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Pennsylvania car accident laws
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state? Partly. Pennsylvania lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage.
Pennsylvania gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Pennsylvania is $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per crash and $5,000 for property (15/30/5).
You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendants' (50% or less), with your award reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing.
Quoted from Pennsylvania statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Pennsylvania | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years for injuries to the person caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Two years for taking, detaining or injuring personal property | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(3) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years for an action for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another (the statute does not state the starting event; Pennsylvania courts run it from the date of death) | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2) |
| Claims against a government body | Within six months of the injury or accrual of the cause of action, a person about to sue a government unit must file a written statement of the claim with that unit (and with the Attorney General for Commonwealth parties). | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5522(a)(1) |
| Insurance system | choice no-fault; PIP required ($5,000). To sue: Under the 'limited tort' option, you can recover medical and other out-of-pocket expenses but not pain and suffering unless you have a 'serious injury' (death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement), or an exception applies (for example, the at-fault driver was convicted of or accepted ARD for DUI, was driving a vehicle registered in another state, or intended to injure). Under the 'full tort' option you keep the right to sue for pain and suffering. | 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1705(d) (limited tort), § 1702 (serious injury), § 1711(a) ($5,000 medical benefit) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendants' (50% or less), with your award reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing. | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102(a) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $15,000 per person / $30,000 per crash / $5,000 property | 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1702 (definition of financial responsibility); § 1786(a) |
| Dog bites | mixed. The owner or keeper must fully pay a bite victim's medical treatment costs; for other damages such as pain and suffering, a victim generally must show the owner knew of the dog's dangerous propensities or was negligent. | 3 P.S. § 459-502(b)(1) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Pennsylvania can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Pennsylvania crash
How to get a Pennsylvania crash report ($22 per crash report).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Pennsylvania. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Pennsylvania?
Two years for an injury claim (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)) and two years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Pennsylvania a no-fault state?
Pennsylvania lets drivers choose between no-fault and traditional at-fault coverage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendants' (50% or less), with your award reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing.
What is the minimum car insurance in Pennsylvania?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Pennsylvania is $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per crash and $5,000 for property (15/30/5).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM
The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years: (1) An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution or malicious abuse of process. (2) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.
- Deadline for vehicle damage (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(3)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM
The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years: [...] (3) An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for specific recovery thereof.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.024.000..HTM
The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years: [...] (2) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect or unlawful violence or negligence of another.
- Claims against a government body (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5522(a)(1)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.055.022.000..HTM
(1) Within six months from the date that any injury was sustained or any cause of action accrued, any person who is about to commence any civil action or proceeding within this Commonwealth or elsewhere against a government unit for damages on account of any injury to his person or property
- Insurance system (75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1705(d) (limited tort), § 1702 (serious injury), § 1711(a) ($5,000 medical benefit)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.017.005.000..HTM
(d) Limited tort alternative.-- Each person who elects the limited tort alternative remains eligible to seek compensation for economic loss sustained in a motor vehicle accident as the consequence of the fault of another person pursuant to applicable tort law. Unless the injury sustained is a serious injury, each person who is bound by the limited tort election shall be precluded from maintaining an action for any noneconomic loss, except that:
- If you were partly at fault (42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102(a)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/42/00.071.002.000..HTM
(a) General rule.-- In all actions brought to recover damages for negligence resulting in death or injury to person or property, the fact that the plaintiff may have been guilty of contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery by the plaintiff or his legal representative where such negligence was not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants against whom recovery is sought, but any damages sustained by the plaintiff shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributed to the plaintiff.
- Minimum liability coverage (75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1702 (definition of financial responsibility); § 1786(a)): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.017.002.000..HTM
"Financial responsibility." The ability to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle in the amount of $15,000 because of injury to one person in any one accident, in the amount of $30,000 because of injury to two or more persons in any one accident and in the amount of $5,000 because of damage to property of others in any one accident.
- Dog bites (3 P.S. § 459-502(b)(1)): codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-3-ps-agriculture/pa-st-sect-3-459-502/
Any cost to the victim for medical treatment resulting from an attacking or biting dog must be paid fully by the owner or keeper of the dog.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.