Raleigh DWI Lawyer

What is a Hit and Run?

Posted on 30. May, 2010 by Admin in Uncategorized

A hit and run boils down to one essential element: an individual failed to identify himself and fleed the scene of a crime, either after damaging another person’s property or after harming another person. Usually, hit and run crimes involve automobiles. In some cases, the perpetrator might hit someone, perhaps a pedestrian, with their car and drive away without helping the person, calling for help, or identifying himself. In other cases, the perpetrator might hit another individual’s car and drive away. Leaving the scene of a crime is treated as a very serious offense.

Hit and Run Crimes

A hit and run violation only worsens the sentence a perpetrator is given for committing a crime. In many jurisdictions, drivers are obligated to identify themselves and exchange pertinent information, including insurance details, when they get into an automobile accident with another driver or with a pedestrian. Usually, state laws require the driver to pull over as soon as they can do so safely. If an individual hits another car, many states require drivers to leave a note with their contact details or to make some other effort to contact the individual who owns the car or property.

Felony Hit and Run
When an individual flees the scene of a crime where an individual is either injured or killed, the individual is charged with felony hit and run. If there is no harm to a person, the individual will be charged with misdemeanor hit and run. Felonies are very serious crimes, and convicted felons must make life-long changes even after serving their prison sentences. For example, felons lose the right to bear arms and the right to vote for the rest of their lives. Therefore, felony hit and run crimes are very severe and are not to be taken lightly. Those convicted of committing misdemeanor hit and run usually are not sentenced to jail time, but they do pay hefty monetary fines.

Only a traffic offense attorney can give legal advice. This article is only meant to serve informational purposes.

Tags: felony hit and run, hit and run, vehicular homicide