Hit and Run Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles County

What a Hit and Run Charge Means

A driver involved in a collision has duties set by the Vehicle Code: to stop, and to give their name, address, license and registration to the other people involved or to the owner of the damaged property. When someone is hurt, the driver must also give reasonable help, and when someone dies with no officer at the scene, report it to the police or CHP (VC 20001, 20002, 20003, 20004). A driver charged with failing those duties faces:

A conviction under either section stays on the DMV record for seven years (VC 1808(b)(2)), and traffic school cannot be used for it (VC 42005(c)).

How Our Attorneys Defend a Hit and Run Charge

We represent the driver who was charged. We review the police report, the evidence that places you and your vehicle at the scene, and what you did after the collision against each duty the statute sets, including whether a note was left or the police were told. Then we appear for you in court and press the questions the evidence leaves open. We defend these cases in courts across Los Angeles County. We also take cases in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties, and anywhere else in California.

Our attorneys have over 45 years of combined experience in fighting traffic tickets. In over 90% of our cases the client has had their case dismissed, been found not guilty, or has had reduced fines and/or charges reduced to no points. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.

Questions About Hit and Run

Is Hit and Run a Misdemeanor or a Felony?

It depends on the collision. Leaving after damage to property only is a misdemeanor (VC 20002(c)). Leaving after an injury or a death falls under VC 20001, which can be punished by state prison or by county jail, so it can be charged as a felony or as a misdemeanor (Penal Code 17(b)).

What If No One Was Hurt?

Then the charge is under VC 20002. The section requires a driver to stop at the nearest safe place and then either find the owner and give their name, address, license and registration, or leave a written note on the damaged vehicle or property and notify the local police or CHP without unnecessary delay. A charge under it is a misdemeanor with up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Can a Hit and Run Charge Be Reduced?

That depends on the facts of the case and the evidence, and no lawyer can tell you the result in advance. The law gives the court some options. A charge under VC 20001 can be filed or sentenced as a misdemeanor (Penal Code 17(b)). For some misdemeanors, a court may, at its discretion, end the case when the injured person tells the court they have been compensated, called a civil compromise (Penal Code 1377 and 1378). Whether any of these applies to your case is what we assess in a free consultation.

What Should I Expect at the First Court Date?

The first court date is the arraignment. The court reads the charge, gives the defendant a copy of the complaint on request, and asks for a plea (Penal Code 988). On a misdemeanor charge an attorney can appear for you (Penal Code 977(a)). On a felony charge the defendant must be present at the arraignment (Penal Code 977(b)).

Related

• Reckless driving
• How hit and run in California can land you in jail
• If you are suspected in a hit and run
• All the tickets we fight

Talk to Our Defense Attorneys

A hit and run conviction stays on your DMV record for seven years. Call (310) 455-6810 or contact us today for your free consultation.

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