Philadelphia Ranked As One Of The Most Car Accident Prone Cities

In a recent study conducted by AllState insurance and published by The Street, Philadelphia was ranked the sixth most car accident-prone city in the United States. While this distinction is nothing to brag about, it does mean that residents of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas must know what to expect if they are involved in an accident.

AllState estimated that Philadelphia drivers experience a motor vehicle accident every 6.2 years on average. Moreover, drivers are expected to have a 62.2 percent greater chance of experiencing an accident in Philadelphia compared to the national average.

As we all will likely be involved in at least one car accident at some point in our lives, it’s important to know what to expect. Here are a few key tips:

Your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company will likely try to get you to agree to a settlement right away, but chances are that you could be entitled to more. The insurance company usually does not have your best interests in mind, so you may need an attorney’s help to fight for your rights.

If you purchased “limited tort” auto insurance, you will likely not be given enough money in your settlement to pay for your injuries and losses. Additionally, if your motor vehicle crash involved an uninsured motorist, you could be among the 45 percent of Pennsylvanians who don’t have uninsured (UI) motorist coverage, which is bad news.

Ultimately, now would be a good time to ask for a review of your auto insurance policy with your insurance agent. It would also be a good idea to consider upgrading your insurance to better protect yourself and your family. Accidents occur all of the time, especially in Philadelphia, so it’s very important to be protected.

Source: The Street, “The Most Car Accident-Prone Cities,” Matt Brownell, Sept. 6, 2011.