Hit and Run Lawyer in Metairie

Accidents are inevitable no matter what form of transportation is used. However, if you are caught up in an accident, the best thing to do is to obey the laws of your state concerning an accident. This includes calling for emergency help, bearing the cost of damages, and so on. Some people do not like to obey the laws, rules, and regulations of their state when an accident occurs. This is where hit and run comes in.

According to the Louisiana State legislature in La R.S. 14:100, hit and run entails the intentional failure of a driver involved in an accident to stop and give details about himself and the accident. This is to render help or assist. Identity here means the name of the driver, address, plate number, and any other relevant information.

Laws Guiding Hit And Run In Gretna

Every state has its rules concerning hit and run crimes. In the same way, Greta has its rules. Although everything is under the Louisiana State laws, it is very much practiced. Here are some laws guiding hit and run in Greta:

Anyone involved in an accident or caused an accident is supposed to stop

Trying to flee from the accident scene makes you capable of being accused of hit and run

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, you are supposed to give accurate and detailed information

Of course, hit and run occurs in all types of accidents as long as you have a vehicle. According to the law, vehicle includes a watercraft and an accident can be said to have occurred if there is bodily harm or property damage.

Is A Hit And Run Crime A Misdemeanor Or A Felony In Gretna?

In Gretna, hit and run could either be a misdemeanor or a felony as it all depends on the situation.

If the matter is investigated and there is serious bodily harm or even death, then it is a felony. However, if there is no serious harm or death, it will be considered a misdemeanor especially if you are a first-time offender.

What Situations Can Make Me Get Punished For Hit And Run In Gretna?

Different situations can make you get punished for a hit and run crime in Gretna. Here they are:

1. If you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol as at the time of the accident

2. If you fail to provide accurate information that will help law enforcement

3. If you fail to stop after the accident occurred or you tried to get away

4. If you knew that your vehicle was the cause of the accident or contributed to the accident yet you intentionally tried to escape.

What Are The Possible Penalties For Indulging In Hit And Run Crimes In Gretna?

As earlier mentioned, hit and run could either be a misdemeanor or a felony. As regards this, punishment is also meted out according to the severity of the crime.

Penalties for a misdemeanor hit and run

Accordingly, to the Louisiana State laws, whoever commits a misdemeanor hit and run will pay a fine of not more than 500 dollars or will go to prison for not more than six months. The person may also do both, depending on the judge. Remember that this happens if there was no serious damage done at the accident scene, including loss of lives.

Penalties for Felony Hit and Run

This occurs when there was death or serious bodily harm. The penalties for this offense are for the offender to pay a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or to be sent to jail with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.

Well, everything depends on the judge on your case and how well your attorney was able to defend you in court.  It also depends on the situations surrounding the incident. There are certain ways your lawyer may be able to help reduce your charges. This is why you need to get a professional lawyer to help you with your hit and run case.

What Do I Do If Charged With Hit And Run In Gretna?

Accidents happen all time and most times, we don’t expect them. Therefore, if you find yourself charged with hit and run in Greta, you don’t need to panic. The best thing is to hire the services of a professional criminal defense attorney to help you.

This lawyer can help reduce the severity of your crime by helping you come up with possible defenses. In this way, you can defend yourself in court. The defenses include:

That you left the accident scene because you were in an emergency. Note that the emergency has to be concrete such as driving a woman in labor to the hospital

That you were unaware of the incident. Remember that before you can be found guilty of hit and run, it has to be intentional and this must be proven in court.

Before your criminal lawyer comes up with a possible defense, he or she needs to know about the accident in detail. In this way, a defense can be brought up to rhyme with the situation at hand. If your defense is baseless, it cannot be accepted by the court.

Get Legal Help

To get a very good legal representation, you need a criminal defense lawyer who understands the laws concerning hit and run in your state. In this way, he or she will be able to know how to help you. More so, getting a great lawyer increases your chance of charges reduction. The criminal lawyer can also help you rule out your charges completely. The Barkemeyer Law Firm has several years of experience in helping residents in Gretna, Metairie, Kenner, and other environs deal with hit and run crimes.