Attorney for “Hit-and-Run” Accidents

You should never leave the scene of a crash until after you have supplied all of the necessary information. Leaving the scene of a crash is a serious criminal offense that comes with serious criminal penalties. If the police are looking for you after a “hit and run” accident in Hillsborough County, FL, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.

We welcome your calls to 813-250-0500 to discuss your case during a free consultation.

After the criminal investigation begins, don’t compound your first mistake by trying to represent yourself during the ongoing criminal investigation. Instead, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.

Our experienced attorneys can help you:

  1. figure out if the crash has been reported to law enforcement authorities;
  2. find the investigator assigned to the case;
  3. contact the investigating officer to invoke your right to remain silent so that the officer does NOT come to your home or work to interrogate you;
  4. provide information to the investigating officer on your behalf so that the officer can complete their crash report and close the criminal part of the investigation;
  5. track down information about how the crash occurred;
  6. present any favorable information to the police to show them why criminal charges should not be filed; and
  7. work with your insurance company to resolve any claims quickly.

Because “hit and run” cases are so common, many local law enforcement agencies have an entire division devoted to these kinds of traffic investigations. In fact, both the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department have a hit-and-run unit with specially trained officers that focus on these types of investigations.

Our attorneys are familiar with the standard operating procedures used by each of the different law enforcement agencies.

Attorneys for Hit and Run Cases in Tampa, FL

When it comes to allegations of leaving the scene of a crash, the law is unforgiving. Officers are aggressive in these investigations, even if no one was seriously injured. Officers go to even greater lengths to find hit-and-run drivers involved in multi-vehicle crashes.

If you made a mistake by leaving the scene of the crash, don’t make another mistake by trying to represent yourself during the criminal investigation. Instead, retain an experienced criminal defense attorney in Tampa, FL, who can represent you at each stage of the case.

At Sammis Law Firm, our attorneys can contact the investigating officer on your behalf so that the police do not come to your home or work to interrogate you after the crash. We can also help you deal with the insurance company so that any civil claims for money damages can be resolved properly.

We understand the policy and procedures used by “hit and run” investigators at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, the Plant City Police Department, the Temple Terrace Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

The goal in these cases is to avoid any criminal accusation or arrest. An experienced criminal justice lawyer in Tampa, FL, at Sammis Law Firm can help you fight for the best result at every stage of the case in Hillsborough County, FL. Our offices are conveniently located downtown, just a few blocks from the courthouse.

Call 813-250-0500.


Penalties and Punishments for Hit and Run Crimes

Florida law provides for the following penalties and punishments in hit and run cases:

  • Property Damage – if the hit and run case involves only property damage to attended or unattended property, then the crime is charged as a second degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail or six month probation, and a $500 fine;
  • Injury – if the hit and run case involves injury to another, then the crime is charged as a third degree felony punishable by up to five (5) years in jail and a $5,000 fine;
  • Serious Bodily Injury – if the hit and run case involves serious bodily injury to another, then the crime is charged as a second degree felony punishable by up to fifteen (15) years in jail and a $10,000 fine;
  • Death – if the hit and run case involves a fatality, then the crime is charged as a first degree felony punishable by up to thirty (30) years in jail and a $10,000 fine with a minimum mandatory term of four (4) years in Florida State Prison.

How Long Does the Hit and Run Investigation Take?

How long does it take after a hit and run accident before you might be charged with a crime? It depends on the circumstances. It might take a few hours or even a few weeks before an officer attempts to make contact with you.

Many of these accidents are relatively minor involving only unattended property (i.e., a parked car, fence, or mailbox). The more serious hit-and-run crashes involve a crash between two moving vehicles. Of course, the most serious cases involve the injury or death of another person. No matter the circumstances, an experienced attorney can help you resolve the case on the best possible terms.


When the Hit and Run Investigator Knocks on Your Door

The officer is permitted to come to your home or business to ask you questions. But once the officer knows that you have an attorney, they are not allowed to ask you any questions. If you decide to waive your rights and answer questions, then the officer wants an admission about one or more of the following elements of the crime:

  1. Your vehicle was involved in a crash;
  2. You were driving the vehicle at the time of the crash or you know who was driving;
  3. You knew (or should have known) that you were involved in an accident causing property damage or injury; or
  4. You left the scene before providing all of the required information including the suspect’s name, address, and insurance information.

If you are suspected of hit-and-run for leaving the scene, don’t make any statement until after you have retained a lawyer. Instead, tell the investigating officer:

“I am invoking my right to remain silent until after I have spoken to my attorney.”

The moment you invoke your right to an attorney, all interrogation must stop. Most importantly, the fact that you didn’t make a statement can’t be used against you at trial. Better yet, if you retain the attorney, the attorney can contact the investigating officer with the goal of PREVENTING the officer from coming to your home or business in the first place.

Another tactic used by the “hit and run” investigators with the Tampa Police Department and other local agencies is to put out a B.O.L.O. on the vehicle involved in the crash. B.O.L.O. means “BOn the Look Out.” Anyone driving that vehicle might get pulled over.

When the officers find the vehicle, they can tow it to the impound lot or hold it for “evidence” In many of these “hit and run” cases, the investigator makes no effort to get a search warrant before seizing the vehicle. An attorney can help you get the vehicle returned immediately while still protecting your right to remain silent.


What are the best defenses for hit-and-run crimes?

The most important defenses in “hit and run” accident cases include:

  1. the defendant’s vehicle was not involved in the crash (especially when no physical contact was made between the suspect’s vehicle and another vehicle or when there is no visible damage);
  2. the defendant was not driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged crash (when no witnesses saw the suspect behind the wheel);
  3. the defendant did stay near the scene and provided all information required by statute; or
  4. the defendant had no intention of leaving the scene to avoid providing information and only moved the vehicle to find a safer location to stop.

The cost and fees for a hit-and-run charge depend on how the offense is charged. Felony charges occur if a person is injured in a crash. Misdemeanor charges occur if the crash involves only damage to attended or unattended property.


Changes to Florida’s Hit-and-Run Statute in 2014

Florida’s laws on hit and run changed dramatically on July 1, 2014. Florida Statute Section 316.027 applies to drivers accused of leaving the scene of a crash. The statute creates the “Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act.” The statute requires the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash that results in serious bodily injury to a person to immediately stop the vehicle and remain at the scene of the crash.

The new legislation required a mandatory minimum sentence for cases involving death and DUI.

  • The statute imposes a minimum driver’s license revocation period of at least three (3) years and driver education requirements for leaving the scene of a crash;
  • No motion to depart from the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death is allowed if the defendant was DUI at the time of the offense;
  • The court is authorized to grant a motion to depart from the mandatory minimum only upon a finding that the imposition of the mandatory minimum term would result in an injustice;
  • Leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury to a person is now a second-degree felony (punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison) instead of a third-degree felony (punishable by five (5) years in Florida State Prison);
  • A conviction for the charge of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of a person now requires that the court impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of four (4) years;
  • The statute increases the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment from two (2) to four (4) years for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of a person while driving under the influence (DUI); or
  • If the victim qualifies as a “vulnerable road user” then a conviction for leaving the scene of a crash is ranked one level higher than specified in the Criminal Punishment Code.

Types of Hit and Run Cases in Florida

The most common types of crimes for leaving the scene of a crash include:

  • damage to unattended property only (including an unoccupied parked vehicle, a fence, or a mailbox)
  • damage to attended property (including an occupied vehicle);
  • non-serious injury;
  • serious bodily injury; or
  • death.

The vast majority of charges for leaving the scene of a crash involve property damage to unattended property (a parked vehicle) or attended property (another occupied vehicle).

The most serious hit-and-run cases involve personal injury, serious bodily injury, or even death. In some cases, the driver will just abandon the vehicle after the crash and run away on foot leaving the inoperable vehicle behind.

What are the chances of getting caught after leaving the scene in a hit and run case? If you look at the list of Tampa Police Department TPD dispatched traffic calls for service, you might be surprised to see so many “hit and run” accidents listed.

Recent statistics show that one in four crashes involves a driver leaving the scene of the crash. In 2014, Florida had more than 84,000 hit-and-run accidents. That same year, Hillsborough County had more than 4,300 hit-and-run accidents.

No matter the circumstances, law enforcement officers take these cases very seriously. Don’t represent yourself. Seek out the services of a qualified criminal justice attorney in Tampa, FL, to help you at every stage of the case.


Additional Resources

Florida Statute 316.061 – Leaving the Scene of a Crash – Visit the website of the Florida State Legislature to find more information on Florida Statute 316.061 including within Title XXII of Chapter 316. The statute sets out the legal obligations of a driver involved in a crash resulting only in damage to a vehicle being driven by another or other attended property. The statute also includes the penalties for a violation. The statute for leaving the scene after crashing into an unattended property is found at 316.063. The duty to give information and render aid is found at 316.062. For crashes involving death or personal injuries, read more about Florida Statute 316.027.

Hit and Run Crashes in Florida – Visit the website of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) to learn more about recent increases in fatal hit-and-run crashes in Florida since 2014. The Florida Department of Transportation (DOT), Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, and the Florida Highway Patrol have partnered to bring down the number of fatal hit-and-run crashes by educating drivers on the penalties faced if they leave the scene of the crash. Find information on active hit and run investigations in FHP Troop C in Hillsborough County.

Hit and Run Traffic Crashes in Hillsborough County, FL – Visit the website of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to find information on current traffic accidents involving injury or fatality, or no injury. The website also shows road congestion and street flooding problems or road closures. Find a list of local traffic crashes in Hillsborough County, FL, by type, location, cross street, status and status time. This website can be used to find out if a hit and run was reported in Hillsborough County. It might not take long after the crash for officers to increase the chances of catching a hit-and-run driver by going to their home or work to interrogate the suspected driver.

Application for Traffic Calls for Service for Tampa Police Department – Visit the website of the City of Tampa to find an application for TPD Traffic Calls for service which is updated every 30 minutes. Find calls for service from today, yesterday, and last week. The information listed includes the occurrence date, time of dispatch, clear time, address, description, and report number. Many of the descriptions are coded as “hit and run.” Other descriptions of the calls for service include “street obstruction” or “traffic crash.” The City of Tampa website publishes an application that provides access to Tampa Police Current Traffic Calls for Service. From this list, you can also find links to the Tampa Police Traffic Advisories Map.


Finding a “Hit and Run” Lawyer in Hillsborough County

The five attorneys at Sammis Law Firm represent clients throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County, FL, on charges of hit and run (often called “leaving the scene of a crash”) involving unattended property, another occupied vehicle, or personal injury.

We know how to find out if a hit and run was reported in both felony and misdemeanor cases. Our attorneys are familiar with the tactics used by local law enforcement agencies including the hit and run unit of the:

  • Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
  • Tampa Police Department (TPD)
  • Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO)
  • Plant City Police Department (PCPD)
  • Temple Terrace Police Department (TTPD)

We focus on crimes that occur in a vehicle such as DUI, reckless driving, fleeing to elude, hit and run, and leaving the scene of a crash. That focus allows us to stay current on the most recent changes in the law that impact these types of cases.

If you are under investigation for leaving the scene of a crash (often called “hit and run”) in Tampa or Plant City in Hillsborough County, FL, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case. During the initial consultation, we can help you decide what you might need to do immediately to protect yourself against a criminal charge.

We also help you provide information to your insurance company so that they can settle any civil lawsuits that might arise after the case for personal injury or property damage. Find out how we can help you invoke your right to remain silent so that law enforcement officers do not travel to your work, home, or school to interrogate you. We work hard to protect our clients after an accident.

Let us put our experience to work for you. Call 813-250-0500.


HIT AND RUN PENALTIES IN FLORIDA

Leaving the scene of the crash with:
PROPERTY DAMAGE Second Degree Misdemeanor – One-Year Statute of Limitations
Up to 60 days in prison and a $500 fine
INJURIES Second felony or third-degree felony – Three-Year Statute of Limitations
Revoked license for at least three (3) years
Up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine
FATALITIES First-degree felony – No Timelimit
Revoked license for at least three (3) years
Mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison, up to 30 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine
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Sammis Law Firm, P.A.
1005 N. Marion St.
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 250-0200

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Sammis Law Firm, P.A.
7509 Little Rd.
New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 807-6392

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Sammis Law Firm, P.A.
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Clearwater, FL 33762
(727) 210-7004

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Our Attorneys

Leslie M. Sammis

Leslie M. Sammis

Jason D. Sammis

Jason D. Sammis

Joshua L. Monteiro

Joshua L. Monteiro

Dominique Celerin

Dominique Celerin

Katherine A. Aranda

Katherine A. Aranda

Idalis Vento

Idalis Vento

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National College for DUI Defense state delegate
The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section