[caption id="attachment_3180" align="aligncenter" width="790"]
SQ Attorneys[/caption]
This past weekend a 50 year old Seattle man was hit by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle along Rainier Avenue South. The man was hit from behind by a red 1980s model GMC or Chevrolet pickup with a wooden structure built on back. The driver of the truck fled the scene of the accident. The driver, a 50-year-old woman, later turned herself in to Seattle police and she was brought to the King County jail on a vehicular assault charge. By leaving the scene, this woman just may have made things worse for herself in the long run.
Incidents like this remind us at SQ Attorneys that a lot of folks aren’t exactly sure what is required when a car accident happens. Hit and Run’s come in a variety of forms. For example, hit and run of an ‘attended’ vehicle, hit and run involving property and hit and run of an ‘unattended’ vehicle, to name a few. All require that specific affirmative steps be taken before leaving the scene of the accident.
The Washington State law related to hit and run accidents can be found at RCW 46.52.020. According to RCW 46.52.020, Washington state requires a driver to stop their vehicle if they are involved in an accident. Even if the driver is not at fault he must stop at the scene. A driver must remain at the scene until he conveys the following information; name, address, insurance policy, insurance company, and the vehicle license plate number. If any parties involved are injured in the accident assistance should be given until help arrives. Failing to stop after being involved in a hit and run could (and probably will) result in criminal charges being filed, even if the driver was not at fault. In short, being involved in an accident is serious business, whether the driver is at fault or not; one should not leave the scene of an accident until they have complied with all legal requirements.
Whenever cited for a hit and run (or any crime for that matter), it is a smart idea to immediately hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.