McLean, VA Hit and Run Lawyer

Client-Focused Traffic Crimes Lawyer for Hit and Run Cases in McLean, Virginia

Every driver has certain legal obligations when it comes to protecting the safety of others on the road. One of these obligations is stopping to help after being involved in a traffic accident. Even if the accident was not your fault, or if you believe it was too minor to file an insurance claim over, you are required to stop, exchange information, and cooperate with the police if they are called. If someone was injured in the crash, you are obligated to render aid—normally by calling an ambulance.

Fleeing the scene after a traffic accident is a criminal offense known in Virginia as "Failure to Report an Accident." Depending on the circumstances, hit and run can be a felony or a misdemeanor. Hit and run charges are likely to be much more serious than the charges drivers may try to avoid when fleeing after accidents. Drivers who are accused of these offenses will need to make sure they have legal representation from a lawyer who can develop an effective defense strategy.

Noorishad Law, P.C. handles hit and run cases strategically and aggressively. McLean, VA hit and run lawyer Kaveh Noorishad is highly experienced in taking on difficult cases, and he works to make the impossible possible. He takes on a limited number of cases at a time so that each client will receive the individualized attention they deserve. When a hit and run charge is jeopardizing your future, you need the lawyer other lawyers hire. Attorney Noorishad has been recognized by professional organizations like Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Criminal Lawyers for his outstanding results in criminal cases. He strives to produce the results his clients need.

Misdemeanor Failure to Report an Accident

If an accident only caused damage to property, and the total damages were less than $1,000, you could be charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of the accident. Misdemeanor hit and run charges should be taken seriously, as they can carry up to a year of jail time and a driver's license suspension of up to six months.

The specific charges may depend on whether the property damaged was attended or unattended. The charges are more serious, and the sentencing can be harsher if an occupied vehicle or structure was damaged, as someone could have been injured. Regardless of the circumstances, you will need to determine how to defend against hit and run charges with the help of an attorney so you can take steps to prevent a misdemeanor conviction.

Felony Failure to Report an Accident With Damage to Attended Property

If you allegedly left the scene of an accident that caused more than $1,000 in damage to property, you can be charged with a felony that carries two to 10 years in jail. If you are convicted of this offense, you may be fined up to $2,500, and your driver's license may be suspended for a year. Since it can be difficult to estimate the value of property damage at the roadside, a hit and run charge can easily be escalated to a felony offense. Because of the harsh penalties that come with a felony conviction, it is important to secure legal representation as you defend against these charges.

Failure to Report an Accident With Injury or Death

Fleeing the scene of an accident in which another person was injured or killed is a felony that carries two to 10 years in jail. This is the most serious type of hit and run charge. Courts take these cases extremely seriously. Leaving the scene without stopping to help people who were injured is seen as an extreme violation of your duties as a driver. While panicking after a serious traffic accident is understandable, courts can be very tough on those who make no effort to render aid. Even if you were only a passenger in the fleeing vehicle, you can be charged if you do not report what happened in a timely manner. Our attorney can help you address these charges and advocate on your behalf during your case, working to help you avoid a felony conviction.

Defenses Against Hit and Run Charges

A few of the defense strategies that our lawyer may use for clients who are accused of hit and run include:

• Mistaken Identity: Hit and run drivers are frequently misidentified, especially if they were driving a borrowed, shared, or stolen vehicle. We can help you show that you were not the driver of the car involved in a hit and run.
• Lack of Knowledge: If you were driving a much larger vehicle than the alleged victim, you may not have noticed an impact. We can help you demonstrate that you were unaware of any damages or injuries.
• Your Own Injury: If you were seriously injured or incapacitated, your legal duties after an accident are different. We can help you take steps to show that injuries prevented you from reporting an accident.

Contact Our McLean, Virginia Hit and Run Defense Lawyer

Noorishad Law, P.C. is committed to securing outstanding results in cases involving hit and run charges. Experienced McLean, VA hit and run attorney Kaveh Noorishad puts his clients first. Contact us at 703-542-4500 for a complimentary consultation.