Oakland County Felony Hit & Run Attorney
Providing Aggressive Legal Representation to Fight Serious Criminal Charges
Michigan law requires drivers to stop their vehicles if involved in a motor vehicle accident. Drivers must also remain at the scene of an accident and exchange information with the other parties involved. Drivers should check to make sure no one is injured, and if so, they need to call 911 and request emergency medical responders.
Failure to remain on the scene of the accident can lead to hit-and-run charges. However, a driver can be charged with felony hit and run if they leave the scene where a victim has suffered serious bodily injury or death due to the accident.
If you are facing felony hit-and-run charges, you cannot wait to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who will fight to protect your future. Contact Dallo Law today to schedule your initial consultation with our Oakland County felony hit-and-run lawyer, who will evaluate your case professionally.
Dallo Law accepts clients throughout the greater Oakland County and Macomb County area, including Clinton Township, Romeo, Fraser, New Baltimore, New Haven, Warren, Sterling Heights, Pontiac, Troy, Waterford Township, Clarkston, Southfield, Royal Oak, and Bloomfield Hills.
When Can a Person Be Charged With Felony Hit and Run?
State law requires that drivers remain on the scene and offer reasonable assistance if a car accident causes injuries. However, some drivers panic and leave the scene, which can lead to felony hit-and-run charges if the accident results in injuries or death.
A driver who leaves the scene that resulted in only property damage may be charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail and two years of probation. If the accident caused an injury to another person, the driver may also be charged with a misdemeanor and be ordered to serve up to one year in county jail and pay a fine of up to $1,000. Additionally, the court may also order that the defendant be ordered to serve two years of supervised probation.
However, if a driver leaves the scene of an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury or death, they can be charged with a felony hit-and-run offense. Any Michigan felony offense is punishable by over a year in prison and should not be taken lightly.
If you are facing criminal charges for felony hit-and-run, your future is on the line. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors are often eager to pursue criminal charges against hit-and-run drivers to protect public safety.
Dallo Law is a law firm in Oakland County, Michigan, passionately committed to helping those charged with felony hit-and-runs protect their legal rights and freedom. Attorney J Dallo has significant experience fighting and winning cases for our clients so they can confidently face the future.
What are the Criminal Penalties for Felony Hit and Run?
Michigan law imposes strict hit-and-run penalties for drivers convicted of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury or death. Often, prosecutors and judges look to make examples of individuals convicted of felony hit and run to warn others not to repeat the same behavior.
Penalties for felony hit and run include:
- Serious bodily injury or death: Punishable by up to five years in prison, a five thousand dollar fine, and five years of probation
- Causing an accident that resulted in another individual’s death: Punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. However, if the defendant is sentenced to one year or less in county jail, the judge may order that they serve five years of probation
Michigan drivers convicted of felony hit-and-run will also have six points added to their license. However, the conviction will remain on the individual’s driving record even when the points fall off. Furthermore, hit-and-run offenses are generally not eligible for expungement under Michigan’s Clean Slate Act.
Other legal implications include being labeled a felon and losing civil rights, including the ability to legally own or possess a firearm, vote, or enlist in the military. Finally, a felony conviction can negatively affect a person’s ability to obtain gainful employment or secure housing.
If you have been accused of a felony hit-and-run, contact J Dallo, our skilled criminal defense attorney, immediately.
Are There Any Potential Legal Defenses for Felony Hit and Run?
Facing a felony hit-and-run charge can feel overwhelming and frightening as you worry about what the future may hold. However, one of the most significant advantages of hiring a criminal defense lawyer is that they can successfully create innovative legal strategies to fight the charges.
Some of the most common legal defenses to felony hit-and-run include:
- Unaware the accident occurred: A driver may be involved in a collision but not realize the accident occurred. Some issues contributing to drivers being unaware they have been involved in accidents include their vehicle’s overall size, poor roads, or adverse weather conditions. One of the most valuable tools that defense attorneys can utilize is surveillance and other video footage that can substantiate their claims that the defendant did not knowingly leave the scene of an accident.
- Misidentification: Individuals are sometimes incorrectly identified as hit-and-run drivers. However, a skilled defense attorney can seek evidence that proves the defendant was elsewhere when the accident occurred.
- Discrepancies in vehicle identification: Witnesses to felony hit-and-run accidents do not always get it right and may incorrectly identify a vehicle. An attorney can conduct an investigation and demonstrate how a different vehicle was involved in the accident.
- Medical emergency: Depending on the circumstances involved, a defense attorney may be able to demonstrate that the defendant left the scene of an accident to seek emergency medical treatment for themselves or one of their passengers.
Unlike other traffic violations, a felony hit-and-run accident resulting in injuries can be life-changing and could prevent you from being able to achieve your life goals. If you have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injuries, you must obtain qualified legal representation immediately. Do not hesitate when it comes to protecting your life and freedom; contact our felony hit-and-run attorney in Oakland County today.
When Should I Hire a Felony Hit and Run Lawyer?
Suppose you have left the scene of an accident. In that case, there are several steps you must take to avoid more charges, including reporting the incident to the police immediately and seeking medical attention for injured persons. The next step is to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Michigan law takes a dim view of individuals who leave accidents that result in injuries and imposes stiff penalties. Hiring a defense lawyer is your best option when trying to navigate the legal complexities of the criminal justice system.
When you hire a felony hit-and-run lawyer, they can thoroughly gather evidence and analyze the surveillance and video footage and witness statements to create an effective defense strategy. However, video evidence can quickly disappear, so you must hire an attorney immediately. Additionally, even over a few days, witnesses’ memories may fade or be challenging to locate.
Finally, a defense attorney can protect your rights to ensure that law enforcement officials and prosecutors treat you fairly during the legal process. Another significant advantage of hiring a defense attorney is that they can help minimize the charges against you. If you are convicted of a felony hit and run in criminal proceedings, the victim’s family may attempt to sue you for damages in civil court.
Attorney J Dallo from Dallo Law is a highly experienced criminal defense lawyer with a proven record of defending clients charged with felony hit-and-run. If you have left the scene of an accident that resulted in injuries, contact our Oakland County and Macomb County area law firm to schedule a consultation.
Why Should I Choose Dallo Law to Help Me Fight Felony Hit and Run Charges?
If you are convicted of a felony hit-and-run, you could be sentenced to prison, pay a substantial fine, and possibly serve probation. Furthermore, depending on the accident’s severity, your driver’s license could be suspended or revoked for several months or years. In many cases, felony hit-and-run defendants have their driver’s license suspended for at least one year.
Due to the severe legal penalties that accompany a felony hit-and-run conviction, you must hire a defense attorney who is unafraid to stand up to prosecutors. In many cases, prosecutors try to intimidate defendants into taking plea deals that are not in their best interest. However, Attorney J Dallo is passionately committed to ensuring that clients receive plea deals that give clients the best possible results for their situation. Our legal team has the skill and experience it takes to build a strong defense to help you win your case.
When you come to Dallo Law for help, we will examine the evidence to determine weaknesses in the state’s case and negotiate to try and have the felony charges dropped or reduced to a misdemeanor. Nevertheless, if the state is unwilling to offer a fair plea deal, our criminal defense law firm will take the case to trial.
Contact Dallo Law of Oakland County, Michigan, at 248-290-9962 to learn how to schedule your initial consultation with our criminal defense lawyer. Office visits are by appointment only; consultations are also available over the phone or via video conference.
