Ridgefield Hit and Run Lawyer

Anyone who is facing charges for a hit and run, should get in touch with a Ridgefield hit and run lawyer sooner rather than later, as evading responsibility can be classified as a felony depending on the circumstances. Once retained, your criminal defense attorney could explain your specific charges and help you understand your options for mitigating potential penalties.

Are There Different Degrees of Evading Responsibility?

Hit and run is referred to as evading responsibility in the Connecticut criminal code. If you get into an accident that resulted in property damage and or injury must stop as soon as it is safe to do so, provide your name, license, and registration number, provide your home address and report the accident to law enforcement. Failure to do so could result in an arrest.

What is Misdemeanor Hit Evading Responsibility?

The severity of a hit and run offense in Connecticut varies depending on the severity of the accident the defendant allegedly left the scene of improperly. If an accident only results in property damage, evading responsibility could result in a fine of between $75 and $600 for a first offense and between $100 and $1,000 for any subsequent offense, as well as up to a year of imprisonment. Evading responsibility for accidents resulting in minor injuries are punishable by the same fines, but the maximum term of imprisonment extends to five years, and the defendant’s vehicle may be impounded for up to 30 days.

When Can Evading Responsibility Be a Felony?

Anyone who illegally leaves the scene of an accident resulting in serious physical injury or death could be subject to a prison term of two to 20 years upon conviction, as well as a fine of up to $20,000.

No matter the immediate severity of the case, guidance from a Ridgefield hit and run attorney could be critical when contesting evading responsibility charges of any kind.

How Legal Counsel Could Help with Hit and Run Allegations

Like many other criminal offenses, evading responsibility for a car accident in Connecticut involves both knowledge and intention on the part of the person who committed the offense. This means that a defendant cannot be convicted of a hit and run unless the prosecutor can prove that defendant knew they were involved in an accident that caused property damage and/or injury, and that they left the scene with the intention of avoiding responsibility for the accident.

Accordingly, establishing exactly what a defendant’s intentions were and the degree to which they were aware of their legal obligations after a car wreck can be critical to minimizing criminal sanctions for evading responsibility. Depending on the circumstances, a hit and run lawyer in Ridgefield may be able to help a defendant establish that they did not intend to leave the scene of a wreck early, or that a misunderstanding led to their actions rather than deliberate intent to knowingly commit a crime.

To learn more about defenses in hit and run cases, click here.

Speak with a Ridgefield Hit and Run Attorney as Soon as Possible