How To Handle A Hit-And-Run Charge: Legal Advice And Next Steps

Facing a hit-and-run charge can be frightening as it includes severe consequences, including, hefty fines, and penalty points that could lead to a driving ban or even imprisonment.

If you have been charged with leaving the scene of the accident, it is important to think promptly and act quickly upon it to safeguard your rights.

In this blog, we have jotted down all the critical steps on how to handle a hit-and-run charge strategically to protect your rights and navigate legal proceedings smoothly.

If you have been accused of a hit and run, take the following steps to deal with the situation properly:

1. Do Not Lose Your Cool And Gather All The Necessary Evidence

Facing a hit-and-run charge can surely be a frightening experience, but stay calm and let the investigation happen. Meanwhile, gather all the information about the accident to use as a piece of evidence.

The approximate time of the incident, location, or any possible witness statement can be used as evidence.

If you left the scene unknowingly, gather the necessary evidence to support and justify why you had to leave the scene of the accident, such as you were injured or had a medical emergency, etc.

1. Do Not Admit That Your Guilty, Immediately.

One mistake that many individuals make is they panic and plead guilty immediately thinking that it might help reduce the sentence or legal consequences, which is not right.

It is important to not admit guilt immediately and say anything to the police authorities or insurance firms without any legal consultation because anything you say can be used against you in court.

Gather evidence to support your arguments and explore possible defences to build a strong case. There might be a possibility that you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident but faced a charge as the vehicle is registered under your name.

1. Hire An Experienced Solicitor

The most crucial step when facing a hit-and-run charge is to consult and hire an experienced solicitor who can help navigate the legal proceedings while protecting your rights in court.

Hadilaw is an expert in defending hit-and-run cases and can offer useful advice to mitigate or eliminate charges. An experienced solicitor will

• Review and challenge the evidence against you.

• Identify possible legal defences to support you.

• Negotiate a bargain to mitigate and reduce penalties or alternative settlements.

Without any legal help in a hit-and-run case, you are more likely to face more harsh circumstances, as it can surely lead to imprisonment if not dealt with handle and care. 

Having a professional solicitor such as Hadilaw can help improve your situation significantly.

1. Understand The Legal Consequences And Act Accordingly

A hit-and-run charge carries severe legal consequences, depending on the seriousness of the case and should not be taken lightly.

• For a minor accident: If there is no serious injury involved in the accident, then the charge will accumulate only a fine, and a few penalty points, and if you already have significant points on your license then it can lead to a driving ban or a disqualification, which have further several and severe repercussions of its own.

• For a major accident: If the accident involved any serious injury or death caused to the other party, then the maximum penalty for the hit-and-run charge is an unlimited fine, five to ten penalty points, and up to six months in prison. This time limit can be more, based on the severity of the accident.

To navigate such situations, it is crucial to seek legal support from experienced solicitors such as Hadilaw solicitors who have an excellent record of fighting hit-and-run charges and achieving the best possible outcomes in their client’s favour.

Once you have legal representation, follow their advice closely. Attend all court dates and comply with any legal requests. Ignoring the situation will only lead to additional penalties.

Understanding these potential penalties will help you navigate your defence effectively.

1. Explore Some Possible Defences To Support Your Case

Depending on the circumstances, your solicitor may use one of the following defences to fight the charge:

You were not aware of the accident. This is most likely in the case of minor contact, e.g., a minor bump in a parking lot, or where the driver's vision was impeded by factors such as loud music, heavy traffic, or sheer size difference between cars.

However, this defence is vulnerable to challenge since prosecutors will contend that the reasonable person would have been aware of the effect, and the credibility will largely depend on the severity of the damage.

You had a medical emergency. This might include a sudden medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, or a medical emergency related to a passenger.

This defence needs strong evidence to succeed, such as medical records documenting the emergency, or evidence of attempts to obtain medical assistance. 

The defence would be weakened if the individual failed to contact authorities as soon as the medical situation stabilized.

You were not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. You can argue “mistaken identity” to claim that you were not the driver involved. You might face hit-and-run charges due to misidentification by witnesses, similar car descriptions, or the real driver leaving and the accused being mistakenly identified.

To support this defence, the evidence might include an alibi, conflicting witness statements, or damage to the vehicle not being consistent with the described accident.

Strong eyewitness statements and vehicle registration records can, however, present serious challenges to this defence, and the prosecution will work hard to discredit any alibi. In every situation, obtaining legal representation is essential to help manage the intricacies of these defences and achieve the best possible result.

Being accused of the hit-and-run charge is a serious matter that requires critical care and with the right approach, you can mitigate the consequences.

Remain calm, don't admit guilt, engage an experienced solicitor such as Hadilaw Solicitors, and adhere to legal processes cautiously.

By taking these steps, you can improve your chances of a favourable outcome and protect your future.