Hit and Run in Kirkland

A hit and run in Washington State is either "attended" or "unattended." Hitting an unattended vehicle and then leaving the scene without making an effort to leave a note or notify the owner can cause you to be charged with a misdemeanor hit and run. If convicted, you could find yourself facing up to 90 days in jail and having to pay fines totaling $1,000. Damaging other property with your automobile can also cause you to be charged with this misdemeanor.

Striking a vehicle in which there is a driver or passenger and then leaving the scene without exchanging information is an attended hit and run. This crime is far more serious. Even if there are no injuries you could find yourself charged with a gross misdemeanor and punished with up to $5000 in fines and 364 days in jail. You are also facing a mandatory one-year license suspension. This is a nightmare scenario for many of our clients.

You could be facing a Class C felony if the driver or passenger of the other vehicle is injured in the hit and run collision. This is punishable by up to 5 years behind bars and fines of up to $10,000. Even if the accident was not your fault, you could be charged with this crime, if you leave the scene.

If the other driver or passenger is killed, you could be charged with a Class B felony. This is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and fines of up to $20.000. These penalties may be even more severe if you have prior criminal convictions.

Often the charge of hit and run accompanies other criminal charges, such as DUI or reckless driving. Due to the severity and potential consequences, if you find yourself charged with these crimes it is logical to seek professional legal guidance from the Kirkland hit and run lawyers at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe.

Our experienced team of Kirkland litigators will aggressively pursue the resolution of your case. No matter what criminal charges you are facing, we will defend your interests. Allow us to get to work on your defense by contacting our Kirkland law office without delay.

There are many reasons a hit and run crime could occur. A driver could have been completely unaware they were breaking the law by leaving the scene of the accident. After the driver realizes their mistake, they want to approach the authorities to explain what happened in detail.

The traumatic and emotionally charged nature of having an accident could cause someone to panic and flee the scene without thinking. When the dust settles and their adrenalin subsides, they realize their mistake and want to go to the authorities and do the right thing.

It is imperative that you DO NOT approach the police without first speaking with one of our Kirkland hit and run attorneys. We can help protect your legal rights before it’s too late. Anything you say could end up being used to prosecute you, so understanding your rights before taking the next step is very important.

Accident scenes are chaotic. An eyewitness could fail to correctly identify a person who committed a hit and run crime. If you’ve been falsely accused, our Kirkland hit and run lawyers can help. Start getting answers to all of your questions by contacting our law office today. There is no cost or obligation for our professional legal consultation.