It is a crime for a driver to leave the scene of an accident involving property damage, serious bodily injury, or death without fulfilling their statutory duties in the State of Florida. A driver will face serious consequences for leaving the scene of an accident, and they will be held accountable for their actions under Florida Statute 316.061.
If you call our office today, a Venice criminal defense attorney will set up a free consultation in which they will discuss the facts of your case and offer you an honest piece of advice to help you during this difficult time. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that you can call us when you are ready to talk.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation.
A Driver’s Statutory Duties for Accidents Involving Property Damage in Venice, FL.
A driver has a responsibility to fulfill their statutory duties when they are involved in a car accident that caused property damage to a vehicle or other personal property in Venice. Florida Statute 316.061 and Florida Statute 316.063 explain a driver’s statutory duties for an auto accident involving only property damage:
- The driver has to stop their car as close as they can to the scene of the auto accident.
- The driver has to inform the victim that their property was damaged in an auto accident, and they have to get the victim’s contact information, such as your name, driver’s license, and vehicle registration number.
- The driver has to reveal their driver’s license if the victim asks to see it.
- The driver has to provide their name, address, driver’s license, and vehicle registration number to the police officer at the scene of the auto accident.
- The driver has to find the victim and inform them about the property damage that occurred if they were absent from the auto accident. However, if the driver is unable to find the victim, then they have to write a note leaving their name, address, and vehicle registration number in a place that you can easily see.
- The driver must alert the police department of the auto accident as soon as possible.
A Driver’s Statutory Duties Involving Bodily Injury or Death in Sarasota, FL.
A driver also has a responsibility to fulfill their statutory duties when they are involved in a car accident that inflicted bodily injury on or caused death in Venice. Florida Statute 316.062 and Florida Statute 316.027 explain a driver’s statutory duties for an auto accident involving bodily injury or death:
- The driver has to stop their car as close as they can to the scene of the auto accident.
- The driver has to give the victim their contact information, such as their name, address, driver’s license, and vehicle registration number.
- The driver has to reveal their driver’s license if the victim asks to see it.
- The driver has to provide their name, address, driver’s license, and vehicle registration number to the police officer at the scene of the auto accident.
- The driver has to offer ‘reasonable assistance’ if the victim is injured and requires medical attention. They might have to call an ambulance or make an arrangement for the victim to be transported to the hospital.
- The driver must alert the police department of the auto accident as soon as possible if the victim is injured or unable to receive the identifying information from the driver as listed above.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Required Proof for a Hit and Run Accident in Venice, FL.
A prosecutor has a responsibility to prove four factors to show that the driver did not fulfill their statutory duties and abandoned the scene of the accident in Venice. The four factors are:
- The driver was using the same vehicle that caused the car accident, which resulted in property damage, bodily injury, or wrongful death.
- The driver was aware or should have known that they were in a car accident.
- The driver was aware or should have known that the car accident resulted in property damage, bodily injury, or wrongful death.
- The driver did not stay at the scene of the car accident, and they failed to stop as close as they could to the location. Furthermore, the driver failed to give their identifying information to the victim or the police officer at the scene. In addition, they did not offer ‘reasonable assistance’ to the victim.
It is also worth noting that ‘identifying information’ refers to a driver providing their name, address, and vehicle registration number upon request. This might also include the driver’s license or permit.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Penalties for Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Venice, FL.
If you were caught leaving the scene of a car crash, then you will receive serious penalties for your actions. The severity of the penalties will ultimately depend on the extent of the injuries and damages caused by the crash.
- Leaving the scene of a car accident involving property damage– This is classed as a second-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by spending up to 60 days in jail and having to pay up to $500 in fines.
- Leaving the scene of a car accident involving injury– This is classed as a third-degree felony, which is punishable by spending up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and having to pay up to $5,000 in fines.
- Leaving the scene of a car accident involving death– This is classed as a first-degree felony, which is punishable by spending up to 30 years in prison and having to pay up to $10,000 in fines. In addition, if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time that you were caught leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death, then you will have to spend a minimum of 2 years in prison.
Furthermore, if you left the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death, then your driver’s license will also be revoked by the court.
Reach out to The Law Place to set up a free consultation today, in which a car accident lawyer will explain the nature of your charges and go into detail about the type of penalties that you could be facing following a hit and run in Venice.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Why Does a Driver Leave the Scene of a Car Accident in Venice, FL?
There are a number of reasons why drivers might leave the scene of a car accident. However, none of them justify injuring another person without providing them with necessary medical assistance. Some of the main reasons why a driver might flee the scene of a car accident include:
- The driver does not have car insurance.
- The driver does not have a license.
- The driver was operating an unregistered vehicle, or they were driving on a suspended license.
- The driver was in the middle of committing a different crime, or they have an outstanding warrant.
- The driver was afraid of criminal action or deportation.
Regardless of why you left the scene of a car accident, it is imperative that you hire a car accident lawyer with the necessary skills and resources to defend your legal rights in a court of law. Speak to a car accident lawyer at The Law Place today, and we will help you fight against your hit and run charges in Venice.
Defenses to Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Venice, FL.
You will have a good chance of securing a favorable outcome for your case by seeking legal representation at The Law Place. Our law firm will provide your case with the attention and focus that it deserves, and we will devise a defense that will be tailored to your case. Our team of car accident lawyers will explore the possibilities in order to find the best way to get your charges reduced or dropped in Venice.
The main defense strategies that we employ in the case of leaving the scene of a car accident include:
- The identity of the driver who left the scene is up for dispute.
- The driver was unaware that a car accident occurred.
- The driver lacked knowledge that they collided with another person’s vehicle or property.
- The driver was involved in an emergency, and their failure to stop at the scene was not intentional.
- The driver tried to stop their vehicle close to the scene of the car accident.
- The other driver did not want to receive the identifying information from them.
- The other driver became hostile and forced them to leave the scene to find the police.
- The driver did offer ‘reasonable assitance’ to the person who was injured as a result of the crash.
It is important to note that not every hit and run charge will end up in a conviction. If you reach out to our law firm fast, our team of car accident lawyers will be able to make early contact with the prosecutor in order to discuss a lesser charge or a more lenient solution for your case, which will hopefully avoid you spending time in prison, serving probation time, and getting a criminal record.
Hit and Run Scenario in Venice, FL.
Driver A is driving along the Florida roadways, but they’re not paying attention to what they’re doing because they’re is distracted by their phone. They accidentally run past a stop sign, and this negligence behind the wheel causes a collision with Driver B’s vehicle. Driver B was legally driving through the intersection at the time that their vehicle was run off the road and ended up hitting a lamppost.
Driver A can see Driver B moving around in the vehicle through their car window and chooses to flee the scene of the accident rather than fulfilling their statutory duties by getting out of the car to offer assistance to Driver B. After suffering the impact of the collision, Driver B is still able to move quickly and uses their phone to take pictures of Driver A’s vehicle as they drive away.
A few weeks later, Driver A is relieved, and they believe that they managed to escape the collision without being seen. However, police officers arrive at their house soon enough to arrest and charge Driver A for leaving the scene of an accident and failing to fulfill their statutory duties. Thankfully, Driver B did not sustain any serious injuries, but Driver A will still face harsh consequences for their actions. In this case, a criminal defense lawyer will help Driver A by constructing a strong defense strategy that will explain their actions, potentially reduce their charges, and minimize the severity of their consequences in the State of Florida.
Contact The Law Place Today in Venice, FL.
If you collided with someone else’s vehicle or property and you fled the scene in Venice, then you must seek legal counsel from a reputable law firm. It is imperative that you understand your rights after a hit and run, and a car accident lawyer will guide you through the legal system in the State of Florida.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience in defending the legal rights of people who were involved in hit and run accidents in Venice and throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm is known for dealing with complicated cases, such as leaving the scene of an accident, drunk driving accidents, reckless driving accidents, and much more.
Our team of car accident lawyers will help you to achieve a favorable outcome for your case against all odds. We will investigate the accident, gather information, deal with related paperwork, negotiate with the prosecution, and develop a strong defense strategy that will either get your charges dropped or reduced in court.
If you have any questions about your case, do not hesitate to reach out to one of our car accident lawyers today to set up a free consultation. They will answer all of your questions and offer you an unbiased piece of advice on the best move to make in your current situation.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and a car accident lawyer will fight your leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage charges in Venice. Phone lines are open 24/7.
