Hit and Run in Virginia
December 1, 2018 by Jean Humbrecht
A hit and run in Virginia can be a very serious charge. It can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony and a conviction will have long-term consequences, including a criminal record that can never be expunged.
Proof of Hit and Run in Virginia
A hit and run in Virginia is also known as failing to report a car accident. Virginia law requires all drivers involved in any accident, no matter how minor, to stop as close to the scene as possible and provide certain identifying information. If the driver does not stop and provide this information, he can be charged with a hit and run in Virginia. Passengers in a car involved in an accident can also be charged with failure to report the accident if they knew the driver did not report the accident and they fail to make a report within 24 hours.
Penalties for Hit and Run in Virginia
A Hit and Run in Virginia Can Be a Misdemeanor or a Felony
The penalties for a hit and run in Virginia depend on whether the other vehicle was occupied, the extent of the property damage, and whether someone was injured or killed.
An accident resulting in less than $250 in damage to unattended property is a Class 4 misdemeanor, punished with a fine up to $250 and 3 DMV demerit points. If the damage was more than $250, the driver will be charged with 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 accident resulted in more than $500 in property damage, the offender will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, 4 DMV demerit points, and the additional possible penalty of up to 6 months of driver’s license suspension. For more information on a hit and run in Virginia involving unattended property, click here.
An accident involving attended property resulting in less than $1,000 in damage is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, 4 DMV demerit points, and, if the damage exceeded $500, driver’s license suspension for up to 6 months. If the accident resulted in more than $1,000 in property damage, the offender will be charged with a Class 5 felony, punished with up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, 6 DMV demerit points, and his license will be revoked for one year. For more information on a hit and run in Virginia involving attended property, click here.
If the accident resulted in injury or death, the driver will also be charged with a Class 5 felony, 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. For more information on a hit and run in Virginia resulting in injury or death, click here.
Passengers who fail to report a hit and run will be charged with a misdemeanor if the accident resulted only in property damage and a felony if someone was injured or killed as a result of the accident. For more information on passengers charged with failing to report a hit and run in Virginia, click here.
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