Hit and Run Accident in Philadelphia
Hit-and-run accidents occur every day across the United States. Statistics show that approximately 11 percent of reported crashes involve at least one driver fleeing the scene. When motorists do not stop and get help after an accident, they risk the lives of other drivers and fail to take responsibility for the entire incident.
Even though fleeing the scene of an accident is illegal in every state, fatal fleeing the scene of an accident crashes have been increasing since 2009. Between 2009 and 2011, there was a 13.7 percent increase in fatal hit-and-run accidents across the nation.
The lawyers at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C., have handled numerous hit-and-run accidents with injury. Hit-and-Run Accidents with injuries must be handled properly so that no rights or remedies available to the injured person against the hit-and-run driver are lost.
There is no purpose in guessing why the hit-and-run driver left the scene; it is best to accept that they did. If you see the license plate, car makes and/or model, or any other identifying information, write it down so you can reference it later.
If the negligence of a hit-and-run driver injured you, you must call the police. Most insurance companies (and the assigned claims plan, if no insurance is available) have a requirement that persons injured in Hit-and-Run Accidents report the hit-and-run to the police within 30 days of the actual hit-and-run. When the officer responds to the scene, provide him or her with as good a description of the hit-and-run vehicle as possible. It is also vital to describe your injuries to the officer or ambulance personnel with as much specificity as you possibly can provide.
Use your common sense if you are injured, and the officer asks if you need medical assistance. If you have pain, then it is most likely a good idea to agree to have first aid responders examine your injuries and possibly transport you to the nearest emergency room. Suppose the injuries inflicted by the hit-and-run driver are not that severe.
You can probably contact your family doctor or another non-emergency health care professional when you get home or the following day. Oftentimes, injuries caused by the hit-and-run driver will not manifest themselves for 24 hours or even longer. It is, therefore, imperative that you seek medical care as soon as possible.
Sometimes, the police will locate the hit-and-run driver and provide you with his or her insurance information. The following is important: insurance companies, including your company or the hit-and-run drivers, are not in the business to offer you fair compensation. They are in business to make money. For this reason, you shouldn’t contact your own company or the hit-and-run driver’s insurance company without counsel.
If you do, you risk having your own words turned against you to your detriment. By having an experienced lawyer at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. talk on your behalf, you are eliminating much of the red tape that insurance companies create.
If you are a victim of a Hit-and-Run Accident with injuries, you are entitled to financial compensation for the injuries you sustained. By calling the Philadelphia car accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. at (215)-799-9990 , you can be assured that your rights and interests will be protected and maximized. We will review your insurance policy and determine the maximum coverage available.