Accidents involving personal injuries are serious. The law requires you to park your vehicle somewhere nearby that is safe and to exchange information with the other involved driver, including your address, insurance company, and name. The severity of the offense depends on whether or not the accident caused an injury or death. Leaving the scene of an accident pa'anga tongais. You are also required to render reasonable assistance to any person injured in the accident, including arranging for their transportation to a physician or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if requested by the injured person. Get their contact information, including name, address, and phone number. A truck driver who is convicted of any charge of leaving the scene of an accident will be subject to a ONE YEAR DISQUALIFICATION of their commercial drivers license (CDL). Serious bodily injury: $1, 000–$15, 000 fine and up to 7 years in jail.
Without an attorney, you may wonder if you are being taken advantage of. This allows plaintiff's an adequate amount of time to file suit, but also grants potential defendants the ability to not be on the hook for the rest of their lives. Secondly, if the driver who hurt you was MINIMALLY insured, say the PA state minimum of $15, 000, then he may well be UNDERinsured for the degree of harm he caused you or your family members living with you. 1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person violating this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree. West Chester PA | Leaving the Scene of an Accident | Hit and Run Attorney. They may not have auto insurance or a driver's license, or they may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. Maybe their license had been suspended or they knew they had a warrant. A hit and run involving only property damage is classified as a second degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out for a free consultation from Carpey Law. Auto insurance is primary in any kind of vehicular accident, and health insurance is secondary. Every stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If you have been involved in a car crash, the law mandates you to provide your contact and insurance information to the other driver before leaving the scene of the accident.
Other defense strategies to leaving the scene of an accident charge in Pennsylvania include: - Somebody else drove your car away from the crash scene. Criminal traffic violations such as leaving the scene of an accident are serious, best handled by an experienced traffic defense attorney. Our West Chester criminal defense lawyers work as a team to help people possibly get their criminal charges reduced or dismissed. This is called the statute of limitations which provides a certain time period in which you can bring a certain legal claim, but bars the same claim from being made after the time period has run. Consequences of a Hit-and-Run Accident in Pennsylvania | DiCindio Law. If you are involved in an accident in which someone is injured or killed, you are required to stay at the scene of the accident. If someone is injured, no matter how serious or killed in an accident you were involved in, you must park somewhere safe and exchange information that includes your name, address, and insurance company. This applies to parked cars, buildings, and other property. How do I receive damages if I can't identify the hit-and-run driver?
Pennsylvania Hit & Run Accident Lawyer. What if there isn't anybody else at the scene? Pa vehicle code leaving scene of accident. Some drivers flee with the intent of reporting the accident afterwards, but failure to follow Florida law and stay at the scene of an accident can result in criminal charges. Your attorney can help you understand how Pennsylvania law defines this term and how the definition might impact how your case is ultimately resolved. The vast majority of car insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania contain a provision that a hit-and-run car accident must be reported to the police immediately after the accident or shortly thereafter. Your health should be your first priority. Once the accident occurs, your decisions can impact not only your health but your freedom.
Although a charge like this can be truly frightening, all hope is not lost. In Philadelphia, a driver involved in an auto accident is required to stop and stay until he takes care of his responsibilities. Oct. 1, 1984; July 10, 1984, P. 679, No. The Accused Was Unable to Stop or Remain at the Scene of the Accident - Even after minor accidents, tempers can flare and people can become violent.
Should the owner of the property not be present, you should try to find them to explain what happened. If you were the driver, and you were involved in an accident where there was damage to another vehicle or property, under Pennsylvania law you must: - Immediately stop your vehicle at the scene or as close to the scene as possible. Are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unfortunately, your car insurance company will not simply take your word for it; they will demand actual evidence. Leaving the scene of an accident pa law. If you also leave the crash site, your insurer might be resistant to covering your damages and you could potentially face criminal charges for a hit-and-run. The police will need to gather additional evidence that moving your vehicle may obscure.
What happens with Insurance when your Car is totaled? Leaving the Scene of an Accident | Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Logue Law Group. If you're involved in a hit-and-run accident, DON'T chase after a fleeing driver. No two people or crashes are alike, which makes this is a complicated question with many nuanced answers. Even if you fail to do this at the moment, you can and should report the accident within 24 hours to your local police. For more information, please call Chaffin Luhana to request a free case evaluation.