By definition, a hit-and-run is when a driver leaves the scene of an auto accident without providing assistance or sharing their identifying information with the other involved drivers. Or, if you fail to report the crash to law enforcement and give them time to respond to the scene. This act is considered illegal in the state of New Jersey, so you may be charged with criminal penalties if you are found guilty of doing so. With that being said, please read on to discover the penalties for a hit-and-run and how one of the experienced New Jersey & Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. can help you avoid them.
What are the penalties for a hit-and-run in the state of New Jersey?
If there was only property damage done to the other drivers’ automobiles after your hit-and-run accident, you may be charged with a traffic violation in the state of New Jersey. Even still, as a first-time offender, you may face weighty penalties. Namely, you may receive a fine of anywhere between $200 to $400; a jail sentence of up to 30 days; and a driver’s license suspension of up to six months.
Now, if this is your second offense for causing a hit-and-run that resulted in property damages, these consequences may be heightened slightly. Specifically, fines may be increased anywhere between $400 to $600; jail time may be increased to up to 180 days; and a driver’s license suspension may be increased to up to one year.
What if my hit-and-run results in injuries or fatalities?
You must expect your hit-and-run offense to be treated like a misdemeanor or felony if it resulted in other drivers getting seriously injured or sadly passing away.
For one, the New Jersey criminal court will have to look into how severely injured the other drivers are to determine whether to charge you with a misdemeanor or a felony. But generally speaking, the penalties for a hit-and-run resulting in injuries are fines 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.
On the other hand, a hit-and-run resulting in fatalities will almost always lead to a felony conviction. The consequences for this may be fines anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000; a prison sentence of up to five years; and a driver’s license being permanently revoked.
This is not to mention that these criminal punishments may be kicked up a notch if it is discovered during your criminal proceedings that you were intoxicated during your hit-and-run accident.
In conclusion, this blog is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to criminal laws in the state of New Jersey. So for more information, please reach out to one of the experienced New Jersey & Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers from The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. today.
