Culturally speaking, many people feel that there is a wall of separation between themselves and celebrities, since they might as well be living in entirely different worlds. However, this idea occasionally comes crashing down when celebrities are involved with a crime of some sort.
On October 1 of last year, award-winning country singer Emmylou Harris was involved in a collision with another driver on the freeway. After having thoroughly examined the case, police have decided to charge Harris with a hit and run, citing a failure to exchange information with the other driver. Harris, 65, has not yet provided a comment to us on this matter.
However, this does serve to illustrate how just about anyone can be involved with a vehicle collision and require legal representation in order to sort through the multitude of issues surrounding a case. In many circumstances, actions that drivers might consider small can actually have a large effect on what they’re actually charged with. Leaving the scene of a collision is generally considered to be a bad thing, but at the same time, the road might be narrow enough that there’s nowhere to safely pull over, in which case both drivers should probably keep going (if possible) until there’s enough room on the side of the road.
There are other circumstances in which drivers might consider not stopping, such as inspecting their vehicle and deciding that too little damage was done to warrant the exchange of insurance information. Courts are not always willing to accept reasons for fleeing a scene, but it is important to explain why you didn’t stop if you’ve been charged with a hit and run. Many drivers under the influence of alcohol never even notice that they were involved in a collision until the next day, for example.
As with many things related to the law, penalties for a DUI can vary significantly. One of the largest factors is whether or not anyone was injured during the collision. Barring other circumstances that might have an effect on the charges, an injury-free hit and run is usually considered a misdemeanor with punishments including jail time, suspension of a license, or fines. The extent to which each of these punishments may apply is based on the specifics of each collision. However, if anyone was injured in the collision, then it becomes a much more serious felony. The potential punishments are the same as the misdemeanor, but more so than the lesser charges (higher fines, longer jail time, etc.).
If you’re involved with a hit and run, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The Law Offices of Jonathan Franklin can help figure out what your circumstances are and provide you with advice when talking to police. Should you find yourself in a courtroom, the Law Offices of Jonathan Franklin can also serve as your defense to help reduce any problems as much as possible.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Individual circumstances may have a strong effect on a particular case. If you wish to obtain legal advice as it relates to you, speak with a qualified attorney.
