Hit and Run Attorney Los Angeles

If you’ve been accused of a hit and run crime, you need to find an experienced lawyer who can assess the evidence and develop a strong defense.

In this article, you will discover how to find the best hit and run attorney Los Angeles has to offer.

Hit and Run Attorney Los Angeles Find a lawyer with certified lawyer referral service

Hit and Run Attorney Los Angeles

There are two types of hit and run crimes in California and both require you to stop and exchange your information with either the other person(s) involved or property owner(s) involved. Failing to do so is considered a hit and run crime, which involves severe consequences.

It’s in your best interest to find an attorney with experience in hit and run crimes, as he or she may be able to put together a strong defense and protect your interests throughout the legal process.

So, how do you find a good hit and run attorney?

The SFVBA Attorney Referral Service is certified by the State Bar of California and meets the American Bar Association standards for lawyer referral. With a comprehensive membership of over 150 well-established attorneys in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, we can help connect you with the best hit and run attorney Los Angeles has to offer.

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What is a Hit and Run Crime?

California has two types of hit-and-run offenses – misdemeanor and felony.

Misdemeanor hit-and-run is when:

  • The driver leaves the scene of the accident;
  • Without first identifying him or herself to the other party/parties involved; and
  • Another’s property was damaged in the accident

The key difference is the fact that it has to do with whether the property was damaged. If the only damage is to property, it is a misdemeanor.

However, felony hit-and-run in California involves injury to another person, including a fatality. There is also an element requiring that the person knew or would have reasonably been expected to know that injury or death occurred.

Hit-and-run laws apply to every auto accident regardless of who was at fault, how much damage was inflicted, or how serious the injuries were.

The following behaviors could subject someone to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge, even though they may not seem like it.

  • Driving away from an accident when the other driver was at fault
  • Driving away after hitting and damaging something on someone’s property, such as a fence
  • Driving away from an accident that you may have caused, even though your own car didn’t actually collide with another car

A misdemeanor hit and run charge carry severe penalties including a fine of up to $1,000 and a potential sentence of 6 months in jail.

If you are convicted of felony hit-and-run, penalties include a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000 and up to 3 years in state prison. However, up to 4 years in state prison can be required if the accident resulted in death or serious physical injury.

What If It Wasn’t Intentional?

You can still be charged with a misdemeanor or felony hit-and-run in California even if it wasn’t intentional. However, there are a few defenses that you may raise to dispute the charges. These include:

  • Not realizing you were involved in a car accident
  • Not realizing that someone else’s property was damaged
  • Not knowing that you injured or killed someone
  • Not reasonably have known that you injured or killed someone

Otherwise, you are liable for hitting someone else or their property, causing damage, and leaving the scene. Consulting an attorney regarding the specifics of your case would be wise, especially if you did not intend to leave the scene or did not intend to cause the accident, damage the property that was damaged, or injure or kill another person.

An attorney will be able to tell you how successful your defense will be in court and whether you are truly at fault for what occurred.

How Can an Attorney Help?

An attorney can help you with a hit-and-run charge in various ways. Sometimes there is a defense to the hit-and-run charge. For example, there may only be damage to your car or it was not you who was involved in the accident. Additionally, maybe you didn’t realize you had been involved in the accident or that someone else’s property was damaged as a result of the accident.

A hit-and-run attorney will evaluate your case based on its specific facts and ascertain whether you have a defense to the hit-and-run charges. Additionally, a hit-and-run attorney will most likely have handled many auto accident cases during his or her career. He or she will be able to determine whether your case will be successful and whether you will be able to avoid the charges.

If your case is unable to be resolved using a plea deal, your attorney will be skilled at trial work and will be able to handle your case competently if you have to go to trial. A hit-and-run attorney will prepare you for a trial and everything that goes along with it ensuring that you look as good as possible in front of a jury or judge.

Start with a Free Consultation

As a certified lawyer referral service, we can help connect you with one of the best hit and run attorneys in Los Angeles and schedule up to a 30-minute free consultation. Starting with a consultation will allow you to gauge whether or not the attorney is the right fit for you and your needs.

If you’re ready to get started, call (818) 340-4529 to speak with one of our friendly Attorney Referral Consultants.

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