I-95 cuts right through Philadelphia and can funnel in traffic from the entire Eastern Seaboard. Like any interstate, the constant rush of traffic can make for a dangerous drive at any hour of the day.
The Pennsylvania DOT documented that our Interstates were the scene for over 11,000 crashes in 2019. 6,000 people suffered injuries in those crashes and 83 motorists lost their lives.
The numbers are tragic and the heartbreak is only magnified when the driver who is to blame in an accident leaves the scene to avoid taking responsibility for his or her mistake.
Philadelphia I-95 Deadly Hit-And-Run Accident
An SUV was found on its side off of I-95 late Tuesday night in Northeast Philadelphia. The accident led to one fatality. CBS3-TV reported the accident happened around 11 pm near Academy Road on August 25, 2020.
Pennsylvania State Police found the white SUV off the southbound lanes. The driver behind the wheel died from injuries suffered in the crash. Investigators are looking for another vehicle that was involved in the collision and fled the scene. No description of the vehicle or its driver has been released.
Compensation for Families After a Deadly Hit-And-Run Accident
In tragic hit-and-run accidents, a family can get the news that a loved one has been lost and at the same time learn that the at-fault driver can’t be located. The anguish can be devastating for those left behind.
The family will be facing the loss of the loved one’s financial support and paychecks he or she provided to the family through employment. After the tragedy, close family members will also face funeral costs and other bills associated with the accident.
Justice can be hard to obtain after a hit-and-run collision, but families can get help with their hardships. The victim and the family should be protected by uninsured/underinsured coverage from their auto insurance. This coverage is generally included with all insurance policies unless it is declined in writing. In this situation, the family would file a claim with the victim’s own insurance policy or the family’s insurance policy that extends coverage to the victim.
There’s one thing to watch out for. Even though you’ll be filing an accident claim with the victim’s or family’s own policy, the insurance companies may treat your family like the enemy. They will likely try to pay out as little as possible for your claim. A local attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases can help a family get the maximum compensation for their loss.
If the responsible driver is eventually located, a civil lawsuit can be leveled against that driver’s insurance company in a wrongful death claim. A relative of the deceased can represent the family in this claim. An attorney can also represent that family.
The hit-and-run suspect will likely face a criminal trial in this case, but a family’s civil lawsuit to collect damages can move forward even if a criminal trial hasn’t concluded.
Keep in mind that Philadelphia sets the statute of limitations at two years from the date the victim passed away to file a claim. It’s important to get the process started as soon as possible because the more time that passes from the date of the accident the harder it will be to collect evidence to support your claim.
Contact a Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney
After any accident involving a serious injury or the loss of a loved one, contact a highly rated Philadelphia hit-and-run 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 the families involved and you will not be treated like just another case or file.