Protecting Your Rights After Being Involved in a Hit-and-Run in Georgia
Author: Jameel Manji, Founder, Manji Law, P.C.
Mr. Manji founded Manji Law in 2016 to follow his passion of helping people navigate the complicated immigration system. Mr. Manji graduated from Georgia State University College of Law and received Master of Taxation from the Georgia State’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Published on: January 14, 2022, Last Updated on: January 28, 2022.
If you have been charged with a hit-and-run in Georgia, you could face serious repercussions, especially if you are an immigrant. Learn more here.
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Have You Been Charged With a Hit-and-Run in Georgia?
A hit-and-run is a serious crime in Georgia. Leaving the scene of an accident that you are involved in can bring you some severe legal consequences. Under certain conditions, and by Georgia law, a hit-and-run can be classified as a felony offense.
If you witness a hit-and-run accident in Georgia, call the local law enforcement right away. If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should consult with a criminal defense lawyer before speaking to the police.
A criminal lawyer can make a great difference in your case, even if your actions resulted in a person being injured. It’s normal to be scared, but your defense attorney will make a solid effort to help you out with your hit-and-run charges.
What You Should Know About Hit-and-Run Accidents in Georgia
According to estimates by the NHTSA, there is around one hit-and-run crash accident occurring in the U.S. every 43 seconds or so. If there is an injured person in the hit-and-run accident, call the emergency medical services right away.
Try to remember the vehicle involved in the scene of the accident and their registration number. Provide these details to authorities. It is a serious crime if the perpetrator doesn’t immediately stop when the accident occurs and leaves the scene of the accident.
Provide any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance by talking and following the operator’s instructions. Hit-and-run accidents often require medical or surgical treatment; however, helping the victim while following the operator’s advice could save their life until the medics reach the scene of the accident.
Penalty for Hit-and-Run in Georgia
Anyone convicted of a hit-and-run in Georgia will face serious penalties. If such an accident resulted in the death or severe injury of a person, the driver will be guilty of a felony. Hit-and-run accidents can have dire consequences on immigration. The two types of hit-and-run offenses are:
- Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT)
- Aggravated Felonies
Both convictions lead to serious consequences with the immigration court and USCIS. You may face mandatory detention, ineligibility when it comes to future immigration benefits, and even deportation.
Your hit-and-run conviction will be considered either an aggravated felony or CIMT based on a number of complex elements and case analysis. Always consult with an experienced attorney beforehand.
At Manji Law P.C., our immigration-focused criminal defense attorneys can help you out with your hit-and-run case and any immigration law issues as well. Operating mostly in the Atlanta and Decatur regions, you can contact us at 678.902.2999 for a consultation and learn more about your rights!
Consequences of Hit-and-Run in Georgia
Your driver’s license is the last thing you should worry about when it comes to hit-and-run accidents. In the most serious cases, you will lose all immigration rights and face deportation. A hit-and-run will affect your immigration opportunities, so if you have this crime on your record, it is best to consult with an attorney before filing an application with USCIS.
If you were charged with a hit-and-run accident, you will be arrested and taken to jail. You can bond out while the case is pending. In Georgia, any hit-and-run misdemeanor cases can result in up to one year in jail.
If a person struck in the hit-and-run accident loses their life, or such person faces serious injuries, the perpetrator will be charged with a felony hit-and-run and may face between one and five years in prison. You can also be charged with serious injury involving a vehicle or vehicular homicide.
Cost of a Hit-and-Run Ticket in Georgia
If the car accident didn’t result in serious injuries or damage to the other vehicle, the hit-and-run driver will be guilty of a misdemeanor and may face up to 12 months jail time and pay a fine between $300 to $1,000 if it is their first such conviction.
In some hit-and-run cases, you may have to do both the jail time and pay the fines. Under Georgia state law, a second conviction within five years will also result in one year of prison, a fine between $300 to $1,000, or both. A third or subsequent conviction will result in a $1,000 fine, one year in jail, or both.
How Much Is a Hit-and-Run Ticket in Georgia?
A hit-and-run ticket in Georgia is mostly between $300 to $1,000 if it is the first conviction, and the motor vehicle accident wasn’t serious. You may face driver’s license suspension and may even have to do up to 12 months in jail.
With a prominent law firm by your side, you may be able to reduce the charges to less serious offenses, avoid license suspension, or even have your hit-and-run charge dropped altogether. Contact Manji Law P.C. at 678.902.2999 and let us fight for your rights!
How to Report a Hit-and-Run Accident in Georgia
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident in Georgia, call 911 right away. Both police and ambulance will arrive at the accident scene and help you out, offering plenty of evidence in your case due to the authority’s reports.
How to Sue a Hit-and-Run Driver in Georgia
First and foremost, don’t run away from the accident scene. Call 911 and take photos of the scene. Take notes from any possible witnesses. Provide all necessary information to authorities, and accept medical care.
If you are afraid to report the accident to the authorities due to fear of disclosing your immigration status, you should contact an immigration lawyer immediately.
Hit-and-Run Laws in Georgia
Under Georgia hit-and-run laws, the drivers of all the vehicles involved in an accident must stop and locate any injured individuals or the owner of any damaged property. They have to exchange contact information or report the event to law enforcement.
If the owner of the damaged property isn’t present, such as in the case of an unattended vehicle, the at-fault driver should at least leave a note describing the accident and their contact information and report it to their local police department. Failure to do so can result in severe legal repercussions and other consequences.
Statute of Limitation for Hit-and-Run in Georgia
In Georgia, you generally have up to 2 years from the date of the accident to file injury claims or if the accident resulted in the death of someone. You can file claims for property damage for about four years from the event of the accident. If you believe you may have been at fault for the accident and could face charges, contact Manji Law P.C. for more information.
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