what kind of attorney would i need for hitting a car and leaving

This means hiring a personal injury lawyer who specializes in car accident cases. Hiring a general lawyer – or jack of all trades – is generally not a good idea. You need someone with experience and extensive knowledge of laws related to personal injury and traffic laws.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer for a car accident?

Jul 29, 2020 · If you are charged with hit and run you should contact a criminal defense attorney to discuss your options and possible defenses.The consequences for hit and run can be severe and long term. An experienced attorney can help you understand the potential penalties for leaving the scene of an accident and represent you in court.

Why hire a California car accident lawyer?

Feb 08, 2022 · I hit a parked car leaving good will, I have no license and was scared so I left the scene.and went to get my bf. ... rather than the driver. But, this isn’t always the case. An attorney would need to look at your specific policy to see if your daughter was covered. Consider contacting an attorney using our free online ... however most of the ...

What should I do if I’m charged with hit and run?

Oct 13, 2017 · You already know that you should hire an attorney who focuses their practice on car accident lawsuits, but you also need to consider experience and the results of past cases. An attorney with the right level of experience will know how to build your case, how to calculate damages properly, and how to fight to get you the highest payout possible.

What to do if you’re involved in an accident with a parked car?

Penalty for a Hit-and-Run On a Parked Car. If you take steps like the ones outlined above after hitting a parked car, and do what you can under the circumstances (not simply drive away), you should be safe from criminal liability of any sort, such as penalties for "hit and run" or leaving the scene of a car accident.

What If Property Is damaged?

If you hit a parked car or any other type of property when no one is around, be sure to leave a note. Include your name and contact information and...

What Happens If A Non-Driver Is Injured?

If someone is injured, and you leave the scene of the accident, you could be charged with felony hit and run. Whether it’s a passenger, bicyclist,...

What Happens If A Pet Is Injured?

Generally, states consider pets as property, so the damaged property rule stands. If a pet is injured or killed from your driving, you are required...

What Are The Punishments For Leaving The Scene of An Accident?

Punishments for a hit and run varies from state-to-state, but they follow the same guidelines. The punishment for a hit and run depends on the seve...

Exceptions to Leaving The Scene of An Accident Charges

A few exceptions to charges of leaving the scene of an accident exist: 1. Hit and run laws don’t apply to anyone other than the drivers (passengers...

What to do if someone is hurt in your car?

If possible, move your car off the road and to a safe place nearby. Turn on your flashers to warn others to be cautious as you will be getting out of your car.

What to do if you have an accident in Florida?

Report it to police. If there’s any noticeable damage or injury, you should contact police . In addition, some states, like Florida and California, legally require you to report any accident to the police as well as provide your information.

What to include in a note?

Some states stipulate the exact details to provide, but at the very least the note should contain your: 1 Name 2 Address 3 Phone number 4 A brief explanation of what happened

How to show you didn't flee the scene?

Talk to witnesses. Talk to any eyewitnesses. This helps show that you didn’t flee the scene and can reinforce your version of events. If you feel uncomfortable approaching strangers, feel free to wait for the police and let them talk to the witnesses.

How long do you have to file a hit and run claim?

This is a hit and run, which is considered a criminal offense, and the owner may have up to 2 years to file a claim.

Is it legal to consult with a car accident attorney?

While not legally required, we strongly recommend you schedule a free consultation with a local car accident attorney near you. Depending on the extent of the damage or whether you were at-fault, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help greatly minimize your liability and deal with the claim.

Is a hit and run a felony?

A hit and run accident is when a person collides with a person or another car (parked or in motion) and flees the accident scene. Leaving the scene is considered a criminal offense . Depending on the state, a hit and run may be a misdemeanor or felony punishable by fines, jail time, license points or all of these.

Why do you need an attorney for an accident?

An attorney will help ensure that you walk away with a fair amount of money from your insurance company. If the insurance company doesn’t want to budge, an attorney’s threat to file a lawsuit may change their minds. It may also be beneficial to hire a lawyer if your accident involved any of the following:

Who specializes in auto accidents?

If you know the extent of your injuries and you’ve yet to hire a lawyer, you can take things a step further by choosing a lawyer who not only specializes in auto accidents, but also specializes in the type of injury you’ve sustained.

A look at the legal and financial implications of hitting a parked car

It's a fairly common parking lot accident scenario: you're pulling into or out of a spot, and you accidentally bump into a parked car. Maybe it's just a little "paint exchange," or maybe there's actual body damage to one or both cars. No one is around, you wait for a half an hour or so.

Vehicle Codes and Criminal Liability

In every state, vehicle codes and traffic laws set out a licensed driver's obligations after any kind of traffic accident, including a scenario where a parked vehicle is hit, and the owner isn't around.

Am I Financially Responsible?

The owner of the parked car can try to hold you responsible for paying for any necessary car repairs, including body work and painting touch-ups. And just because you don't hear from the car owner right away, that doesn't mean you won't hear from them at all.

What to do if someone hits your car?

If the other driver hit your legally parked car, then the other driver’s insurance should pay for the damage. If they don’t resolve the issue or are an uninsured motorist, then contact your insurer so they can begin the claims process.

What to do if you witnessed an accident?

If you witnessed the accident or the driver waited for you to arrive, the first piece of advice is don’t get upset. Road rage incidents can escalate quickly. The other driver likely didn't mean to hit your car and is as freaked out as you. Instead, calmly collect his or her information: Name.

What happens if you hit a car in a parking lot?

What happens if you hit a car in a parking lot and leave? Hitting a parked car doesn't make you a criminal, but leaving the scene of an accident is against the law in every state and can be considered a hit and run. A conviction can net you a misdemeanor charge and a hefty fine. In some states, if you hit a parked car and leave the scene, you can serve jail time, be required to perform community service and police may suspend your license and/or registration.

What to do if you can't find the owner of a car?

If you aren't able to locate the car's owner, you must leave a note. If the law isn't enough to keep you there, consider this: Odds are good someone saw you hit that car. It might be an actual person or one of the millions of surveillance cameras in the U.S.

Do you have to call the police if you have an accident?

Many states require you to call the police when your vehicle is involved in an accident. If there is any noticeable damage, you should contact the police. They can take a report and may know if there are any security cameras in the area. Plus, witnesses are more apt to answer questions from a police officer than you.

Does insurance cover collision damage?

Your insurance will cover the damage in that instance if you have a collision policy, but you’ll likely have to pay your deductible. Whether your rates go up depends on your state and the company’s internal guidelines – and whether you have had multiple claims in a short period of time.

Does insurance cover high risk drivers?

These are usually insurers that cover high-risk drivers. Even if it's a minor accident, don’t let the driver talk you into settling the issue yourselves without going through insurance. The person may renege and your insurer is not going to pay for the damages if you report the accident weeks later.

What to do if you hit an unattended car?

If you hit an unattended, parked car, you should first check if anyone, including yourself, is injured. If so, call for medical help immediately. Next, you need to make a reasonable effort to identify the owner of the vehicle and notify them about what happened.

What to do before leaving an accident?

Things to Do Before Leaving the Accident Scene 1 Record the time and location: Before leaving the accident scene, write down the time and exact location of the accident for your record. 2 Call the police: Police will help you to file a police report, which can be used as evidence to your claim or defense. 3 Take accident photos: Get multiple photos of the accident scene, including general views and close-up of the cars. This will help the insurance company to accurately determine the damages. Accident scenes are often easily altered. You don't want to be responsible for any damage you didn't cause. 4 Talk to any witnesses: If anyone witnessed the accident, talk to them, and get details of what they saw and their contact information. 5 Notify your insurance company: It would be beneficial to let your insurance company know what happened as soon as possible, so it can expedite the claims process.

What happens if you don't leave a note after hitting a parked car?

Legal consequences will follow if you fail to leave a note or file a police report after hitting a parked car. In order to protect yourself by minimizing the problems, contact a local car accident lawyer who can explain your legal options and provide advice on how to proceed.

What is a hit and run accident?

Generally, a hit and run accident is one in which you leave the accident scene before having fulfilled the duties imposed by law, such as rendering aid or giving identification. Be mindful of your state traffic laws because your state may impose fines, penalties, and even jail time if you leave ...

How to find an attorney for a car accident?

If you are still undecided about finding an attorney for a car accident claim, here are five signs you need to hire one: 1 You sustained severe injuries in the accident; 2 You have concerns you cannot pay for your treatment costs; 3 The insurance company has denied liability and won’t pay for any of your treatment; 4 You missed time off work; or 5 You have been seeking medical treatment, but you’re not improving at all.

What to expect when meeting with an attorney?

When you meet with an attorney, they will review the facts of your accident, your injuries, time off work, etc., and tell you what your case is potentially worth. Having this information is vital because it’s hard to remain objective when you are personally involved.

What is the goal of an adjuster?

Their goal is to gain information from you that they can use against you to reduce your claim’s value or deny it outright. The adjuster may offer you a small amount early on in the case in hopes you will settle. That way, they can close their file before you have additional treatment.

Does insurance pay for medical treatment?

The insurance company has denied liability and won’t pay for any of your treatment; You have been seeking medical treatment, but you’re not improving at all. Any time you have serious injuries or have been treating for several months without improvement, you need to contact an attorney.

What happens if your insurance company denies your claim?

When the insurance company denies your claim, your only recourse is to file a lawsuit. Your attorney will continue to push settlement through the discovery process. If the other driver’s insurance company keeps denying liability, your attorney will prepare your case for trial.

Can a case go to trial?

If your case proceeds into litigation, you need an attorney who has the necessary experience to take your case all the way to trial. Many cases won’t ever go to trial, but there is always the chance.

What to do when hitting a parked car?

When striking a parked car you are required to find the owner and provide him with the proper information or you are required to leave a note on the windshield with your name and contact information. If you do not do this then you have commented a hit and run. The fact that you did contact the owner the next morning and ...

What happens if you hit someone and no one is injured?

If no one was injured, you will probably be charged with hit and run which is a misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail and $500 in fines. If you have no priors or driving related incidents, more than likely you will be sentenced to probation. You will face some driver's license sanctions as well.

How long can you go to jail in Michigan?

You can get up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine. And a record that can not be expunged. Driving offenses are permanent in Michigan. THat is ones that carry possible jail time. Talk to a lawyer maybe the attorney can get it down to a noncriminal offense.

What is the California Vehicle Code?

CA Vehicle Code section 20002, which states in part: " (a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to any property , including vehicles, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists. Moving the vehicle in accordance with this subdivision does not affect the question of fault. The driver shall also immediately do either of the following: (1) Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle involved and, upon locating the driver of any other vehicle involved or the owner or person in charge of any damaged property, upon being requested, present his or her driver's license, and vehicle registration, to the other driver, property owner, or person in charge of that property. The information presented shall include the current residence address of the driver and of the registered owner. If the registered owner of an involved vehicle is present at the scene, he or she shall also, upon request, present his or her driver's license information, if available, or other valid identification to the other involved parties. (2) Leave in a conspicuous place on the vehicle or other property damaged a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle involved and a statement of the circumstances thereof and shall without unnecessary delay notify the police department of the city wherein the collision occurred or, if the collision occurred in unincorporated territory, the local headquarters of the Department of the California Highway Patrol." While it seems you were willing to take responsibility, and notify the owner, you must also show you attempted to find the owner and failing to accomplish that, provided written notice of your name and other information with the damaged vehicle. Additionally, you were required to notify the police. If you have a clean record, and because you were insured which allowed the other owner to be made whole, you can always press for a conditional dismissal.

Should I hire a lawyer for a hit and run?

You should hire a lawyer to help you. The fact that you called your insurance immediately and they paid the damages indicates good faith. A skilled lawyer may be able to get you a reduction or dismissal. Hit and run does not look good on your record.

Is leaving the scene of a property damage accident a misdemeanor?

You have the right to an attorney and it would be a good idea to consult with an attorney before going to court . If this is your only offense, jail time is not likely but is possible.