Philadelphia Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Advocating for Your Rights After a Hit and Run Accident

Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyer Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. has seen many different people struggle with the aftermath of a hit and run accident. You are minding your own business, driving to work, a child’s sporting event or home after a long day. Suddenly, an out of control driver rear ends you at a stoplight. Dazed, you come to attention when the other driver exits the scene of the accident instead of exiting their vehicle. 

Instead of stopping to assist you with your injuries or at least check to see if you are OK, all you saw were his brake lights as he sped off into the Philadelphia night. Already your back is hurting and your car’s bumper took quite a bit of damage. In the days and weeks following the accident you sought medical care of various types to deal with the pain in your back. As time passes since your accident you are still collecting bills from each medical provider. Certainly, you have questions about how to proceed. Do you have options when the at-fault driver decides to leave the scene of your accident?

Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. has a plan for you and your case. Seeking maximum compensation for your injuries allows you to obtain peace of mind and a sense of justice in the midst of an unfortunate set of circumstances. Contact our office today for a free of charge consultation. Our team of experienced legal professionals takes seriously the responsibility to guide you during this time of uncertainty. 

What is a Hit and Run Accident?

Before we get too far today, let’s define what a hit and run accident is. When a driver hits you, your vehicle or another object and then leaves the scene of the accident that is known as a “hit and run” accident. Failing to render assistance or even identify if the other person or driver is injured is a part of being a hit and run driver, as well. In Pennsylvania, leaving the scene of a car accident against the law. Doing so puts you as an innocent driver in an unenviable situation as far as protecting your rights. 

Is it Possible to Win Damages in a Hit and Run Accident Case?

After being injured in a hit and run accident, the question of whether you can recover any damages for your injuries or lost wages is reasonable. The vast majority of people injured in a Philadelphia car accident will file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This allows you to have your vehicle repaired and be paid damages for having suffered an injury in the car accident. 

When the at-fault driver immediately leaves the scene of the accident without a trace that hinders your ability to file a claim. Without any immediate knowledge of the driver’s identity, discovering anything about that person’s car insurance company would appear to be impossible. The car insurance company is who typically pays damages for each of us as insured drivers if we were to cause a car accident. 

This all becomes purely hypothetical when it comes to filing a claim with a hit and run driver’s insurance company. When that driver cannot be tracked down it puts you in a position as an injured person where you may need to open a claim with your own car insurance company. For those of you who have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy, this is when that coverage comes in hand. Even though it is optional to possess this type of coverage in Pennsylvania your insurance company must make the coverage known to you. 

What Type of Coverage Does an Uninsured Motorist Policy Cover?

The minimum Uninsured Motorist coverage protection covers $15,000 per injured person and $30,000 per accident. Unfortunately, these amounts of coverage are typically far lower than even conservative medical care for serious medical conditions. For example, if you suffered a broken arm that required surgery in a hit and run accident this coverage may be insufficient to pay for even your initial care. This is to say nothing of physical or occupational therapy. 

What Role Does a Lawyer Play in Your Hit and Run Accident Case?

A Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyer can help you to establish your claim and support your allegations of injury as long as you have an Uninsured Motorist protection on your car insurance. So much of a hit and run accident case is building evidence and negotiating with the insurance company for a payment towards your damages. Without having any experience in performing these tasks you are at a significant disadvantage

An experienced hit and run accident lawyer, Anthony C. Gagliano, III knows how to gain solid footing after a disheartening experience like a hit and run accident. Receiving maximum compensation for your injuries and damages is achievable- even in a hit and run accident. You need the right lawyer for your case to help grasp what previously seemed completely out of reach. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Having a Plan When Your Own Car Insurance Company is Being Unreasonable  

A Uninsured Motorist policy is not a golden ticket to compensation for your injuries, however. On the contrary, many people assume that because it is your own car insurance company that they will be more reasonable with you. That said, a friendly insurance company is usually the farthest thing from the truth. On the contrary, even your own insurance company can be hostile in a negotiation. 

When negotiations do not go fairly, then you are left with no choice but to file a lawsuit against your own insurance company. Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. works hard throughout this process to not only help you file a lawsuit. Additionally, our team of legal professionals will put in maximum effort to try and locate the hit and run driver. The information you provide us, witness statements, video and photographic evidence can all be utilized. We know how to search efficiently for the hit and run driver because we have done so successfully for other clients. 

No matter who must be pursued, Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. does so with your best interests at heart. The entire process is done intentionally. We do not make recommendations for you without first thinking through the circumstances. It is easy to wander into bad circumstances when it comes to a hit and run case. What you won’t be able to do is wander out of a bad circumstance with any goals having been accomplished. Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. works diligently to help you identify objectives and goals worth fighting for. 

Steps to Take After Being Injured in a Hit and Run Accident 

The journey towards maximum compensation for your injuries begins immediately after your hit and run accident. Taking action as soon as possible means positioning yourself well for the remainder of your case. The insurance claims you file and the possible lawsuit that must follow will benefit from making the right decisions immediately after the accident occurs. Increase your ability to earn maximum compensation for your injuries by considering the following pieces of information. 

Contact the police immediately after the accident. Do not attempt anything dangerous to prevent the at-fault driver from leaving the scene of the accident. In any event, the injuries you have suffered may not allow you to do so. Instead, focus on your well-being and that of your passengers. If you are able, contact law enforcement. Detail where you are, to the best of your ability, when speaking with law enforcement. Taking photos of the accident, your injuries and your vehicle while waiting for law enforcement to arrive is also a good use of your time.

Depending upon how the accident took place you may be able to give responding law enforcement officers a description of the at-fault driver. It may be asking too much of you to have recorded the license plate number of him or her. However, being able to relay to law enforcement the make and model of the other driver’s vehicle may be possible. The more detail you are able to provide the easier it will be to track him or her down.  

Attend to Your Injuries Without Delay After a Hit and Run Accident

Taking the best step forward possible after a hit and run accident means seeking necessary medical care. In circumstances where you have suffered severe injuries emergency personnel may arrive at the scene and transport you for emergency care. When emergency transportation is not deemed necessary the next step to consider is what type of care do you need? Emergency medical attention may still be necessary. Seeking private transportation for x-rays or an examination makes sense if you are in pain. 

Follow-up with your primary care doctor after receiving emergency medical care. It is your primary care doctor who understands your medical conditions best. He or she can help you to plan out the next phase of your treatment, if necessary. Physical therapy or even surgery may be the necessary outcome of your injuries suffered in a hit and run accident. A follow-up appointment with your primary care doctor allows you to learn about the options available to you as far as medical care is concerned. 

Ultimately, you need to seek medical care for the injuries you have suffered based upon the recommendations of your treatment providers. Generally speaking, the earlier you receive medical care the better the outcomes for you in the long run. Waiting for medical care usually carries with it negative consequences. The care you receive initially can pay major dividends down the line when it comes to your health outcomes.

The other consideration regarding medical care has to do with your claim against the at-fault driver or your own uninsured motorist coverage. Consistent and early medical care is a terrific benefit to have when you are pursuing damages. Insurance companies try to use the tried and tested “gaps in coverage” argument to try and show that if you have gaps or inconsistent coverage that your injuries must not be overly severe. However, by seeking appropriate and early care for your conditions you can avoid this potential line of argument. 

What Do the Damages in a Hit and Run Accident Case Pay For?

Let’s assume that you are not able to locate the hit and run driver who caused your accident. As a result, it has become necessary to file a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy. This puts you in a position where you need to understand what sort of damages are potentially available to you in a trial or settlement with the at fault driver and their insurance company. 

Medical care is usually objective number one for people such as yourself who have suffered a significant injury in a hit and run accident. An ambulance ride and visit to a local emergency room may be necessary but it is also expensive. You are able to present these bills in addition to any other you have accumulated to the insurance company for the at-fault driver. Follow up care from a physical therapist or pain management doctor should also be presented to the other insurance company. 

Spending time away from work is one major drawback of being injured in a hit and run accident. Those lost wages are recoverable in a civil lawsuit against the hit and run driver. Be sure to document time spent away from work as well as any other issues you suffer in the workplace because of your injuries. The better your record keeping the more likely you are to receive fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages and other damages suffered.

Questions About Being Involved in a Hit and Run Accident? Contact Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. 

When you are injured in a hit and run accident but don’t know where to turn please consider reaching out to Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. Our office offers free of charge consultations where your questions can be answered about the next, best steps to take in your case.