Hit and Run Accident Charges

Were You or a Loved One Injured in a Hit and Run? Call Us Today

When someone gets into a car accident, it activates some basic human instincts. When we feel like we have done something wrong, normally the first instinct is to quickly leave the crime scene. While it is purely reactionary, it can lead to very serious and costly penalties in the future. In this article, we'll look at some of these consequences.

What Do We Mean by Hit and Run?

A hit and run can be described as being in a car accident (either with another vehicle, pedestrian, or property) and then fleeing from the scene. In most cases, the driver hasn't identified themself or given aid to anyone who may have been injured during the accident. It is most common between Los Angeles drivers and crossing animals.

In California, it does not matter whether the accident was your fault or not. You are committing a crime if you decide to leave the accident scene. Instead, remain calm, call the police, and wait for law enforcement to arrive. It is also advisable for both drivers and victims to immediately reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.

Another Type of Hit and Run

A hit and run does not need to happen on a public road or highway for it to be considered a hit and run. A lot of the states have made their laws broad enough to cover collisions in parking lots. For example, let's say you reverse into an empty car in a parking space, and you don't fail to put your contact information on the windshield of the car you hit. The laws in multiple states will consider this as a hit and run.

How To Prove It Is Not You

The best way to dodge criminal penalties is to hire one of the best car accident attorneys. If you are in the LA area, you can contact our car accident lawyer in Los Angeles. We will help you understand and get you the compensation you deserve.

Criminal Penalties for Fleeing the Car Accident Scene

It is advisable immediately after being involved in a car accident that you contact the best lawyer for car accidents. The penalties for a hit-and-run accident vary in each state. A traffic collision lawyer in Los Angeles can help you understand those criminal penalties.

Most states in the U.S. group penalties as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances of the accident. A felony hit and run in most states can be described as leaving the accident where someone may have suffered a fatal injury. It might have been a pedestrian or opposing driver.

The consequences of a hit-and-run felony can be very severe. Many states have fines that range between $5000 and $20000. There is a very high chance you can face a car accident lawsuit and jail time as punishment. A felony can be punishable with jail time of up to 15 years in prison, depending on the severity.

Administrative Penalties for Fleeing a Car Accident

Nearly all the states in the U.S. can inflict administrative penalties on your driver's license. Most of the time these penalties are inflicted by each states' individual Department of Motor Vehicles. But any conviction for a hit and run, whether classified as a misdemeanor or a felony, will normally result in the automatic revocation or suspension of your driver's license for around six months or more. In some of the states, the revocation of your license can last up to three years.

Civil Punishments for A Hit and Run

If you are involved in a car accident and it happens to be your fault, there is a chance that the other person also involved in a car accident might choose to sue you and seek compensation for the damages you may have caused. They will demand monetary compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and property damage in such a case. This kind of car accident lawsuit will most likely happen even when you don't commit a hit and run if it has been determined that the car accident was your fault.