Legal Question in Personal Injury in Pennsylvania

I slid on ice and hit the cable holding up a telephone pole. It was dark and the only damage I could see was my truck, so I left and went to work. When I came home, 2 poles had been replace and both the electric and cable companies were working on the lines. I could see that the top of the pole attached to the cable I hit was broken. I cannot be sure, but I think I caused the break. There is little damage to my truck, so I don't plan to report it to my insurance company. What should I do if I am asked to pay for the damage? Can I be charged with hit-and-run?


Asked on 1/27/11, 2:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Andrew Solomon Law Office of Andrew A. Solomon

This is really an ethical question. Generallt, you can not be charged with leaving the scene of an aciden, unless you kew that major damage had been caused or that someone was hurt. If someone witnessed the accident and took your license number, the utility company can come after you for payment. This would then be paid by your insurance company. The ethical thing to do would be to report the damage to your insurance company (not to make a claim for the minor damage to your vehicle) so that they would be put on notice if someone made a claim. By not reporting the incident, you are giving the insurance company an excuse not to pay if a claim is made against you. The insurance won't raise your rates unless a claim is brought so you are protected.

Whether you should report the incident to the utility company is a question of your own conscience.

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Answered on 1/27/11, 3:22 pm


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