The Burton Firm

Exploring Types of Criminal Offenses

Common Defenses to a Hit and Run Charge

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If you get involved in an auto accident, you should ideally don’t leave the accident scene. Such an action would make the situation even more troublesome for you.

However, the fact is that most people involved in auto accidents end up committing the mistake of leaving the accident spot right away. These individuals do so because they feel that they will go behind the bars for the incident.

If you have been involved in a vehicle accident and have already fled the accident site, contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately. Make sure that the lawyer you are hiring has enough experience in protecting the legal rights of people involved in hit-and-run cases. The professional should have a good track record in protecting his clients against possible criminal charges and convictions.

Read on to gather knowledge about some of the most common defenses top lawyers use to a hit-and-run charge.

You Were Not the One Driving the Car

To prove that you were not the person responsible for the accident, your lawyer might state that you were not driving the vehicle when the accident occurred. One common evidence the lawyers put forward in support of this claim is that the car was stolen much before the day of the accident.

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Your lawyer would state that you reported the incident to the local police (and will also show documents supporting the act). As the car was not in your possession when the accident occurred, it’s impossible to prove you guilty in the hit and run case.

Involuntary Intoxication

Defense lawyers use this tactic to save their clients when it’s impossible to prove the DUI charge brought against the person charged for hitting and running wrong.

Here, you must note that this particular defense rarely succeeds in saving drivers/motorists from getting convicted. However, if you are working with an experienced criminal defense attorney, you can expect the tactic to work in your favor.

You Were Seeding in Response to an Emergency

The lawyer representing you in court may try to prove that the hit and run accident took place as you were driving at a high speed to manage an emergency. He might prove that you were taking a patient to a nearby hospital or driving to meet someone seriously ill at home.

This defense works primarily if you can prove that you were trying to deal with a medical emergency when the accident took place.

You Were Unaware of the Accident

This is one of the most commonly used defenses in hit-and-run cases. Your lawyer may look to prove that you fled the location as you were unaware of the damages caused to another vehicle or injuries incurred by the victims.

Final Words

Hitting and running cannot be the ideal way of dealing with an accident you have been involved in. However, you have already committed the mistake, seek legal help. That’s because only a competent criminal defense attorney can bail you out of the situation seamlessly.