Leaving the scene of an accident can start with a split-second decision after a crash and end with a criminal charge. Maybe you panicked after hitting another vehicle. Maybe you thought the damage was too minor to matter. Sometimes drivers don’t even realize contact occurred until police call hours or days later.
What you might not have known is that Michigan drivers have a legal duty to remain at the scene after an accident. The law requires you to exchange information with the other driver and help injured people when necessary. If police believe you failed to meet those obligations, you could face misdemeanor or felony charges, along with license sanctions and other punishments. Many investigations also lead to related charges involving drunk driving or reckless driving.
Your choice of defense attorney when facing a serious criminal charge matters. Geherin Law Group, PLLC, defends people charged with leaving the scene offenses in Ann Arbor, throughout Washtenaw County, and down into Monroe County. Our team has more than 50 years of combined criminal justice experience in Michigan courtrooms. Founding lawyer Daniel T. Geherin is a former prosecutor and board-certified criminal trial attorney who has defended thousands of clients across Michigan.
When you contact Geherin Law Group, PLLC, you work directly with an experienced defense attorney who takes the time to understand what happened and who will build a custom strategy based on the facts of your case. If police contacted you about a hit-and-run investigation or you’ve already been charged, call for a confidential consultation with our experienced lawyers today.
Michigan law requires drivers to stop and take specific actions after an accident, even when the crash seems minor. A driver can face criminal charges for leaving the scene after property damage or injury accidents.
Prosecutors don’t have to prove you caused the accident to pursue a hit-and-run case. Instead, they focus on whether you stopped and fulfilled your legal obligations afterward. After an accident, Michigan drivers generally must:
These laws apply to many different situations, including:
Many leaving the scene cases involve misunderstandings rather than an attempt to avoid responsibility. Some drivers never realize that they hit anything. Others leave briefly to call for help or because they felt unsafe remaining at the scene. Fear, confusion, and adrenaline can also affect your decision-making after a crash. Even so, police may still pursue criminal charges if investigators believe a driver failed to comply with Michigan’s reporting and stop requirements. That’s why working with a lawyer from Geherin Law Group, PLLC, is important.
Michigan prosecutors treat leaving the scene offenses differently depending on the circumstances of the accident. A minor property damage case may result in misdemeanor charges, while accidents involving injuries or fatalities can lead to serious felony allegations with prison time. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys can handle both types of charges.
Leaving the scene after an accident involving only property damage is usually a misdemeanor. These cases often involve parked vehicles and traffic signs. Even though this is a misdemeanor, the consequences can still be serious. A conviction may lead to:
Police frequently investigate these cases using evidence like:
In some situations, drivers learn about the investigation long after the accident occurred. A lawyer can protect your rights during the investigation and if the prosecution files charges.
Leaving the scene is far more serious when someone suffered an injury or died in the accident. You could be charged with a felony if the crash caused serious impairment or resulted in a fatality. These cases are often connected to:
A felony conviction may result in:
A leaving the scene conviction can also have consequences for your driving privileges. Depending on the charge, you may face:
These consequences create additional problems for commercial drivers and other people whose employment depends on maintaining a clean driving record. Working with a qualified criminal defense attorney in Ann Arbor, MI, is the best way to protect your license and record.
A strong defense starts with understanding exactly what happened before, during, and after the accident. Police reports don’t always tell the full story, and investigators sometimes reach conclusions before reviewing all available evidence. The attorneys at Geherin Law Group, PLLC, review the facts carefully to find weaknesses that may support a favorable resolution.
While every case is different, there are some common defenses for these cases:
Minor contact and other conditions sometimes prevent drivers from realizing a collision happened. These issues often arise in parking lot accidents and other minor property damage cases. Prosecutors generally must prove that a driver knew or reasonably should have known an accident occurred. Our attorneys review vehicle damage and accident reconstruction evidence to challenge those assumptions.
Some drivers leave temporarily because they panic or feel unsafe. Others later return to the scene or report the accident after realizing what happened. Prosecutors often consider the timing of those actions and the surrounding circumstances. Our lawyers present the full context, rather than allowing prosecutors to focus on only part of the story.
Police sometimes rely on unreliable evidence. Shared family vehicles and borrowed cars often create serious identification issues. Our attorneys can look over body camera footage, repair records, dispatch logs, and timeline evidence to challenge inconsistent claims.
A driver may leave temporarily because of a medical emergency or immediate safety concern after a crash. Courts consider the surrounding facts when evaluating your intent and decision-making during stressful situations.
Some cases involve evidence gathered in violation of your Constitutional protections. Geherin Law Group, PLLC, reviews police conduct and suppression issues to determine whether key evidence can be challenged or excluded.
Your specific defense will depend on the unique facts of your case. Call our lawyers today to find out which defenses might be right for you.
A leaving the scene charge can leave lasting damage to your record and reputation. What you do early in the case matters, especially if police are still investigating or asking for statements.
Geherin Law Group, PLLC, represents clients charged with leaving the scene offenses in Ann Arbor, throughout Washtenaw County, and into Monroe County. If you were charged or believe police may contact you about a crash investigation, contact Geherin Law Group, PLLC, today to find out how we can help.
