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I have been ticketed by police because I left the scene of an accident. What do I need to know?

In every state it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident. If you do so, regardless of how minor the accident might be, you may be ticketed and face severe penalties. As a reckless driving attorney from a law firm like the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, can explain, leaving the scene of an accident is a misdemeanor. Although not as severe as a felony, this is a serious charge that can have life changing consequences. It is recommended you call a traffic ticket lawyer as soon as possible.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Every state has their own traffic regulations and laws. However, each state has established clear rules that mandate drivers to stop their vehicle following an accident. They must also exchange their insurance information and personal details. If one party chooses to call the police, no one may leave until the police have come to the scene. If you fail to adhere to these rules, you could be found and later ticketed. As a traffic ticket lawyer might discuss with you, leaving the scene of an accident has many definitions. Here are a few examples:

You ran into another vehicle and drove off.
You collided with an unoccupied vehicle and did not try locating the driver of the car.
You hit a person, such as a pedestrian or cyclist, and left.
You were unable to find the driver of an unoccupied vehicle and did not leave your contact details on their car.
You hit someone’s property and left the scene.

Typically, it is advisable to call the police after an accident. They will talk with you about what happened and let you know if they will come to the scene. If they are heading to the site of the accident, you must wait for them to arrive. Some places, such as private property and parking lots, may not be under police jurisdiction; therefore, they may not come to these accident scenes. If you do nothing except leave the scene, you could be found and summoned to court. Experienced traffic ticket lawyers know many clients who were found through surveillance cameras, witnesses, dash cam footage, and other identification methods.

Potential Consequences of Leaving the Scene

If you are caught leaving the scene of an accident and have been ticketed, you may face:

A fine up to $5,000
A surcharge for leaving the scene
Jail or prison time (when mitigating factors are included)
A criminal record, in some cases
A suspension of your driver’s license (or revocation in some cases)
Points on your license
Increase of insurance premium

Can You Ever Leave the Scene?

As a traffic ticket lawyer might explain to you, there are special provisions that give a person the right to leave the scene of an accident before they have exchanged information and without waiting for police. These scenarios include:

You need immediate medical care
There is a clear and present danger
You are unable to get a phone signal and are driving to the nearest place that has one

If the above applies to you, it is a good idea to call the police to notify them of the accident and that you have left the scene. If you are facing consequences for leaving the scene of an accident, call a traffic ticket lawyer today.

Client Reviews

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Anonymous 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was facing a charge of Reckless Driving for speeding on I66 at midnight. This is considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor in the state of Virginia. Having something like Reckless Driving on your record is on par with having a DUI. This charge also carries a chance for jail time (up to a year).

I was incredibly scared because I had never faced such a charge. And looking into Virginia Law, my speed exceeded 90mph, which is quite serious.

I retained Dave Albo to help me with this case. Since my record was clean, Dave had advised I do the following before my trial.

* Take a DMV Driver's Improvement Course

* Take a Behavior Modification Course

* Do 100 hours of community service

* Print my DMV Record one week before the trial

On the day of my trial, Dave got my Reckless Driving charge REDUCED to a regular Speeding charge. This was the absolute best case scenario for me.

No criminal record.
No jail time.
No suspension of license.

I did receive 6 demerit points and had to pay a fine of $250 (plus court fees). But that's a slap on the wrist, compared to what I could have been facing.

Thank you Dave Albo for helping me through this ordeal!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Tom 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave albo it's a fantastic lawyer.
He has helped me twice now with great results both times with minor traffic tickets.
I would recommend him to anybody including my family. He has great ethics and honesty which is what I look for in a lawyer .
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   kendall carpenter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave was my attorney recently for a car accident where I needed someone to represent me in court. After exchanging all necessary information he reassured me when the court date came that there wouldn’t be anything to worry about. On the day of court a couple problems arose and Dave was able to rectify them quickly, told me everything I need to say if needed and when it was all over he got my violation reduced significantly. I hope to never go to court again but if I do I will being calling Dave again.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda Stallard 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Retaining the services of Mr. Albo for traffic court was probably the best decision I made. He is very responsive to emails, knowledgeable, and punctual. He provided excellent advice that eased the panic of having to go to the court house and stand before a judge. I am very happy with the outcome of my visit to traffic court and highly recommend Dave Albo.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark West 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr Albo was very professional and I was pleased with the outcome.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. David was incredible to work with from clear communication and next steps. To showing up to traffic court early to walk over all steps, making case in court as experienced/intelligent/well spoken lawyer. Lastly, he even followed after case in writing to confirm the outcome outlining everything that happened in lamen terms (in my case the best outcome we could ask for). I’m so appreciative to David.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   mitquinn88 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely top notch representation. Can't thank Dave enough for his knowledge and expertise.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   G R 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thanks to Dave Albo for a fantastic job representing me and ensuring the best possible outcome for my case.  I highly recommend him - you will be in good hands for sure.  From start to finish he provided expert counsel and kept me well informed.  He  simply could not have done a better job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hope Carrigan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am THRILLED with the outcome of my case, all thanks to Attorney Albo's superb expertise, excellent advice & sharp negotiating skills! I am extremely relieved and  grateful; I highly recommend retaining his services. Well beyond worth it!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Doug Damron 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dave did a great job representing me for my traffic court infraction! I wanted the best and his name came up as I searched for an attorney. Highly recommend him on all levels including a successful outcome to my case.