Colorado Hit and Run Lawyer

Make no mistake, convictions for leaving the scene carry severe consequences in Colorado.

Based on circumstances, penalties can include:

• Large fines up to $2,000 plus surcharges
• Up to 1 year in jail for misdemeanors
• 2-6 years in prison for felony injury accidents
• Lifetime criminal record
• Driver’s license suspension

We know you want to avoid these life-altering punishments. The good news? Right Law Group has a proven track record of keeping clients out of jail and protecting their records and licenses.

The Costly Impact on Your Driver’s License

In Colorado, the DMV issues “points” against your driver’s license for various offenses. This includes hit-and-run convictions, which carry a steep 12 points.

Here’s how Colorado’s point system works:

• Points are tacked on for offenses like DUI, reckless driving, speeding, and, of course, leaving the scene.
• Each offense has a set point value, ranging from 1 point up to 12 points for hit and run.
• Points stay active on your license for one year from the conviction date.
• If you accumulate 12 points or more within a 12-month span, your license is suspended.

This suspension lasts for one year for a first offense. Subsequent offenses within 3 years lead to 9-month suspensions. Probationary licenses are still possible during suspension, but restrictions apply.

As you can see, the 12 points for a hit-and-run conviction put your license in serious jeopardy.

Even one hit and run can lead to suspension if you had prior offenses accrue points recently.

That’s why defending against these charges and avoiding a conviction is so important. The stakes are high, but an experienced hit-and-run lawyer knows how to help you avoid both criminal penalties and impacts on your driving privileges when possible. Don’t wait to seek expert help.

I Committed a Hit and Run; How Long Before the Police Catch Me?

It depends. It can take the police a few days to a few months to catch up to you if you committed a hit and run, and it’s quite possible that they could never catch you at all.

Hit-and-run charges often come after lengthy crash investigations by police. They’ll leverage paint transfers, car parts, eyewitnesses, security footage, and other evidence to identify the at-fault driver.

Having an attorney early in the process helps protect your rights and advise you on the best course of action during the investigation.

Building an Airtight Defense Against Hit and Run Charges

While the allegations should always be taken seriously, there are often defenses an experienced criminal lawyer can use to challenge the charges.

For example:

• Contesting identification – Using accident reconstruction experts to argue the lack of evidence placing the defendant behind the wheel.
• Challenging knowledge – Establishing through testimony, inspections, etc., that you didn’t know an accident occurred. Maybe it was a minor fender bender you didn’t feel.
• Presenting alternatives – Demonstrating through expert testimony that weather, road conditions, mechanical failure, etc., caused the incident – not driver negligence.
• Negotiating reductions – Pursuing plea bargains for lesser charges like careless driving if appropriate.

See what we mean? An aggressive legal defense strategy focused on poking holes in the prosecutor’s arguments can many times achieve favorable outcomes.