Arlington Hit and Run Lawyer

Hit and run cases in Arlington can prove to be very serious charges. No matter the severity, leaving the scene of an accident is something that produces consequences on both the misdemeanor and felony levels. There are many different elements to a hit and run case, which is why an experienced Arlington traffic lawyer should be by your side to handle any and all legal information. Only they will pursue your case with you and your well-being in mind, and fight to help you secure the justice you deserve.

The Charge

In Arlington, a hit and run is defined as leaving the scene of an accident. It is usually charged when somebody fails to stop, or fails to provide information after an accident. Depending on the cause of the accident and extent of injuries and damage, the nature and seriousness of the charge will change.

Depending on whether or not the individual is the driver or the passenger, the elements of the crime will be slightly different. In Virginia, the driver can be charged with hit and run in any accident that they failed to report if they caused damage to a person, an occupied vehicle, an unoccupied vehicle, or if somebody was injured or killed as a result. A passenger, however, can be charged with hit and run if they know that the driver failed to report the accident and they also do not report it.

Misdemeanor vs. Felony

The difference between a misdemeanor and felony hit and run is going to be the amount of property damage. If it is over $1,000, or the accident resulted in any injury or death, it will be charged as a felony.

Benefits of an Attorney

An Arlington hit and run lawyer can help a person immensely when they are charged with a hit and run. An attorney can help an individual prepare the best possible defense to the charge, weighing each and every circumstance. Depending on whether or not somebody was injured and there was more than $1,000 of property damage, the accused individual would be charged with either a felony or misdemeanor. An attorney will be able to tell you which one you are being charged with, and prepare a strong, appropriate defense.

Attorney Qualities

Somebody looking for a hit and run attorney in Arlington should look for an attorney that pays attention to detail, and has a good grasp of the difference between the classifications of the charge. An individual should also look for an attorney who knows many specific moves and tactics of a Commonwealth attorney, and what they are going to need to prove for the case to reach the felony level. An ideal lawyer is someone who is a zealous advocate, is willing to take the time to talk to witnesses, and is willing to compile a lot of key, crucial information to for the defense.

Lawyer Expectations

Everybody is going to have a different expectation from their Arlington hit and run attorney. However, it is important to expect an attorney to prepare a good defense and to look into all available details. Additionally, if somebody is looking to hire a defense attorney, they should expect the attorney to ask them questions about the incident itself, to look into every fact, and to create a powerful, case-specific defense.