Hit-and-Run Lawyer Easton, PA
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At the Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy, Easton car accident lawyer Ed Shaughnessy understands the challenges faced by those injured in hit-and-run accidents in Lehigh Valley. When the hit-and-run driver remains anonymous, many drivers may feel like they don’t have legal options available to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages incurred after the car accident happened. If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Lehigh Valley, let the Easton hit-and-run lawyers at the Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy provide the legal representation you need to secure a fair settlement. Our hit-and-run accident attorneys in Easton, PA, work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay unless our hit-and-run lawyers secure a satisfactory settlement or verdict in your legal claim.
Call 610-258-9955 to schedule your free consultation with Easton hit-and-run lawyer Ed Shaughnessy today.
What To Do in a Hit-and-Run Accident in Lehigh Valley?
The steps taken immediately after a hit-and-run accident happened in Lehigh Valley can significantly impact your ability to secure justice and fair compensation.
- Report the hit-and-run accident to law enforcement authorities immediately. Victims should seek immediate medical attention, even if they think they are not seriously injured, as symptoms for many drivers appear later.
- Note as much as possible about the fleeing hit-and-run driver and their vehicle, including its make, model, license plate number, color, and any distinguishing features that can help identify the other driver later.
- Ask hit-and-run accident witnesses to provide statements. Exchange contact information with the other parties in case their testimony is needed for your hit-and-run accident case.
- Take photos of the accident scene, any property damage, and any injuries you sustained. These visuals can be crucial for your insurance claim and legal action.
- Notify your insurance company about the hit-and-run accident as soon as possible. Provide them with all the details and documentation you have collected to support your insurance claim.
- It is vital to contact a skilled hit-and-run attorney immediately. Easton hit-and-run accident attorney Edward P. Shaughnessy has extensive experience handling such cases. Our hit-and-run lawyers in Easton, PA, can help you understand your legal options and pursue fair compensation during your free consultation.
Can I Sue a Hit-and-Run Driver in Pennsylvania?
If the hit-and-run driver is identified, you have the right to pursue legal action and seek compensation for your injuries and property damages sustained as a result of the hit-and-run accident. These damages include medical expenses, lost income, and more.
However, if the hit-and-run driver leaves the scene and remains unidentified, many drivers can turn to their insurance company for help. In Pennsylvania, uninsured motorist coverage is designed to provide financial relief in situations where the other driver is either uninsured, underinsured or their insurance information is otherwise unknown. Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage can help cover medical bills, compensate for lost income, and provide for pain and suffering in a similar manner to what you would seek in a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver.
Why You Need a Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney in Easton, PA?
Hiring an Easton auto accident attorney is crucial if you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident. An experienced attorney can help gather necessary evidence, interview witnesses, and work to identify the hit-and-run driver, holding them accountable for your injuries and damages.
Even if the driver cannot be found, a hit-and-run attorney in Easton, PA, can assist in filing claims through your own insurance policy to secure financial compensation for medical expenses and other damages.
Learn more about how an Easton hit-and-run accident attorney from the Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy can assist you throughout the legal process and increase your chances of fair compensation following a hit-and-run accident.
Help Identify the At-Fault Driver in Hit-and-Run Cases
Easton hit-and-run car accident attorney Ed Shaughnessy can utilize investigative techniques and resources to identify the hit-and-run driver in hit-and-run cases. Our Easton hit-and-run lawyers work closely with law enforcement authorities to gather critical evidence, such as surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and traffic accident reports. Our team of experienced hit-and-run accident lawyers also has access to specialized databases that can track down vehicle registrations and insurance information.
By analyzing this evidence, our Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer team can piece together the events leading up to the hit-and-run accident, identify the person involved, and ensure they’re held responsible. Additionally, our skilled hit-and-run accident lawyer group can employ private investigators to conduct further inquiries, ensuring no stone is left unturned. This thorough approach not only helps pinpoint the hit-and-run driver but also strengthens the civil proceedings for pursuing fair compensation for the injured parties.
Prove Liability Even If The Hit-and-Run Driver is Unknown
Even if other driver remains unidentified, an experienced hit-and-run attorney in Easton can still prove liability and help victims recover compensation. Our hit-and-run lawyers do this by leveraging uninsured motorist coverage, which can offer financial relief for damages and injuries when the driver leaves the scene of a car accident.
A hit-and-run accident lawyer in Easton, PA will examine the details of the car accident, gathering all available evidence such as traffic camera recordings, witness statements, and physical clues from the scene of the car accident. This evidence helps build a compelling case to present to insurance companies, demonstrating the impact and circumstances of the traffic accident.
Build a Strong Personal Injury Case for a Hit-and-Run Car Accident
Building a strong case for a hit-and-run car accident requires a comprehensive strategy and attention to detail, skills that experienced hit-and-run accident attorneys in Easton, PA, bring to the table.
Easton hit-and-run lawyer Ed Shaughnessy begins the legal process by securing all available evidence from the scene where the accident happened, including traffic and security camera footage, witness statements, and physical evidence such as vehicle debris or skid marks.
Your hit-and-run attorney will document the full extent of the injuries sustained through medical attention records, expert testimony, and impact statements. This documentation helps establish a clear link between the hit-and-run accident and the injuries claimed.
Additionally, Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer Ed Shaughnessy skillfully manages interactions with insurance companies, advocating fiercely to ensure that their client’s injuries and property damage expenses are fully covered.
Stop Unfair Insurance Tactics From Your Own Insurance Company
When dealing with hit-and-run accidents, it’s not uncommon for your own insurance company to employ tactics that can limit or deny rightful claims for injuries and property damage. Working with an Easton hit-and-run lawyer like Ed Shaughnessy can help injured parties counter these unfair tactics.
With a deep understanding of insurance laws and regulations, your Easton hit-and-run accident attorney will challenge insurance companies as they attempt to lowball settlements or unjustly deny your insurance claim.
Our Easton, PA, hit-and-run accident attorneys are always prepared to escalate matters legally if necessary. As respected bad-faith insurance attorneys in Easton, PA, we are uniquely qualified to file a bad-faith insurance lawsuit to hold the insurance company accountable.
Secure Compensation After Hit-and-Run Accidents
If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Easton, PA, obtaining Pennsylvania hit-and-run victim compensation can be challenging without legal representation. An experienced hit-and-run accident attorney in Lehigh Valley assists injured victims by employing thorough investigations, securing evidence, and collaborating with local authorities to track down the hit-and-run driver.
Additionally, our Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer group is adept at managing negotiations with insurance companies, negotiating satisfactory settlement agreements, and representing clients in court to ensure they are adequately compensated for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages related to car accidents across the Lehigh Valley.
Elements of a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Lehigh Valley
During a personal injury lawsuit, your Easton hit-and-run lawyer will establish several key elements as they build a successful hit-and-run accident case.
- Duty of Care: Your Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer will prove that the other driver had a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and legally. This involves showing that the at-fault driver was expected to follow traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty: Next, your Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer will show that the other driver breached this legal obligation by leaving the traffic accident scene. This action shows a disregard for all drivers’ legal responsibilities to remain at the scene of a car accident, especially when injury or property damage has occurred.
- Causation: This step involves linking the breach of duty to the property damage and injuries sustained from the hit-and-run accident. Our Easton hit-and-run lawyers prove these injuries and damages would not have occurred without this breach of duty.
- Damages: Finally, your Easton hit-and-run accident attorney will detail the quantifiable losses, which can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related costs. This requires presenting clear evidence of the financial and emotional impact of the accident.
Establishing these elements with solid evidence and persuasive legal arguments is crucial for hit-and-run accident attorneys, as they help victims pursue compensation and secure justice.
Hit-and-Run Cases: Criminal Case vs Civil Case in Pennsylvania
In Easton, hit-and-run accidents can lead to both a civil and a criminal case, each serving a distinct purpose in the justice system. The state may file criminal charges when someone is injured in a hit-and-run.
Criminal proceedings are designed to penalize hit-and-run drivers for their unlawful behavior, such as fleeing the scene of car accidents. If convicted on criminal charges for hit-and-run accidents, the driver can face fines, license suspension, or even jail time, depending on the severity of the criminal case associated with the accident.
On the other hand, the driver injured in a hit-and-run accident can pursue a legal claim to seek compensation for their injuries, medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages caused by the hit-and-run accident.
Unlike criminal proceedings, which require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, civil cases rely on the preponderance of evidence, meaning it’s most reasonable to believe that the other driver was at fault.
What Insurance Protects You If You Are Injured by a Hit-and-Run Driver in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, if you are injured by an uninsured driver in a hit-and-run accident, you can be protected through uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is crucial as it allows insurance companies to step in and cover damages when the at-fault driver or their insurance information is unknown, as often occurs in hit-and-run car accidents.Uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania not only provides compensation for physical injuries but also helps cover other losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Additionally, underinsured motorist coverage can be vital when the at-fault driver’s policy does not fully cover the damages incurred. Both insurance policies ensure that insurance companies provide adequate financial support for recovery despite the challenges posed by hit-and-run accidents in Pennsylvania.
Contact our Easton hit-and-run lawyers for more information.
Hit-and-Run Accident Statute of Limitations in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a hit-and-run accident lawsuit is two years from the date the car accident occurred. This legal time timeframe is crucial as it dictates how long victims have to pursue legal options and claims against the at-fault party for personal injuries or property damage.
If a lawsuit is not filed within this two-year period, the right to seek compensation through legal action may be permanently lost. Victims of hit-and-run accidents should consult with experienced hit-and-run lawyers in Easton, PA, to avoid missing this deadline.
Contact experienced Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer Edward P. Shaughnessy to schedule your free consultation.
Easton Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
Victims of hit-and-run accidents in Lehigh Valley have the right to seek legal representation and pursue compensation for injuries. At the Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy, our car accident attorneys understand the challenges that victims face following hit-and-run accidents and work diligently to secure a fair settlement. Our Lehigh Valley hit-and-run accident law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure financial compensation on your behalf.
To discuss your legal options with experienced Easton hit-and-run accident lawyer Ed Shaughnessy, call 610-258-9955 to schedule a free case evaluation.