If you’ve been involved in an accident where the driver has fled the scene, the expert Pittsburgh hit and run accident lawyers at Munley Law are here for you.
The attorneys at Munley Law understand just how devastating the aftermath of these accidents can be, and are ready to fight for the justice you deserve. We have several award-winning trial lawyers and motor vehicle trial specialists on staff who can thoroughly evaluate your case and help to ensure that you are properly compensated for your pain, suffering, and losses.
Our hit and run lawyers can help you and your family recover the compensation you deserve to start moving forward. Contact Munley Law today for a free initial case evaluation and expert support.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What is a Hit and Run Accident? 
A hit and run accident generally occurs when the at fault driver leaves the scene of an accident. However, in Pennsylvania, the law is broader than that.
Under Pennsylvania law, the “driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident [and] shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of section 3744 (relating to duty to give information and render aid).” The same is true with accidents involving injuries or death.
After stopping, those involved in the car accident must render aid and give information, including identity and insurance company information, to the other parties involved. Those involved in an accident also have a responsibility to provide reasonable aid to any injured parties, including transporting the injured party to receive medical care, if it is requested and apparent that medical care is necessary.
Failure to comply with any of these provisions of Pennsylvania law is a crime. This is what people refer to as a hit and run accident or leaving the scene of an accident.
How Often Do Hit and Run Accidents Occur?
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), U.S. drivers struck and killed a total of 7,148 pedestrians in hit and run accidents in 2024 alone.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) further notes that more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured by these accidents across the nation that same year. While pedestrian deaths decreased by 4.3% nationally in 2024, this number of fatalities was still around 20% higher than those recorded in 2016, highlighting the growing seriousness of this issue on American roads.
What are Your Rights After a Hit and Run Accident?
After a hit and run accident, there are two legal pathways open to accident victims. First, as discussed, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, and the state of Pennsylvania will prosecute it as such. That said, while filing a police report and informing law enforcement that the at-fault party left the scene is an important step, a criminal prosecution is not meant to address the financial impacts the accident had on the accident victim.
That’s where civil suits come in. A civil lawsuit is filed by you, as the accident victim, against the at-fault driver. A civil suit can proceed simultaneously with a criminal prosecution; you don’t have to pick one or the other.
In fact, they often go hand in hand. For example, law enforcement and an experienced car accident lawyer can work together to identify the driver and bring them to justice.
What Do You Have to Prove in a Civil Lawsuit?
After an accident caused by someone else, you can typically file a negligence lawsuit. This is because drivers owe a duty of care to drive reasonably to avoid causing harm to others on the road, pedestrians, and property. A negligence suit is meant to compensate the injured victims.
Negligence
Negligence is a legal concept that is simple in theory but incredibly complex in practice. Put simply, to prove negligence, you must prove four things: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
- Duty: As a driver, we all owe a duty of care to others around us to drive reasonably.
- Breach: to prove breach, you must show that the at fault driver failed to act reasonably.
- Causation: causation is simple in theory, but often a complex factual and legal issue. In this context, you must prove that the driver’s actions caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: you must also prove that the breach of a duty, the drowsiness, caused you financial or emotional damages. This is where we must prove the amount of money involved.
What Should You Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Pittsburgh? 
Hit and run accidents are shocking and often leave accident victims confused and unsure of how to proceed. If you are involved in a Pittsburgh hit and run, here are some baseline rules:
- Make a police report: Contact the police right away and make a report. You will need this for your insurance company and, if it comes to it, your lawsuit. Do not let your driver, another passenger, or a third party convince you not to file a police report. Be sure law enforcement notes other people on the scene.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you do not think you were injured, make sure to seek medical attention. Sometimes, the symptoms from an injury caused by a car accident can creep up days or even weeks later, and you want to be prepared. Seeking medical attention will help your case as well, as it will provide a documented source of the damage caused by the rideshare driver’s careless driving.
- Document everything: Take pictures, take down the names of other drivers and witnesses, and document everything. You should also try to reduce any conversation to writing. You should photograph any injuries you suffer. After the accident, try to obtain a copy of the accident report from the police and, if necessary, have your insurance company perform a valuation of the damage.
- Track your expenses: Keep track of all of your out-of-pocket expenses and any work or activities you miss. Maintain a journal or log of all of your doctor’s visits, test results, prescriptions, treatments, or other relevant medical information from the doctor.
- Do not talk to opposing parties or insurance companies without first talking to a lawyer: While it is okay to speak with your own insurance company, you do not want to talk to anyone else’s, or another party directly, without speaking to a lawyer. It is easy to inadvertently waive or limit your rights. If you must discuss the accident before speaking to a lawyer, it’s best to memorialize all live conversations in writing.
If you have been involved in a hit and run accident in Pittsburgh, the lawyers at Munley Law are ready to assist you with every step forward, from handling negotiations to filing claims and representing your case in court if necessary.
Our lawyers have been ranked as some of the Keystone State’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and J. Christopher Munley’s expertise in motor vehicle accident cases has also earned him a listing in the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers directory. Eight of our attorneys have been nominated as Super Lawyers, and all of our lawyers are honored by Best Lawyers, with Marion Munley selected as Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Personal Injury Case?
With so many personal injury law firms to choose from, how do you know who you can trust to fight for you and your family?
Selecting a car accident attorney in Pittsburgh is an important decision.
But Munley Law sets itself apart, and we’re ready to prove it to you. Here are just a few reasons to let us fight for you and your family:
Experience – When it comes to car accident lawsuits, especially one in which the driver fled, experience counts. Each of our partners has decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered serious injury or been denied benefits following an injury. Because we are a family firm, we often work closely together on our cases to achieve the best possible results for you.
Industry Leaders – The board-certified Pittsburgh accident lawyers at Munley Law are among the highest-rated and most respected legal advocates in the country. All our credentials reflect the extremely high standards we’ve set for ourselves, and the recognition of our clients and peers. Our partners all hold prestigious AV Preeminent Ratings – Martindale-Hubbell’s highest professional rating – and are recognized by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the American Board of Trial Advocates for our achievements in litigation.
Our firm is the only one in Pennsylvania to have three attorneys board-certified in Truck Accident Law, and we also have four lawyers certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, underscoring our ability to successfully advocate for our clients’ interests in courts of law.
Resources – Successfully recovering money after a hit and run crash in Pittsburgh is challenging. At Munley Law, we have access to resources that are typically available only to big law firms. We work closely with our network of engineers, investigators, experts, and in-house medical personnel to build your case. What’s more, unlike at other law firms, you aren’t on the hook for paying these professionals out of pocket.
Our No-Fee Promise – We do not collect a fee unless we win your case. If we do not produce results for you, you owe us nothing. Also, at no point will you ever pay anything out of pocket; even when we win, our fee comes out of the money we recover for you. Our team has won millions of dollars for clients injured in Pittsburgh motor vehicle accidents to date, earning us listings from the Summit Council and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We are ready to fight for a similar result in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit and Run Car Accidents in Pittsburgh, PA
What Are the First Things I Should Do When the Hit and Run Driver Flees the Scene of the Accident?
Do not leave the scene of the accident. Call 911 immediately to report your hit and run accident and request medical attention. While you wait for law enforcement to arrive, take notes of anything you can remember about the fleeing driver and their vehicle, including a description of the driver and the color, make, model, and partial or full license plate of the vehicle. Gather contact details from witnesses as well, as their testimonies may serve as valuable evidence in your case.
Is It Still a Hit and Run if the At-Fault Driver Stops for Me, But Provides Me with Fake Insurance Details?
Yes, this still constitutes a hit and run, as Pennsylvania law requires drivers to provide accurate insurance and identity details. If the other driver stops for you but gives you a false name or incorrect insurance policy details, they have failed to fulfill their legal duty and can be held liable for this. In this case, call the police immediately, document details about the driver and their vehicle, and speak with your hit and run lawyer as soon as possible so that they can begin the process of identifying the culpable party.
Can I Still Receive Compensation If the Hit and Run Driver is Never Identified?
Yes, it may still be possible to recover damages, even if the at-fault driver who fled the scene is never found. In these cases, you may be able to file an Uninsured Motorist claim through your own insurance policy, which will cover you when the other party does not have insurance or is not known.
What Happens If I Was Partly at Fault for My Hit and Run Accident – Can I Still Seek Compensation?
You may still be liable to claim compensation, even if you were partly at fault for your crash. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages as long as you were no more than 50% responsible for your accident. Additionally, because the driver who fled the scene committed a serious legal violation, this could tilt the majority of the liability in your case towards them.
Talk to a Pittsburgh Hit and Run Accident Lawyer at Munley Law
You can contact our attorneys by phone or by using the form or chat feature available on our website.
Contacting us is free, and doesn’t obligate you to do anything. But the first step to getting you the recovery you deserve is to speak with one of your Pittsburgh hit and run accident lawyers, who are ready to get results for you.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a highly experienced and award-winning auto accident lawyer and courtroom advocate. Bob was named to Best Lawyers in 2013, and has since then gone on to be named among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America and the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Among the thousands of victims Bob has served, notable cases he has helped with include a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and an $8 million settlement for the family of a decorated Marine who was killed in an accident involving two large trucks.
