Hit-and-run accidents are all too common in Pennsylvania. In fact, a report from 2019 said that in Philadelphia, police receive about 40 calls every day about a hit-and-run. A hit-and-run is when a driver hits another vehicle, person, or piece of property and leaves the scene without stopping to give their information. These incidents happen every day even though it is illegal in Pennsylvania to leave the scene of an accident where any property damage or bodily injury occurred.
So what should you do if you are in an accident, and the other party leaves the scene?
DO NOT CHASE THEM!
If the other driver leaves the scene, do not pursue them. It is not safe, and by leaving the scene of the accident, you could be losing good evidence (and leaving the scene of the accident yourself, which is against the law.)
Try to get their license plate number, a description of the car, and the direction in which it is headed. Call 911 and report the accident, letting them know it was a hit-and-run.
Rather than pursuing the other drive, a better idea is to stay at the scene and see if there are any witnesses who saw what happened or businesses who have surveillance cameras. Some of these places don’t store the information very long, so it is important to ask for that footage as soon as possible. Someone in the store may be able to show you right away what the camera captured. It may even have the license plate number.
Then take the same steps you would take after any car accident:
1. Determine if anyone is injured. Does anyone need immediate medical attention? If you are seriously injured or have a true emergency, you should go to an emergency room. Otherwise, it’s probably best to see your own doctor if you can be seen within a day or two, or go to an urgent care. If you don’t feel hurt at the time of the accident, but become aware of an injury later, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, but it is very important to have a thorough medical examination as soon as you become aware of the injury.
2. Move to a safe location. Remain as close as possible to the scene of the accident, making sure the car and all people are in a safe location.
3. Collect information about other driver. If the other driver has remained, collect information from them, including name, address, registration number, and driver’s license. If they have fled, look for witnesses. Did anyone else witness the accident? If you see any potential witnesses, approach them and ask for their contact information.
4. Document the scene. Take photos and video of the vehicles, taking photos of the entire car as well as any damage to your vehicle and other vehicles. Record the date and time of the accident, note street names and direction each car was going both before and after the accident. Take a video of the entire scene.
5. Call a tow truck. If you are unable to safely drive your vehicle, call a tow truck. Your insurance company or motorist club (like AAA) may provide roadside assistance.
Contact an attorney. It is vital to your case that an immediate investigation take place. You may not be in a position to document the conditions, but if your attorney can examine the scene close in time to when the accident occurred, you will preserve your best chance at recovering for your injury. Your attorney can help ensure that the evidence necessary to prove liability is preserved.
Contact Aversa & Linn for more information about holding the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries.
