Considering hit-and-run accidents are at an all-time high in the City of Brotherly Love, it’s not surprising so many residents are wondering what the penalty is for a hit and run in Philadelphia. If you’re involved in a car accident in Philadelphia, leaving the scene can result in serious penalties, especially if someone is injured in the accident. You could be facing huge fines and potential injuries.
Many times, injury victims are confused about what their legal rights are, especially if the driver is never found. If you were involved in a car accident with a hit and run driver, our Philadelphia car accident lawyers can help. Contact Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation. Our lawyers have more than 250 years of combined legal experience and will provide you with advice you can trust.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What are Your Legal Obligations After a Philadelphia Car Accident?
Under Title 75 Pa. C.S.A. Vehicles § 3742, Pennsylvania law mandates that you must stop your vehicle immediately if you’re involved in an accident. You are required to exchange information with the other parties involved. This typically includes your:
- Name
- Address
- Contact details
- Vehicle registration number
For accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage, you must immediately notify the police.
Leaving the scene without fulfilling your legal duties can result in a hit and run charge. Under Pennsylvania law, you may even be held liable for a hit and run charge if you were involved in the events leading to an auto accident without being directly at fault.
According to Philadelphia law:
- For hit and run accidents with property damage only: Misdemeanor charge with fines of $2,500 to $5,000 and potential jail time of 90 days to one year
- For accidents with injuries: Felony charge with fines up to tens of thousands of dollars and imprisonment of one to seven years
- All hit and run convictions: Minimum of 4 points on your driver’s license
- Additional consequences: Insurance premium increases, possible license suspension, and civil liability for damages
Unfortunately, hit and run accidents have been on the rise in Philadelphia over the last few years. In 2020, 29 of the 143 deadly crashes in the city involved a hit-and-run. Although the number of hit-and-runs dropped to 21 in 2021, it increased to 34 in 2022 and 39 in 2023.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Philadelphia hit-and-run accident, you deserve justice and fair compensation. Let Munley Law help you. We’ve successfully built cases, negotiated with insurance companies, and fought for justice in court, securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements and enabling injured Pennsylvanians to recover more than $1 billion in damages since 1959.
Do You Need a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Following a Hit and Run Accident?
If you were injured in a hit and run accident, the answer is yes, you do need a Philadelphia car accident lawyer. A hit and run accident can be difficult to deal with on your own, especially if the driver is never caught. You will need an auto accident attorney to go through your insurance to see what compensation is available to pay for your expenses.
If you were the one who left the scene of the accident, it’s best that you speak with a criminal attorney in Philadelphia right away to learn what you should do next.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For more than 65 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
Will Insurance Cover the Costs of a Hit and Run?
Pennsylvania’s insurance system provides several options for hit and run victims to recover damages. The first option is uninsured motorist coverage. This insurance coverage will treat the incident as if an uninsured driver had hit you. It can help cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, long-term disability costs, and rehabilitation expenses.
You can also use your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance to cover the costs. Pennsylvania requires all drivers to carry PIP coverage, which pays for medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. This becomes particularly valuable in hit and run cases where the at-fault party cannot be located.
Other types of sources that can be used include other household members’ policies, health insurance, and disability insurance.
How Can a Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Help Your Hit and Run Case?
A qualified Philadelphia car lawyer at Munley Law can serve as your advocate and guide throughout the entire legal process following a hit and run accident, providing comprehensive support in several crucial areas. Understanding these services can help you appreciate the value of professional legal representation after a hit and run accident.
We will launch and oversee a thorough investigation of your accident. This begins with establishing a strong working relationship with law enforcement officers investigating your case. Your lawyer will regularly communicate with investigators, review police reports in detail, and follow up on any leads about the hit and run driver. When necessary, we may request additional investigation into specific aspects of the case.
Dealing with insurance companies requires extensive knowledge and experience. Your attorney serves as your advocate throughout this complex process, beginning with the proper filing of detailed claims with all relevant insurance carriers. We ensure all required documentation is properly submitted and that all deadlines, such as the two-year statute of limitations under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2), are met, while tracking claim status and following up regularly to prevent unnecessary delays.
The negotiation process requires a skilled strategy. Your lawyer will evaluate initial settlement offers, prepare detailed counteroffers, and document all negotiations. We understand how to leverage evidence to strengthen your position and will stand firm against lowball settlement offers that don’t adequately compensate you for your injuries and losses.
Meeting legal deadlines is critical to your case’s success. Your attorney tracks all statutes of limitations, court filing deadlines, required appearances, and discovery timelines. We coordinate with opposing counsel to ensure your case moves forward efficiently while protecting your interests.
If your case moves toward a settlement, we will handle all aspects of the process. This includes evaluating settlement offers, calculating fair settlement values based on your specific circumstances, conducting settlement negotiations, preparing necessary documents, and ensuring proper distribution of settlement funds.
Should your case proceed to trial, your Philadelphia car accident lawyer at Munley Law provides comprehensive trial preparation and representation. We develop a compelling trial strategy, select and prepare expert witnesses, create effective presentations, and represent you throughout all trial proceedings. If necessary, we will also handle any appeals that arise from your case.
Injured in a Hit and Run Accident in Philadelphia? Munley Law Can Help
If you’re injured in a hit and run accident in Philadelphia, seeking legal advice is not just recommended; it’s essential.
You can rest assured that choosing Munley Law for your hit and run accident lawyer in Philly is the right choice. Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey have board certifications in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. All our lawyers are members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Marion is the current Vice President of the AAJ, which has presented several of our attorneys with various awards.
In addition, all our partners were named to the Irish Legal 100 list, and Marion and Caroline Munley are members of the International Society of Barristers and Litigation Counsel of America. The National Trial Lawyers named Caroline among the Top 25 Women Trial Lawyers and all our partners among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. All our partners also received AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. With accolades like this, it’s easy to see why Munley Law is the best hit and run accident law firm in Philly and the greater Keystone State.
Contact Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747
