University Place Hit & Run

If you’re like most people, you drive your car every day- to work, to school, to go out to dinner, or visit a friend or relative. Most of the time you make it to your destination with no problems bigger than sitting in traffic or missing a turn. Out of nowhere, maybe you clip another car or take out a few mailboxes.

Immediately following an accident, you’re going to be disoriented, maybe a little freaked out. It doesn’t matter if this was your first car accident or you’ve been in several before, you’re probably not thinking too clearly. If you or someone you love left the scene of an accident in Pierce County and have been charged with a Hit & Run, you need the help of an experienced University Place criminal defense lawyer.

We understand that people make mistakes. We want to hear your side of the story. You probably have a bunch of questions, like

• What are the consequences for a hit & run conviction in University Place?
• What information is required to be left if you’ve been involved in a hit & run in Pierce County?
• Can I still be charged with a hit & run if nobody was present at the time of the accident?

We are happy to answer your case-related questions at no cost to you during an initial consultation. There are so many reasons that a hit and run case can occur in University Place. Don’t make your circumstances worse by trying to resolve it on your own without the help of an experienced Pierce County criminal defense attorney.

Did you know that if you are involved in a car accident, even if you are rear-ended, sideswiped, or otherwise not at fault, it is your legal duty to stop immediately? Once you stop, there are other legal requirements you must follow.

According to Washington State Statute RCW 46.52.020, immediately after an accident involving injury or death, every individual is required to:

• Stop their vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible;
• Stop without obstructing more traffic than is necessary;
• Return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident
• Render aid to any injured persons
• Contact law enforcement
• Give their name, address, insurance company, insurance policy number, and vehicle license number and show their driver's license to any person struck or injured

Failure to comply with the duties imposed by Washington state law after an accident can result in serious trouble.

The state statute linked above pertains specifically to hit & run charges in the event of an injury or fatality, but there are actually four levels of hit and run charges in Washington state-

1. Unattended hit and run - A car accident doesn’t always involve another person. In the event of a traffic accident involving damage to a vehicle that is unoccupied, the driver is required to stop, search for the owner of the vehicle and provide personal contact information. If the owner is unable to be located, the driver is required to leave a conspicuous note explaining the incident along with personal contact information. This is the lowest level of hit-and-run charges in Washington State.
2. Hit and run of an attended vehicle- This is charged when a driver operates a vehicle and strikes another car that is occupied. It does not matter if the person occupying the car is uninjured, the accident-causing driver will still be charged with Hit & Run of an attended vehicle.
3. Injury-causing hit and run- A driver is required to return to the scene of any traffic crash that results in injury to render assistance, provide relevant personal information and produce a valid driver’s license and insurance information. One of the interesting parts of this charge is that a driver can be arrested for this if they don’t attempt to render assistance to the injured driver.
4. Hit and run that causes a fatality- This is charged when a driver operates a vehicle and causes an accident that results in a fatality. This is the most serious hit and run charge in Washington, and carries heavy penalties if convicted.

There are lots of reasons why you may have left the scene of an accident without stopping to provide your personal information. Maybe you didn’t realize you hit someone until you got home, or perhaps you were afraid the driver might assault you if you stopped.

Regardless of the reason, leaving the scene of an accident is serious. You will need the help of a Pierce County criminal defense attorney.

If you are charged with a hit and run, it is dangerous to assume that you can handle the charges yourself. Contact our firm today to discuss the charges with an experienced hit and run lawyer in University Place.

Leaving the scene of a traffic accident can lead to surprisingly harsh penalties in Washington state. Depending on the injuries or damage inflicted, a hit and run violation may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or felony.

Listed below are the 4 levels of hit and run charges, and the penalties associated with each.

• Unattended hit & run is a simple misdemeanor criminal offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• Hit and run of an attended vehicle is a gross misdemeanor criminal offense, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. If convicted of this charge, the DOL will automatically revoke your driver’s license for 1 year.
• A hit and run accident that causes harm to an occupant of the other vehicle is considered a class C felony. In Washington State, class C felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If convicted of this charge, the DOL will automatically revoke your driver’s license for 1 year.
• A hit and run accident that causes a fatality will be charged as a class B felony, which carries penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000, as well as an automatic license suspension or revoking.

Most misdemeanor charges levied in University Place will be adjudicated at the Pierce County District Court, in Tacoma.

Felony cases, including hit & run charges involving injury or fatality, are tried at the Thurston County Superior Court, which is also located in Tacoma.

Fleeing the scene of an accident could also result in restitution orders, requiring you to pay back damages for property or medical bills. Community service and probation may also be part of the penalties. Additionally, your car insurance premiums will probably increase exponentially.

Not only that, but any victim of a hit and run will often try to file a lawsuit for personal injury or property damage claims. Fighting that lawsuit without an experienced Pierce County criminal defense lawyer will be very difficult, and potentially costly.