Philadelphia, PA (June 21, 2024) – A man is in critical condition after he was thrown from his wheelchair in a hit-and-run crash in Philadelphia early Friday morning, police said.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector, Scott Small, said the man suffered head trauma and was taken to Jefferson University Hospital after a crash just after midnight on Franklin Street near Vine Street, near entrances to I-95 and the Vine Street Expressway, as well as the city’s Franklin Square park.
A car struck the man, did not stop, and then turned right, heading north on 7th Street after getting off of Vine, the westbound exit from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Police are searching for the car involved, which is believed to be a light-colored, possibly white, Hyundai sedan with New Jersey license plates. The vehicle would likely have front-end damage from the crash. Investigators are still looking into the incident, though no further details were released.
Our thoughts are with the injured victim and his family at this time.
Pedestrian Accidents in Pennsylvania
During the last several years, there has been an upsurge in pedestrian accidents in Pennsylvania. In fact, during this period, there has been an approximately 20% increase in pedestrian deaths. Of course, parking lots, crosswalks, intersections, and congested downtown areas are where pedestrian accidents occur most often.
Furthermore, areas near schools and residential neighborhoods tend to have a higher rate of pedestrian accidents due to the increased number of pedestrians—especially children—in these areas. Following the rules of the road, being aware of their surroundings, and driving carefully and alertly are all essential for drivers. After all, it is generally preventable to avoid catastrophic injuries or fatalities from pedestrian accidents, which are incredibly upsetting for the victims since they often cause long-term suffering and financial hardships.
Insurance companies often use various tactics to deny or reduce claims related to pedestrian accidents, thus exacerbating the situation. They have the option to downplay the severity of the wounds or dispute the insured driver’s culpability. Nonetheless, the Slocum Firm’s pedestrian accident lawyers are skilled in handling insurance disputes. Our commitment is safeguarding our clients’ rights.
We at the Slocum Firm understand what it takes to stand up for you and your loved ones. We will represent your best interests and work to ensure that you get fair compensation at every stage of the claims procedure. Call (570) 209-7376 to talk with our Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyers about scheduling a free consultation and learning more about how our team will protect your legal rights after an accident.
