Minor hit and run charges and what is a minor hit and run accident?

Minor hit and run charges and what is a minor hit and run accident?

A hit-and-run accident can be defined as an incident in which the driver(s) leave the scene of an accident without exchanging personal information.

In all states and other countries at large, fleeing or leaving the scene of an accident is highly punishable by law. I know of a guy who is in his 8th year in prison, with an extra 5 years remaining on his 13-year prison sentence. 

On the same note, John, my local guy here just served 2 months in jail after leaving the scene of an accident 12 months ago.

So, yes, the consequences of hit and run are different, right? How come one guy receives a prison sentence of 13 years, whereas the other one is just jailed for 2 months? well, the difference lies in the severity or outcome of the accident.

In this article, I will explain to you in simple terms everything you need to know about hit-and-run accident, and I will go an extra mile to touch on the other form of hit-and-run faced by the driver who received a 13-year sentence. Ready?

 What a minor hit and run incident is?

Well, some auto accidents result in fatalities, injuries, and or property damages. Irrespective of all the outcomes mentioned, its against the law for the driver to leave the scene of an accident. 

A minor hit and run crime is an offense committed by a driver who left the scene of an accident involving only property damages. Minor hit-and-run accidents involve property damage but no injuries.

Recommended reading: What happens to hit and run drivers who are later found by their license plate? 

on the other hand, a driver commits a more severe form of hit-and-run crime if the accident involves injuries and or deaths. As I will explain later in this article, legal punishments vary by the severity of the offense.

What is the difference between a hit and run causing property damage and a hit and run causing serious injury?

I already explained what a minor hit and run is, right? well, you will have committed a severe form of hit and run, if the accident whose scene you fled involved injuries and or deaths.

Using legal terminologies. we say you committed a hit-and-run felony if it’s a severe form of crime, whereas you will face charges of a misdemeanor hit and run if it’s a minor hit-and-run crime. 

Did you know that your legal obligations as a driver are not only sharing personal information with other drivers who are party to the accident? Yeah, that’s right.

Recommended reading: Is it illegal to chase a hit-and-run driver?

You must also stop at the scene of an accident and render help to the injured. You must also stop at the incident scene and report the crash to the police station. 

Whether you exchanged personal information or not, you could still be charged with a hit and run crime if you failed to observe the additional 2 obligations mentioned in the last paragraph above.

What constitutes minor hit and run charges?

There are potentially 2 charges for leaving the scene of an accident. Depending on the outcomes of the accident, the prosecutor could press 2 charges against you. 

These charges as I already explained are a felony or a misdemeanor.

In all states, the general charges of a minor hit and run include jail time, fines, and suspension of your driver’s license. Below are examples of minor hit and run charges in 3 chosen states. 

1. Florida. In Florida, the penalties for a minor hit and run (misdemeanor) include; a potential 60 days in jail, and or up to $500 in fines.

2. Texas. Expect to pay fines of up to $500 after committing a minor hit and run in Texas.

3. Illinois. If you committed a minor hit and run in Illinois, your penalties will include a fine of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail.

As you can see guys, the consequences of a minor hit-and-run vary by state. I recommend doing simple research to find out what charges and punishments you are likely to face in your own state.

What should you do if you are involved in a minor hit and run accident?

What you should do if you are involved in a minor hit and run depends on whether you are the victim, or the driver that fled the scene of the crash. 

If you are the victim, your worry would be how to prove your losses and injuries, how to give a description of the accident, how to report damages/losses, and what information you have about the car and the driver.

Additionally, as a victim of a hit-and-run accident, you should be worrying about how you will ever be compensated for the damages/losses since the other driver fled.

Recommended reading: What to do if someone claims you hit their car?

To sum it up, Steps to take if you are a victim of a minor hit-and-run accident include calling the police, documenting the accident, gathering witness information, looking for evidence, and contacting your insurance company.

What about if you are the driver who left the scene of an accident? well, what I must say is that your days could be numbered, because police could soon track you down.

As a driver that got involved in a minor hit and run accident,  stop immediately, provide information, contact your insurance company, and seek legal representation right away.

What are the potential defenses for hit and run charges?

Yes, hit and run charges have been pressed against you. Is there a way you can defend yourself against the accusations? the answer is yes, you can.

If you are currently battling leaving the scene of an accident charge, below are potential defenses you could employ.

1. Challenge the evidence. Yes, you can challenge the evidence provided against you. You can challenge witness statements, sources of injuries claimed by the victims, and others. 

2. Response to an emergency. It could be a strong defense if you manage to argue that you left the scene to attend to an emergency, for instance seeking medical treatment.

3. Involuntary intoxication or drugged. Maybe someone drugged your drinks and you unintentionally left the scene of an accident. This could be used to defend against the charges.

4. Not being aware of the injuries. Yes, some injuries appear hours or days after the accident. Remember there is a possibility of hit and run felony charges if you fail to render help to the injured. 

You or your lawyer could argue that you were not aware of the injuries because such injuries could have shown up later after the crash.

How can a lawyer help with hit and run charges?

If you are the driver being accused of a hit-and-run crime, you must seek legal help, otherwise be ready to spend years in jail.

A hit-and-run lawyer is experienced in personal injury cases. He/she knows how to navigate the legal complex system, do independent investigations, and finally file a strong defense.

Conclusion.

Minor hit ad run charges are criminal proceedings a driver faces after leaving the scene of an accident that involves no injuries, but only property damages.

The penalties for a minor hit-and-run accident are less severe compared to when the accident resulted in injuries and or deaths.

Sources

1. Hit and Run – The 2 Types and What to do if You’re Involved. feldmanroyle. https://www.feldmanroyle.com/vehicular-crimes/hit-and-run/

2.Jessica, Gillespie. Hit-and-Run Criminal Charges and Conviction Penalties. nolo. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/hit-run-charges.html

3. Illinois Attorneys for Hit-and-Run Charges. tombruno. https://www.tombruno.com/practice-areas/traffic-violations/hit-and-run/

4.David, Abels. (December 3, 2018). Understanding Hit and Run Accidents. daveabels. https://www.daveabels.com/is-it-really-a-hit-and-run-lets-look-at-the-law/