Key Takeaways:
- Pennsylvania treats a driver who flees and is never identified as an Uninsured Motorist (UM), which lets injured people turn to their own UM coverage.
- Reporting the crash to police and notifying the insurer quickly help keep the claim on track.
- Early steps such as calling 911, getting medical care, and collecting witness and camera details make the claim stronger.
Experienced Delaware County car accident lawyers help injured claimants recover compensation after hit-and-runs, even when police never find the driver. In most cases, payment comes from the injured person’s own uninsured motorist coverage. Insurers tend to question crashes with no known driver, so these claims depend on quick action and solid evidence.
Knowing Immediately What to Do After a Hit-and-Run in PA
Try to snap photos of the fleeing vehicle and call 911. State Police typically handle crashes on I-95 and I-476, while township and borough officers respond on roads such as Baltimore Pike. If an ER visit is not needed, get a prompt medical evaluation later that day. And before leaving the scene, snap photos of evidence, like skid marks; see if anyone witnessed what happened and let the responding officers know.
Can Delaware County Car Accident Lawyers Help When the Driver Is Never Found?
Yes, since a claim can move forward without an arrest. A hit-and-run Delaware County case often turns on camera footage, so lawyers move fast to request video from stores along West Chester Pike or Chester Pike before it gets recorded over. From there, they find witnesses, check every policy that may apply, and document medical bills and lost pay. That record helps when an insurer pushes back or offers less than the claim is worth.
How Does Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage Apply?
Pennsylvania insurers must offer UM coverage, although drivers can reject it in writing. This coverage takes the place of the missing driver’s insurance. Picture a Media commuter hit from behind on Route 1 by a car that speeds away. Their basic medical benefits pay first, and their uninsured motorist hit-and-run PA claim can cover remaining medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
What Is the “Phantom Vehicle” Claim?
PA drivers can look to the “Phantom Vehicle” rule, which applies when an unidentified car that causes an injury counts as an uninsured vehicle. To qualify for coverage, someone must report the crash to police and notify the insurer within 30 days or as soon as practical. Those reports carry weight, as PennDOT built its 2024 total of 110,765 reportable crashes from them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What deadlines apply?
After a hit-and-run accident, Pennsylvania law generally allows two years to file an injury lawsuit. UM claims against an insurer often follow separate contract deadlines.
What if the injured person has no car insurance?
A policy belonging to a relative in the same household may still provide UM coverage. When no policy applies, the Pennsylvania Financial Responsibility Assigned Claims Plan may offer limited benefits.
Can a pedestrian or cyclist use UM coverage after a hit-and-run?
Yes, a pedestrian or cyclist can often file a UM claim through their own auto policy, even though no car of theirs was involved in the crash.
When a Driver Flees the Scene, Our Experienced Delaware County Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Help Injured Drivers Find Another Road to Recovery
If you were injured by a hit-and-run driver, contact our Delaware County car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. To schedule an initial consultation, call us today at 610-565-3700 or complete our online form. With office locations in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.