The moments after a hit and run can be a blur of shock and confusion. You’re left with injuries, a damaged car, and the sinking realization that the person responsible drove off. This is when you need to think about lawyers for hit and run accidents. But where do you begin, and what steps should you take? This stressful situation demands careful attention to detail, starting from the scene of the accident itself. Knowing your rights is essential, and having experienced legal counsel on your side can make all the difference.
What To Do After a Hit and Run in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, like most states, has specific laws governing hit and run accidents. It’s not just about finding the driver who left; it’s about protecting yourself and building a strong case for when they are found. Remember, acting swiftly and thoughtfully can be vital for both your physical well-being and any legal recourse you may have.
Stay Put, Call for Help, and Document
As jarring as a hit-and-run incident can be, your immediate actions on-scene significantly impact your case. It’s critical to prioritize safety and gathering evidence right away. Here’s what you need to remember:
- Safety First: Pull over to a safe location as soon as possible. Even if you think you’re okay, check for injuries.
- Call for Help: Call 911. Reporting the incident immediately is crucial for starting the legal process. It helps establish your claim’s credibility.
- Be Observant: While you wait for law enforcement to arrive, use your phone or a notepad to document details about the fleeing vehicle: make, model, color, any unique features, even partial license plate numbers, anything you can recall.
Gather Information From the Scene and Witnesses
While details might seem fuzzy after an accident, gathering whatever information you can remember is vital for any potential claim with lawyers for hit and run accidents. Pay close attention to specific things:
- Witness Information: If any bystanders saw the incident, get their contact details too. This can help corroborate your story. Witness testimonies can be invaluable.
- Take Pictures and Videos: If possible, take pictures or videos of the accident scene. Your phone’s camera can play a vital role in recording damage to all involved vehicles, the surrounding area, even the weather conditions. Visual evidence is powerful.
Report to Insurance and Obtain Medical Treatment
Getting the ball rolling on legal and financial aspects while caring for yourself medically are key after a motor vehicle accident. The next step involves notifying the necessary parties:
- Contact Your Insurer: Report the hit and run accident to your insurance company immediately, no matter how minor. Not reporting it might affect your ability to file a claim later.
- Seek Medical Help: See a doctor, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Some injuries take time to manifest and obtaining immediate medical treatment creates official documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
Preserve Evidence, Consult, and Explore Legal Options
Protecting yourself from future issues, especially financial ones, involves a strategic approach with your car accident claim:
- Hold onto Everything: Keep all related documents, from medical bills and police reports to communication records. Your lawyer will need this when handling your hit-and-run case.
- Contact Lawyers for Hit and Run Cases: Time is of the essence, as Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations. Talk to a personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents and hit-and-runs as soon as possible to understand your options.
Understanding Liability in a Pennsylvania Hit and Run Accident
Determining who’s at fault in a typical accident where everyone remains on-scene might seem more straightforward, but in a hit-and-run scenario, it gets tricky. Even with the at-fault driver gone, they remain liable for their actions. Let’s explore this complex aspect of proving fault after a driver flees:
Investigative Measures to Establish Fault in Hit and Run Accidents
Attorneys use several key avenues for finding the driver. Your recollection is just one element, and they’ll rely on different methods, too, which is why speaking to an accident attorney quickly is essential:
- Checking for Witnesses: Even without you locating a witness, a lawyer often canvases the area after the fact seeking security footage. You’d be surprised how often cameras are rolling and no one realizes it.
- Reviewing Surveillance: Traffic cameras, business security footage, or even doorbell cameras have cracked cases wide open. These might’ve captured the incident or provided glimpses of the fleeing vehicle, which could lead to identifying the driver.
- Analyzing Vehicular Evidence: The impact can leave traces of paint, broken parts from the car, tire marks—these can provide clues about the make and model of the vehicle, ultimately leading to the responsible party.
Importance of Timely Reporting, Witnesses, and Surveillance
In Pennsylvania, acting quickly bolsters your hit-and-run case. You have just two years from the date of the incident to file a claim for personal injury. The clock starts ticking the moment it happens. Any delay might make it hard for a lawyer to build you a strong case.
According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania saw a disturbing number of car accidents. They reported 128,188 accidents just back in 2017. Even more concerning, these accidents injured over 80,000 and caused 1,137 fatalities.
Sadly, many result from driver negligence, leading to heartache and frustration. And hit-and-runs add another layer to that. In these incidents, victims often face an uphill battle due to the lack of driver identification. In cases involving a commercial truck, you may also have a claim against the trucking company in addition to the driver.
Navigating Compensation
Being hit by a driver who doesn’t stop is already unnerving, but the added layer of navigating insurance complexities afterward makes a bad situation even worse. The process differs significantly when the responsible party is unknown. Let’s look at how you can navigate obtaining compensation.
What Kind of Damages Can I Recover After a Hit-and-Run Crash?
The idea behind this isn’t about profiting from the situation. It’s about regaining what you lost. Seeking compensation in a Pennsylvania hit and run can involve navigating personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured coverage within your auto insurance policy. While it is illegal to drive in Pennsylvania without car insurance, sadly, many still do. Here’s what’s often included:
- Damage to Vehicle: Getting your car repaired or even replaced.
- Lost Income: Missing work to see the doctor or for physical therapy means missed income you need back.
- Pain and Suffering: This is where it gets subjective, as not all injuries are outwardly visible. Broken bones are a common injury after an accident, but soft tissue injuries like spinal cord injuries can be difficult to calculate.
- Medical Bills: Hit-and-runs often lead to visits to the ER, surgery, perhaps even ongoing care.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage for Hit-and-Runs
It’s crucial to understand this nuance in PA auto insurance: although not legally required, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is wise. Why? Imagine going through a hit and run. Imagine discovering later the other driver had no insurance—or wasn’t insured highly enough. This coverage becomes your safety net.
Finding Lawyers for Hit and Run Cases in Greensburg
Greensburg, a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, is sadly no stranger to hit-and-runs. It might feel overwhelming finding the right attorney when you’re dealing with an accident’s aftermath. Where should you turn when dealing with something this specific in Greensburg?
Importance of Legal Counsel for Pennsylvania Hit and Run Victims
After an accident as confusing and potentially scary as a hit and run, talking to experienced lawyers can alleviate so much anxiety. The at-fault driver might be long gone, but building a case against that unknown individual is something a skilled attorney handles regularly. It’s their job to unravel this complex legal puzzle. They’ll work directly with you, but behind the scenes, lawyers are busy too:
- Insurance Company Negotiations: They’ll fight to get you the highest possible settlement. You will also want to be sure that you have adequate coverage, and your insurance company is not giving you a low-ball settlement offer.
- Building a Robust Legal Strategy: Attorneys understand Pennsylvania’s intricate legal system better than anyone. Their goal? Fighting to ensure the person responsible, whether caught or not, doesn’t escape accountability.
- Guiding You Through Unfamiliar Territory: After a hit and run, the legal processes might seem intimidating or overwhelming.
FAQs about Lawyers for Hit and Run
What if I can’t recall specific details about the fleeing car?
Don’t worry if your memory’s a bit foggy after the accident. Remember every bit of information, no matter how seemingly small, can assist your legal representation in piecing together the puzzle and bringing clarity to a complex situation. Your lawyer can help you determine liability.
I didn’t opt-in for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage—can I still seek compensation?
It’s best to speak to lawyers about this to confirm, as each case is unique, but generally, Pennsylvania law allows those injured in accidents caused by uninsured or hit and run drivers to file claims under their own insurance’s PIP coverage.
How long will the legal process take in Greensburg, PA?
Every situation varies depending on complexities and how quickly the other driver is (or isn’t) found. Your attorney can provide more accurate estimates. However, don’t let the fear of a drawn-out legal battle deter you from pursuing justice and fair compensation.
Conclusion
A hit-and-run accident in Pennsylvania can be incredibly challenging to face alone, particularly when you consider the need for evidence. A report by The AAA Foundation revealed just how serious this has become across America, showing hit-and-runs hitting a record high, with such accidents soaring by 60% since 2009. That’s why contacting lawyers for hit and run accidents swiftly after an incident can significantly improve your situation.
