Stop your car and remain on the scene of a car accident
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in personal injury or damage to property must immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible. Pennsylvania law says that you should stop your vehicle in such a way as to avoid blocking traffic more than necessary. However, you should be careful about moving your vehicle if the cause of the accident is going to be challenged. The position of the vehicles immediately after a car accident can show how the accident happened and may be necessary for you to prove your innocence or that the other driver was at fault. You are required to remain at the scene until you have fulfilled your duty to provide information and render aid. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.037.042.000..HTM
Duty to provide information
The driver of a vehicle involved in a car accident involving injury to a person, death, damage to another vehicle, or damage to other property must provide the following information to any person involved in the accident or any police officer at the scene:
- Your name;
- Your address;
- The registration number of the vehicle that you were driving;
- Show you driver’s license; and
- Provide car insurance information on the vehicle you were driving.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.037.044.000..HTM
Duty to render aid
If someone is injured, you have a duty under Pennsylvania law to provide reasonable assistance to that person. The law specifically states that you are required to make arrangements for the carrying of the injured person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if it is requested by the injured person. The practical application is that you should call 911 and inform them of the status of the injured person and the need for medical treatment. The circumstances would have to be very unusual for this law to force you to drive them to seek medical attention. By calling 911, trained medical professionals will be notified of the situation and they will know how to respond. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.037.044.000..HTM
Duty to provide information when no one else is there
If you have a car accident with an unoccupied vehicle or cause other property damage, you are required to stop at the accident scene. You are then required to try to locate the owner of the vehicle or property to notify them of the car accident. If they cannot be located, you are required to leave the five pieces of information above on or in the unoccupied vehicle or damaged property.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.037.045.000..HTM
After you have taken care of the above requirements, you should call the car accident lawyers at Rankin & Gregory (RG Injury Law) to help guide you the rest of the way. We have helped thousands of people injured in car accidents because of the negligence of others. Let us help you and your family. For a free consultation, call Rankin & Gregory (RG Injury Law) at (717) 656-5000.
