Motorists who face charges for a hit and run offense for not remaining at the scene of an accident need legal representation. If there is no injury and the property damage is less than a $1000 then it is a class 1 misdemeanor with up to 12 months in jail and a $2500 fine. As you can see, the State of Virginia treats hit and run incidents extremely seriously. The Silverman Law Firm can pursue compensation for personal injuries, property damage, and more if you've been in a hit-and-run accident. 1% of all deaths caused by vehicle collisions that year involved a hit and run. Make a report with the state police or local police department. How much time do I have to file a hit and run lawsuit? How Can A Richmond, Virginia Hit-And-Run Lawyer Help? Virginia's law enforcement agencies scrutinize hit-and-run accidents thoroughly. Hit and Run Accidents: Obligations of Drivers and Passengers. Fines & Time in Prison There Are Consequences for Hit-and-Run Accidents. IF YOU'RE CHARGED WITH THE CRIME. A hit and run accident occurs when one driver leaves the scene instead of stopping to exchange information with the other parties. Virginia law enforcement officers will investigate both drivers and passengers of such damaged vehicles.
Trial to find you "Not Guilty". Most hit and run cases in Richmond, Virginia actually involve unattended property – parked cars, mailboxes, fences. How Our Attorney Approaches Hit and Runs. If you believe you may have committed a hit and run in Richmond, you need to speak to a hit and run defense lawyer as soon as possible. DISCLAIMER: Every case is unique and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Experiencing a car accident where the other driver disappears can seem like an impossible situation to rectify. Your criminal attorney will determine if this is a possibility after reviewing the charges and the evidence compiled against you. Provide assistance to anyone injured in the collision by helping them obtain needed medical treatment. They're intoxicated and want to avoid DWI charges. Whether you have been charged with a Criminal Offense, Serious Criminal Traffic Offense, or have been injured in an Accident that was not your fault, our First-Class Attorneys are not going to let you become a victim! To learn more about these charges read below before calling and scheduling a consultation with a Virginia hit and run lawyer today. Negotiating for a reduction in the severity of your charges or even an outright dismissal. Passengers 16 and older also are required to ensure that a report is made.
Important Steps a Person Should Take After Being Injured in a Hit and Run. If it is a misdemeanor case then it will be tried in the General District Court. Hit-and-run is a Class 5 felony if the crash results in death or injury to a person or property damage exceeding $1, 000. 2-895, passengers can be charged with leaving the scene if they fail to report the accident knowing the driver failed to do so. Driver Duties for Accidents Involving Unattended Property in Virginia. There are a variety of common fact patterns surrounding a hit and run accident. The legal consequences for this crime will vary depending on whether it is charged as a felony or misdemeanor. The hit-and-run driver is never identified – In this instance, your only real option for a financial recovery would be through your own UM policy. The information must also be furnished to the police or other local law enforcement agency. Probation is the actual sentence for many hit-and-run convictions. This license suspension applies to both passengers and drivers of attended and unattended property or vehicles.
Any type of hit and run allegation requires a skilled Virginia Hit and Run Lawyer to successfully present your defense with professionalism. Hit and run accidents don't go away. That implies that the authorities have an obligation to follow a particular criminal procedure in these types of cases. Injuries Caused by Hit and Run Accidents. With nearly 40 years of combined experience, Mike Tillotson and Jeff Martin have successfully handled thousands of DUI cases, and has tried cases across the entire state of Virginia. It's best to consult with a seasoned lawyer to guide you through the process. If you are arrested and taken to the police station on a hit and run charge, ask to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. If you face charges for hit and run in Virginia, you need the best defense available to you. 2-896 says you have to make a reasonable effort to find the owner and provide the same information as if the owner was there: name, address, driver's license number, and vehicle registration number. Whiplash or chronic pain. RESULT: Case reduced to traffic infraction called improper driving with a fine/costs and NO CONVICTION for a misdemeanor, and NO LICENSE SUSPENSION.
MANASSAS LAWYER FIGHTS FOR THOSE CHARGED WITH HIT-AND-RUN. Being the victim of a hit and run accident may feel shocking and leave you wondering where to turn. Mental or emotional suffering. Internal organ injuries. Virginia Driver Duties for Accidents Involving Damage to Attended Property or Injury or Death. Additionally, if the driver lacks enough insurance to cover all your damages, then you may be eligible to file an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim. How Can Our Lawyers Help with Your Hit-and-Run Accident Claim? AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. If a car accident results in an injury or death, causes more than $1, 000 of property damage, or both, and the driver does not follow their duty to stop, they can be charged with a Class 5 felony. If you are not successful in that search, you have to leave a note containing your contact information and report it to the police within 24 hours.
Misdemeanor hit and run includes the following offenses for drivers: - hit and run where damage to attended property is $1000 or less is a class 1 misdemeanor. 2-896 and make a reasonable effort to locate the owner. If you're recovering from injuries, an attorney will make sure you keep up with any important communications or deadlines related to your case. Travel costs associated with medical visits.
What they are also trying to determine is the underlying cause of the hit and run and that comes back to is there drugs or alcohol involved, is there a firearm being hidden, something like that. 2-894 makes it a criminal offense to collide with another vehicle or person and cause property damage or injuries without doing the following: - Stop the vehicle as close to the location of the collision without interfering with traffic. A Class 1 misdemeanor will be the charge if the property or vehicle was attended and if the damage is valued at less than $1, 000, or if not attended, the damage is valued from $250 to $1, 000. Absent a written and signed waiver, if you are insured in Virginia, you should have a UM policy that equals the limits of your liability coverage. Charged with Virginia Hit and Run? If you are convicted 4 times for hit and run of an attended vehicle, the court can revoke your driver's license for 5 years. These cases sometimes involve independent witnesses and video evidence.
That is not the case for many hit and run cases in Virginia. Typically, a hit and run occurs when a driver who was involved in a car crash fails to: - Stop at the scene of the accident. In a hit-and-run, often the investigation comes after it has been reported by the other driver, and they have to find the person who is being charged. We offer our clients the experience and resources that come from being one of Virginia's oldest and largest personal injury law firms. If no one is killed or injured, but there is damage in excess of $250 to attended or unattended property, the fine could be as high as $2, 500 and the passenger could face up to 12 months in a local jail for committing a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each case is unique, so it's best to leave your defense strategy to an attorney who knows how to handle hit and run charges. Contact our Northern Virginia Lawyers Defending Those Facing Charges for Leaving the Scene of a Car Accident.
If you face the charge, the good news is that hit-and-run can be challenging to prove. After an accident involving injury, death, or property damage, you're required to stop at the scene or as close to it as possible without obstructing traffic. Even if you were not driving, leaving the scene of an accident as a passenger could cost you. Call today for a free consultation at 804-873-4004. AV Preeminent Rated* by Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Rating System. If a driver is never identified for the accident, you can file a claim with your insurance company under a provision called "uninsured motorist coverage. How a Lawyer Can Help.
However if the case where there is damage to property over a $1000 or there is injury to any individual or possibly death to an individual then the matter becomes a Class 5 felony. Passengers who are 16 years or older riding in vehicles that do not stop after a wreck have 24 hours to report an accident to the police. In many cases, the victims of these accidents are pedestrians and bicyclists. The client had the green light and was driving the speed limit when contact was made with an unidentifiable object near a crosswalk. The following are a few of the most typical mitigating elements, but keep in mind that your sentence is still up to the discretion of the judge and the factors of your unique situation: Injury. 20, 000 in coverage for property damage per accident. Almost all hit-and-run offenses in Virginia are charged as Class 1 or Class 4 misdemeanors or as Class 5 felonies: - A Class 4 misdemeanor is the charge if the property or vehicle hit was not attended and if the damage is valued under $250. The idea here is to show that you are dedicated to being a more responsible driver without the intervention of the justice system. If the hit-and-run driver is identified later, you would pursue compensation in much the same way you would pursue compensation in a typical car accident—via the driver's insurance company. Virginia law prohibits drivers from fleeing the scene of an auto accident. This would allow you to avoid some of the serious legal penalties that come with a felony conviction. If you hold a CDL and face a serious moving violation charge, like Virginia reckless driving, please immediately contact a lawyer.
Joshua and Kirtrina are very good professionals. Any driver or passenger age 16 or older must make a report or ensure a report is made.