Yale Hit-and-Run Lawyer
To best resolve a hit-and-run charge, a skilled defense attorney’s guidance is highly valuable. With a knowledgeable Yale hit-and-run lawyer on your side, you could have substantially better chances of contesting the prosecution’s case against you and minimizing the long-term consequences that could result from your case.
How Does State Law Address Hit-and-Run Offenses?
Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §14-224 lists several actions that each person involved in an auto accident must take in order to ensure that everyone is safe from serious harm and can proceed with insurance claims as necessary. First and foremost, anyone knowingly involved in a wreck must immediately stop their vehicle and render assistance to any other person involved in the crash who needs it.
After rendering aid and summoning law enforcement and/or emergency services to the scene if necessary, all involved parties must exchange contact, driver’s license, and insurance information with each other. If one or more involved parties have already left the scene for emergency medical treatment, other involved individuals must provide the aforementioned information as well as a description of what happened to a law enforcement officer either present at the scene or at the nearest station or precinct.
A person who leaves an accident scene without completing all these steps has committed the criminal offense of “evasion of responsibility in the operation of motor vehicles”, commonly known as “evading responsibility” or “hit-and-run.” A Yale hit-and-run attorney could provide further clarification about how this offense works and what circumstances might lead to charges being filed.
What are Potential Penalties from an Evading Responsibility Conviction?
The severity of criminal charges for hit-and-run vary depending on the amount of property damage and/or physical injury caused by the crash in question. Evading responsibility for an accident that causes only property damage and/or minor injury may face penalties ranging from a $75 to $600 fine plus a maximum one-year term of incarceration for a first offense, with the range of fines rising to between $100 and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Identical ranges of fines apply to hit-and-run offenses stemming from wrecks that cause physical injuries substantial enough to require professional medical care, but the maximum prison term increases to five years in length.
Finally, anyone who evades responsibility for an accident that causes serious physical injury or death may be subject upon conviction to a $20,000 maximum fine and incarceration for between two and 20 years. A conviction for any level of hit-and-run may also result in various administrative penalties and driver’s license restrictions, as a lawyer experienced with evading responsibility cases at Yale could affirm.
Speak with a Yale Hit-and-run Attorney About Legal Options
The aftermath of an auto accident can be chaotic and traumatic even if the incident does not cause anyone serious harm, and it is understandable to be a bit confused about what to do immediately afterward. However, it is crucial that you understand and comply with the obligations you have in this kind of situation, as breaching your lawful duty to stop and render aid could have consequences far worse than those of the actual wreck.
A capable Yale hit-and-run lawyer could work tirelessly to pursue a positive end result to your case so that it does not negatively impact your future. Check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews at Avvo.com and then call today to learn more.