In New York, if you are involved in a car accident where there is property damage, physical injury, or fatality, it’s against the law to simply drive away. If you fail to stop and provide the necessary information, you could be charged with a traffic violation, a misdemeanor, or a felony depending on the specific circumstances of the offense. Please continue reading to learn the penalties you can face for leaving the scene of an accident in New York and how a trusted Rockland County Criminal Defense Attorney can help protect your rights.
What is a Hit-and-Run?
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offense, regardless of how minor the collision is. In New York, drivers have a legal obligation to identify themselves and offer aid to those who need help after a collision. It doesn’t matter who is at fault for the crash. It’s important to understand that you commit a hit-and-run if you leave the scene of an accident, even if you are not responsible for the cause of the collision. If a driver flees the scene without reporting the accident and providing the necessary information, they could be subject to fines and other overwhelming penalties.
What Are the Penalties for Leaving the Scene of an Accident Accident in New York?
If your violation was based solely on failure to provide certain information such as your license or insurance and only property damage emerged, it would be considered a traffic violation or misdemeanor. This crime is usually punishable by fines of $250-$500 and up to three months in jail. Otherwise, the violation would be considered a class A misdemeanor and you would face fines of $500-$1,000 and up to one year in jail.
Leaving the scene of an accident without reporting when someone is injured is a misdemeanor or class E felony. The consequences of a conviction include fines of up to $5,000 and a considerable amount of time in prison. Furthermore, you could face driver’s license revocation for up to one year, three demerit points added to your license, surcharges between $88 and $93, as well as increased insurance rates. If you leave the scene of an accident resulting in fatality, it’s considered a class D felony, which is punishable by up to seven years in jail. It’s important to note that those with a commercial driver’s license who leave the scene of an accident may automatically have their driving privileges revoked for a year even if the accident didn’t result in physical injury.
As you can see, leaving the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offense in New York that carries grave consequences. If you are facing criminal charges for a hit-and-run, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney from The Law Office of Carl Spector, who can help formulate a robust defense strategy to mitigate your penalties.
