Fleeing the scene can lead to costly fines and jail time
Most students have had it happen. You’re running late, and as you are pulling out of the driveway, you back into the car behind you. You look around, decide no one has seen you and drive away.
If you think that you’ve escaped being caught, you might want to think again.
Five of the seven hit-and-run accidents in the last two weeks have been witnessed and reported, according to CU Police Department reports. And leaving could result in a ticket, which is much more costly than merely leaving a note with your contact information on it.
It doesn’t only take a witness to get caught for a hit and run; most cars leave behind small details, which enable the police to find the person responsible.
However, for some students, witnessing a minor hit and run doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.
“I don’t believe in telling on other people in respects to a trivial offense, such as a minor hit and run,” said senior English major Brandon El Haj.
CUPD spokesman Lt. Brad Wiesley said leaving the scene of a crime has more consequences than the initial accident.
While stopped at a stoplight on Broadway, junior English major Tasha Shayne was rear-ended by a sport utility vehicle.
“I saw the car swerve around mine and gun it up the Hill,” Shayne said. “I just wish the driver would have been responsible enough to stop and own up to their actions.”
Far worse than an automobile or property damage left by a hit and run are the consequences that can be faced when a person flees after hitting a pedestrian.
Simply stopping and making a police report could land you with a one- to four-point traffic violation, depending on the injury level of the victim. However, if you flee the scene, you could lose up to 12 points on your license and face jail time.
“Courts look much more favorably upon these sorts of offenses when the perpetrator stops and makes a police report,” Wiesley said. “It is much better to stop and stay at the scene in order to make a report than to drive off.”
And if you are a victim of a recent auto collision and suffered injuries, you may want to consider speaking with an auto accident attorney. A professional personal injury lawyer or car accident lawyer can provide legal assistance and present evidence in court to help you get the compensation you deserve.
