Being injured as a result of another driver’s negligence is never easy, but when the at-fault driver flees the scene, it’s that much more traumatic. When an at-fault motorist leaves the scene of an accident, it’s called a hit and run accident, and the State of Pennsylvania takes a dim view of such practices. If you’ve been harmed in a hit and run accident, don’t wait to discuss your claim with an experienced Pennsylvania hit and run accident attorney.
Lawrence Kalikhman, Esquire is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Temple University. Mr. Kalikhman received his Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law. He has experience in Personal Injury Litigation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Mr. Kalikhman is admitted to practice before state and federal courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Bucks County Bar Associations, as well as the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.
Arkady “Eric” Rayz, Esquire is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Temple University. As an undergraduate, Mr. Rayz was a recipient of the H. Thomas and Dorothy Willits Hallowell Scholarship and Temple University President’s Scholar Award. Mr. Rayz obtained his Juris Doctorate from the James E. Beasley School of Law of Temple University, where he was a staff member and editor of the Temple International and Comparative Law Journal.
Mr. Rayz has broad experience in handling matters in federal and state courts and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations.
The State of Pennsylvania takes hit and run accidents very seriously, and the penalties for leaving the scene reflect this fact. Consider the following:
The charges and the attendant penalties and fines increase from here in relation to causing someone else to be injured, to causing someone else to be seriously injured, or to fatally injuring someone else.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit and run accidents are on the rise throughout the country. Consider the following statistics shared:
AAA also reports on hit and run statistics that are specific to Pennsylvania. This includes that, in a recent year, there were 50 fatal hit and runs, which was higher than any of the previous 10 years. Further, according to a Philadelphia news source, the city has been experiencing a hit and run epidemic in recent years – averaging 40 incidents a day.
As noted, the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident in Pennsylvania is harsh – in response to the severity of the crime. As Capt. Mark Overwise of the Philadelphia police department says: fleeing the scene of an accident is a decision, and as a society, we shouldn’t tolerate it.
In two recent years, Philadelphia police fielded reports for nearly 29,000 hit and runs, which makes tracking down motorists who flee all the more challenging. The increase in videos and pictures captured by eyewitnesses, dash cam footage, and videos from security cameras on both commercial buildings and homes, however, increases the ability of authorities to identify hit and run drivers.
A statute of limitations refers to the amount of time someone who had been injured by someone else’s negligence has to bring a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party or the amount of time the police have to file criminal charges against the responsible party. Consider the following:
In Pennsylvania, there is a two-year statute of limitations on car accident claims, which affords you two years from the time the at-fault driver is identified to file your lawsuit against them.
If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a hit and run crash, you can seek compensation for the physical, financial, and emotional losses – or legal damages – you experience.
Even a relatively minor car accident can cause considerable property damage to your vehicle, and a more serious accident can leave you with a totaled car.
The medical costs associated with car accidents can be very high, and if your injuries require ongoing medical care or lead to complications, you can expect this category of loss to be that much more substantial. Common medical expenses include:
Lost hours on the job generally mean lost wages. If your injuries affect your ability to do your job, this category of loss can be that much more significant.
The physical and emotional pain and suffering you experience as a result of being injured by someone who doesn’t even bother to stop, render aid, or do anything else on your behalf is traumatic, and you can expect the pain and suffering you endure to reflect this.
In situations in which the at-fault driver’s negligence is especially egregious – such as when they hit and run – the judge can order punitive damages that are designed to punish the at-fault driver rather than to compensate the driver who brings the claim.
When you choose a lawyer at our firm to handle your accident or injury case, you can expect your auto or bicycle accident attorney to look into how and why the accident happened, thoroughly answer any questions you have, and, most importantly of all: make sure you receive just compensation. Your lawyer may also speak with other experts to make sure your case has a positive outcome.
Here at Kalikhman & Rayz, LLC, we take pride in giving each and every client the personalized attention he or she deserves. To get in touch with an automobile accident or personal injury attorney at our Philadelphia office, reach out to us today.
The practiced Philadelphia hit and run accident attorneys at Kalikhman & Rayz appreciate exactly how challenging your situation is and are well prepared to harness their imposing experience and legal skill in pursuit of the compensation to which you are entitled. Learn more by contacting or calling us at 267-435-3476 today.
Every attorney on our team has vast experience helping victims of auto accidents, including car accidents and tractor trailer accidents.
Our attorneys will help ensure you receive justice for your auto accident.
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Injuries like slip and falls can have a lasting impact. Don’t wait.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of others, you deserve to be compensated and have your rights protected by a personal injury lawyer. Think about how your injury affects your life and the party that is liable for your suffering.
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