The moments after a car crash can be confusing and disorienting. You might not think to look at who crashed into you or where they’re at as you’re dealing with the shock of just being injured in an accident someone else caused. You might just be registering that the crash occurred by the time you realize the at-fault driver has already fled the scene.
If someone else hit you and then fled, the experienced legal team at Cousin Benny Personal Injury can help you sort out the situation. We can identify your legal options and help you pursue the maximum compensation available, based on the specifics of your case. Call us today to take advantage of a free consultation.
What Are Drivers Supposed to Do After Being Involved in a Car Accident?
Pennsylvania law requires all drivers involved in car accidents to do the following:
- Immediately stop
- Remain at the scene
- Provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number
- Render reasonable assistance to anyone injured in the accident
You are required to report and file a police report for any car accident that results in any of the following:
- Bodily injury
- A vehicle that cannot move on its own and must be towed away
- A hit-and-run crash
These accidents must be reported immediately. If a police officer does not investigate the accident, the drivers must submit a written report of the accident to the relevant police department within five days.
What Is a Hit and Run in Pennsylvania?
A hit-and-run accident occurs when a driver involved in the accident does not fulfill the obligations reported above. This offense is considered a crime and is either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on whether the accident only resulted in property damage or caused injury or death.
Why Do People Hit and Run?
There may be many reasons why people don’t stop at the scene of the accident and take accountability for their actions, including:
- They panic.
- They want to avoid personal responsibility for the harm they’ve caused.
- They are drunk or under the influence of drugs.
- They are afraid of being arrested for breaking the law or causing injury or death.
- They didn’t realize there was an accident.
- They were fleeing the scene of another crime.
- They did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance.
- They were driving a stolen vehicle.
- They have outstanding warrants against them.
- They do not have legal immigration status.
Options for Recovering Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident
You may have a few legal options to recover compensation after a hit-and-run crash, depending on the circumstances, such as:
Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for damage caused when the at-fault driver is uninsured or can’t be identified. Uninsured motorist coverage does not cover property damage.
In Pennsylvania, insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage when consumers are purchasing auto insurance. You should have this insurance unless you specifically rejected it in writing. Uninsured motorist insurance covers you, your relatives living in the household, and your passengers when you are injured by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver.
When you file an uninsured motorist claim, you file the claim with your own insurance provider and recover benefits due under your auto insurance policy, up to your policy limits.
Filing a Third-Party Claim
If the at-fault driver can be identified, you can demand their insurance information and file an insurance claim against them, just as you would have had they stopped and provided it like they should have.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
You could file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver or another responsible party. Through a third-party claim or personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for the full extent of your losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced car accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm can help identify your damages and demand fair compensation for them.
Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Being injured in any car accident can be jarring, but hit-and-run collisions are especially so. You might be confused about what to do and may even be suffering delirium due to the shock of the crash. If possible, try to complete these crucial steps to protect your legal rights:
Get to Safety
Pull your vehicle over out of the path of traffic. Activate your emergency lights and put traffic cones or flares around your vehicle to alert other motorists of the crash.
Report the Accident
Call 911 and report the accident. Be sure to mention that the at-fault driver fled the scene. Describe the vehicle and the driver.
Document the Scene
Use your cell phone camera to take pictures of the accident scene, including:
- The damage to your vehicle
- Cross streets
- Long shots and close-ups of the accident scene
- Your injuries
- Debris on the roadway
- Traffic lights and signs
- Skid marks
This information will be removed promptly after the accident to prevent further crashes, so it’s essential that you attempt to document it before it’s lost or destroyed.
Talk to Witnesses
If anyone stopped at the scene to render assistance, ask them to write down their names and contact information. They may have had a better view of the accident, the other driver, and their vehicle. Ask them to share what they know with the police.
Note Details
Make note of any nearby video cameras, such as traffic cameras or CCTV cameras. If you have a dash cam, be sure that you preserve the video of the accident. Write down everything you remember about the accident as soon as possible, while your memory is fresh, noting details about:
- The other driver’s appearance
- The other vehicle
- Where you were when the crash occurred
- The location on each vehicle where the vehicles impacted
- Anything you heard the other driver say before fleeing the scene
- The direction the other vehicle was coming from and fled after the accident
Seek Medical Attention
Don’t delay in seeking medical attention. Even if you don’t think you’re injured, you could be. You may be experiencing a surge of adrenaline due to the accident and realizing that the responsible driver fled the scene, which could be masking your symptoms.
When you seek medical attention immediately after the accident, you are more likely to receive an accurate diagnosis and promptly begin receiving medical treatment. Your medical team can help link your injuries to the accident. Follow all of your doctor’s orders and keep all of your medical records for evidence.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
A car accident lawyer can help investigate the accident, cooperate with law enforcement to try to identify the at-fault driver, and assist you in filing legal claims for compensation.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You will need to report the accident to your own insurance company, as your insurance contract likely requires it, and you may also need to file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage. You could also have other insurance, such as collision insurance, that you want to use if the at-fault driver cannot be identified.
Work with the Police
Cooperate with the police to the fullest extent possible to try to identify the at-fault driver. Provide the police with a description of the driver’s appearance, the direction they were traveling, and their vehicle. If you saw any portion of their license plate number, provide this information, too.
If you can help track down the fleeing driver, you may be able to file an insurance claim with their liability insurance provider for the full extent of your damages, even if you opted for limited tort insurance. Exceptions to the limitations of your policy may apply in situations involving hit-and-run drivers, such as if the at-fault driver is convicted of a DUI or accepts Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, was uninsured, had their vehicle registered in another state, or caused you to suffer a serious injury.
Contact Cousin Benny Personal Injury for a Free Consultation
If you were harmed in a hit-and-run accident, you do not have to go through this process alone. An experienced Philadelphia hit-and-run accident lawyer from Cousin Benny Personal Injury can guide you through the next steps, seeking justice and accountability.
Our dedicated legal team can review your insurance policies for coverage, evaluate your legal options, assist the police in identifying the at-fault driver, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to take the first step on your path to recovery by scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation with our car accident lawyers.
