Washington, D.C., Leaving After Colliding Defense Attorney
If you have been accused of leaving the scene of an accident or hit and run in Washington, D.C., you face a potential fine of $100, a possible 30 days in jail and the addition of eight points to your driving record. If bodily injury resulted from the accident, you face a potential fine of $500, up to 180 days in jail and the addition of 12 points to your driving record. Prior convictions for hit and run, or other serious traffic violations will most likely increase your potential fines, jail time and point penalties.
Effective legal representation for hit and run charges is extremely important. While a conviction for a first-offense hit and run charge often results in a suspended jail sentence and unsupervised probation, the possibility of jail time still exists. Raised insurance rates and increased driving points can also cause serious problems. At the Public Information Center for D.C. Traffic Law,, we have successfully defended people accused of hit and run since 1976.
Experienced Leaving After Colliding/Hit and Run Legal Defense
Leaving after colliding, also commonly referred to as “hit and run” or "leaving the scene of an accident," can be legally defensible in court. The court must prove you were aware of damages or injury and that you intended to leave the accident scene. We can work to demonstrate that you were unaware of the property damage or bodily harm resulting from your accident and/or that you panicked and regret leaving the scene. The statute governing hit and run law also requires that "substantial damage" result from a hit and run incident. However, the definition of "substantial" damage often differs among judges. If possible, we can argue that the damages are not large enough to warrant these charges.
We recently represented a man who accidentally drove into a crowd of pedestrians, resulting in many injuries. Our client testified that he panicked, and the prosecution failed to retain police witnesses, so there was no rebuttal regarding our client's state of mind. Intent could not be proved, and we won the case.
Contact Us
If you have been accused of leaving after colliding, hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident, lawyer John Spaulding can help clarify any confusion regarding your rights. Please call us for a free and full discussion of your case. We offer flexible payment plans, including interest-free payments spread over several months, are available for evening and weekend appointments and are conveniently located just west of Georgetown. Contact us at (202) 638-7500.
