How Bad Is A Hit And Run Charge?

How Bad Is a Hit and Run Charge? 

A hit-and-run is a serious charge that can ruin your life. It can impact your driving record, the ability to get a job or rent a home, and may even affect your insurance rates. 

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The answer to how bad a hit-and-run charge is depends on a number of factors, including the facts of the case and whether or not a defendant has committed similar offenses in the past. The penalties for a hit-and-run can range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the situation. 

Penalties for a hit-and-run vary by state. In general, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident that does not result in injury will face a misdemeanor charge. This means that the driver will likely be fined and may even serve a jail sentence if convicted. 

On the other hand, a driver who flees an accident that does result in injury or death will be facing felony charges. These charges are based on the fact that the driver did not stay at the scene or provide necessary information to help people injured by the accident. 

A victim of a hit and run can also seek civil penalties for their losses, such as medical expenses, pain, and suffering, loss of wages, and damages to property. These civil penalties are often awarded in addition to criminal penalties and can be worth substantial amounts of money. 

If a driver inadvertently fails to give out proper information, such as insurance details, this can lead to additional penalties for the driver. Some states have specific laws about what information is required to be exchanged in a hit-and-run, while others are more flexible. In general, drivers must provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and license number. 

The law is a bit vague about the exact manner in which this information should be given. Some courts have held that drivers must identify themselves in a certain way, while others have held that this can be done by providing a driver’s license number or a phone number. 

Regardless of the laws that apply, there are many reasons why a driver would leave the scene of an accident. These include anxiety, fear, lack of insurance coverage, or simply not feeling safe. 

However, even if a driver doesn’t feel like staying at the scene, it is still possible to avoid a hit-and-run charge. This is especially true if the accident involves only minor damage to property or if there was no visible evidence of an injury to any person involved in the collision. 

In most cases, a hit-and-run charge can be avoided by remaining at the scene of the crash and providing the necessary information to the other driver and law enforcement. Ideally, the driver should try to exchange insurance details and provide other vital information, such as the name and address of the owner of the damaged property.