Drivers who hit motorcyclists often blame the accident on not being able to see the smaller motorcycle on the road. After sundown, you would think that the headlights and running lights used at night would make it harder to miss a rider on the road, but the Pennsylvania DOT still shows that a nighttime ride is even more dangerous than during daylight hours.
PennDOT figures show that motorcycles were involved in 3,066 accidents over 2019 leading to 174 tragic fatalities. The numbers also show that although there are many more vehicles on the road during the day, nighttime accidents still result in many more deaths each year.
These collisions can land a rider in the hospital with serious injuries, left to wonder how to get justice, especially once it’s clear the at-fault driver doesn’t intend to stick around to take responsibility.
Kensington Motorcyclist Hurt in Hit-And-Run
A hit-and-run accident left a motorcycle rider injured early Monday morning in Philadelphia’s Kensington section. CBS3-TV reported the accident happened around 2 am at the intersection of Allegheny Avenue and F Street.
Police say the man was on a motorcycle when he was struck by a car. He was taken to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
Police didn’t have a description of the driver to release but are looking for a red Dodge Challenger seen leaving the area.
Compensation After a Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Accident
An injured motorcyclist will soon face the medical bills that have been building up during his or her recovery. These bills may arrive before victims can even heal enough to return to work and earn a paycheck. Fortunately, the law protects riders who are hurt in an accident, even in the case of a hit-and-run.
If the driver to blame is never identified, a rider should be covered by their motorcycle insurance policy under their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
In these cases, you would think insurance companies would be happy to help out their own customer, but this is usually not the case. Agents and adjusters will treat victims like an opponent and work to weaken their claims to reduce the compensation paid out.
A victim may have to fight to get a fair award to cover the entirety of the medical recovery. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help victims in their battle with their own insurance companies. An attorney can make sure losses like medical bills (now and in the future), missed work (now and in the future), and even emotional trauma are all covered by insurance compensation.
If an at-fault driver is eventually located, then a claim for damages can be filed against the driver’s insurance company. The driver will likely be facing criminal charges as well, but the victim’s civil lawsuit can proceed even if the criminal trial hasn’t been completed.
Keep in mind that Philadelphia allows victims to file a claim for damages up to two years after the date of the accident.
Contact a Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After any motorcycle accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.