In the article Can You Go To Jail For Accidentally Hitting Someone With Your Car?, we have given you some information about what may happen if you get into an accident.
In this article, we expand on some of the points that we shared in that article.
Fact 1: A True Accident Means Jail is Unlikely
Accidents are different from intentional actions individuals take. How a person responds to the aftermath of an accident, particularly after a car accident in Michigan, often determines whether or not they will go to jail.
The reality is that accidentally hitting someone with your car is unlikely to land you in jail. That does not mean you will be free from any responsibility for the incident. Individuals will likely receive a citation from law enforcement officials if they accidentally strike somebody, and they may even face misdemeanor charges. However, jail time will be unlikely. Let us breakdown what this means:
- If you get into an accident, your actions determine what happens next. This means that if you act according to what you are legally bound to do, you are less likely to land in jail.
- Just because you are not going to jail does not mean that you will not have to pay for the damages that you caused. Liability is always present in accidents, especially when fault is being attributed by the insurance companies.
- If it is an accident, there is nothing that you should worry about. As long as you follow what you are legally required to do, you should be fine.
- In case of doubt, Haque Legal is here for you.
Fact 2: Impaired Driving or Other Reckless Driving Behavior
If an individual strikes somebody with their vehicle and they are found to be impaired by alcohol or drugs, distracted by their phones or other devices, or otherwise determined to have been operating their vehicle recklessly, they may serve jail time. Drivers can face charges, and an “accident” may not be considered an accident in the eyes of the law in these circumstances.
If a person has broken the law behind the wheel of their vehicle and struck someone, they should expect to face misdemeanor or even felony charges, depending on whether there has been an injury or a fatality due to the reckless driving behavior. Let us breakdown what this means:
- An accident caused by impaired driving is highly likely to not be ruled out as an accident.
- You will be facing felony charges or misdemeanor charges when you showcase reckless driving behavior.
Fact 3: Hit and Run Incidents Lead to Serious Consequences
If an incident results in damage to a vehicle, a person may be guilty of a misdemeanor if they flee the scene. This is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $100 fine. In the event an individual causes serious injury and flees the scene, they could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 as a result of a felony conviction. Finally, fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in a death could result in a felony conviction and a 15-year prison sentence and a $15,000 fine.
There is a lot more to learn about accidents and we have ample articles to guide you. Simply browse our blog.
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Here at Haque Legal, we always have your back. Make sure that on your first free consultation we tell you everything that you need to know about your case as well as the cost and the expenses that would be associated with the filing of your case.
The consultation is free for the first time because we understand that you need to at least have that guidance coming from a reputable law firm and lawyer to assess your case. If you have a personal injury case and you need a lawyer to handle it you can always contact our law firm and we can talk about your situation and the best way that we can handle it, especially in terms of the expenses.
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Our law firm is dedicated to making sure that those who are innocent will be protected by the law and that the full extent of justice will be used.
Disclaimer
The article that you have read is based on general applications of the law. It is not legal advice and it is not to be construed as any legal consultation with the firm. No client-attorney relationship is created when you read the articles we have provided.
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The post Accidents Happen: Facts About Your Liability appeared first on Haque Legal.