If you’ve committed a DUI hit and run accident, you are facing many serious charges. Essentially, you are committing two major crimes – driving while your blood alcohol content (BAC) level is above the state’s legal limit and leaving the scene after causing the accident. Most states impose significant charges and jail sentences on drunk drivers who kill or injure people in accidents or cause significant property damage. These states impose even more stringent penalties and sentences on repeat DUI offenders. Additionally, more penalties are added on because you leave the scene of the accident without performing your legal duties.
Penalties that Result from the DUI
The severity of the penalties you face from the DUI portion of your arrest will depend on whether you injured or killed anyone in the accident. If you’ve injured or killed anyone, you are facing much stiffer fines and longer jail sentences than if no one was injured or killed. Additionally, you will likely remain in jail until your trial date if someone was injured or killed in the accident.
Penalties that Result from the Hit and Run
If you cause an accident where other people are involved, you are supposed to exchange identification and contact information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. If you hit an unattended vehicle or other stationary property, you are required to make a reasonable effort to identify the property owner either by the damaged car’s license plate number or by leaving your contact information at the scene. Failure to do these legal duties before leaving the scene of the accident is known as “hit and run.”
You can receive a traffic ticket at a bare minimum for committing “hit and run,” but this is usually for accidents that only involve property and when you are not intoxicated. Usually, there are higher fines and prison time for hit and run accidents that cause injury or death to people. DMV points, increased insurance policies, and a suspension of the driver’s license are also possible, especially when you are intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Increased Penalties for an Accident with DUI and Hit and Run
A driver who is intoxicated and leaves the scene of an accident where an injury or death has occurred can be subject to more serious criminal charges, including “felony hit and run.” A driver is expected to take reasonable steps to help any injured person, including calling for emergency medical services for that person, as well as to inform local law enforcement. The fact that the person was driving while intoxicated, which violates the law by itself, will only increase the jail time and other penalties the offending driver will receive.
Obtaining Legal Help
A DUI hit and run accident can lead to a trying and complicated trial. An established and experienced DUI attorney in the state where the DUI hit and run accident took place will know what specific state laws apply to your case, evaluate your case, and present the strongest possible case to ensure that you receive a fair trial and either prove your innocence or receive appropriate punishment for your DUI hit and run accident.
