If you’re involved in a hit-and-run, there are allegations that you were involved in an accident and failed to stop and provide your identifying and contact information, driver’s license number and insurance information. The severity of the charge and what it’s punishable by usually depend on whether there were any injuries. Defending these cases can be difficult because defenses are limited.
Don’t talk to police
You have the right to remain silent, and you also have the right to an attorney. Invoke those rights. An admission of guilt to anybody can be used against you.
Lack of knowledge
If you didn’t realize you were in an accident, leaving the scene can be difficult to prove. You need to be aware of the fact that you caused damage and/or injury. Remember that this can be proved by circumstantial evidence.
You weren’t driving
Only the operator of a motor vehicle can be charged with a hit-and-run. If it might be determined that somebody else was driving the motor vehicle at the time of the collision, you have a viable defense.
Emergencies
An emergency can be a defense to many criminal charges. Under very limited circumstances, a hit-and-run might be excusable in an emergency situation, but any such emergency defense s going to be be closely scrutinized.
Physical inability to exchange information
You can certainly be driving a car, get into an accident and become both physically and mentally incapacitated. Assuming you have a passenger, that person might make a snap decision to get you to a hospital that’s only a minute away. If he or she drives you there, and you fail to provide appropriate information, you can be charged with a hit-and-run. Impossibility will be your defense. You can’t exchange information when you’re knocked out cold, and somebody took over the wheel.
Don’t make an admission to police, an insurance company or anybody else. It can be used against you. The first thing you’ll want to do in any criminal case is call me, Eric Harron, a hit and run attorney at 512-963-8855, and I’ll provide you with the personalized professional consultation and case evaluation that you deserve. I’ll explore every avenue and option to get the best possible disposition of your criminal case.
