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    Greenwich Felony Evading Responsibility Charge

    Following a Greenwich felony evading responsibility charge, it is important that you get in touch with a capable attorney that can tell you what your next steps should be. For example, a lawyer might advise that you ensure that you have the appropriate insurance coverage. Work with a knowledgeable lawyer that could help you navigate this process, and defend you against the charges you face.

    What Constitutes a Felony Evading Responsibility Charge?

    A person gets into the felony range as soon as any physical injury happens to another person. If the other person breaks their finger as part of the accident, then the suspect would now be charged with a felony version of evading responsibility.

    It used to be that any physical injury that was not considered to be serious physical injury or great bodily injury would still be a misdemeanor level. The new law has made any physical injury that is caused as part of the accident to another person, no matter how minor it is, brings it into the realm of a felony level charge.

    Evading Responsibility as a Class D Felony

    If the alleged victim sustains a basic physical injury that does not rise to a level of serious physical injury, the level of felony is a class D felony, which is the lowest level of felony. A person may be imprisoned for the class D felony version for up to five years. They can be fined up to $600 and be given probation of up to three years.

    There is the other level of felony. If a person commits just physical injury, then it is a class D felony and the punishments and penalties are those that come with the class D felony version.If on the other hand serious physical injury or death results from the accident to the other person, now we are looking at a class B felony, and in that instance, a person charged with the class B version of evading responsibility will face a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000 and probation of up to five years.

    What Prosecutors Must Prove in Greenwich for Felony Evading Responsibility Cases

    That the person knew they were involved in an accident, that the person after the accident did not stop their motor vehicle, that the person upon stopping the motor vehicle if they did stop failed to render appropriate assistance or provide the information necessary like the general information about the person’s driving credentials, and the level of damage to another person’s property or bodily injury caused to another person.

    So there is knowing that there was an accident, failing to stop, and even if the person stops, failing to provide the necessary assistance or necessary information. If the person failed to stop because they could not stop, then the prosecutor would have to prove that the person otherwise failed to contact the authorities as soon as practically possible, and then the last part of it is that there was actual damage done to another person’s property or another person’s body.

    Impact of Not Being Convicted on an Evading Responsibility Charge

    If the person is not convicted following a Greenwich felony evading responsibility charge, that means that the charge would be dismissed either because the person was eligible for a program, they got the charge dismissed, or because they were found not guilty. In that instance, the charge should not have any lasting effect on the person’s life because they would have been vindicated in the sense that the charges would have been dropped.

    That said, just seeing the fact that someone who was charged with that crime can lead some people to distrust the person that was charged with the crime. A lot of people in the court of public opinion may assume that just because a person was charged that they might have actually done something wrong.

    Now, the other more tangible effect that just having the charge can have is that it may cost the person money and time in not only having to deal with the charges in court, having to potentially pay a lawyer, and having to pay any kind of expenses in attending to court, but also having to pay for the damage done to the other person’s vehicle or any potential medical bills as a result of the accident and the charge of evading responsibility.

    Steps to Take Following a Greenwich Felony Evading Responsibility Charge

    Following a Greenwich felony evading responsibility charge, one of the first things you should do is contact an attorney. The second step you should take is to not speak about the incident to anybody other than your lawyer. You should also ensure that you have appropriate insurance coverage and that it is in effect at that time. If you have been charged with an evading responsibility charge, work with an experienced attorney that could build a solid defense for you.