Philadelphia Hit and Run Accident Lawyer
The Philadelphia hit and run accident attorneys at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers know that being in an auto accident is stressful enough—but sometimes, people find themselves in hit and run car accidents where the person who collided with them drives away and is nowhere to be found.
If you are involved in a hit and run car accident, you may recover compensation through your own insurance company.
Our lawyers can recover for our hit and run car accident clients if the client has uninsured motorist protection. Many insurance companies require you to file your claim within a matter of weeks, so you should consult an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
After a Hit and Run Crash In Pennsylvania
Not only is leaving the scene of an accident harmful to a victim, it is also against the law. Pennsylvania has set out requirements that everyone must follow after a crash.
Here is what our Philadelphia car accident lawyers have to say:
- Stop your vehicle or remain stopped
- Render reasonable aid, if possible, to anyone who appears injured
- Exchange contact and insurance information with anyone involved
- In the event of serious damage, or if anyone sustained any injuries or was killed, you must contact the police to report the accident
- If police do not respond to the scene, you must fill out an accident report and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- Failing to properly report an accident to either police or PennDOT can result in serious consequences, including the suspension of your driver’s license.
When hit and run accidents happen, drivers will often not even stop long enough at the accident scene to see if anyone is injured or provide information. Instead, they will drive off, leaving any accident victims to fend for themselves. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Pennsylvania—even if no one was hurt or someone else was at fault for the crash. Possible criminal charges for hit and runs include:
- A misdemeanor, if no injuries occurred
- A felony of the third degree, if serious injuries occurred
- A felony of the second degree, if someone was killed
Felony charges can mean time in jail and costly fines. In addition, if authorities determine that the fleeing driver was drunk or grossly negligent and was responsible for causing the crash, the penalties can increase.
While the law sets out criminal penalties for drivers who hit and run, these cases can do little to help the victims of these accidents. Fines do not go to victims—and even if they did, they would likely never come close to covering a victim’s losses.
If the hit and run driver was found, victims will likely need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to seek compensation for all of their losses, including medical bills and lost income. In such cases, in addition to the requested damages, the court may award punitive damages to punish the driver who fled and to deter such behavior in the future.
If the liable driver is found, an attorney can help you take the next legal steps and pursue the maximum compensation possible in your specific situation.
Hit and Run Drivers Can Disappear
Aside from the criminal implications of a hit and run, these accidents often cause serious issues for victims for one important reason—a driver who flees the scene of an accident is often never found. After a crash, victims are often shaken up and disoriented.
They expect the other driver to do the right thing to do by stopping, helping, and providing information. The last thing on a car accident victim’s mind is likely writing down a license plate number on the off-chance that the other driver may suddenly flee.
Once a driver flees, if no other witnesses saw a license plate, the chances of finding the driver can be slim. Such cases can leave victims with few options, as well as with losses that are usually not their fault—because many drivers flee the scene knowing they did something wrong.
Some hit and run drivers, for example, may have been drunk or under the influence of drugs when the accident occurred and do not want to risk arrest. Others may have been texting and driving, and do not want to face accountability.
Many hit and run drivers do not have the insurance coverage required by Pennsylvania law and do not want to face the consequences. Drivers of stolen cars almost never stop as required.
No matter the reason behind the hit and run, this wrongful act causes extensive harm to victims. Not only are victims left facing serious injuries, but they also have no one to hold liable for their losses—even when they did not cause the crash.
This often leaves accident victims wondering where to turn.
Common Injuries in Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents can leave car accident victims with severe injuries, extensive medical treatment, and emotional distress. A Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyer helps survivors recover maximum compensation for their injuries and losses.
Below are some common car accident injuries often associated with motor vehicle collision cases:
1. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
When negligent drivers cause a serious car accident, victims may suffer traumatic brain injuries. These injuries often require long-term care and physical therapy, leading to high medical bills and lost income. A car accident lawyer in Philadelphia can assist in pursuing fair compensation to cover these expenses.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents, including truck accidents and pedestrian accidents, frequently result in spinal cord injuries. Victims might face partial or complete paralysis, requiring extensive medical treatment and making it essential to work with an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney to recover compensation.
3. Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones and fractures are common in hit and run accidents. These injuries can lead to significant medical expenses, time off work, and ongoing physical therapy. Philadelphia car accident lawyers help victims file personal injury lawsuits to seek financial recovery.
4. Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash or torn ligaments, are common when car accidents occur. While these injuries might seem minor, they can cause chronic pain and require ongoing treatment. An experienced car accident attorney understands how to demonstrate the full impact of these injuries in a car accident case.
5. Emotional and Psychological Injuries
Beyond physical injuries, hit and run crash victims often experience emotional distress, including PTSD. These injuries sustained in serious car accidents can affect daily life, making it essential to include these damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
6. Cuts, Bruises, and Lacerations
While some injuries, like cuts and bruises, might appear superficial, they can lead to infections or scarring. Victims in a Philadelphia hit and run case deserve compensation for all injuries and the resulting emotional distress.
Seeking Legal Representation
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a Philadelphia hit and run, working with an experienced personal injury attorney ensures you navigate the legal process effectively. A skilled accident lawyer will handle everything from gathering accident reports and witness statements to negotiating with the insurance company to secure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and more.
Contact a Philadelphia personal injury law firm today for a free consultation and learn how you can recover maximum compensation for your car accident claims.
How a Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Can Help
Your first call in this situation should be to an experienced car accident attorney who has handled hit and run cases and understands all relevant insurance laws in Pennsylvania. The proper steps after a hit and run will often depend on the type of insurance coverage you carry, including no-fault insurance, fault-based insurance, and uninsured motorist coverage.
For example, if you have no-fault insurance, you can often make a claim without having to identify an at-fault driver. This is not the case with other types of insurance policies. Our legal team can examine your situation and help you determine how to make a claim after a hit and run crash.
Potential Pitfalls After A Hit And Run Accident
If you do not have no-fault insurance, you must prove that you cannot identify the other motorist. In addition, you must prove that the other driver was at fault. Finally, you must prove the monetary value of your claim.
Proving that a driver cannot be identified can involve statements from witnesses and officers that the driver fled the scene and has not been able to be identified. Fault is based on negligence and can include drunk driving, distracted driving, and any other dangerous driving behaviors that resulted in the crash. Often, leaving the scene of an accident creates the assumption that a driver was at fault, but this is not necessarily the case—and you may need to provide additional evidence of fault.
Proving the extent of your losses is extremely important. Your insurance company will almost certainly try to challenge these, and you must prove the amount you truly deserve to cover your medical costs, lost wages, and other qualified losses. At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, we will conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of your hit and run case to ensure that you recover all the money to which you are entitled through your uninsured motorist claim.
These cases are tried depending on your policy. While some are held in a regular courtroom before your local court of common pleas, most uninsured motorist cases are not tried in court. Rather, they are heard before a panel of three arbitrators: one chosen by the insurance company, the second chosen by your attorney on your behalf, and the third chosen by the other two arbitrators.
Attorneys at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers have worked with many arbitrators during their careers and know how to pick the best arbitrator for your particular case. The three arbitrators listen to the evidence in your case and collectively reach a decision.
Compensation in a Philadelphia Hit and Run Accident
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may be eligible for several types of compensation, both economic and non-economic. These include:
- Medical expenses and hospital bills
- Lost wages and income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- And more
Speak to the car accident lawyers at The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for more information about what you may be able to recover after a hit and run accident.
Discuss Your Rights With A Philadelphia Hit And Run Accident Attorney Today
Hit and run cases are complex and require attorneys who understand how to aggressively represent their clients. At The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, our Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury attorneys investigate every claim so that we may aggressively and zealously represent our clients and obtain the best possible results.
When you need a New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Philadelphia personal injury attorney to represent you, a family member, or a friend who was the victim of a hit and run accident, contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers.
Call our office at (215) 825-5183 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.
The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers
1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd,
Two Penn Center, Suite 620
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-825-5183