Hit and Run Accidents: Steps to Protect Your Claim

A hit-and-run occurs anytime a driver flees the scene of an accident without offering medical assistance to other drivers or contacting the police. In recent years, the small but densely populated city of Pottsville has seen an increase in hit-and-run accidents. As the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you must seek medical treatment, contact the police, and gather evidence to preserve your claim. Our car accident lawyers can provide guidance and instruction that can benefit your claim.

Seek Medical Treatment

A hit-and-run accident can cause significant injuries. Your priority following any collision should be getting medical care. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If you have been injured or feel unwell, call an ambulance. The paramedics that are dispatched to the scene will assess your injuries (and your passengers’ injuries) and transport anyone who needs medical attention to the nearest hospital.

Even if you only suffered minor injuries, be sure to seek medical attention within 72 hours. Be sure to collect and organize medical imaging, discharge instructions, and invoices, as these will highlight the severity of your injuries and financial damages.

Contact the Police

Pennsylvania law requires that you contact law enforcement following an accident if there are any injuries, fatalities, or if any vehicles are damaged to the extent that they must be towed (typically more than $1,000 in property damage). Even if the hit-and-run driver caused the crash, you need to contact the police. The officer who responds to the scene will take down your information, gather details surrounding the accident, note weather and road conditions, and take down eyewitness statements. Given this information, the officer will surmise who they believe is at fault.

In a hit-and-run, the police will also investigate to locate the driver who fled the scene. Any information you can provide about the hit-and-run driver, including their description or the vehicle’s make and model, can be invaluable in helping them track down the driver. Hit-and-run drivers are subject to imprisonment, fines, and license points, with any resulting serious bodily injury or fatalities making the offense a felony.

Gather Evidence and Other Information

Following a hit-and-run collision, you will want to gather clear evidence that establishes the other driver’s liability. This evidence can include photographs of vehicle wreckage, the final resting positions of both vehicles, videos of the crash, and eyewitness statements. Unfortunately, this information is not always readily available.

Video surveillance from local businesses can be difficult to obtain. Thankfully, our Pottsville car accident lawyers will send a spoliation letter to the owner of the footage to ensure it is preserved. A spoliation letter is a document requesting that the business supply surveillance footage of the crash. The letter must include the date, time, and location of the crash so the business knows which footage to provide.

Our legal team will also stipulate the repercussions for non-compliance. If the business still refuses to supply this information, we are prepared to subpoena the evidence. While this process can seem confusing and stressful, our legal team knows what avenues to pursue to garner results.

Contact Our Pottsville Car Accident Attorneys Today

Protecting your rights after a hit-and-run is paramount to recovering the compensation you deserve. If you or a family member has been involved in a hit-and-run, our Pottsville car accident lawyers are available to help you file your claim and negotiate a fair settlement. To schedule your free consultation or learn more, contact Fanelli, Evans, & Patel online or call (570) 622-2455 today.