Hit and run charges carry serious criminal consequences. Whether you’re accused of leaving the scene of a property damage accident, injury collision, or fatal crash, the stakes are incredibly high, and immediate legal representation is essential.
At Keys Criminal Defense, our experienced Key Largo hit and run lawyer understands the state’s complex traffic laws and provides aggressive defense representation, protecting your rights, investigating the circumstances surrounding the allegations, and fighting for the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a strategic criminal defense attorney.
A hit and run occurs when a driver involved in any accident fails to stop, provide required information, or render assistance as mandated by Florida Statute 316.027. This applies to all collisions, regardless of who caused the accident or the severity of damage.
State law requires drivers involved in crashes to immediately stop at the scene or as close as safely possible. If the accident involves occupied vehicles, drivers must exchange names, addresses, driver’s license information, vehicle registration, and insurance details with other parties.
When accidents involve unattended vehicles or property, drivers must leave written notice with their contact information in a conspicuous location. For accidents involving injuries, drivers must provide reasonable assistance to injured persons, including calling emergency services or transporting victims to medical facilities if necessary. Failure to render aid when someone is hurt constitutes a more serious offense.
Hit and run does not require the driver to have caused the accident—even drivers who were not at fault must stop and exchange information. As a Key Largo attorney can further explain, leaving the accident scene for any reason, including panic, fear of consequences, lack of insurance, or impairment, does not excuse the legal obligation to remain.
Florida imposes severe penalties for hit-and-run offenses under Florida Statute 316.027, with consequences varying based on the accident’s severity. Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail, fines up to $500, and six points on your driver’s license.
Hit and run involving injuries constitutes a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000. Your driver’s license will also be revoked for at least three years.
The most serious charge is leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Minimum mandatory sentences of four years apply in fatal hit-and-run cases.
Beyond criminal penalties, defendants face civil liability for damages, dramatically increased insurance rates, difficulty obtaining future insurance coverage, and permanent criminal records affecting employment opportunities. Courts may also order restitution to victims covering medical bills, property damage, and other losses. Our attorneys can review the charges against you to determine what penalties you may be facing following your hit-and-run accident in Key Largo.
If you are charged with a hit-and-run offense in Key Largo, your attorney may create a defense stating you did not have any idea that an accident occurred or that you did stop and report the accident within the timeframe that was required by law. Furthermore, your legal team could argue that you were the victim of mistaken identity, you left the scene to get medical help or to avoid an emergency, or your vehicle was not working in a way that allowed you to stop properly. Finally, your lawyer may attempt to get the charges dismissed if there is not enough evidence to prove each of the elements of the criminal offense.
If you have been charged with a hit and run, you need an attorney who can work for the best possible resolution of your case. If you’re searching for a Key Largo hit and run lawyer, our team at Keys Criminal Defense, PLLC can provide you with diligent legal representation when you need us. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation.
