Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As a Philadelphia car accident attorney who has been prosecuting hit and run cases for over three decades, I have long called for tougher laws applicable to hit and run offenders. I have also called for more stringent enforcement of these laws. Without teeth, the current or new hit and run offender laws are meaningless.

Soon Pennsylvania hit and run drivers will face up to 10 years in prison for fatal hit and run accidents, up three years from the current seven year maximum. Additionally, while there is no change to the minimum sentence of one year in prison, the crime has been upgraded from a third degree offense to a second degree felony. The new hit and run law will take effect on September 4, 2012.

There is almost not a week that goes by that the experienced Philadelphia hit and run accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are not contacted by a victim or their family who has sustained a catastrophic injury or even worse, death, as the result of an irresponsible hit and run driver and hit and run accident. Lives are often permanently altered by the actions and non-actions of these irresponsible and cowardly individuals who leave the scene of an accident.

Continue reading "Will Stiffer Penalties for Hit and Run Drivers in Pennsylvania Really Make a Difference?" »

Over the last few years, I have seen the hit and run car accident epidemic in Philadelphia increase to the point where law enforcement officials and legislators really must take a much more aggressive stance to address the situation. Just this morning on the way into my office, I was traveling southbound and was the third car in line stopped at a red light when a vehicle in the lane to the right of me also traveling southbound made a left hand turn from the right lane and clipped off the right front quarter panel of another vehicle and kept going despite the protestations evidenced by the horn blasts of the victim’s vehicle. The victim who was struck by the hit and run vehicle obediently did not move his car through the intersection as he was lawfully stopped for the red traffic signal. Despite the loud and most obvious collision, the striking vehicle kept proceeding eastbound once it made the left hand turn. Infuriated, I sat in my vehicle and imagined how the victim felt. As an experienced Pennsylvania automobile accident lawyer, I have investigated and handled all too many cases involving life altering catastrophic injuries and wrongful death that occurred due to the irresponsibility and negligence of another. Oftentimes drivers who leave the scene of a hit and run car accident in Philadelphia do not have mandatory automobile insurance coverage required under Pennsylvania law.
While the news coverage seems to get more voluminous concerning hit and run car accidents in Philadelphia, I have yet to see a satisfactory response by legislation creating or enforcing laws so that strict penalties are sustained by offenders. In my mind, the streets of Philadelphia have become like the “wild west”. Obviously there is never a good reason for anyone to leave the scene of a car accident, and until strict legislation with meaningful enforcement guidelines is passed, this epidemic will continue, greatly affecting the lives of innocent victims.
If you have been involved in a Philadelphia hit and run car accident, the experienced Philadelphia hit and run car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation. Contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.