Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Sean Quinlan represents pedestrians struck by drivers across Philadelphia — from Roosevelt Boulevard, the most dangerous road in the city, to Broad Street, Market Street, and the Center City crosswalks. Philadelphia averages roughly 100 pedestrian deaths a year, and our office handles the SEPTA bus, rideshare, hit-and-run, and uninsured-driver complications that distinguish city pedestrian cases from suburban ones.
Why Philadelphia pedestrian crashes demand a local lawyer
Roosevelt Boulevard is the deadliest road in Philadelphia. US-1 / Roosevelt Boulevard accounts for a disproportionate share of city pedestrian fatalities — 12 lanes, high speeds, long blocks between signals, and inadequate crossings. We know the camera locations, the speed-camera data PennDOT and the Philadelphia Parking Authority maintain, and the engineering history the City has been sued over.
Pedestrians in marked crosswalks have full tort rights. Under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3) — and § 1705(b)(3) if you have no household auto policy — pedestrians and bicyclists are not bound by a limited-tort election because they are not occupants of a private passenger motor vehicle (see L.S. ex rel. Kavanagh v. Mt. Airy #1, LLC). Even if you selected limited tort, you can recover full non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and loss of life's pleasures — and your driver's auto insurance pays your medical bills first under Pennsylvania's no-fault scheme.
Hit-and-run is common — and recoverable. Philadelphia has a serious hit-and-run problem. If the driver fled, you can still recover under the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy (or a resident relative's policy), and we stack UM across every household vehicle. We also pull SEPTA, PPA, and private-business surveillance to identify fleeing drivers.
SEPTA, rideshare, and commercial drivers add coverage layers. If you were hit by a SEPTA bus or trolley, by an Uber/Lyft driver, by a delivery van (Amazon DSP, FedEx, food delivery), or by a city or municipal vehicle, additional insurance policies and notice deadlines apply. SEPTA and city claims have a 6-month written notice requirement under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522 — miss it and the claim is barred.
Trauma care drives case value. Serious Philadelphia pedestrian victims are typically taken to Penn Presbyterian, Jefferson, Temple, or Hahnemann's successor trauma centers. We coordinate with trauma surgeons, neurologists, and orthopedists to document traumatic brain injury, pelvic fractures, and lower-extremity injuries in the records and language juries understand.
How we build your Philadelphia pedestrian crash case
- 1
Secure surveillance video within 72 hours from SEPTA, the Philadelphia Parking Authority red-light/speed cameras, and surrounding businesses — most retention windows are 7–30 days.
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Identify every available insurance policy: the driver's liability, your own UM/UIM (stacked across all household vehicles), MedPay, and any commercial, rideshare, or municipal policy.
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If hit-and-run, file the police report immediately and pursue UM recovery while we work to identify the driver through camera and witness canvass.
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If a city or SEPTA vehicle is involved, serve the 6-month written notice required by 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522.
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Build the medical case at Penn, Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein and pursue full compensatory damages in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas — a plaintiff-friendly venue.
What you may recover after a Philadelphia pedestrian crash
Philadelphia pedestrian cases are catastrophic by nature — a person against a 4,000-pound vehicle — and Philadelphia juries return some of the most significant pain and suffering verdicts in Pennsylvania. Full tort applies, and recovery includes both economic and non-economic damages.
- Emergency, surgical, and rehabilitation costs at Penn Presbyterian, Jefferson, Temple, or Einstein
- Future medical care for traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, and orthopedic reconstruction
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life's pleasures (full tort under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3))
- Disfigurement and scarring from road rash, degloving, and surgical scars
- Out-of-pocket medical, prescription, and mobility-aid costs
- Wrongful death and survival damages under 42 Pa. C.S. §§ 8301–8302 for fatal crashes
High-risk areas for Philadelphia pedestrian crashes
Most dangerous Philadelphia roads
- Roosevelt Boulevard (US-1) — Northeast Philly's pedestrian-fatality leader
- Broad Street (N. and S.) — high-volume signalized crashes
- Market Street and JFK Blvd — Center City crosswalk strikes
- Aramingo Avenue and Frankford Avenue (River Wards)
- Lancaster Avenue (West Philly) — SEPTA trolley and bus zone
High-risk situations
- SEPTA bus and trolley left-hooks at unsignalized intersections
- Rideshare pickup/drop-off in travel lanes (Center City, Temple, Penn)
- Hit-and-run on Roosevelt Blvd and I-95 service roads
- Delivery vans (Amazon DSP, food couriers) blocking sidewalks
- Snow- and rain-related visibility crashes near schools and senior centers
Talk to Sean Quinlan about your Philadelphia pedestrian crash.
No Fee Unless We Win. You may be responsible for certain case costs and expenses in addition to the fee, as explained in your written fee agreement. Call now or request a free case review and Sean Quinlan will personally evaluate your case.
Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
Whose insurance pays my medical bills if I was hit walking in Philadelphia?
Under Pennsylvania's no-fault auto insurance system, your own auto policy's medical-benefits (PIP) coverage pays first — minimum $5,000, often much higher if you elected more. If you have no auto policy, the driver's PIP applies. If neither exists, the Pennsylvania Assigned Claims Plan can pay basic medical benefits. Your health insurance is secondary. We coordinate all sources so bills don't pile up.
Does limited tort apply if I was a pedestrian?
No. The limited-tort restriction in 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d) only precludes non-economic recovery for people injured while occupying a private passenger motor vehicle. Pedestrians retain full tort under § 1705(d)(3) (occupant of something other than a private passenger motor vehicle) or § 1705(b)(3) if they have no household auto policy at all — see L.S. ex rel. Kavanagh v. Mt. Airy #1, LLC. You can recover full pain and suffering damages regardless of what you elected on your own policy.
The driver fled the scene — can I still recover?
Yes. Hit-and-run is treated as uninsured motorist (UM) for coverage purposes. You can claim UM benefits under your own auto policy, your spouse's, or any resident relative's, and we stack UM across all household vehicles. We also work to identify the driver through SEPTA cameras, Philadelphia Parking Authority speed/red-light cameras, business surveillance, and witness canvass.
What if I was hit by a SEPTA bus or a city vehicle?
Claims against SEPTA or the City of Philadelphia require written notice within six months of the crash under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522. Damages against governmental defendants are capped under the Sovereign Immunity Act (SEPTA, $250,000 per person / $1 million per occurrence) and the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act (City of Philadelphia, $500,000 aggregate). Notice and venue are unforgiving — call a lawyer immediately.
What if I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver?
Rideshare crashes trigger a $1 million liability policy when the driver is logged into the app — far more than typical personal auto coverage. We confirm the driver's app status at the moment of impact via subpoena and pursue the rideshare policy in addition to the driver's personal coverage.
How long do I have to file a Philadelphia pedestrian accident claim?
Two years from the crash for most claims under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. But six months for written notice if SEPTA or any government entity is involved (42 Pa. C.S. § 5522). Do not wait — surveillance video is overwritten in days, and witness memories fade.
How do I find a Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer?
Look for a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney who regularly handles pedestrian-versus-motor-vehicle claims in Philadelphia County — not a general practitioner. Confirm the firm knows the Roosevelt Boulevard camera network, the SEPTA six-month notice deadline (42 Pa. C.S. § 5522), the Philadelphia Parking Authority's speed-camera data, and how to layer UM/UIM benefits from every household auto policy. Sean Quinlan handles Philadelphia pedestrian cases directly — call (717) 724-7503 for a free consultation.
What does a pedestrian accident attorney in Philadelphia do?
Preserves surveillance video before it's overwritten (SEPTA, PPA, and private-business cameras typically hold 7–30 days), files the SEPTA / City tort notice if a government vehicle or roadway is involved, coordinates your medical-bill payments through your own auto PIP / MedPay first (Pennsylvania's no-fault priority), identifies every applicable insurance policy — including household UM/UIM for hit-and-run and uninsured-driver cases — and pursues full non-economic damages under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1705(d)(3).
How much does a Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyer cost?
There is no attorney fee up front, and no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. You may be responsible for certain case costs and expenses in addition to the fee, as explained in your written fee agreement. Every Philadelphia pedestrian accident case is handled on a contingency fee — no attorney fee unless we recover money — and the firm advances the case costs (accident reconstruction, medical records, expert witnesses, court filings, deposition fees). The fee percentage is disclosed in writing at the start of representation.
What is the average settlement for a pedestrian hit by a car in Philadelphia?
There is no reliable average — settlements range from the low five figures for minor soft-tissue cases to multi-million-dollar recoveries for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. The value depends on the severity of the injury, medical bills paid and projected, lost income and diminished earning capacity, the layers of insurance available (driver liability + household UM/UIM + any commercial policy for rideshare or delivery vehicles), and Philadelphia County jury patterns. Any lawyer quoting a number before reviewing the medicals and insurance stack is guessing.