Steps to Take Immediately After Being Accused of a Hit-and-Run in San Diego

Posted on: October 12th, 2024 by Dod Law

Accused of a Hit-and-Run in San Diego

San Diego police officers can charge people accused of a hit-and-run with misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity of an alleged accident. Those charges can have a considerable negative impact on your future if you let them go unchallenged.  Learn more about what to do if you are accused of a hit-and-run in San Diego.

Fortunately, Attorney Dod is here to help. You can count on an experienced defense attorney to walk you through the steps you need to immediately take after being accused of a hit and run. The faster you act, the easier it may be to protect yourself from wrongful criminal charges.

Contact an Experienced Lawyer As Soon As Possible 

You should never try to defend yourself from an accusation of a hit-and-run without legal support. Do not make an official statement, apologize, or admit fault. Instead, get in touch with an experienced hit and run criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

An attorney can interface with police officers and a false accuser on your behalf. Our understanding of the law can prevent officers and other parties from misinterpreting the facts of your crash.

We can also begin creating a defense against the wrongful accusations a supposed “victim” tries to bring against you.

Gather Documentation Proving You Were at an Accident Scene | If Accused of a Hit-and-Run

It’s always in your best interest to thoroughly document an accident scene after you’re involved in a crash. That documentation can help you challenge an accusation of a hit and run by proving you remained on the scene until police officers arrived.

Make sure you have an alleged victim’s license, registration, and insurance information readily available. You can also take advantage of any recordings you took at the scene, including recordings of conversations with an alleged victim.

Organize Photos and Videos From the Crash 

If your phone isn’t damaged, it’s in your best interest to take as many photos of your accident scene as possible. Photos allow you to account for the damage done to your vehicle and any injuries you suffered as a result of a negligent party’s bad behavior.

You can also use your phone to take photos of someone’s license and insurance cards. Some photos may even capture bystanders’ faces and make it easier to track them down for testimony.

Contact Bystanders for Testimony

Bystander testimony can also help you defend yourself from accusations of a hit and run. If it was safe for you to approach bystanders at an accident scene – meaning it wasn’t a risk to your health – you can use their names, email addresses, and phone numbers to request statements about your behavior.

Our attorneys could even reach out to bystanders and ask them to testify on the stand if the state insists on opening a hit and run case against you.

Provide Officers With an Accident Report

You have a legal obligation to file an accident report after a serious accident in San Diego. Fortunately, filing an accident report creates concrete evidence of your accident and your involvement in the aftermath. You can pull an accident report and submit it to police officers to prove that you didn’t flee from an accident scene.

Our team also recommends that you file an insurance claim as soon as you can after your crash. Filing a claim allows you to recover damages based on your losses and again asserts that you’re acknowledging an accident. That acknowledgment makes it much harder for someone to argue you’re trying to avoid responsibility for a crash.

Fight Back Against Wrongful Hit-and-Run Charges | Accused of a Hit-and-Run

If you’re accused of a hit-and-run, don’t panic. You can work with criminal defense lawyers to immediately take steps to mitigate the accusations brought against you. Attorney Dod can help you formulate a defense based on lack of evidence, unsafe driving conditions, and false accusations of roadway misconduct.

Our team is prepared to submit to thoroughly investigate the wrongful charges brought against you after a serious accident. If you’re ready to learn more about the steps we’ll take on your behalf, you can book a free defense consultation with Attorney Dod today. Call us at our downtown San Diego office (619) 814-5110 | Santa Ana, Orange County office 949-681-7020  | Vista office (760) 814-6025 or schedule an appointment by filling out our online contact form to discuss the best way forward.