When A Police Officer Leaves The Scene Of A Hit And Run Accident Which Renders The Victim Unconscious And In A Coma, It’s Time to Wake Up And Recognize That The Hit And Run Epidemic Needs An Immediate And Major Fix
For over three decades as an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run accident lawyer, I have noticed an alarming increase in the number of hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. I have stated many times before that there is never a good reason why someone would not stop after being involved in a car accident.
Recently I met with the family of a young father with an impeccable work record who was struck by a hit and run driver on his way home from work one evening a few weeks ago. The investigation revealed that the offending hit and run driver was an off duty police officer. The victim now lays motionless in a coma in a hospital room while his parents, family, and child express concerns and worries about his and their futures. Medical bills and bills for rehabilitation will likely skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.
The day following the accident, the investigation revealed that the police officer turned herself in with extensive damage to the striking vehicle. The obvious question to be answered is Why would an off duty police officer and a responsible individual not call 911 immediately after the accident to inform the police about what happened and offer immediate assistance?
As an experienced hit and run accident lawyer, I have shared the pain of innocent and unknowing victims with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses as result of hit and run accidents caused by drivers who leave the scene generally because they were intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement officials claim that the situation is a growing challenge and I for one can state that our law firm received at least 4 phone calls just this morning from hit and run accident victims.
The State of New Jersey has recently approved a bill legalizing medical marijuana and the rising rate of drug impaired drivers will most likely present an additional problem in enforcement and may lead to even more hit and run cases. There are many loopholes in Pennsylvania hit and run statutes and recent studies by independent property and casualty insurers indicates a national recession triggering an increase of uninsured and underinsured hit and run accidents. If a victim is killed by an intoxicated driver, the penalties imposed may lead to imprisonment for vehicular homicide. If the same driver leaves the scene of an accident and there is no proof of intoxication, the hit and run driver who may later turn themselves in to authorities may escape a higher level of punishment. The time has come for legislators to eliminate any and all loopholes and mandate legislation with teeth and strict penalties to appropriately punish irresponsible offenders who leave the scene of hit and run accidents. I also strongly recommend that although Pennsylvania law does not require mandatory uninsured or underinsured motorist protection, in view of the tremendous upsurge of uninsured and underinsured drivers in Pennsylvania that all individuals strongly consider the purchase of non-minimal car insurance policies with substantial uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers and hit and run car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation as well as a free insurance checkup. Recently our skilled Pennsylvania catastrophic accident and wrongful death attorneys have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group and together our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars since 1957 on behalf of catastrophically injured consumers and their families, as well as those wrongfully killed as the result of the negligence of others. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
