How Bad Is a Hit and Run Charge?
Every year, thousands of people are injured in hits and runs. They can be a result of driver intoxication, distracted driving, or other reasons.
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When a vehicle hits another car or a pedestrian, it’s the duty of the driver to stop and provide basic information, such as identification, insurance information, and medical assistance. This can be done at the scene or later through a written report.
In addition, if an accident has caused significant damage, drivers must also contact the appropriate parties and notify them of the accident. If you fail to do this, your insurance company may deny coverage or raise your rates.
This is why it’s important to stay at the scene of a hit-and-run accident until help arrives, even if you don’t think there was much damage. Taking this extra step can make all the difference in protecting your legal rights and getting compensated for your losses.
If you’re charged with a hit-and-run, your next step should be to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. This person will be able to hear your situation, evaluate the evidence, and offer advice on how to best proceed.
Hit and runs can lead to a range of penalties, including fines, jail time, license suspension or revocation, and more. The severity of your penalty will depend on several factors, such as the circumstances of the crash, whether you were under the influence at the time of the accident, and whether you committed the offense while driving a commercial vehicle or other types of the motor vehicle.
A hit-and-run charge is often treated as a misdemeanor in most states, with fines that can be anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Jail time can also be imposed, although this is less common.
However, if you are convicted of a hit-and-run charge that involves serious injuries or death, the charges can turn into felony offenses. Felony charges carry severe criminal penalties, including large fines and a long prison sentence.
Fortunately, most cases of hit and run are misdemeanors in California. This means that you can typically avoid a conviction by hiring an experienced lawyer and fighting your case in court.
Penalties for a Hit and Run In California
There are various penalties for hit-and-run charges, but they all boil down to the same thing: you must remain at the scene of the accident until help arrives. You can face a fine of up to $1500 for leaving the scene of an accident without providing any information.
If the accident has caused minor injuries, you can also avoid a hit-and-run charge by staying at the scene until emergency personnel arrives and helping to ensure that all involved drivers are safe and well. In addition, you can file a police report to alert the authorities and get an investigation started.
If you are convicted of a hit-and-go, it can have a huge impact on your life. A criminal conviction will show up on your criminal record and affect your ability to obtain certain jobs, housing, and other opportunities. Additionally, it will cause your insurance rates to rise dramatically. This can be difficult to overcome, and it will take years for your rates to get back to where they were before the arrest.