It is not illegal for a person to be involved in a car accident in the great majority of circumstances. While a person may face a civil case, they will not face criminal charges unless certain circumstances apply. Take a look at these five things that can transform an automobile accident into a crime. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation if you have any queries concerning civil cases.
At the time of the accident, the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Every year, about a million drivers are arrested for drunk driving in the United States. There are millions of dollars in damages and many deaths as a result of these types of accidents. This is why states have long run vigorous public awareness efforts warning people about the dangers of driving while inebriated and the legal consequences of doing so.
Hit and run accidents
A person who is engaged in an accident and then flees the scene has committed a crime. Of course, there are exceptions, such as someone who needs quick medical attention or believes they would be in immediate danger if they stopped. However, most of the time, this is an illegal act that can result in the driver being forced to pay their own damages as well as serving up to 15 years in prison.
Dangerous driving
Excessive speeding, disobedience of traffic laws, weaving in and out of traffic, and other sorts of unsafe driving habits are all examples of reckless driving. When deciding whether reckless driving should result in criminal charges, most courts examine the driver’s mental state.
Vehicular manslaughter
This occurs when a driver is reckless and drives dangerously, and a person dies as a result of an automobile accident that they caused. It could be a misdemeanor charge or a felony charge, depending on the details of the case. In most cases, if the driver was acting with ordinary negligence, they will face misdemeanor charges; but, if they were acting extremely negligently, they will face felony charges.
Running form the police
Running from the cops is never a good idea. If it occurs after an automobile collision, they could face penalties for not only hit and run but also escaping the police. The truth is that attempting to prevent the repercussions of an accident might result in far worse consequences.
If you are wounded in a car accident, you will very certainly have no say in whether the at-fault driver is charged with a felony. You do, however, have discretion over whether a civil case is brought against them. If you believe you have a case, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
