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What Are the Consequences of a Hit-and-Run Accident?

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Whatever you do, it is in your best interest to remain put at the scene of your accident until you speak with other involved parties and a responding law enforcement officer. This applies regardless of whether your car appears unharmed or the other involved parties are seemingly uninjured. Otherwise, the Tennessee criminal court may penalize you for a hit-and-run offense. With that in mind, please follow along to find out the consequences of being found guilty of committing a hit-and-run accident and how one of the proficient Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers at Fendley and Birch can help you avoid any further complications with your legal case.

What consequences am I facing after a hit-and-run accident in Tennessee?

You must understand that federal and state laws consider fleeing the scene of an accident as a serious criminal offense. For this, the consequences you face may depend on the aftermath of the accident event.

On the one hand, if your hit-and-run accident resulted in property damage, this may be charged as a Class C misdemeanor. With this comes a fine of up to $50, a jail sentence of up to 30 days, and a potential driver’s license suspension. The exact extent of these penalties may be based on the dollar amount of damages.

On the other hand, if your hit-and-run accident resulted in the injury or death of another party or parties, you may be punished with a Class A misdemeanor. This misdemeanor consists of a fine of up to $2,500, a jail sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days, and a potential driver’s license suspension.

This is not to mention that points may be added to your driver’s license, and your auto insurance premiums may drastically inflate. What’s more, the affected party or parties may take civil action against you, which may result in your having to pay further monetary or statutory damages.

What happens if I am intoxicated at the time of my hit-and-run?

What may make matters worse for you is if the Tennessee criminal court finds that you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your hit-and-run offense. This is because you may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) offense in addition to a Class C or Class A misdemeanor. The consequences of a DUI in the state of Tennessee read as follows:

  • First-offense DUI:
    • A fine of anywhere between $350 to $1,500.
    • A jail sentence of anywhere between 48 hours to 11 months, 29 days.
    • A driver’s license suspension of up to one year.
  • Second-offense DUI:
    • A fine of anywhere between $600 to $3,500.
    • A jail sentence of anywhere between 45 days to 11 months, 29 days.
    • A driver’s license suspension of up to two years.
    • A vehicle confiscation or immobilization at your expense.
  • Third-offense DUI:
    • A fine of anywhere between $1,100 to $10,000.
    • A jail sentence of anywhere between 120 days to 11 months, 29 days.
    • A driver’s license suspension of up to six years.
    • A vehicle confiscated and possibly forfeited.

We hope that this blog offers the insight you were searching for. For more information, we encourage you to contact one of the talented Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers from Fendley and Birch today.