Maryland Hit and Run Lawyer
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, you should immediately consult with a Maryland hit and run lawyer. Under Maryland law, drivers who are involved in an accident are required to remain at the scene until they have complied with certain obligations. Leaving the scene of an accident is frequently called a “hit and run,” and it is associated with criminal penalties and MVA sanctions. If you are accused of fleeing the scene of an accident, it is important to get legal representation from a skilled traffic attorney.
Why You Need an Attorney
Often, a hit and run is a simple property damage offense. For example, a person might accidentally hit a parked car or might graze a mailbox, resulting in minor damage. A driver may leave the scene of the accident because he or she did not want the insurance hassle, or because he or she simply did not realize that the accident resulted in damage to the unattended property.
If someone witnesses the incident and reports it, you could be facing fines and jail time if the witness identifies you as the driver. By hiring a Maryland hit and run lawyer, you can challenge the identification. Your attorney may be able to have the charges against you dropped or reduced. In cases of hit and run involving personal injury, the consequences are even more serious. Leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death is a felony. Securing an attorney is critical for successfully fighting the charge
Maryland Hit and Run Laws
A hit and run lawyer in Maryland can tell you that every driver involved in an accident involving property damage, injury, or death is required by law to remain at the scene until he or she has complied with the obligations stipulated in Maryland Transportation Code § 20-104:
- Render reasonable assistance to any injured person
- Call 9-1-1 for an ambulance or otherwise arrange transportation to receive medical care for anyone who requests it or obviously requires medical attention
- Provide name, address, and vehicle registration number (and show driver’s license if requested) to any person injured in the accident or any person attending the damaged property
- Provide the above information and show ID to any responding police officer
- If it is not possible to complete the above two items (no person involved in the accident is able to receive the information and no law officer is present to receive the information), immediately report the accident to police and provide the information required by this statute.
What Happens if I Leave the Scene of an Accident?
A conviction for leaving the scene of an accident is often accompanied by 8 to 12 points points against your license, heavy fines, and jail or prison time.
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage only is typically associated with a maximum fine of $500 and up to 60 days in jail. However, it is considered far more serious to leave the scene of an injury or fatality accident.
Under Maryland Transportation Code § 27-113, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. If the accident results in death, hit and run carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Because of the possibility of criminal conviction, having a Maryland hit and run attorney on your side gives you a fighting chance against a charge of fleeing the scene of an accident.
What To Do If You Are Arrested for Leaving the Scene
If you leave the scene of a crash and are later arrested, your conduct can help or hurt your defense. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are not required to answer a police officer’s questions without a lawyer present. This is a critical Constitutional right, and you should take full advantage of it.
Do not resist, but do not acknowledge being in the wreck or leaving the scene. The officers may use various tactics to get you to admit to the crime—they are legally allowed to lie to you to get you to talk—but ignore them as best you can and keep asking for a lawyer.
If you allegedly left the scene of a crash but the police do not locate you immediately, contact a Maryland defense attorney for advice.
Defending Hit and Run Charges
Our criminal defense team will scrutinize the prosecutor’s evidence and exploit any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. We can conduct an investigation to find any evidence that could present an alternative to the prosecution’s narrative about what happened.
If the police violated their procedures or if their actions infringed on your rights, we could move to have charges reduced or even dismissed. The specific circumstances could present other viable lines of defense.
Our Maryland hit and run attorney will tailor a defense to meet your specific needs and goals. If preserving your driving license is the most critical factor for you, we will keep that information foremost in mind when resolving your case. We will design our defense around protecting your professional license, security clearance, or other personal or professional needs.
Call Today for a Free Consultation with a Maryland Hit and Run Attorney
The guidance of a skilled attorney can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. Contact a Maryland hit and run lawyer as soon as you learn you are being investigated for leaving the scene of an accident.