car driving snowstorm

It is always the case that you must remain on a car accident scene long enough to exchange information with the involved parties and provide a statement to the responding law enforcement officer. This testament stands regardless of whether you found yourself at fault for the accident event, whether you believe everyone was left uninjured and without property damages, or any other external circumstances. Otherwise, you may face legal troubles with the New Jersey civil court, criminal court, or both. With that in mind, please continue reading to learn whether a hit and run is considered a traffic violation or criminal offense and how an experienced Morristown traffic violation lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help your defense in either scenario.

Is a hit and run considered a traffic violation in New Jersey?

Essentially, your perpetrating a hit-and-run accident may be charged as a traffic violation if it resulted in property damage. For example, if other drivers incurred damages to their motor vehicles, requiring repair or replacement. If this occurs, you may be subject to a fine of anywhere between $200 to $400. In addition, you may have your driver’s license temporarily suspended. This is not to mention that two points may be added to your driver’s license and your auto insurance premiums may skyrocket.

Under what circumstances is a hit-and-run a criminal offense?

You may be in a scenario where the other involved drivers come forward to the Tennessee criminal court and claim they incurred bodily injuries as a direct result of your hit and run. In this case, the court may place a third-degree felony charge against you. The consequences associated with this may consist of a fine of anywhere between $2,500 to $5,000; a prison sentence of up to 180 days; and a driver’s license suspension of up to one year, for a first offense.

Unfortunately, your hit-and-run accident may have resulted in the death of one or more involved parties. With this, your charge may be upgraded to a second-degree felony offense. With this, you may be up against a fine of anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000; a prison sentence of up to five years; and a driver’s license revocation, potentially permanently.

Will I have to defend myself in civil court after a hit and run, as well?

Once your criminal court proceedings for your hit-and-run offense have concluded, you may be expected to defend yourself in a civil court. This is because an affected party may hold the right to pursue a civil claim against you, so that they may recover financial compensation for their medical bills, property repairs and replacements, and other damages.

This is all to say that you may be looking at a culmination of points on your driver’s license; inflated auto insurance rates; fines; prison time; driver’s license suspension or revocation; and/or monetary or statutory damages.

We hope that this blog offers the insight you were searching for. For more information, we encourage you to contact a skilled Morristown criminal defense lawyer today.