A hit and run charge can leave the accused driver feeling stunned. In some cases, someone charged with a hit and run may have no distinct memory or awareness of the act of which they are accused of.
Your prospects for an acceptable outcome could be better than you realize, especially if you were driving with care. One of our experienced Attorneys & Leifert & Leifert may have ideas for alleviating the legal burden on you. Before allowing your shock to get the better of you, reach out to a Sunrise hit and run Lawyer who could listen to your story and offer professional guidance in regards to building a defense.
Legal Duties of a Driver Involved in a Traffic Accident
As is common throughout the United States, a driver in Sunrise who causes damage to another driver-occupied vehicle after a collision must quickly stop, return to the scene of the accident, provide aid to anyone injured, and take them for medical help if necessary. They must also show their driver’s license or permit and provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number to any other party to the accident or police officer. If no officers have arrived at the scene, the driver must contact the police.
According to Florida Statutes §316.061 and 316.062, failure to stop after an accident that causes only vehicle or other property damage constitutes a second-degree Misdemeanor, and failure to provide information and give aid after an accident that harms property or other people constitutes a noncriminal traffic violation. A driver charged with failing to stop after a traffic accident could discover useful information about hit and run laws and potential tactics for putting together a strong defense by scheduling an appointment with one of our Sunrise attorneys.
Leaving a Collision That Involves Physical Harm or Death
Willful failure in Sunrise to stop after an accident that causes physical harm but not serious physical harm to another person constitutes a third-degree Felony according to Florida Statutes §316.067. The same failure qualifies as a second-degree Felony when the accident causes serious harm and a first-degree Felony, resulting in a mandatory four-year prison term, when it causes death. Penalties for non-willful failure vary.
The penalties for these offenses increase by one level if a person injured or killed is considered a vulnerable road user, examples of which include:
- A pedestrian, road worker, or emergency caregiver
- Someone riding a two-wheel vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle
- Someone riding an animal
- Someone on the shoulder of a road or with right of way traveling via wheelchair, horse-drawn carriage, tractor, or skates
Depending on the circumstances of an accident, whether someone was harmed, and whether the driver accused of hit and run willfully failed to stop, the offense charged can range from a Misdemeanor to a first-degree Felony. Someone questioning any aspect of a hit and run charge against them could receive not only useful answers to their questions but helpful suggestions about how the charge could be lowered or dismissed by calling an informed Sunrise hit and run Lawyer.
Speak with Sunrise Hit and Run Attorney Today
Learning of a hit and run charge can make you worry, but it is best to avoid worrying too much about unlikely outcomes. Given all the facts in your case, what difficulties and opportunities have a legitimate likelihood of surfacing, and what is your best response.
You could receive valuable support from one of our trusted Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert who understands how hit and run cases can play out. Talk with a Sunrise hit and run Lawyer, evaluate multiple options, and decide which of them could work out for you.
