Steps to Take if You Are Involved in a Hit-and-Run Car Accident
If you are injured in an accident and the at-fault driver flees the scene, it puts you in an incredibly difficult position. In fact, the steps you take immediately following a hit-and-run accident can make a big difference in terms of the outcome of your case. While no two hit-and-run cases are exactly alike, the path forward remains the same. One of the most important steps you can take early on is consulting with our experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorneys at DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C.
Step 1: Pull Your Car Out of Harm’s Way
Following any car accident, it’s important to move your vehicle out of the line of traffic if possible. This minimizes the risk that the accident will have a snowball effect and that you will be injured further.
Step 2: Call 911
Next up is calling 911. You can generally rely on eyewitnesses to make the call. Letting the operator know that you were injured, however, will likely get Pennsylvania emergency medical professionals to you more quickly. Hearing directly from an accident victim bypasses the need for bystanders to conjecture or to relay secondhand information.
Step 3: Focus on Your Well-Being
Being injured by a motorist who doesn’t have the decency to stop can leave you in a state of shock, which can mask serious symptoms like pain. Further, some very serious injuries are slow to become symptomatic, which can include TBIs and spinal cord injuries. This means that you may be injured even if you think you’re not, or you may be more seriously injured than you realize.
If the medical techs who arrive at the scene offer you emergency care or transportation, accept it. Otherwise, get checked out by your medical provider as soon after the accident as possible. This sets the stage for a better health outcome and is also important in relation to your car accident claim.
Step 4: Consult with a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer Early On
The fact is that hit-and-run accidents are on the rise throughout Pennsylvania, and holding drivers legally accountable is exceptionally difficult. However, with all the video surveillance all around us and the smartphones that virtually everyone carries, it’s no longer a virtual impossibility.
Your skilled car accident attorney will ably gather all the available evidence in their focused efforts to locate the driver who harmed you. You can also count on Pennsylvania’s finest to investigate the accident.
If the negligent motorist is found, your dedicated car accident lawyer will file a solid claim with their insurance provider on your behalf. If they’re never found, however, your professional legal counsel will help you navigate your own insurance coverage in pursuit of the compensation you deserve.
When the At-Fault Driver Is Never Found
Hit-and-run accidents present a unique challenge when the driver who caused your injuries is never identified. In that situation, your own insurance coverage becomes a critical resource. Specifically, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage exists precisely for circumstances like these. Under Pennsylvania law, UM coverage steps in to compensate you for your losses when the at-fault driver cannot be held directly accountable.
UM coverage can address many of the same losses you could recover from an at-fault driver, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The amount available depends on the limits of your own policy, which is one reason carrying adequate UM coverage is so important.
A UM claim is not always straightforward. Insurance companies handle these claims just as they would any other, meaning they have a financial interest in minimizing your payout. An experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney can help ensure your UM claim is handled properly and that you pursue every dollar your policy allows.
Our Experienced Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
Our formidable Pennsylvania car accident attorneys at DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C. are committed to leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of a favorable claim resolution that covers your full range of losses. Learn more by contacting us online or giving us a call at 717-496-0070 today.