What Are the Potential Repercussions of a Hit and Run?
In general, a hit-and-run is when an automobile collision occurs, either with another car, a motorcycle, or even pedestrians, and the driver leaves the scene without pausing to provide their name or offer assistance to anyone who may be in need.
Typical hit-and-run scenarios include:
- Drivers who seriously hurt a person and then escape the scene because they were operating a vehicle while their licences were suspended due to prior DUI convictions and they did not want to face additional charges
- Those who crash parked cars and flee the scene rather than paying for the damage
- To avoid going into trouble, some motorists intentionally hit police cars that have been placed along a roadblock.
The repercussions of fleeing the scene of an accident can be severe, so all drivers should stop and consider their actions before doing so.
Charges for Hit and Runs
Whether or not the accident was caused by the driver is usually immaterial. A party only needs to leave the scene in order to suffer the repercussions of a hit-and-run. If someone left the scene to try to find assistance, this is an exception, provided they immediately returned.
Penalties: Major Versus Minor
The repercussions of hit-and-run differ from state to state, but in many, depending on the circumstances, the punishment is either a felony or a misdemeanour. When someone is hurt, whether they were a pedestrian or a passenger in another car, felony charges are frequently brought against them. In addition to facing fines ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, guilty parties also run the risk of serving up to 15 years in prison. Although less serious than a felony, a misdemeanour offence is nonetheless punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
A hit-and-run incident has legal repercussions as well as administrative fines that affect the person’s licence in practically every state. Any conviction normally entails a driver’s licence suspension or revocation for a period of around six months. Depending on the specifics of the event, some states impose the suspension for up to three years or even permanently.
Civil lawsuits against at-fault drivers are also a possibility. Injured parties are entitled to property damage claims in addition to payments for medical care and lost income.
What Proof is Required in a Hit-and-Run Case?
To convict someone of a hit-and-run in a criminal prosecution, the prosecutor often needs to demonstrate the following circumstances:
- The defendant was involved in the crash while driving.
- The incident resulted in another person’s death, severe harm, or lifelong injury.
- The defendant deliberately neglected to carry out one or more of the following responsibilities while being aware that he or she was responsible for the accident that injured someone else or that injury was likely given the circumstances of the accident.
- must halt right away at the scene
- to offer injured people who require it fair support.
Give all parties involved or authorities their name, address, and phone number; if the vehicle is not theirs, give the owner’s information; provide the name and information of anyone injured in the vehicle; show a driver’s licence when asked at the scene; and alert authorities right away if anyone is killed in the collision.