In misdemeanor cases, even serious ones like a misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide (also known as motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle) or hit and run with personal injury, you can be accused of a crime, but not yet charged or arrested. In fact, in cases where the police didn’t witness the crime, and the alleged offense is not a felony, they cannot arrest you. [Read more…]
I Committed a Hit and Run. How Do I Get My Car Fixed and Avoid A Criminal Charge?
Are you worried that you caused a hit and run car accident? It’s surprisingly common, and honestly, it could happen to anyone.
Sometimes you literally don’t realize you caused an accident until later. You get home and notice the damage on your car. But at the time it happened, you didn’t think there was any damage.
Whether you scraped a parked car, hit a road sign, scratched or bumped into another vehicle, or even something more serious, it is entirely possible to not fully understand what happened at the time. You may have thought it was just a near miss, and you went on your way. With the stress of the adrenaline and the panic, you may not realize that your “near miss” accident actually cause some damage. The noise of screeching brakes and the shock may have distracted you from the sound of impact.
However, admitting fault to the police OR your insurance company can have criminal legal consequences.
So you need to carefully consider your next steps. I know you want to do the right thing, but it’s not as obvious what that is as you might think.
When is My Clerk Magistrate’s Hearing Date? What Do I Do Next?
You received a criminal citation in the mail or in person. You have sent in the uniform citation as required. You mailed it on time.
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