Your PA Hit and Run Injury Settlement Options
Yes, under Pennsylvania law you can sue a driver for causing injuries in a hit and run accident, even if the driver is never identified.First, file a police report and provide police with all relevant information. Then call your insurance company to report the accident. If you experience a hit and run injury, visit your local emergency room for examination from a doctor. For serious injury cases, speak with a local hit and run attorney about filing a lawsuit against the hit and run driver.
A car accident is a stressful experience, but when the other party leaves the scene of the accident, you’re likely in a state of panic. How are you going to get compensation for your injuries? How are you going to hold the other parties responsible for their actions?
A hit-and-run lawyer can provide the practical legal guidance you need after your accident.
When you work with a hit-and-run lawyer, they’ll use their experience in past hit-and-run cases to locate the other party responsible for your injuries and hold them accountable to the full extent of the law.
In this post, we’ll explore more about hit-and-run accidents and their impact. We’ll also explain how you can get compensation for hit-and-run car accident injuries.
Reasons a Driver Might Flee a Car Accident
Under Pennsylvania law, fleeing a car accident in which there’s an injury can result in a third-degree felony and 90-day jail sentence, with a potential of up to 7 years in prison and a minimum $1,000 fine. But aside from the potential legal punishment, there are other reasons a driver might flee the scene of a car accident.
Potential reasons drivers flee the scene of an accident includes:
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Driving a stolen car
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Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
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Driving without insurance
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They have an outstanding warrant for their arrest
Let the Experts Handle Your Hit and Run Case
While you may want to follow a hit-and-run driver, you should never engage them in confrontation or chase them. You don’t know the other driver and their reasons for driving away.
To be proactive after a hit and run accident, you should:
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Take note of your actions and the actions of other drivers.
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Speak to witnesses and ask for any photo or video evidence.
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Get medical attention even if you’re not in pain.
Your car accident lawyer will collect critical accident evidence, which may include:
Witness statements
Witness statements are crucial in settling hit-and-run accident cases. Witnesses can detail the color, make, and model of the vehicles involved in your accident. They may also be able to tell your hit-and-run lawyer the direction the vehicle traveled after the accident, providing further information for law enforcement to use in locating responsible parties. Read this article from the Attorney At Law magazine for details about what makes a good car accident witness statement.
Crime scene investigation
Your hit-and-run lawyer will work with crime scene investigators to help put the pieces together of your accident and provide more information about the identity of the parties involved.
Surveillance footage
Hit-and-run lawyers work with law enforcement to gather surveillance evidence, which often forms a cornerstone element in your accident case. Surveillance footage will show how the accident occurred, providing clear evidence to support your claim.
Uninsured Motorist Protection
Many hit and run injury victims falsely believe they cannot get compensation unless law enforcement finds the other driver. Under Pennsylvania law, insurance companies must provide their clients with Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
While Uninsured Motorist Coverage provides payments for those hurt in hit-and-run accidents, it’s not unusual for insurance companies to deny such claims.
To recover compensation, you’ll need skilled legal counsel with decades of experience handling hit-and-run claims and negotiating settlements with insurance companies on behalf of their clients. Car accident attorneys can help you pay for medical bills and vehicle property damage while placing the weight of the law firmly behind your accident claim. Discover more about the car accident claims process in our FAQ.
Jeffrey Penneys Gives Legal Support to Hit and Run Victims
Jeffrey Penneys and his team help give injury victims a sense of control over their future. If you were recently the victim of a hit-and-run accident and you’d like to explore your legal options, you can book a free case review at the Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys on Broad Street in Philadelphia, at your location, or via phone. Jeffrey Penneys supports Pennsylvania hit and run victims throughout the following communities: Allentown, Reading, Upper Darby, Harrisburg.
Contact the office today to book your hit-and-run case review.