Many drivers know that when they get hit by another car and are injured, that someone’s insurance company is going to pay for the damages. In Philadelphia, where hit and run accidents have soared over the last few years according to a report from 3CBS Philly, many victims are finding out that they may not have coverage for their injuries.
Woman Left on Pavement by Fleeing Driver in Critical Condition
Police say that a collision between a car and a female pedestrian left the woman in critical condition Wednesday, June 10, 2020, around 10 pm. The accident happened at 74th Street and Ogontz Avenue in the West Oak Lane area of the city.
The driver of the car fled the scene, and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them. The woman was taken to Einstein Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition.
Hit and Run Liability
The vast majority of accident injuries are paid for by auto insurance policies of the at-fault driver. In a hit-and-run, if the at-fault driver is never caught, then determining the insurance company involved will be impossible.
This can leave the victim holding the bills unless the driver can be found. In some cases, the victim—even though a pedestrian—can make a claim on their own policy if they have provisions like medpay or uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage. These can be used because the accident did involve a car, just not the victim’s car.
What to Do if You Were a Pedestrian in a Hit-and-Run
The best thing to do after a hit and run accident is to try and stay calm. If you think can do some things safely, then do what you can.
- Get to safe place to avoid second hit
- Call 911 if you have a working phone
- Get a license number
- Description of the person and vehicle
- Location of damages on the car
- The direction the car fled
- Get pictures of the area and of your injuries, if possible
- Get names of any witnesses and any information they have about the incident
- Do not follow the driver
Many times it’s impossible to do all or any of these. You have to make the best decision for you at the scene, and remember your safety comes first, so don’t try any of these if it will put you in more danger.
When you are treated, the next best thing to do is to contact an attorney who can help you with your claims. At The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C., we know where to look for compensation coverage for a hit and run accident. We know how to deal with the insurance company including yours if you have the right coverage. Call us soon before you speak to anyone from an insurance company or from their lawyers.
Contact a Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyer.
After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Auto Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. 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.
