The effort to get around Philadelphia leaves many pedestrians in vulnerable spots across the city. The danger is especially great at night when drivers need to show extra care to any potential pedestrians nearby. Unfortunately, drivers can become less focused on the road and their surroundings after the sun goes down, leading to a serious risk to anyone else on the road.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issues reports on these dangers every year. PennDOT details that across the state 37% of pedestrian accidents involving injury happened at dusk and after dark. What’s more, nighttime collisions led to many more tragic deaths. 70% of fatal pedestrian accidents overall happened at night. In Philadelphia in 2018, 42 pedestrians lost their lives. Another 29 people on foot lost their lives in 2019.
Woman Badly Injured by Strike from Car
A woman who had just gotten out of her car was struck by a hit-and-run driver early Sunday morning in Philadelphia. CBSN-TV reports the accident happened around 4 a.m. on the 200 block of East Cheltenham Avenue in the Oak Lane neighborhood on February 7, 2021.
Philadelphia police say the 25-year-old woman had exited her car because she believed she’d struck some parked vehicles. She was trying to find the cars she hit when another vehicle came along and hit her. The victim was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital where she was said to be in critical condition.
The driver involved left the scene. Investigators believe the suspect was at the wheel of a dark-colored sedan that may have front bumper damage. Anyone who may have information on the driver or the vehicle is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Department.
Help for Oak Lane Pedestrian Accident Victims
Pedestrian accidents can leave victims badly hurt and unable to do anything other than focus on recovery. During these difficult recoveries, victims and their families may face the extreme costs of medical care, all while monthly bills continue to show up as well. They may wonder if they’ll have to try to cover all of these bills by themselves.
Victims and their families should never have to cover their own expenses over an accident they weren’t responsible for, but finding compensation when a hit-and-run driver hasn’t be found can be a complex process.
If the driver is never located, victims and their families may have to file a claim for damages against the pedestrian’s own car accident insurance policy. The victim would hope to recover money from their protection against uninsured drivers. Even though this claim is with the victim’s own insurance agent, getting fair treatment can still be difficult. An insurance company may still treat their own policyholders like the opposition and try to get them to accept far less money than what will be needed. An attorney working on behalf of the victim and his or her family can make sure an insurance company knows the actual price of recovery and is held accountable for it.
If hit-and-run drivers are located, a claim for damages can be filed against their insurance firms. This civil claim can proceed no matter where the criminal case against the suspect stands. The compensation earned can help cover hospital bills now and any care required in the future. It can also reimburse victims for their lost time at work.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Edith Pearce of The Pearce Law Firm, P.C., specializes in defending Philadelphia pedestrian accident victims so that they can be free of financial worry while they work on healing and getting back on their feet. Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about people who have been victimized by hit-and-run drivers and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at The Pearce Law Firm, P.C., to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by an insurance company.