Hit and Run Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Even minor car accidents can result in property damage and injuries. In more serious cases, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians can suffer significant bodily harm or even death. Following any car accident, it is important to stay at the scene. Leaving can result in a hit and run charge, which comes with severe penalties.
However, if you have been charged with a hit and run, you can still mount an effective defense. The Law Offices of R. David Williams can review your case to determine whether it warrants merit. You may be able to get a judge to dismiss the case or reduce the charges.
What Is a Hit and Run in Legal Terms?
A hit and run is defined as, “failure of a driver to stay at the site of the car crash and fulfill other statutory duties, when the crash at issue involves bodily injury, death, or property damage.” Drivers have the following duties, according to Florida law:
- Immediately stop at the scene
- Notify the other driver of your contact information
- Show his or her driver’s license
Set up a free consultation today with our Fort Lauderdale hit and run lawyer if you have been involved in an incident.
Drivers’ Duties When Bodily Injury Or Death Occurs
Hit and run penalties can become much harsher if the driver leaves the scene where a victim is seriously hurt or dies. In addition, a driver in an accident should render “reasonable assistance” when a person is clearly injured or requests assistance. This includes transporting a person to the hospital or a medical professional for care or arranging for such transportation.
In a serious accident where there are injuries or when another party has died, the driver who caused the accident still must present his or her driver’s license and other contact information. This will occur when the responding police officers arrive on scene.
What Prosecutors Must Prove For A Hit And Run Conviction
Florida law requires that four elements be present in a hit and run case to charge the offender. First, the defendant must have been driving a vehicle in the crash that caused the injury or death to another person or people. The same must be true if there was property damage. The defendant must have known that he or she was involved in the incident.
There must also be proof that the person the court charged with a hit and run knew that another person or other people were hurt or killed. Additionally, the defendant must have willfully failed to stop at the site of the crash or as close to the scene of the accident as possible and did not stay to provide identifying information to the other driver or responding officers. This information includes the person’s name, address vehicle registration number, and driver license.
To build a defense against a hit and run charge, call to schedule a free consultation with our Fort Lauderdale hit and run lawyer. You can learn about your rights and your legal defense options.
Penalties For Leaving The Scene Of An Accident
If you are charged with a hit and run, the maximum penalties include a five-year prison term and a $5,000 fine. You may also have to serve five years of probation. If the accident resulted in any deaths, it would be a first-degree felony charge. This carries a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If driving under the influence played a role in the accident, there is a minimum mandatory prison sentence of two years, and you could also temporarily lose your license.
Defense Options
Though serious, it is possible to mount an effective defense against this charge. Our Fort Lauderdale hit and run lawyer may dispute that you were involved in the accident or that you didn’t know the crash occurred. Other defense strategies include the other driver being unwilling to receive your identifying information or that the other driver’s behavior made it unsafe for you to remain on the scene. Schedule a free consultation with The Law Offices of R. David Williams, P.A., today to talk about your case and explore possible defense strategies.