions. If the defense asks for mediation, we often require them to pay the cost if it fails.
Chapter 6 – Compensation & Damages
Case value is fluid. It depends on your recovery, your medical needs, your lost income, and how a jury might view your pain. I usually give ranges, not hard numbers, because values move as the case develops.
Severity of injury, length of recovery, lost wages, future losses, credibility, and how well the case is prepared for trial.
Yes. Past and future lost wages are often major parts of recovery. We’ve had cases where the biggest fight was over future income loss—especially for younger workers with overtime-heavy jobs.
Yes. Property damage is part of your claim, though it’s often handled separately from injury compensation.
Punitive damages punish reckless, outrageous conduct—like drunk driving. They aren’t available in every case, but when the facts justify them, we pursue them.
Chapter 7 – Special Situations
Passengers have the same rights as drivers. You can pursue claims against whichever driver was at fault—or both.
We’ve handled many of these cases. Police involvement is crucial. Juries take drunk driving seriously, and punitive damages may apply.
Rideshare cases involve corporate insurance policies, and coverage depends on whether the driver was logged into the app. These claims can be complex, but the insurance limits are usually higher than in private cases.
We’ve handled trucking cases on the PA Turnpike,I-376, I-79, and throughout Allegheny and Beaver Counties. These cases often involve multiple layers of corporate insurance and require thorough discovery.
Liability can be shared among multiple drivers. Evidence and reconstruction are key. We’ve handled chain-reaction crashes where determining fault required expert analysis.
Motorcycle accidents almost always involve more severe injuries, and limited tort doesn’t apply to motorcyclists.
Chapter 8 – Protecting Your Rights
Don’t admit fault. Don’t skip medical care. Don’t post about your accident on social media.
No. Even positive posts like “Feeling better today!” can be used against you. Insurance companies comb social media looking for ways to minimize claims.
Once you sign, your claim is over. You can’t reopen it. That’s why you should never sign anything without talking to a lawyer.
Preparation. The best settlements come when the defense knows we’re ready to try the case. A case prepared for trial almost always settles higher.
It’s rare, but it happens. After nearly 30 years, I can say disagreements are uncommon once trust is built. Our job is to give honest advice; the final choice is always yours.
