Philadelphia is a city of narrow streets and a constant flow of traffic. Pedestrians know how hard it can be to find a safe place to cross when crosswalks aren’t designed properly and distracted drivers show little caution when the possibility of someone on foot being nearby should always be on their minds.
Inattentive drivers pose a dangerous threat to walkers every day, but the heartbreak of a collision is only magnified when the drivers to blame decide to speed off and avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
FOX29-TV found that fatal hit-and-run cases have been on the rise in the past year across Philadelphia. In 2019, the city reported nine fatal hit-and-runs, but in 2020 the number of tragic deaths caused by hit-and-run drivers jumped to 28 cases.
Philadelphia Pedestrian Hit-And-Run Accident in Fairhill
A pedestrian was struck in the Fairhill section of Philadelphia late Sunday night. FOX29-TV reported the accident happened on Leigh Avenue just before midnight on January 3, 2020.
Philadelphia police say a 36-year-old man was crossing the avenue near American street when he was struck by a driver in the middle of the four-lane roadway. The victim was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
Investigators say the driver sped away without stopping. Police officers pursued the alleged vehicle involved for a short time down 5th street before the suspect got away. Investigators believe the responsible driver was in a red Dodge Dakota truck. It was a model between 2005-2011 and had a quad cab.
If you have any information about the driver or the vehicle involved you’re asked to call the Philadelphia Police Department.
Support for Fairhill Pedestrian Hit-And-Run Victims
A careless act by a driver can leave a victim in the hospital coping with a severe injury and also place the family of the victim under extreme stress. They will be worried about an injured loved one and can also be questioning how justice can ever be served when at-fault motorists choose not to stick around after their mistake.
Victims and their families shouldn’t have to wait for justice or wait for assistance paying for the expensive costs of medical treatment resulting from a collision. However, if a hit-and-run suspect is never found a victim may have to depend on his or her own car insurance policy for help with medical expenses and other bills. A claim can be made on the victim’s personal uninsured motorist coverage. If victims don’t have a policy, they might be covered on a family member’s policy.
If there is positive news and a suspect is apprehended, a civil claim for damages can move forward immediately against the driver and his or her insurance company. The driver will likely be facing a criminal trial on hit-and-run charges, but a civil trial can advance regardless of the status of the criminal proceedings.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
No matter where your hit-and-run pedestrian accident case stands, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce to talk over your options. Your consultation comes at no cost to you or your family and will be obligation-free.
Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different 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.