If you have been charged with felony hit and run, the best option is to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. While we are happy to share a few defense options below, the right response to your charges will depend on the specifics of your case. Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to request a free legal consultation.
It Was a Case of Mistaken Identity
Were you involved in the hit and run at all? Or was someone else driving your car? If someone else was driving your vehicle at the time of the accident, then you are not likely to be held liable for the accident. However, if you were a passenger in your own vehicle and advised the driver to break the law (such as telling them to drive drunk or instructing them to leave the scene of the accident), then this defense is not going to be successful.
No One Else Was Injured
Felony hit and run require that someone was injured. Otherwise, it would be charged as a misdemeanor. It is possible for the state to charge you with felony hit and run when you were the injury required for this charge. In this case, we can argue that you cannot be convicted of this charge because you did not injure someone else.
You Did Not Know You Were Involved in an Accident and/or Did Not Realize There Were Injuries
In order to be guilty of felony hit and run in California, the prosecution must be able to prove that you both knew that you were involved in an accident and that you knew there were injuries. If you sideswiped someone and did not even realize it, or if you know you tapped a car from behind but did not know anyone was injured, then it is not a felony DUI.
Your Failure to Stop at the Scene Was Not Willful
If you did not stop at the scene to offer information or give assistance, but it was beyond your control to do so, then we can work to show that and have the charges dismissed. For example, if you were seriously injured and a bystander took you to the hospital, then you did not willfully decide not to stop – the bystander decided for you.
Request a Free Legal Consultation with an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing charges of felony hit and run, then your next call should be to an experienced criminal defense attorney. You can call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation. We will go over the basics of your case and find the best way to proceed. Call now to protect your future and find the best way forward.
