Choose a Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Lawyer to Fight on Your Behalf
If you were involved in a car accident and the other driver fled the scene, contact our Philadelphia hit-and-run lawyer as quickly as possible. Car accidents are stressful enough, and it is even worse when the other driver leaves. Whether you were in another vehicle or you were a pedestrian, you may be able to collect damages from a driver who hit you and then left without following Pennsylvania traffic accident laws.
Dealing with hit-and-run accidents is truly a team effort, and we are ready and willing to fight on your behalf. We will rely on you to provide us with as much information as possible. You can depend on us to investigate your case as thoroughly as possible and recover damages when the other driver is identified.
Don’t deal with your hit-and-run accident on your own. Partner with our Philadelphia hit-and-run accident lawyer today by calling (800) 969-4400.
Why Choose the Cochran Firm as Your Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Lawyer?
Our attorneys take pride in representing the people of Philadelphia, and we wholeheartedly embrace our city’s fighting spirit and sense of community. We represent our clients like they are members of our family, and we do so with the power of years of experience behind us. Several members of the Cochran Firm in Philadelphia are recognized as Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service that recognizes attorneys for professional achievement and peer recognition. Only the top 5% of lawyers make the list every year. Our attorneys have also secured numerous multimillion-dollar awards for our clients. The Cochran Firm has been helping people get the justice they deserve for over 40 years. We would proudly add you to our list of clients and fight for every penny you deserve.
What Can the Cochran Firm Do for You?
At the Cochran Firm, we won’t treat you like a number. You are a valuable and deserving human being. Our attorneys are fierce advocates for victims. We hold dear the legacy of our founding attorney Johnnie Cochran, who believed that victims deserve aggressive and experienced representation. It is understandable that you might feel abandoned after a hit-and-run accident. The driver left; the police may not be able to help; and other than your own insurance company, you have no way to pay for your medical and other bills. You don’t have to travel that hard road alone.
Let the hit-and-run accident lawyers at the Cochran Firm in Philadelphia give you a fighting chance at compensation. Call today at (800) 969-4400.
Things To Do Following a Hit-and-Run Accident
It may be hard to focus after a hit-and-run accident, or you may have injuries that make it hard for you to take action or even concentrate. To the extent that you can, there are several things you can do to help your future case against the other driver.
Collect as Much Information as You Can
The circumstances around hit-and-run accidents vary. Sometimes the other driver just speeds off. Sometimes they stop and start talking to the other driver and then take off. It could be because they panicked or because they had been drinking and wanted to leave before the police arrived. Regardless of the circumstances, do your best to collect the following information:
- A description of the other driver with as much detail as possible, down to their tattoos
- A description of the other vehicle, including color, make, model, and any distinguishing stickers or damage
- The license plate number of the other vehicle
- The specific time and location where the hit-and-run occurred
- A summary of what led to the accident, such as which direction you were both driving when the hit-and-run occurred
- The direction the driver took when they fled, noting if they immediately turned off on another street.
It may be hard to collect some of this information, and you shouldn’t do it if the other driver hasn’t left yet and is acting erratically. Your safety is of the utmost importance.
Take Pictures and Videos
If at all possible, get pictures of the other vehicle before it leaves the scene. Take plenty of photos of your own vehicle, and take a video while walking around it to capture all of the damage. Take pictures of any skid marks left by you or the other driver. These pictures and videos will help your hit-and-run lawyer establish who was at fault.
Talk to Any Potential Witnesses
If other drivers or pedestrians saw what happened, write down their contact information and what they saw. Look around to see if there are road crews or other workers in the area who may have also witnessed the accident.
Try to Collect Video from Other Sources
Businesses around your accident scene may have security footage that captured what happened. Talk to all the business owners and homeowners in the area to ask if they have security cameras and are willing to share their footage. If they do not want to give you the video, collect their name and contact information and pass it on to your Philadelphia hit-and-run accidents attorney. They may be able to compel the video owner to hand it over to the police as evidence.
You will need other evidence to support your insurance claims or potential lawsuits. Your hit-and-run attorney can help you gather that information. You need police reports, hospital reports regarding your injuries, and ongoing communication with your insurance company.
Let the Cochran Firm’s Philadelphia auto accident lawyers help you collect the evidence you need following a hit-and-run accident. Call us at (800) 969-4400, so we can get started on building a strong case.
Call the Police and Seek Medical Care
You should call the police following any car accident, particularly in the case of a hit-and-run. You need a police report to submit to your insurance company. You can also ask police questions on the scene to collect more information. They may be aware of other hit-and-runs involving a similar vehicle or be able to access video footage from surrounding businesses.
Even if you have only minor injuries, seek medical care as soon as possible after a hit-and-run accident. You need hospital or doctor records to show your injuries. Otherwise, an insurance company can claim you weren’t hurt. You may also have a head injury or internal bleeding that you may not even realize happened until you see a doctor.
Talk to our Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Accidents Lawyer Before You Talk to the Insurance Company
It isn’t just the other driver’s insurance company you have to worry about. Your company has its own agenda as a business, and that doesn’t include paying out large claims. Insurance companies sometimes ask victims to sit down for recorded interviews so they can use that information against them in the future. Other than reporting your accident, do not interact with your insurance company until your attorney can advise you what to say and not say.
If the police find the other driver or you find them in another way, you will also be dealing with their insurance company. They will try everything they can in an interview to get you to admit the accident was as least partly your fault. They will also press you to minimize the damage to your car and any personal injuries you may have. Don’t let them pressure you. Do not meet with the other driver’s insurance company or their attorney without your hit-and-run lawyer present.
Can I Sue for Damages if My Hit-and-Run Driver is Identified?
You can sue for damages after a hit-and-run accident after first collecting from your own insurance company. Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state. The phrase “no-fault” refers to how benefits are applied when you are the injured party in an accident. No matter who is to blame for the accident, your insurance policy covers things like wage loss and medical bills. If you reach the limits of your insurance policy, you can then try to recover from the other driver’s insurance company.
Damages Your Hit-and-Run Lawyer Can Help Recover
It is hard to put a number on the amount of damages that your hit-and-run attorney can help you recover. It will depend on the damage done to your vehicle, your immediate medical costs, and any long-term care you may need. Once you have collected from your own insurance company, you can seek damages you suffered above that amount if the other driver is found.
Compensatory Damages
If you were hurt in your hit-and-run accident, your lawyers could seek damages from the other insurance company, such as:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Loss of future earnings
- In-home care
- Legal fees
- Ongoing care for PTSD or anxiety resulting from your accident
- Pain and suffering.
Once the other driver is apprehended and their insurance company contacts you, contact the Cochran Firm immediately. Because they are on the hook for your damages above what your own insurance company paid, they will do everything they can to minimize the effects of the accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit Following a Hit-and-Run Accident?
The Statutes of Pennsylvania Title 42 Section 5524 dictate that you have two years from the date of your hit-and-run accident to file a lawsuit for personal injuries. This can be very tricky in hit-and-run cases, because it may take more than two years to identify the other driver. In these cases, your hit-and-run attorney can argue that your clock on filing a lawsuit shouldn’t have started ticking until after the other driver was identified. Otherwise, that driver and their insurance company are rewarded for fleeing the scene.
Common Questions About Hit-and-Run Accidents
The period following a hit-and-run accident can be confusing. You will likely have many questions about what to do next and how the accident will impact your life. Here are some common questions people ask of our hit-and-run accident attorneys.
Will I Collect from the Courts If the Driver is Found Guilty of Fleeing the Scene of an Accident?
Pennsylvania law doesn’t require restitution when a hit-and-run driver is found guilty in a criminal case. Your compensation will come from your insurance company and the at-fault party’s company.
How Much Will It Cost to Pay for a Hit-And-Run Accident Lawyer?
You have enough to worry about following a hit-and-run accident. At the Cochran Firm, our personal injury lawyers won’t charge you for your case unless you collect compensation.
Can My Insurance Company Raise My Rates If I Wasn’t at Fault in the Hit-And-Run?
If you were not at fault in a car accident, your insurance company cannot raise your rates simply because you collected compensation.
If Was a Pedestrian at the Time of the Hit-And-Run, Who Pays My Medical Bills?
In Pennsylvania, your car insurance agency still pays first if you are involved in a hit-and-run as a pedestrian. You can make a claim against the at-fault driver for costs above what your insurance covers.
If you have more questions about a hit-and-run accident and how to collect damages, the Cochran Firm is ready to help. We will ensure you are clear on the hit-and-run claims process from beginning to end. It may take time to identify the other driver and to make a claim against their insurance company. Rest assured; we will still be by your side.
Get Help from Our Philadelphia Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer Today
Hit-and-run accidents can wreak havoc on your life. Beyond the damages and medical bills associated with any car accident, you have the additional burden of having no way to make a claim against another insurance company. Contact the Cochran Firm’s Philadelphia hit-and-run lawyer so that you have someone you can trust by your side through what could be a lengthy process. Our experienced attorneys will help you gather evidence and file a claim with your insurance company. If the other driver is identified, we will fight to get you a fair settlement from their insurance company. We will bring your case to court and argue your side if necessary.
Call the Cochran Firm today at (800) 969-4400, or contact us for a free consultation on our website.