How Much is Your Claim Worth?
How Much is Your Claim Worth?
Here we teach what you need to know about Pennsylvania car crash laws and your legal responsibilities after an accident.
There are specific rules governing how to behave after a car crash. Failing to comply with these legal duties can lead to serious penalties. For this reason, as a Pennsylvania driver, it’s vital that you know and obey the state laws concerning car crashes.
This page breaks down Pennsylvania’s auto accident laws so that you can better understand how to adhere to your obligations. You can also review Chapter 37 0f the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code to learn more.
Under Pennsylvania law, if you get into a car accident that results in injury, death, or property damage, you must immediately stop at the scene.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death of any person shall immediately stop and shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of section 3744. Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
The driver involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to property shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle, and upon request exhibit his driver’s license and information relating to financial responsibility to any person injured or to the driver or occupant of any vehicle and shall give the information to any police officer.
After a car crash in Pennsylvania, you have a legal responsibility to render aid to any injured people. This means you must provide them with “reasonable assistance,” such as arranging for transportation to a hospital to receive medical help if it seems necessary or is requested by the injured person.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the making of arrangements for the carrying of the injured person to a hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if requested by the injured person.
When you are involved in a car accident in Pennsylvania, you must give immediate notice to the nearest police department if someone is injured or killed. You must also inform the authorities of any crash where a vehicle is damaged to the point it needs to be towed.
If the driver is physically incapable of contacting the police, another occupant must do so instead.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice to the nearest office of a duly authorized police department if the accident involves injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power and therefore requires towing.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving an immediate notice of an accident and there is another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, the occupant shall make or cause to be given the notice not given by the driver.
According to Pennsylvania law, it is a summary offense to fail to report a car crash when you are required to do so. The penalty for a conviction is a $25 fine.
It is a summary offense for any person to violate any of the provisions of this title unless the violation is declared to be a misdemeanor or felony. Every person convicted of a summary offense for a violation of any of the provisions of this title for which another penalty is not provided shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $25.
Pennsylvania law requires you to immediately stop your vehicle if you are involved in an accident that causes property damage, even if there are no injuries. You must also exchange information with the other people involved and provide your details to any police officers on the scene.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property shall immediately stop the vehicle and shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of section 3744. Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in damage to property sshall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle, and upon request exhibit his driver’s license and information relating to financial responsibility to any person injured or to the driver or occupant of any vehicle and shall give the information to any police officer.
If you hit a parked car in Pennsylvania, you must notify the owner of the vehicle directly. You can leave a note instead, but you must also immediately report the accident to police if you do so. Either way, you must provide your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information.
The driver of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which is unattended resulting in damage shall immediately stop and either locate and notify the owner of the damaged vehicle of his name, address, information relating to financial responsibility and the registration number of the vehicle or shall attach a written notice and notify the nearest police department.
Even if you’re the safest driver on the road, accidents can still happen. As a Pennsylvania driver, you have certain duties to perform after a crash, and it’s important to know what to do if one occurs. If you take the time to learn and obey the law, you can avoid penalties and protect yourself legally.
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