Wilton Evading Responsibility Lawyer
Wilton law defines evading responsibility as any time the operator of a motor vehicle knowingly is involved in an accident and fails to stop, render assistance, or give the operator’s name and contact information. In Wilton, there are three different statutes that an individual may be charged with, depending on the damage that occurred because of the accident.
If anyone is involved in an accident and flees the scene, they could be charged with evading responsibility. It could be critical to planning a defense with the help of a Wilton evading responsibility lawyer if you have been accused of a hit and run offense. You may gain peace of mind prior to your case by discussing your case with a top defense attorney.
What Are the Evading Responsibility Laws in Wilton?
The duty to pull over, help, and exchange contact information after a vehicle collision is governed by Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 14-224. The law requires that immediately following an accident, every vehicle operator involved must pull over and provide the following information to the other motorists, a witness, or a police officer:
- Name and home address of the vehicle operator
- Driver’s license number of the vehicle operator
- Registration number of the vehicle involved
If a driver is unable to pull their vehicle over to provide this information, C.G.S. § 14-224 allows them to notify a proper authority such as a police officer or state trooper immediately after. If they provide information to an officer after an accident, the motorist must also provide a description and location of the incident. A Wilton attorney could help someone accused of evading responsibility.
What are the Punishments for an Evading Responsibility Arrest?
A failure to provide the required information could result in steep penalties under the C.G.S. § 14-224. Leaving the scene of an accident that results in a death or serious bodily injury could result in a minimum mandatory jail sentence of one year and a maximum of ten years in prison. Evading responsibility after a minor accident has a maximum sentence of one-year imprisonment.
A Wilton attorney could help to mitigate the penalties from an evading responsibility charge. It is best to contact a lawyer as early as possible, so they can begin examining all of the evidence and preparing your case.
Risk of a Hit and Run Charge Associated with a DUI Offense
It might be important to convince Wilton law enforcement that drunk driving was not part of the reason for leaving the scene of the accident, because if an officer has probable cause to believe that the individual was drinking and driving when the accident occurred they could arrest the person for DUI based on that probable cause.
Some common implications of leaving the scene of an accident is that a person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident and that they had something to hide. A Wilton lawyer could help the accused disprove that this was the reason they left the scene and get their evading responsibility charges dismissed.
How is BAC Determined in These Cases?
Blood alcohol content could be determined if a person is taken to the hospital after an accident and their blood is drawn. An arrest warrant or a search warrant is made by the police department to test the blood for alcohol. Any time a police department investigates an arrest and it seems like a person is drunk, they would ask the person if they want to go to the hospital to have blood drawn and preserved so they are able to test it. A person does not need to go to the hospital.
Speak with a Wilton Evading Responsibility Attorney
Any time a person faces physical injury, the person who evades responsibility could be charged with a felony evading responsibility. If the injury becomes more serious because this person failed to contact law enforcement, they could face additional charges or they could face the most serious felony charge. A Wilton evading responsibility lawyer should be involved in a hit and run case as soon as possible.
When someone is taken the police station for evading responsibility, they should try to call an attorney from the police station before they make any statement to the police department. If a person is arrested before they have the opportunity or think to speak to an attorney, they should get an attorney involved immediately after the arrest to try to facilitate everything with the court and streamline the process.