Have you or somebody you love been charged with Hit and Run or Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Weld County? When a car accident / collision happens it can be confusing, scary or you may be unsure of a safe place to pull over. Sometimes, people leave the place where the accident happened. In Greeley, Colorado, leaving the Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and failing to give Notice, Information and Aid, is a serious charge where you could lose your driver’s license. It is always good to have a Greeley traffic attorney to defend you.
What Do You Legally Need to Do After a Greeley Car Accident?
In Greeley, after a car accident, you are legally required to stop and exchange information with the driver of the other car. In more serious traffic accidents, you are required to wait until the Greeley police arrive. In any automobile accident where a person is injured, or a death occurred (even if it is a minor injury) both parties must stop and wait until police and medical help arrives. If a person leaves the scene and returns immediately, to avoid a charge they must first meet the requirements for getting medical attention to an injured person and leave their contact and vehicle information.
Six Colorado Laws Related to Leaving the Scene of an Accident or Hit and Run
When talking about the Colorado charges of Hit and Run or Leaving the Scene of an Accident, there are six statues which could lead to a criminal charge. The six statues are:
- Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury – C.R.S. 42-4-1601
- Accidents Involving Damage – C.R.S. 42-4-1602
- Duty to Give Notice, Information, and Aid – C.R.S. 42-4-1603
- Duty Upon Striking Unattended Vehicle or Other Property – C.R.S. 42-4-1604
- Duty Upon Striking Highway Fixtures or Traffic Control Devices – C.R.S. 42-4-1605
- Duty to Report Accidents – C.R.S. 42-4-1606
Hit and Run /Leaving the Scene of an Accident Damage Injury Definition in Weld County
The Definition of Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Weld County when damage has occurred is:
The driver of any vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall immediately return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such accident.
The Definition of Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Weld County when an injury or death has occurred is:
The driver of any vehicle directly involved in an accident resulting in injury to, serious bodily injury to, or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close to the scene as possible or shall immediately return to the scene of the accident. The driver shall then remain at the scene of the accident.
What are the Penalties for Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Greeley, Colorado?
The sentence and penalties for Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Greeley, Colorado depend on the accident and the severity of the injury that occurs. It is a class 1 misdemeanor if the accident resulted in an injury. If the accident resulted in serious bodily injury it is a class 4 felony. It is a class 3 felony if the accident resulted in the death of any person. If convicted, the person could end up facing up to 12 years in the DOC.
If you or a loved one has been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Weld County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.
Image by Rhonda Jenkins from Pixabay