Motor vehicle hit and run offenses are aggressively prosecuted in Washington State. A hit and run is a criminal offense, and a conviction can carry serious penalties, including loss of driver’s license, fines, and jail time. You will have a criminal conviction on your public record which can be viewed by almost anyone, including family members and potential employers. Moreover, you can be sued in criminal court for any property damage that resulted from the hit and run. If you were involved in a hit and run, the Seattle Hit and Run attorneys at CHUNG, MALHAS & MANTEL, PLLC can help.
Hit and Run (Unattended Vehicle)
Under Washington law, any driver who collides with an unoccupied vehicle must provide the owner of that vehicle with his or her contact information. If you cannot locate the owner, you must leave your contact information on the struck vehicle. Failure to do so constitutes a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, and restitution to the victim. Holders of a Commercial Driver License will have that license suspended for one year for a first offense. A second offense results in your CDL to be permanently revoked.
Hit and Run (Attended Vehicle)
Under Washington law, any driver who collides with an occupied vehicle must provide the driver of that vehicle your driver’s license, registration and insurance information. Even if the accident was not your fault, failure to provide said documentation may lead to your being charged with this crime. Failure to do so constitutes a gross misdemeanor, and carries a mandatory one-year suspension of your license, up to 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine and restitution to the victim.
Felony Hit and Run
Under Washington law, if the elements of Hit and Run (Attended Vehicle) are present AND the driver or passenger of the other vehicle suffers injury or death, you can be charged with a felony, even if the accident was not your fault. You will face up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, as well as other civil and criminal penalties.
Contact Seattle Hit and Run Lawyer Now!
Your case is unique, and our dedicated and personal approach to defending against hit and run charges sets us apart from other Seattle Hit and Run attorneys. At our law firm, we don’t handle cases, we serve clients. If you have been charged with a hit and run, contact CHUNG, MALHAS & MANTEL, PLLC at (206) 264-8999 for a consultation.
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