What are the consequences to the charge of leaving the scene of an accident and not reporting it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are the consequences to the charge of leaving the scene of an accident and not reporting it?
I recently got into a car accident where I was given 4 tickets – the obvious and deserved careless driving, followed by leaving the scene, not reporting, and no seat belt. In the accident, I dozed and hit a street sign, while grazing a telephone pole, and was then on the curb feet in front of the pole on a main road. I choose to drive the car off the main road an onto the closest side street and pulled over. I noticed the police coming as I exited my vehicle to evaluate my damage. How should I proceed and what am I looking at? Do I need an public defender or attorney? In Ocean City, NJ.
Asked on March 29, 2011 under Criminal Law, New Jersey
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
You absolutely should talk to a lawyer about this matter. If you were truly trying to park somewhere safe, you might be able to get out of the ticket for leaving the scene and depending on whether or not you were driving it somewhere safe when the police officer saw you had no seatbelt on, you might be able to get that one taken care of, as well. What will remain is the careless driving and of course, you might be able to get out of the not reporting if you were intending on reporting as soon as you parked. Talk to a lawyer because it sounds like you had an overzealous officer or newly hired officer.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.