Hit & Run Accident Attorneys Serving Berks County
Motor Vehicle Injury Representation Since 1959 for Berks County Hit-and-Run Victims
A driver who flees the scene doesn’t eliminate your ability to pursue an injury claim. Your options may depend on whether the driver can be identified, what evidence remains, and whether your insurance policy provides uninsured motorist coverage.
has represented wrongful injury victims and their families since 1959. Our four attorneys have more than 115 combined years of practice, virtually all devoted to wrongful injury and death claims, including motor vehicle cases throughout Berks County.
Call to have our hit-and-run attorneys review the crash, available evidence, and possible sources of insurance coverage.
What to Do After a Berks County Hit-and-Run Accident
Evidence can disappear within hours or days. Get to a safe location, call 911 if anyone is injured or the scene remains hazardous, and seek medical care for apparent or developing symptoms.
Take these steps when your condition allows:
- Report the collision: Contact the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the crash location and obtain the police accident report number.
- Record identifying details: Note the fleeing vehicle’s color, make, model, license plate characters, damage, direction of travel, and driver description.
- Document the scene: Photograph vehicle damage, debris, paint transfer, road conditions, traffic controls, lighting, weather, and visible injuries.
- Identify evidence sources: Collect witness contact information and note nearby homes, businesses, dashcams, or surveillance systems that may have recorded the crash.
- Preserve relevant materials: Keep photographs, video, damaged property, clothing, medical documentation, repair estimates, and insurer communications.
Reading Police Department procedures distinguish certain property-damage-only parked-car reports from crashes involving injuries, towing, or pedestrians. Don’t assume an online or delayed report is appropriate. Contact the police agency responsible for the location and explain what happened.
When Uninsured Motorist Coverage May Apply
Pennsylvania insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, but policyholders may reject these protections. If a fleeing vehicle remains unidentified, uninsured motorist benefits may be available depending on the policy language and the circumstances of the collision.
Pennsylvania law generally includes an unidentified vehicle within its definition of an uninsured motor vehicle when the crash is reported to police or another proper governmental authority and the insurer receives notice within 30 days, or as soon as reasonably practicable afterward. Policies may also impose requirements involving notice, proof, cooperation, physical contact, and claim procedures.
The analysis can differ depending on whether you were driving, riding in a vehicle, walking, or cycling. Property damage and bodily injury also present separate insurance questions and shouldn’t be treated as interchangeable claims.
How We Investigate a Hit-and-Run Injury Claim
We may examine the police accident report, witness statements, scene photographs, medical records, vehicle damage, fragments, paint transfer, and available traffic-camera or surveillance footage. Every accepted case is assigned to a qualified civil trial attorney, and clients communicate with that attorney rather than only through a case manager or intake coordinator.
If investigators identify the fleeing driver, the case may involve the driver’s liability insurer and a civil action. If the driver remains unknown, a claim through the injured person’s own policy may become central. We present supporting evidence, address coverage or causation disputes, document losses, negotiate with insurers, and file suit when the facts warrant it.
Potential Compensation for Hit-and-Run Injuries
The scope and value of a claim depend on the injuries, medical treatment, effect on employment, available insurance, liability evidence, and Pennsylvania law. No attorney can responsibly estimate a case from the accident description alone.
A claim evaluation may address:
- Past and reasonably anticipated medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the injury
- Physical pain and emotional effects
- Loss of normal activities and future limitations
- Vehicle damage and other property losses under applicable coverage
Pennsylvania Deadlines & Liability Rules
Pennsylvania law requires a driver involved in a collision that damages an attended vehicle or other attended property to stop, provide the required information, and fulfill any duty to render aid. Leaving the scene may carry criminal consequences, while an injured person pursues compensation through the civil and insurance systems.
A negligence action for personal injury or wrongful death generally must be filed within two years. Exceptions and claim-specific rules can change that deadline, and insurance policies may require notice much sooner. Delay can also make video, witness recollections, and physical evidence harder to obtain.
Under Pennsylvania’s comparative-negligence rules, compensation can be reduced if an injured person shares responsibility for a crash and barred if that person’s assigned fault exceeds the legal limit. Our attorneys litigate in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas and in federal courts in Reading and Philadelphia when jurisdiction is appropriate.
Focused Motor Vehicle Injury Representation Since 1959
is the longest-established motor vehicle injury law firm in Reading. We handle wrongful injury and death claims exclusively instead of dividing our attention among unrelated matters such as real estate transactions or business contracts.
Other lawyers, former clients, and community members regularly refer injured people to us, contributing to our reputation as “The Lawyers’ Lawyers.” Lead attorney John R. Badal has devoted his legal career to wrongful injury representation and is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Talk With Our Berks County Hit-and-Run Attorneys
For your free consultation, gather any information you have about the crash date and location, police report, insurance policy, medical treatment, witnesses, photographs, video, and insurer correspondence. We can review the available information and explain the potential next steps.
You pay no attorney fees or advanced case expenses unless we recover money for you. Whether a claim can proceed depends on the evidence, policy terms, deadlines, and applicable law.
Call to speak with our hit-and-run injury attorneys about your Berks County accident.
What Our Clients Say
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Working with Liever, Hyman & Potter Law Firm was an excellent experience from start to finish.Christie
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Andrew Fick and his team helped me with everything I needed in pursuing a personal injury case.Carlos A.
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I would highly recommend Liever, Hyman & Potter.Vanessa S.
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Andy Fick and his Liever, Hyman & Potter team fought hard for me.David D.
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He is a well-spoken and passionate attorney who actually cares about his clients.jeffrey r.
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He has always been responsive and professional, taking the time to review my issues.Howard J.
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Not only are the attorneys at this firm dedicated in obtaining successful results, more importantly, they also care about the personal well-being and health of their clients.Kevin B.
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Attorney John Badal represented me and did an outstanding job. The firm is very honest and upfront and does not blow smoke.Roxanne M.
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John went above and beyond to help me.Sean B.
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Between Stacey (paralegal) and Mike, they kept me up to date with emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings; making the entire process seamless.Blayne H.
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Andy gets the job done; he went above and beyond, exceeding my expectations.Nancy K.
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Everyone was thorough, professional, and supportive.Wendy B.
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My friend was impressed by the firm's compassion and genuine concern for his son's well-being.SARA P.
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The professionals of Liever, Hyman & Potter have a robust team of professionals who vigorously and diligently advocate.Adam N.
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Contacted me back very quickly, very professional.P N.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need?
The legal world is a complicated environment with countless nuances to take into account. As a result, there is a wide range of specialized attorneys dedicated to specific legal areas, such as criminal lawyers who handle criminal defense. With so many fields, it can be difficult to determine which kind of lawyer is best suited for your circumstances. If you call Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. and offer an overview of your situation, then they can help narrow down what kind of personal injury lawyer is best suited to handle your case. Our law firm was founded in 1959 and is knowledgeable in numerous areas of personal injury law.
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Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
After sustaining a severe injury, you will need to pay medical bills for treatment, potentially miss time at work, and experience pain and suffering. With a qualified and skilled lawyer’s assistance, it is possible for you to receive fair and full compensation for these damages. A knowledgeable attorney will increase your chances of reaching an acceptable settlement agreement and receiving more compensation than you would on your own. Additionally, personal injury lawyers can help settle a liability dispute to determine who is responsible for an accident.
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How Will I Know I Have a Case?
No one has to make this important decision by themselves. Contact Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., and set up a free consultation to go over your situation in detail. Our attorneys will be able to identify who you can sue and what you can expect to gain based on the facts of the accident and the laws in Pennsylvania. In most scenarios, you’ll have a case if it can be proven that someone acted carelessly and caused injuries. Applying this standard is more complex than it may initially appear, which is why it is important to consult us.
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When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a car accident, you should reach out to a lawyer shortly after the crash takes place. Not only will a professional car accident attorney help you gather vital evidence before it is lost to help your case, but they can also handle communications with your insurance company and deal with the careless driver’s insurance company.
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What Should I Do if an Attorney or Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You should never speak with insurance adjusters for someone else involved in the accident. While they may sound friendly and sympathetic to your case, they are almost certainly trying to get statements from you that would reduce or eliminate the liability of their insured. This is also true when an attorney for another person contacts you.
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How to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
As previously mentioned, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit starts with contacting a lawyer. However, it is crucial that we have sufficient information before filing the claim because malpractice claims can be significantly more complicated than other lawsuits. Our dedicated attorneys will collect all of your medical records and thoroughly review them.
Your medical malpractice attorney must determine whether the case warrants a lawsuit before they file with the court. If we do go forward, we will rely on highly qualified doctors who will be able to explain why you or your loved one were wrongfully harmed by medical treatment.