Drivers often panic after their involvement in a car crash. They may worry about receiving a ticket or getting arrested. It is easy for people to make the wrong choice in the moments immediately following a crash. Although drivers generally know that the law requires them to stop after their involvement in a collision, they may drive away anyway. They could then face allegations of causing a hit-and-run collision.
State prosecutors can bring criminal charges against those who leave the scene of a crash without waiting to file a report with the police or checking on the other people involved. The consequences of a hit-and-run crash can be far more serious than the consequences of stopping as required by law.
Consequences increase with crash severity
Leaving the scene of a collision is a crime, but the type of crime depends on how serious the crash actually was. The worse the outcome of a hit-and-run crash, the more serious the charges the state can pursue become and the worse the penalties are.
The consequences of the hit-and-run incident dictate what charges and penalties the driver accused faces. If they simply caused property damage, then prosecutors could bring Class 2 misdemeanor charges against them. The penalties could include up to 90 days in jail and $300 in fines.
If the incident caused minor bodily injuries to other people, the state can pursue Class 1 misdemeanor charges. The penalties possible could include up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines. If a serious bodily injury occurs, the driver may face Class 4 felony charges. The penalties could include up to six years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
If a hit-and-run crash results in someone dying, the state can pursue Class 3 felony charges. The penalties possible include up to $750,000 in fines and 12 years in prison. Drivers who cause injury or death in a crash could also face lawsuits brought by the injured person or their surviving dependent family members.
Sometimes, there are reasonable explanations for why people leave the scene of the crash. They may have thought they hit a pothole instead of grazing another vehicle. They may have had injuries that required medical attention. Reviewing the circumstances of a hit-and-run crash with a skilled legal team can help drivers mount a defense to any charges that they’re facing. Drivers who respond assertively may be able to avoid a life-altering criminal conviction after a wreck.