PNA Law - Northern Virginia Criminal Lawyers
It is imperative to understand what charges you face if you have been charged with a felony hit-and-run. In the case where a victim is injured at all, you may face significantly more jail time.
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the definition of an injury in a hit-and-run case is extremely broad. Not only does it include any serious injuries, but can include symptoms such as muscle pain, which can be difficult to prove does not exist. Alexandria criminal defense attorneys are by your side to help fight for the best possible outcome in your situation.
In a case decided in May 2013 (Belew v. Commonwealth { http://www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opncavwp/1168102.pdf } ), the state court of appeals upheld a ruling stating that an injury in a hit-and-run case could be major, but may also be comprised of injuries such as muscle pain. Virginia code states that a punishment for a hit-and-run accident varies greatly depending on the results from the accident.
In a situation where no one is injured and the total cost of property damage is less than $1,000, the driver faces up a Class 1 misdemeanor. This means the driver faces up to a year in jail.
The whole game changes, however, if someone is killed or injured in the accident. The driver faces a Class 5 felony instead of a Class 1 misdemeanor and may face up to 10 years in prison for the incident.