Hit & Run

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

For a driver to be accused of or arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, this is an extremely serious situation to be in. Hit and run is an offense that may be charged as a felony with harsh penalties enforced if anyone was injured or lost their life in the accident. Even if the driver did not actually cause the accident, he or she may face criminal charges for allegedly leaving the scene without exchanging information with the other driver/s.

A criminal lawyer at our law offices can help if you have been accused of leaving the scene of an accident. Our firm provides aggressive, personalized legal counsel to each and every one of our clients in the face of a broad range of misdemeanor and felony offenses and is ready to offer you a confidential consultation that will help you gain a better understanding of this important topic.

About Hit and Run Charges

A driver may face misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of an accident that causes property damage alone. For an accident that causes injury to someone other than the defendant, he or she may face felony charges. A defendant may face the following penalties for a criminal conviction of this kind:

• Misdemeanor hit and run (property damage only) - a fine and court fees of up to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail and up to 3 years of informal probation.
• Felony hit and run (causing injury) - a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 and 16 months, 2 or 3 years in state prison. Increased prison sentences may apply for each additional person injured in the accident.
• Felony hit and run (causing permanent injury or death) - a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 and 2, 3 or 4 years in state prison.