Los Angeles Hit and Run Attorney

California law recognizes two primary types of hit-and-run offenses, and both can lead to serious criminal consequences. Under California Vehicle Code Section 2001, it is a felony hit and run if a car accident results in injury or death and the driver fails to stop and provide information or reasonable assistance to the injured party. Under Section 2002, it is a misdemeanor hit and run if the accident only involves property damage, such as damage to another vehicle, a parked car, or private property, and the driver leaves without identifying themselves to the other party or property owner.

In both scenarios, drivers involved in an accident are legally obligated to immediately stop at the scene, provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number, and assist anyone who may be injured. Failing to do so — even if the accident wasn’t your fault — can result in hit and run charges, license suspension, costly fines, and possible jail time in county jail or state prison. A conviction could also lead to a permanent criminal record, increased insurance premiums, and damage to your reputation.

It’s important to understand that you can be charged with a hit and run even if you didn’t cause the crash. If you leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident without exchanging your contact details, the police department can still file criminal charges against you. There are exceptions, such as leaving temporarily to seek medical attention for yourself or another injured person, but those situations are limited and require strong legal support to defend effectively.

Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help your hit-and-run case. 

Hit And Run Offenses In California

If you’ve been accused of a hit-and-run offense, it’s crucial to remember that a charge is not the same as a conviction. The prosecution must still prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you knowingly left the scene without providing the required information. A skilled hit-and-run defense attorney may be able to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, show that there was a mistaken identity, or present evidence that you were not the driver of the vehicle involved. In some hit-and-run cases, especially those involving only property damage, your hit-and-run lawyer may be able to negotiate a civil compromise, which could lead to dismissal of the charges. If you or someone you love has been arrested or charged with a hit and run, contact our criminal defense law firm today for a free consultation. Let a Los Angeles hit-and-run defense attorney evaluate your case and explain your options. When your freedom is at stake, having the right hit-and-run defense can make all the difference.

Experience Matters. Let Us Lead the Way

The Miranda Rights Law Firm has extensive experience representing clients facing both misdemeanor and felony hit-and-run charges across Los Angeles County. Douglas Miranda, an experienced Los Angeles hit and run attorney, understands how to approach these complex cases and build a tailored defense strategy to protect your freedom, your driving record, and your future. Whether you’re facing charges related to a hit-and-run accident involving injury or an alleged hit with only minor property damage, our firm can guide you through the legal process and work toward the best possible resolution.

Our team knows the lasting consequences of a hit and run conviction, from driver’s license suspension to imprisonment and financial hardship. That’s why we offer clients direct, honest communication and aggressive representation from start to finish. With a proven history of securing dismissals, reductions, and not guilty verdicts, our law offices are trusted by individuals throughout Los Angeles who are facing some of the most serious criminal charges of their lives.

HIT AND RUN CONVICTION PENALTIES

The precise circumstances of a hit and run incident and how you react are usually crucial in the determination of innocence or guilt in hit and run cases. California categorizes hit-and-run offenses as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the type of damage involved. You may be charged with misdemeanor hit and run if you leave the scene of an accident without identifying yourself to the other parties involved, and if another person’s property was damaged. Don’t be fooled by the fact that this charge is a misdemeanor. All criminal charges are potentially serious, including those related to driving. The penalties for a misdemeanor hit and run are severe, and may include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail.

If anyone is injured or killed, the hit and run will be charged as a felony without regard to who was at fault in the accident itself or how much damage or injury is suffered. If you are convicted of a felony hit and run, you may face a fine of up to $10,000 and up to three years in state prison.

If someone is hurt or killed, you may also face civil penalties. The victim or the victim’s family could sue you in civil court to receive compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of wages.

Hit and run charges are nothing to take lightly. If you have been charged with a hit and run, speak to an experienced Los Angeles hit and run attorney as soon as possible.

WE ARE READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU

Many drivers with a few years behind the wheel in southern California traffic could conceivably be charged at some point in time with a misdemeanor hit and run. You can be charged if you leave the scene of a minor accident where the other driver was plainly at fault; if you damage and drive away from someone’s fence, parked vehicle, commercial building, home, or other property; or if you leave the scene of an accident you caused even if you weren’t in the actual collision.

In many cases, a hit and run is simply a misunderstanding or mistake. A motorist, for instance, may not even realize that he has hit another vehicle. On a dark street, he may not even realize that he struck a pedestrian, or a person in dark clothes riding a bicycle on a dark street. In most of these cases, people don’t even realize that they have done anything wrong, and are surprised when they face charges. Besides, you could face misdemeanor charges even if you strike someone’s property with your car, and leave without speaking to the owner of the property about the accident.

If you were confused, if you weren’t aware of the accident when it happened, or if it was actually another driver and you’ve been wrongly accused, Los Angeles hit and run attorney Douglas Miranda will make sure that your side of the story is told. Los Angeles hit and run attorney Douglas Miranda has more than a decade of experience fighting for clients who face hit and run charges. He is ready to fight for you.

What’s the Most Common Hit-and-Run Accident?

Hit and run accidents involving bicyclists surged 42 percent from 2002 to 2012 in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Times. What’s curious about the surge is that in the same period of time, the overall number of hit-and-run incidents involving cars, motorcyclists, and pedestrians dropped by 30 percent. Between 2002 and 2012, more than 5,600 bicyclists were injured in Los Angeles County, and at least 36 died in crashes in which drivers fled the scene. Call an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer as quickly as possible if you are charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor hit and run in the greater Los Angeles area.

For bicyclists who are injured by drivers, a major disappointment is how rarely hit-and-run drivers are caught. The Los Angeles Police Department closed only one in five hit-and-run cases from 2008 to 2012, meaning about 80 percent of these cases remain unresolved. With so many hit-and-run drivers getting away, prosecutors are “throwing the book” at those who are arrested. It’s a crime you really do not want to be charged with in Los Angeles today. If you’re charged with hit and run in the LA area or anywhere in Southern California, do not plead guilty, and do not attempt to act as your own attorney when facing criminal charges. Instead, get trustworthy and dependable legal representation by contacting an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Book a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Hit and Run Defense Attorney Today

If you’ve been charged with hit and run in Southern California, put an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to work for you. Douglas Miranda will explain your legal options and develop the most effective possible defense. At the Miranda Rights Law Firm, we put our experience to work for you.

To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles hit and run attorney, contact us today at 213-255-5838. Se habla español.