A hit-and-run allegation in Redwood City, California, can expose you to serious criminal penalties, consequences for your driver’s license, financial liability, and lasting damage to your record. California law can treat leaving an accident scene as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the collision involved property damage, injury, or death.
Police and prosecutors may rely on surveillance video, license-plate information, vehicle-damage evidence, witness accounts, and statements made after the crash to build their case, and you need help defending your position. An experienced criminal defense lawyer in Redwood City, California, can help you build your case and fight back.
Contact Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys at 650-835-7167 to schedule a confidential case evaluation with a Redwood City hit-and-run defense lawyer.
Why Hire Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys if You’re Arrested for a Hit-and-Run?
A hit-and-run accusation in Redwood City, CA, can move quickly from an investigation to criminal charges, leaving you to deal with law enforcement questioning, court dates, and potentially serious penalties. Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys, provide focused criminal defense representation for people who need clear advice and a strong advocate from the beginning.
Clients turn to Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys, because we have:
- More than 250 five-star Google reviews
- Over 50 trials successfully defended
- 30 years of combined experience
- More than 3,000 cases won
A hit-and-run case can be defended, and the best step you can take is to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the firm today to discuss your case with a Redwood City criminal defense attorney.
Overview of Hit-and-Runs in California
Under California Vehicle Code § 20002, a driver involved in a collision that damages another person’s vehicle or other property must stop and exchange the required identifying information.
To prove a misdemeanor property-damage hit-and-run, the prosecution generally must show that the defendant was involved in the crash, another person’s property was damaged, the defendant knew an accident involving property damage occurred, and the defendant willfully failed to stop or provide the required information.
Vehicle Code § 20001 is the statute that is used when someone is injured or killed. In those cases, the driver must stop, provide identifying information, and provide reasonable assistance to an injured person. Prosecutors must generally establish that the driver knew of the accident and knew or reasonably should have known that another person was injured.
A violation involving injury or death may be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the facts.
What Are the Penalties for a Hit-and-Run in Redwood City, California?
A hit-and-run involving only another person’s property is generally a misdemeanor. A conviction can carry as much as 6 months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, and restitution related to property damage. The court may also impose probation and other conditions depending on the circumstances and the person’s criminal history.
When the collision causes injury or death, the penalties are more severe. A misdemeanor conviction may result in up to one year in county jail and fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
A felony hit-and-run conviction can carry a $1,000 to $10,000 fine and a prison sentence of 16 months, two years, or three years in certain cases.
If the crash resulted in death or permanent, serious injury, the potential prison terms may increase to two, three, or four years.
What Defenses Can Be Raised if I’m Arrested for a Hit-And-Run?
A property-damage hit-and-run charge requires more than proof that a collision happened. Prosecutors must establish that the driver knew about the accident and resulting property damage and willfully failed to stop and provide the required information.
Depending on the evidence, several defenses may be available:
- The driver did not know a collision occurred: A driver may not realize that contact occurred, particularly in a crowded parking lot, low-speed traffic, or a situation involving minor impact. If the contact was slight, there was no noticeable sound or movement, or the driver had another reasonable basis for not knowing about the incident, the prosecution may have difficulty proving the required knowledge element.
- The driver did not know property was damaged: Even if a driver noticed some contact, they may not have known that another vehicle or other property was damaged. A defense may focus on the lack of visible damage, the nature of the impact, or other evidence showing that the driver reasonably believed no property damage occurred.
- Only the driver’s own property was damaged: Vehicle Code § 20002 concerns collisions that damage someone else’s property. If the incident damaged only the accused driver’s vehicle and no other car, structure, or property was harmed, the statute may not apply. Evidence such as photographs, repair estimates, surveillance video, and witness accounts can be important in evaluating this issue.
The right defense depends on the specific facts, including the extent of damage, the location of the collision, available video, and statements made after the event. A criminal defense lawyer can examine the evidence and challenge whether the prosecution can prove every required element of the charge.
A Redwood City hit-and-run defense attorney from Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys can investigate the incident, communicate with law enforcement and insurers, review the evidence, and develop a strategy based on the facts of your case.
Don’t assume that an accusation means the case cannot be defended. Contact our Redwood City criminal defense lawyers promptly to discuss your options in a confidential consultation.