A car accident could cause people to act adversely out of fear, bewilderment, or guilt. This is particularly true if the driver has a suspended license, was intoxicated at the time of the accident, or feels responsible in any other way. However, fleeing the accident scene can have a number of detrimental effects. This blog explores what happens if you leave an accident scene.
Legal Obligations for Drivers After an Accident
Some Nevada regulations specify what an individual should do in the event of an auto accident. When an accident takes place, drivers are required to pull over and share their personal information. If a motorist hits a parked vehicle and the owner isn't there, a note should be left behind for the vehicle owner, and law enforcement officers should be informed about the accident.
Failure to meet your legal obligations following an accident could result in consequences such as serving time behind bars or paying hefty fines. It is often considered to be a hit-and-run when a person leaves the accident scene without reporting the incident or stopping.
Steps Taken Once the Accused Has Left the Accident Scene
When an individual flees the accident scene, the following steps are usually taken. First, police officers arrive at the accident scene and can launch an investigation. If there were witnesses, police officers could interrogate them about the events they witnessed. In addition, police officers could examine any local surveillance footage, such as those from cameras installed at surrounding businesses or traffic lights.
To determine the type of vehicle that got involved in the collision and to focus their investigations, police officers could sample the paint that was on the victim's car at the time of impact. Officers from the law enforcement agency could also look into the possibility of the incident being caused by drug or alcohol use. If the facts at hand lead law enforcement to identify the motorist who fled, they could head to the offender's home or place of work to find him or her.
Warrant Issuance and Other Repercussions
Once they've located the fleeing motorist, police officers could in some cases get a warrant. It is normal for an individual to appear guilty when they leave the accident scene or any other crime. The injured party could seek a civil lawsuit for compensation against the motorist even if no criminal charges have been filed against the perpetrator. Even if the motorist who fled the accident scene did not do anything illegal, a jury could consider the individual to be guilty based on their actions.
After Fleeing
If someone makes the mistake of fleeing the accident scene, there could be ways for him/her to minimize the damage caused and potential penalties. Police officers could be actively looking for the perpetrator. It could be recommended that the motorist surrenders himself/herself to the authorities.
If the motorist admits guilt after the fact, it would sound a lot better to a court or jury than if police had to go on a manhunt to find the accused. A motorist in this situation should also seek the advice of an attorney, who can guarantee that the motorist's version of events is heard by the judge and that his/her legal rights are protected.
Penalties For Leaving an Accident Scene in Nevada
Hit-and-run incidents are often categorized as misdemeanors, although this can sometimes vary based on the nature of the incident and the severity of the damage. Accidents are classified as misdemeanors if they result in only minimal damage to property (no more than $750) and also no injuries. Nevertheless, fleeing the scene of an accident that only constitutes a misdemeanor can have substantial consequences, such as jail time.
The severity of the penalties could be determined by the specifics of the case. Penalties for fleeing an accident scene can include the following:
Misdemeanor Hit and Run Charges
Nevada Revised Statutes 484E.020. This happens if you leave the site of an accident after there has been property damage. If convicted of this offense, you could face up to one thousand dollars in fines, a maximum of six points on your driving license, and a maximum of six months behind bars.
Felony Hit and Run charges
When a person dies or suffers bodily harm and you flee the area, you will be charged under Nevada Revised Statutes 484E.010. This is a considerably more serious offense that carries much more severe penalties, such as two to fifteen years imprisonment, maximum fines of $5,000, and suspension or revocation of one's driver's license.
Hit-and-run crimes can also result in the following additional general penalties:
- Driver's license suspension
- Getting your driver's license revoked
- Compensation for the victim's losses
- Probation or parole
- Minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 20 years behind bars
The Best Way to Proceed
Regardless of whether an individual has committed additional crimes, it is recommended that they stay at the accident scene. Even though an individual is confused about who was to blame in the incident, it is often advisable for them to wait until the authorities come to the accident scene to determine who was responsible for the accident.
Discussing the incident's details with the police could help the person avoid major criminal charges. In addition, if you believe that you are subject to criminal accusations, you should get in touch with a defense attorney as soon as possible so that they can assist you in defending yourself.
How Do Police Officers Find a Driver Who Has Fled From the Accident Scene?
If someone runs away from the accident scene, there's no sure method of tracking them down to bring them to justice. It's dangerous to pursue someone who has run away, even when you think you can catch them. If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, writing down the vehicle's plate number as well as a description of the car can significantly assist the authorities in finding the person responsible.
How Quickly Can the Police Identify Hit-and-Run Motorists?
Advanced technologies and surveillance equipment have improved dramatically, making it much simpler to track down people who flee the scene of an accident after committing a hit-and-run. In Nevada, particularly near the Vegas Strip, surveillance cameras from buildings, smartphones, as well as other videography equipment are widely available.
However, no matter how much time has passed after the accident, you must never presume that you're not going to be charged with hit and run. You could be charged with an offense in court using any evidence gathered from such sources.
Find a Las Vegas Bail Bonds Service Near Me
You can get in touch with Express Bail Bonds if you have been detained in Las Vegas or are being questioned for allegedly leaving the accident scene or hit & run and you have to pay bail. Call us at 702-633-2245 today to get the assistance you need.
