Steps to Take Immediately Following a Hit-and-Run Accident
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you face a difficult journey forward, but if you were injured in an accident in which the at-fault motorist left the scene, the situation is that much more challenging. If you find yourself in this unfortunate position, there are important steps you can take to help protect your claim, and one of the most important is consulting with an experienced Philadelphia hit-and-run accident attorney.
Safety First
In the immediate aftermath of any car accident, it’s important to pull your vehicle out of the line of traffic if at all possible and to call 911 and obtain a police accident report. If you were injured, you will file your claim through your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which motorists in Pennsylvania are required to carry on their automobile insurance. The first order of business, however, is obtaining the medical attention you need, which your call to the authorities will initiate.
It’s important to note here that very serious injuries can be slow to present with symptoms and that very serious pain can be masked by the shock and adrenaline rush you experience during a violent hit-and-run accident. In other words, it’s in your best interest to seek medical attention after even a relatively minor car accident.
Bringing an Experienced Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney on Board
The next step in the process is retaining a capable hit-and-run accident attorney as soon as you’re able to do so. When it comes to hit-and-run accidents, time is of the essence, and identifying the driver who caused you to be injured is key.
Even if your injuries kept you from gathering evidence of the accident scene, it’s very likely that others stepped in on your behalf, and the good news is that – with all the cameras out there – your chances of locating the driver in question are much better than they might have been in the past.
The kind of evidence that your claim will hinge on include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Any footage from dashcams, security cameras, or traffic cameras in the vicinity
- Photos or videos captured of the accident by bystanders or by occupants of other vehicles
- The police report, which can include information obtained from interviewing bystanders at the scene
A motorist is more likely to leave the scene of an accident when they’re all too aware that they’re on the wrong side of the law, such as when they’re impaired, and holding them accountable for the physical, financial, and emotional losses you’ve suffered is important.
What if the Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot be Located or Identified?
Despite our best efforts, sometimes the identity of the hit-and-run driver will never be known. This is why it is critically important for you to purchase uninsured motorist coverage on your own automobile insurance policy. Uninsured motorist coverage will allow you to make a claim for your injuries and damages to your own automobile insurance policy even if you never discover the identity of the Hit-and-Run driver.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney
The accomplished Philadelphia hit-and-run accident attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers dedicate their impressive practice to helping clients like you prevail with just settlements that support their fullest recoveries, and we’re standing by to help you. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 267-350-6600 and scheduling a free consultation today.