The driver who hit you ran a red light on Hamilton Street, clipped your car, and kept going. Or they sideswiped you on the Route 22 on-ramp and vanished before you could read the plate. The immediate assumption most people make is that without a driver to sue, there is no case. That assumption is wrong, and it costs people real money every year.
Pennsylvania law gives hit and run victims a specific legal pathway to recover compensation even when the at-fault driver is never identified. The Slocum Firm, P.C., represents hit and run accident victims across Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. We have recovered millions for injured clients since 2009, with a recovery rate above 95 percent. Results may vary. Prior case outcomes do not guarantee similar results.
Call (570) 209-7376 right now. An Allentown hit and run accident lawyer will answer directly. We are available 24/7 and charge no fee unless we recover for you.
Your Own Insurance Policy Is the First Place to Look
Pennsylvania operates under a choice no-fault auto insurance system. When you registered your vehicle, you selected either limited tort or full tort coverage. That choice affects your ability to claim pain and suffering damages. But regardless of that selection, one coverage type becomes critical in a hit and run case: uninsured motorist coverage.
Under Pennsylvania law, 75 Pa. C.S. § 1731, insurers are required to offer uninsured motorist coverage to every policyholder. If you accepted that coverage, your own insurance company steps into the role of the missing at-fault driver and pays for your damages up to your policy limits. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, and in many cases, pain and suffering.
There is an important condition under Pennsylvania’s uninsured motorist rules for hit and run cases. Pennsylvania insurers often require evidence connecting the unidentified vehicle to the crash. In many hit and run claims, physical contact between vehicles makes the claim easier to prove.
Cases where no physical contact occurred may still succeed depending on the policy language and available evidence. These claims are often heavily disputed by insurers.
If you waived uninsured motorist coverage in writing when you purchased your policy, other recovery avenues may still exist. We review every option, including coverage from household members’ policies, which may extend to you under Pennsylvania law.
What Happens If the Driver Is Identified Later?
Hit and run investigations in Allentown move quickly when the right people push for them. Law enforcement pulls traffic camera footage from intersections along Hamilton Street and MacArthur Road. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is reviewed. Witnesses who stayed at the scene are interviewed. Investigators may review traffic camera footage, surveillance video, and available license plate reader data.
If the at-fault driver is identified after the fact, the case shifts significantly. A standard personal injury claim against that driver’s liability insurance becomes available. This opens up additional coverage and additional damages, including compensation that uninsured motorist policies may not fully cover.
The Slocum Firm, P.C., works in parallel with law enforcement and conducts an independent investigation to identify the fleeing driver whenever possible. Finding them changes the entire value of your claim.
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524 is two years from the date of the accident. Whether the driver is ever identified or not, that clock is running.
The clock on Pennsylvania’s two-year filing deadline does not pause while the driver is being identified. Call (570) 209-7376, or text us directly, and we will tell you exactly where your case stands.
Hit and Run Injuries Deserve Full Compensation
Compensation in a hit and run case covers the full range of injuries the collision caused, from soft tissue damage that produces chronic pain to spinal fractures, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and internal injuries. The severity of the crash does not limit what you can claim.
Families who lose a loved one in a fatal hit and run may have grounds for a wrongful death claim under Pennsylvania law in addition to any personal injury damages that accrued before death.
Pedestrian and cyclist hit and run accidents are particularly devastating. Someone struck by a vehicle on Lehigh Street or near the Allentown waterfront while walking or cycling has no metal frame around them for protection. These accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries, including limb fractures, head trauma, and permanent disability.
When a pedestrian hit and run happens at a busy Lehigh Valley intersection, victims are often left without witnesses and without any plate information. That is exactly the situation our attorneys are built for.
Every category of damage has a place in your claim. Medical bills, including emergency treatment, surgery, imaging, physical therapy, and follow-up care, form the economic foundation. Lost wages for time missed from work and reduced earning capacity if your injuries are permanent, add to that foundation. Pain, suffering, and emotional distress round out the full picture of what a hit and run has cost you.
Allentown’s Route 22 corridor and I-78 interchange see heavy commercial and commuter traffic every day. For warehouse and manufacturing workers in the Lehigh Valley, a hit and run that causes even a moderate injury can mean weeks or months away from physically demanding jobs. It changes the lost wage calculation significantly. We factor that in from the start.
What to Do Immediately After a Hit and Run in Allentown
The steps you take in the first hours after a hit and run shape the entire case. The most important actions are straightforward.
Call 911 immediately and stay at the scene. A police report is essential for both a criminal investigation and any insurance claim. Even partial information about the fleeing vehicle, color, make, direction of travel, or a partial plate number gives investigators something to work with.
Many insurance policies require prompt notice after a hit and run accident. Delays in reporting the crash to your insurer can create additional disputes over coverage.
Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain. This matters for two reasons. First, some injuries, including internal bleeding and traumatic brain injury, do not show symptoms immediately. Second, your medical records become a timeline that either supports or hurts your claim. An insurer will look at the gap between your accident date and your first doctor visit. Do not give them that gap.
Injuries that appear minor at the scene often worsen over the next 24 to 72 hours. Gaps between the accident and your first medical visit give insurance adjusters a reason to argue your injuries were not serious or were caused by something else.
Document everything you can. Photograph the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, the road conditions, nearby intersection signs, and any debris left by the other vehicle. Collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the crash.
Then notify your insurance company that a hit and run occurred, but do not give a recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney. Adjusters for your own insurer ask questions designed to minimize your payout. A Slocum hit and run accident attorney can guide you through that process.
The First Call From Your Insurer Is Not a Courtesy Call
When your own insurance company calls after a hit and run, they are not checking in. The adjuster is gathering information that helps them pay you less. Recorded statements made before you understand your policy can be used to contradict your claim later.
You are not required to give a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney. Calling us before calling them back regularly makes a measurable difference in what our clients recover.
How The Slocum Firm, P.C. Builds a Hit and Run Case
The first 48 hours after a hit and run are the ones that determine whether surveillance footage still exists, whether witnesses remember what they saw, and whether the vehicle that hit you is still on the road with identifiable damage. We move on day one.
Our attorneys move fast. We request surveillance footage from businesses and traffic systems near the crash site before it is recorded over. We work with accident reconstruction specialists when the crash involved high speed or complex vehicle dynamics.
We obtain your full insurance policy documents and identify every applicable coverage source. We submit the uninsured motorist claim on your behalf and respond to every insurer tactic designed to undervalue what you are owed.
Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102 still applies in uninsured motorist claims. If your insurer argues that your own driving contributed to the accident, your recovery could be reduced or even eliminated if your fault is 51 percent or more. Our attorneys anticipate and counter those arguments with evidence gathered during the investigation.
The Slocum Firm, P.C., has over 50 years of combined attorney experience. You will reach an attorney directly by call or text, any time. There is no intake staff between you and the person handling your case.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hit and Run Accident Claims in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Can I still file a claim if I only have basic auto insurance in Pennsylvania?
It depends on what coverage you selected. Uninsured motorist coverage is the key, and Pennsylvania law requires insurers to offer it. If you waived it in writing, other paths may still exist, such as household member policies, employer vehicle coverage, and other vehicles you have access to. We review the full picture at no charge.
What if the hit and run involved a parked car?
You may still have options even if the other driver hit your parked vehicle and left the scene. Surveillance footage, nearby witnesses, paint transfer, and vehicle debris sometimes help identify the driver. Insurance coverage may also apply, depending on your policy.
Can I recover compensation if the police never find the driver?
Yes. Many hit and run claims are handled through uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy. The success of the claim often depends on the available evidence, the terms of your coverage, and how quickly the crash is investigated.
Can a hit and run affect my own insurance rates in Pennsylvania?
Filing an uninsured motorist claim after a hit and run is generally treated as a not-at-fault claim, so your rates should not increase. Policy terms vary, and it is worth reviewing your specific coverage before filing. Our attorneys can walk you through how your policy handles this before you make any moves.
How long does a hit and run claim take to resolve in Pennsylvania?
Most hit and run claims handled through uninsured motorist coverage settle within several months. The biggest factor is whether the insurer disputes liability or argues that your driving contributed to the crash. Cases where the driver is later identified can take longer because a second claim opens. We push for fast resolution; most of our cases settle in under a year.
Ready To Talk To An Attorney Right Now?
Most people wait too long after a hit and run. They assume there is nothing to recover because the driver is gone. That assumption costs them real money. Pennsylvania gives you two years, but the evidence that decides your case disappears in days.
Call (570) 209-7376 or toll-free at (888) 367-4577. The Allentown hit and run accident attorneys at The Slocum Firm, P.C. answer every call directly, around the clock. No fees unless we recover for you. A recovery rate above 95 percent, with over 50 years of combined attorney experience. Results may vary. Prior case outcomes do not guarantee similar results.
