Have you been accused of a hit and run or suspect allegations are coming? Our office frequently receives calls from people who have been in traffic accidents and did not stay at the scene. Often they wonder if they were wrong to leave even if there was no damage to their vehicle or the other vehicle. Sometimes, they panic and want to avoid consequences or make things right. Our office here to assist you if someone is accusing you of a hit and run.

A hit and run accusation happens when someone is involved in a traffic incident but ran from the scene after the incident. In this case, the person who leaves may or may not have been the responsible party in the accident. However, the crime occurs when the person leaves the scene. It is irrelevant who caused the accident. Many people call our office hoping that they will avoid a charge because they did not cause the accident.

It’s important to note that not all hit and run cases involve severe injured. You can also be charged under this offense if you leave after scratching someone’s vehicle on accident in a parking lot or damaging someone’s side-view mirror.

Whether or not you’ve committed the offense, you may have to face trial once you’re accused. Regardless of whether the charges are right or wrong, you can take the following steps to try to get an acquittal without trial.

1. Seek Legal Help

The law is complicated and hit and run accidents are no different. Thus, your first step should always be to hire a criminal lawyer. Chances are that your case can get resolved very soon with an adept lawyer at your assistance. Our office can work on the case before it gets to court and try to divert it from the system.

We will want to go over the facts with you and evaluate the evidence we anticipate the police would gather. We will want to know more about the conditions at the time of the accident and whether it was easy to identify the driver. Providing a lawyer with this information will help you in your case.

2. Insurance

One question our clients often ask is “What will happen with my insurance company?” Our office will handle all communications with your insurance company for you. You do not need to worry about making statements that could be used in a criminal case. We will gather information and help you navigate dealing with the insurance company.

3. Dealing With Damage to the Vehicle

Often times, our clients want to move forward in repairing their vehicle. Other times, they want to settle the claim with the other driver independent of any court action. Our office will take over communications with the other driver to help you settle any losses.

4. Inability to Prove the Crime

The prosecution has the burden to prove that the person charged with the crime is the driver who left the scene of an accident. But what happens if the police are unsure who the driver was? In that case, they may seek to link the registered owner to the crime. However, the registered owner may not have been the driver. People often lend their vehicles to family members and friends. Unless the prosecutor can prove who the driver was beyond a reasonable doubt, they will be hard pressed to convict anyone for the crime of hit and run.

Common Defenses to Hit and Run I Was Not the Driver

One element of the crime is that the accused was not the driver. If the prosecutor cannot prove the defendant was the driver, they cannot prove an essential element of the crime.

I Did Stop at the Scene

After an accident, parties to the accident can be confused about what happened. If one party is injured, he may not have been able to recollect who spoke to whom. When police arrive, a driver may have left, even if they provided the requisite information.

I Did Not Stop Because I Was Unable to

Road rage is a common reason people flee the scenes of accidents. If someone threatens to harm you and you leave the scene to protect your life, this may be a defense.