Potential penalties include 1-year imprisonment and a $2, 500 fine. However, it is possible to have a reckless driver run into a home or building, causing injuries. If you remember any identifying traits about the driver who hit you or their vehicle, try to write down or record these details before you forget. Leaving the scene of an accident can have criminal, administrative and civil penalties. Depending on the circumstances, a criminal defense lawyer might be able to make the argument that you're not guilty of a hit-and-run. Failure to fulfil statutory requirements is a class A misdemeanor. These requirements apply regardless the location of an accident. A contingency fee means you will not have to pay the attorney any money until they settle your case or win it at trial. In other words, you aren't required to report a minor crash that results in little to no property damage and no injuries. Working with a Chattanooga hit and run lawyer could make all the difference in the outcome of your case and help you avoid a life-altering criminal conviction. Our car crash law firm can help you determine what your legal rights are.
Tennessee Law on Leaving the Scene. If that's your situation, a criminal defense lawyer might be able to help you minimize charges. Whatever the accident entails, the driver must stop to fully assess the situation and provide proper information that allows the other parties to identify and contact them as needed. Gather evidence, including eyewitness testimony and dashcam footage.
Filing the accident report is not required from any driver who is physically incapable of doing so. If it is possible, you should move your car and the other cars that are involved in the accident to the side of the road. The other driver and their passengers may not realize they are injured until sometime after the accident. That assistance includes making arrangements or driving them to a local hospital emergency room. In serious injury claims, an experienced personal injury attorney has a variety of legal tools to rely on. Once you retain the attorney, they will likely accept your case on a "contingency fee" basis. Tennessee is an "at-fault" state, meaning that in order to recover damages following a car accident, you need to pursue compensation from the other driver or their insurance company. Call today to learn how dedicated legal counsel could help. You may leave the scene if you have a valid reason to fear for your safety. Whether it was a minor fender or an accident with a fatality, if your vehicle is involved in the crash and you do not stop you can be charged. When you work with our law firm, you will not be passed off to an assistant or paralegal.
Even if you did not cause your accident, you could face hit and run charges for the simple act of leaving. In all cases, your license could be revoked. Victims of hit and run accidents who are not able to identify the fleeing driver are not without recourse.
According to Tennessee Code Annotated 55-10-106, "the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of fifty dollars or more" shall immediately notify the local police department, county sheriff, or nearest state highway patrol. That means following rules and laws, maintaining reasonable speed, properly signaling, and driving in a way that's not dangerous or reckless. At that point, it's basically take it, or leave it. Drivers involved in a car accident especially have a duty to stop and offer reasonable assistance to injured drivers. If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Officials are trying to identify the pedestrian, who died early Jan. 2. What if, however, the damage is already done, and you fled the scene of an accident you were recently in? Other Tennessee Laws. If you are the victim and can prove negligence, you may take civil action to recover damages, including pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, etc. In some cases, fleeing the scene may be grounds for the insurer to deny your claim altogether.
A hit and run is any accident where a vehicle strikes another vehicle, object, or person, after which the driver then flees the scene. Many car accident injuries aren't visible or noticeable right away. Tennessee is an at-fault state, which means that the person who causes a car accident is legally responsible for the costs of the accident for all people involved. In these cases, the responsible driver may flee the scene because they are too emotional or scared to face the severity of the damages they caused. A Tennessee personal injury lawyer can work with the insurance companies, police department, and any other relevant parties to figure out how you can recover damages. It is a Class A misdemeanor to not stop or return to the scene of an accident that results in injury to another person. Four common hit-and-run defenses include: - You didn't know you were involved in an accident. In this case, the jury decided that Doris's comparative fault amounted to 50%. When you stop at the scene, if you can, make sure that your vehicle is not obstructing traffic. Tennessee is a comparative negligence state. Under Section 55-10-103 of Tennessee law, the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident shall give the "driver's name, address, and registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving" to the other party in the accident. Sources: Texas Statutes: Witness statements can be quite helpful.
Immigration concerns. Common Aspects of a Memphis Hit-and-Run Case. Tennessee Hit and Run Laws. The insurance company has no legal obligation to settle your property damage or personal injury claim within the statute of limitations time period. State and local law enforcement officers, including city police, county sheriffs and Tennessee Highway Patrol, are all highly trained in accident scene investigation. Additionally, you should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this can result in accidents. What if I crash into property on the side of the road?