Hit and Run Citations
Hit and Run Citations
Under Ohio laws, drivers have a legal responsibility to stop after being involved in a traffic accident. This is true whether a driver hits another moving vehicle with someone in it or a parked and unattended vehicle with no one in it. Regardless of how minimal the damage is, a driver has the legal obligation to stop and exchange information with the other driver or the police.
If there is an accident and someone is injured in either car, the law says that both drivers must wait for law enforcement or other emergency personnel to arrive on the scene. If there is an accident with an unattended vehicle, the at-fault driver must leave his or her contact information attached to the damaged vehicle. If someone fails to stop after an accident, not only can they be charged with “Failure to Stop” by the police, but they can face stiff penalties from both the local courts as well as the Ohio BMV.
In most circumstances, “Failure to Stop” after an accident, or what people commonly refer to as “Hit and Run” is a 1st Degree Misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $500.00, and a minimum of 6 points on one’s driving record from the Ohio BMV. However, if the accident results in serious injury to some other person, the charge is elevated to a 5th Degree Felony and is punishable by up to 6-12 months in prison, up to $2,500.00 in fines, and a suspension of your driver’s license for at least 6 months.
On a side note, if you flee the scene of an accident to avoid the police, you can receive 6 more points from the BMV. If police can prove that you were operating the vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol, you’ll receive an additional 6 points. Finally, if someone dies as the result of an accident (homicide by motor vehicle), you’ll receive 6 more points.
Committing a “Hit and Run” is a serious offense. If you are facing this or any other traffic charge, you need to turn to the area’s experienced traffic attorneys at Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. We practice in all of Southwest Ohio area courts on a regular basis, we are used to negotiating with local prosecutors, and we have a proven track record of helping drivers who make mistakes behind the wheel.
Call our office at (937) 293-2141 and schedule a “no cost” appointment with one of our traffic law attorneys today. Or, if you would prefer, you can click here to contact us online. In addition, we have an emergency phone number, (937) 760-4357, which we answer around-the-clock. We can discuss and analyze the case and aggressively protect your legal rights.
