Hit and Run Lawyer

Steve Graham was rated one of Spokane's top five criminal lawyers by the magazine Spokane - Couer d'Alene Living. A Hit and Run charge can lead to license suspensions, jail time, costly fines, and the requirement for high-risk insurance. It is important to have a criminal defense lawyer with the experience and tenacity that you deserve. Under Washington law, there many different levels of Hit and Run.

Hit and Run Unattended

Hit and Run Unattended is defined as striking a parked or "unattended" vehicle and leaving the scene without locating the owner and notifying him or her, or without leaving a note in a conspicuous place. Hit and Run Unattended is a misdemeanor, and is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine. This offense also applies to drivers who strike fixed property adjacent to the roadway such as guard rails, fences or structures.

Hit and Run Attended

The crime of Hit and Run Attended is defined as striking an occupied or "attended" car and fleeing the scene without providing the other driver with your name, address and the name of your insurance company. If the incident does not result in an injury, the offense is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5000 fine. This statue applies irrespective of which driver caused the accident.

If the offense results in an injury to the other driver, the offense is a class C felony with a maximum punishment of 5 years in prison and a fine of no more than $10,000. The standard range prison sentence for Hit and Run - Injury is 3 to 9 months in the county jail for a person with no criminal record. If the Hit and Run accident leads to a fatality, the offense is a class B felony, and the maximum punishment is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A conviction for Hit and Run when a death results carries a standard range sentence of 31 to 41 months in prison.

Other Charges

Sometimes the charge of Hit and Run is connected with other charges such as DUI, Negligent Driving, Reckless Driving, or Minor Operating Motor Vehicle Over .02.

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