Chester Car Accident Lawyer

After a serious car accident, a ton of questions go through your mind:  How will I pay for these unexpected medical expenses? What if my injuries keep me from going back to work? Who will hold the person who caused the accident accountable? Where do I go from here?

If any of those questions sound familiar, you are in the right place. In this article, we are going to break down all the details about a Chester, PA car accident claim, from the types of accidents we see most often to how the experienced car accident attorneys at Munley Law build a winning legal case that will secure a settlement or verdict in your favor.

Chester’s strategic location and transportation infrastructure create unique traffic challenges for local residents and visitors alike. The city serves as a transportation hub with many residents commuting to and from Philadelphia, only about 40 miles away. Additionally, Chester’s network of roads and highways, including Route 202 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, function as major trucking corridors, significantly increasing traffic volume and accident risk.

Contact our Chester car accident lawyers today for a free consultation.  Let us show you why Chester residents have trusted the Munley law firm with their car accident cases for 65 years.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Chester, PA

Car accidents in Chester can take many forms. Each different type of accident can affect what injuries you sustain, the length of your recovery, and the approach you need to take in a car accident lawsuit.

The most common types of car accidents the Munley Law attorneys litigate in Chester are:

• Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions occur when one vehicle strikes the back of another. These accidents are among the most common on Chester roads, like Route 30, particularly during rush hour traffic.

• Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions happen when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions crash into each other front-to-front, often on two-lane roads or when a vehicle crosses the centerline.
• Sideswipe accidents: Sideswipe accidents occur when the sides of two vehicles traveling parallel to each other make contact, usually during lane changes or merges. These collisions are common on multi-lane roads like I-95 where vehicles frequently change lanes.
• T-bone accidents: T-bone accidents, also known as broadside collisions, happen when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another, forming a “T” shape on impact. These accidents typically occur at intersections when drivers run red lights or fail to yield the right of way.
• Rideshare accidents: Rideshare accidents involve vehicles working for services like Uber or Lyft and can involve passengers, other motorists, or pedestrians.
• Truck accidents: Truck accidents involve commercial vehicles like semi-trucks, delivery trucks, or construction vehicles colliding with passenger vehicles. These crashes often occur on major highways, like Route 202, and create complicated personal injury cases involving multiple parties including drivers, trucking companies, and manufacturers.
• Rollover accidents: Rollover accidents happen when a vehicle tips onto its side or roof, often after hitting a curb, guardrail, or during sharp turns at high speeds. These accidents are particularly common with taller vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks.
• Multi-vehicle pileups: Multi-vehicle pileups involve three or more vehicles in a chain-reaction crash, frequently occurring on highways during poor visibility or adverse weather conditions.

For our lawyers at Munley Law, understanding the type of car accident you were involved in puts us one step closer to determining who is liable for the crash. The more knowledge we have about your accident, the more prepared we are for negotiations with the insurance company.

Chester Car Accident Injuries We Help With

Car accidents can cause injuries that change your life in an instant. At Munley Law, we deeply understand that we cannot change what happened to you or your loved ones. However, we will work to ensure you receive a fair settlement and some semblance of justice for your injuries. The most common injuries we see in Chester personal injury claims are:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Wrongful death
• Post traumatic stress disorder

Although these are the most common injuries, they are, by no means, exhaustive. If you’re dealing with any of these injuries or any other kind of injury after a car accident in Chester, contact a Munley Law Chester personal injury attorney. Your initial consultation is always free.

Chester’s Most Common Car Accident Areas and Causes

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), state highways were the primary place of motor vehicle accidents in 2023. In that year alone, Pennsylvania highways had 71,162 crashes, 886 fatalities, and over 45,000 injured.

Car accidents can happen for various reasons. However, when negligence is involved, that’s when the auto accident becomes a personal injury case. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Chester, Pennsylvania are:

• Speeding: The leading cause of accidents in Chester and Pennsylvania. Reduces reaction time, extends stopping distance, and increases crash severity, significantly raising the risk of serious injuries.
• Driving while intoxicated: PennDOT ranks this as Pennsylvania’s second most common accident cause. Impairs coordination, reaction time, judgment, vision, and concentration, making safe driving impossible.
• Distracted driving: Takes attention from the road, delaying reactions and reducing awareness. Even checking a text message can mean traveling the length of a football field without seeing the road ahead.
• Careless driving: Disregarding safety practices like proper signaling, blind spot checks, and following distances creates unpredictable vehicle movements that endanger others.
• Drowsy driving: Slows cognitive processing and can cause microsleeps—momentary losses of consciousness that mimic intoxication effects and impair vehicle control.
• Tailgating: Eliminates the safety buffer needed for emergency stops, leaving virtually no reaction time when traffic conditions change suddenly.
• Careless/Illegal passing: Places vehicles in the path of oncoming traffic, often involving speeding or crossing solid lines in no-passing zones.

Pennsylvania Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Case

There are three things you should understand about Pennsylvania laws and regulations regarding car accident claims: the choice no-fault insurance system, Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule, and Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations.

Choice No-Fault Car Insurance

Pennsylvania is one of the few states in America that uses a choice no-fault insurance system. Under this system, you choose either full tort or limited tort coverage when you buy your auto insurance. Full tort coverage lets you sue for all damages, including pain and suffering. Limited tort restricts your ability to recover for pain and suffering except in cases of serious injury.

Modified Comparative Negligence

The state’s modified comparative negligence rule means you can still receive compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident. However, your compensation decreases by your percentage of fault, and you cannot recover anything if you were more than 50% responsible. For example, if you have $100,000 in damages but were 20% at fault, you can recover $80,000.

Statute of Limitations

Pennsylvania gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline means losing your right to compensation, even if you have a strong case. The clock starts ticking the day of your accident.

Munley’s legal team are Pennsylvania residents themselves. We are deeply familiar with local and state laws and are confident our knowledge will help us build a winning case. Call today for your free consultation.

Understanding Your Compensation Rights

Money won’t undo your accident, but it can help you rebuild your life after a Chester car accident. We will help you recover the following types of compensation:

• Economic Damages: These are tangible losses that can be proven with physical receipts. They include current and future medical bills (hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and ongoing medical attention). Economic damages also include lost wages and the loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to your job due to your injuries. Finally, we will fight to recover property damage, which goes beyond just fixing your car. We will seek compensation for a rental car and any personal items damaged in the crash.
• Non-economic Damages: This form of compensation is more subjective and a bit harder to prove. These damages are awarded for the victim’s physical pain, emotional trauma, and how the accident affects their daily life. We show how your injuries changed your relationships, hobbies, and ability to enjoy life.
• Punitive damages: Punitive damages are rarely awarded in personal injury law. They are meant to punish the defendant rather than award the victim. Punitive damages are left for defendants whose actions were willfully negligent and particularly egregious. They are designed to deter the negligent driver from behaving like that in the future.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, your car accident attorney will also work to recover compensation for funeral and burial costs, as well as loss of consortium. Contact our Chester office to discuss what your car accident case might be worth.

Our Proven Legal Process in Delaware County

Our law firm builds your car crash case from the ground up and no stone is left unturned. There are five steps we take to build a strong case in favor of car accident victims:

• Determine liability: We thoroughly investigate to identify all responsible parties—drivers, manufacturers, or government entities—and pursue compensation from each to ensure full recovery.
• Conduct independent investigation: Unlike insurance companies’ investigations designed to minimize payouts, our comprehensive approach preserves evidence and documents the true extent of damages.
• Utilize expert resources: We leverage our network of accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and industry professionals to establish clear fault.
• Prove breach of duty: We document how the at-fault party violated their legal duty of care by establishing all four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
• Handle settlement negotiations: Our attorneys manage all insurance company communications while pursuing maximum compensation. If insurers won’t offer fair settlement, our trial-ready team will take your case to court.

Throughout the entire process, your lawyer will always be available to answer your questions and address your concerns. Your health and emotional well-being are of the utmost concern to our car accident lawyers. Contact our law firm today to make our process work for you and your family.

Get the Help You Need After Your Chester Car Accident

Since 1959, the accomplished lawyers at Munley Law, have served the residents of Chester and the state of Pennsylvania. Our personal injury attorneys have earned recognition from Best Lawyers in America, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and hold board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The  award-winning team at Munley Law excels across all personal injury specialties and is committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients.

Our mission is to serve our clients with honest legal representation, regardless of your ability to pay. Our Chester car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case. Call us at 844-473-0906 for a free consultation so we can get started on your case.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747