If a driver leaves the scene of an auto accident without stopping and fulfilling his or her legal obligations, it is the crime of hit-and-run. Hit-and-run laws in Texas are serious, penalizing perpetrators with consequences such as hefty fines and potential jail or prison time.
As a driver, it is important to know hit-and-run laws in Texas to stay out of legal trouble. Texas hit and run laws can be vast and hard to read and sometimes a car accident lawyer is the right personal to call. A Texas car accident lawyer can also help you understand your rights if you become the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
What Is a Hit-and-Run?
Motor vehicle drivers have dozens of responsibilities they accept when they get behind the wheel. One of these duties in Texas is to stop at the scene of any accidents. State law requires you to pull over immediately after getting into a car accident, whether the vehicle you struck is occupied or unoccupied. You must park as close as you safely can to the scene of the collision and check for injuries. State law requires you to do your best to assist anyone with injuries, such as by calling the police or offering the victim a ride to the nearest hospital.
If the car accident involves a personal injury, fatality, broken roadway law (e.g. a drunk driver), uninsured driver, property damage above $1,000 or a hit-and-run, call the police to report the crash from the scene. Note the location of the crash, the names of those at the scene and the contact information of any witnesses. Obtain the other driver’s insurance information if he or she stayed at the scene. Always call the police after a hit-and-run so they can inspect the crash scene for evidence that could identify the at-fault driver. Failing to stop at the scene of a wreck and fulfill your driver’s duties is a hit-and-run crime.
What Are the Legal Responsibilities After a Car Accident?
According to Texas Revised Statutes Section 550.021, if a driver is in an accident involving personal injury or death – or a crash that is reasonably likely to result in injury or death – he or she has several legal responsibilities. Ignoring these responsibilities and fleeing the scene is dangerous, as it means injured victims may not receive the professional medical care they need. The legal responsibilities after a car accident in Texas are:
- Immediately pull the vehicle over as close to the accident scene as possible.
- Immediately return to the scene if you did not stop.
- Determine if anyone involved in the accident requires aid.
- Render reasonable assistance to anyone injured.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Call the police if the crash involves injuries, deaths or more than $1,000 in damage.
- Remain at the scene of the car accident until you have given your information and rendered aid.
If the car accident involved striking an unattended vehicle, the legal responsibilities are to locate the owner or leave a note in a conspicuous place with your name and address. If the collision was with a fixture or highway landscaping, you must take reasonable steps to report the accident to a person of authority. If the damage is worth more than $1,000, you must also file a police report.
Failure to fulfill these legal responsibilities after a car crash in Texas is a hit-and-run.
Can You Deny a Hit-and-Run?
The biggest issue with hit-and-run accidents is identifying the driver that caused the damages. The responding police officers may take steps to try to identify the driver that fled the scene, such as examining any debris or paint chips the offending vehicle left behind or talking to eyewitnesses. Sometimes, however, the police make mistakes. Upon reviewing surveillance cameras, monitoring the neighborhood and taking other steps to identify the hit-and-run driver, the police may apprehend the wrong suspect.
If the police wrongfully accuse you of committing a hit-and-run, you have the right to deny the charges and plead not guilty. With a lack of evidence against you, the prosecution may have no choice but to drop the charges. If the prosecution has evidence putting you at the scene of the crime, however, the criminal courts may proceed with the case and even find you guilty, depending on the circumstances.
Hit-and-run is a crime in Texas, not just a civil wrongdoing. A conviction can come with serious criminal consequences. Always remain at the scene of an auto accident to avoid criminal charges.
What are Texas Hit-and-Run Laws Penalties?
What are Texas hit-and-run laws penalties? Causing a car accident and driving away without stopping can have criminal and civil ramifications. On the criminal level, leaving the scene of an accident can result in a misdemeanor or felony conviction. The severity of the crime will depend on the seriousness of the injuries or damages caused. It could be a felony if the hit-and-run causes serious bodily injury or death. The penalties for hit-and-run in Texas include six months in county jail to 10 years in state prison and/or fines of $500 to $5,000 or more.
The civil consequences could include having to pay for a victim’s damages in restitution, either through the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company or out of pocket. If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Texas, you could be eligible for compensation if the police find who caused your crash. If the police do not catch the perpetrator, you may still be able to obtain compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, if available.
What Should I Do If Someone Hit Me and Fled the Scene?
If someone hit you in Dallas, Texas and fled the scene without stopping, rendering aid and exchanging information, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure the full protection of your legal rights. Your car accident case will look different from a standard crash, where you would have the other driver's information.
If you are able, take the following steps to protect your rights as the victim of a hit-and-run accident:
- Get to a safe place. Move out of the road, if you can, and find a safe place to pull over and wait.
- Check for injuries. Determine whether you or others involved have any injuries.
- Call 911. Use a cell phone to call the police and report the hit-and-run accident.
- Request an ambulance. If anyone is injured, ask the police to send paramedics.
- Talk to eyewitnesses. Eyewitnesses may have details about the driver that fled the scene.
- Write down what you remember. While the memory is still fresh, write down a description of the other car or license plate numbers, if you have them.
- Take photographs. Capture pictures of the crash scene, if possible.
- Go to a hospital. Go to the nearest hospital in Dallas for professional medical care.
- File an insurance claim. Call your own auto insurance company to file an initial claim.
- Contact a car accident lawyer in Dallas. Before you settle with your insurer, consult with an attorney for advice.
A hit-and-run accident attorney in Dallas can guide you through the claims process to make sure you do not settle for less than your case is worth. Your lawyer can search for sources of financial compensation, including your own insurance provider or a third party, such as the government. From there, your lawyer can negotiate with a claims adjuster for fair and full compensation for the full extent of your losses.
If a settlement is not possible, your lawyer can take your hit-and-run accident case to court instead.
Contact a Hit and Run Lawyer Today
A hit-and-run car accident will lead to a confusing legal process. An experienced hit-and-run lawyer can make things easier for you and your family by taking over a legal claim on your behalf. You do not have to handle a lawsuit on your own. Contact a Dallas injury lawyer for more information about your case.