A Fairfax Hit and Run Can Be Charged if a Driver Fails to Report an Accident Resulting in Property Damage, Injury, or Death
Va. Code §46.2-894 requires any driver involved in an accident resulting in damage to occupied property to stop as close to the scene of the accident as possible and provide his name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration number to the police, the person struck by his vehicle, the driver or other occupant of the other vehicle involved in the accident, or the custodian of the other property damaged. The driver also has a duty to render aid if it is apparent someone is injured or if the injured person requests the assistance. If the driver himself is injured, he must make the required report as soon as possible.
The driver also has a duty to report the same information if his vehicle is in an accident resulting in damage to unoccupied property (Va. Code §46.2-896). He must leave a note in a conspicuous place (if he cannot locate the property owner) with the time, date, location of the accident, a description of the property damage, and his contact information, in addition to the other required information. He also must report the accident to the police in writing within 24 hours.
A passenger can also be charged with a crime for failing to report the accident if he knows the driver did not make the required report.
Penalties for Fairfax Hit and Run
A Fairfax Hit and Run involving unoccupied property is a misdemeanor. If the property damage was less than $250, the offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor, punished with a fine up to $250 and 3 DMV demerit points. If the property damage exceeded $250, the offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and 3 DMV demerit points. If the property damage exceeded $500, the DMV will add 4 demerit points to the offender’s driving record and his driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months.
Click here for more information on a Fairfax Hit and Run involving unoccupied property.
A Fairfax Hit and Run involving occupied property can be a misdemeanor or a felony. If the property damage was under $1,000, the driver will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. This offense is punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and 4 DMV demerit points. If the property damage exceeded $500, the driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months. If the property damage exceeded $1,000, the driver will be charged with a Class 5 felony. This charge is punished with up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, 6 DMV demerit points, and driver’s license revocation for one year.
Click here for more information on a Fairfax Hit and Run involving occupied property.
A Fairfax Hit and Run resulting in injury or death is a Class 5 felony. This offense is punished with up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, 6 DMV demerit points, and driver’s license revocation for one year.
A Fairfax Hit and Run Resulting in Injury or Death is Punished with up to 10 Years in Prison
Click here for more information on a Fairfax Hit and Run resulting in injury or death.
A passenger who fails to report a Hit and Run can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. A passenger will be charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor for failing to report an accident involving unoccupied property resulting in less than $250 in damage. This offense is punished with a fine up to $250. For any other accident involving property damage, the passenger can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Additionally, his driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months if the property damage exceeded $500. If someone was injured or died as a result of the accident, the passenger will be charged with a Class 6 felony. This offense is punished with up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500 and driver’s license revocation for one year.
Click here for more information on Hit and Run liability as a passenger in Fairfax.