Los Angeles Hit and Run Lawyer Blog
If you have been charged with a Hit and Run with damage to property, you have been charged under California Vehicle Code §20002.
California Vehicle Code §20002 outlines what is expected of a driver when they have been involved in an accident, in which property has been damaged and the owner of the property is not present. The code specifically states the following:
“ (1) Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle involved and, upon locating the driver of any other vehicle involved or the owner or person in charge of any damaged property, upon being requested, present his or her driver’s license, and vehicle registration, to the other driver, property owner, or person in charge of that property. The information presented shall include the current residence address of the driver and of the registered owner. If the registered owner of an involved vehicle is present at the scene, he or she shall also, upon request, present his or her driver’s license information, if available, or other valid identification to the other involved parties.
(2) Leave in a conspicuous place on the vehicle or other property damaged a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle involved and a statement of the circumstances thereof and shall without unnecessary delay notify the police department of the city wherein the collision occurred or, if the collision occurred in unincorporated territory, the local headquarters of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. “
This means that you must leave contact information in the event that the owner of the property damaged was not present. You must also leave this information in a notable place so that the owner of the property may receive it and be able to contact you. You must also provide the information to the police department, and any other information that is requested.
There are available defenses in a Los Angeles Hit and Run. This is what it is so important that you speak to and consult with a Los Angeles Hit and Run Attorney. The attorney can assess your case and prepare possible defenses.
For example, one such defense is that you did leave contact information, however, for an uncontrollable reason, that information was lost. Let’s consider a hypothetical to fully understand this defense.
David was driving home at night on an extremely windy and foggy night. Not being able to see, he crashes into the fence on a person’s property when making a right turn. He gets out of the car and uses all he has to leave his contact information. He wraps a rubber bang around a business card with his information. However, over night, the business card blows away due to the extreme wind. To the Court, and arresting officers, it appears that David did not follow the protocol dictated by the statute stated above. That is not the case, and an experienced attorney would argue it in court.
If you find yourself in this situation, do not hesitate. Contact a professional today to ensure the best possible results!