A Cleveland police officer was injured early December in a hit and run accident, reported Cleveland.com. The officer was treated with a concussion after a truck rear ended his police cruiser and then sped away from the accident. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a hit and run accident contact a Cleveland car accident attorney today.
The Details of the Accident
The accident occurred early in the morning on East 40th Street near Payne Avenue in the Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood. The impact of the truck cause the officer’s cruiser to spin out. Both vehicles were moving at the time of the accident.
The suspect of the hit and run was apprehended because his licence plate was left at the scene. Police traced the plate to a home where the truck was found and arrested a man on suspicion of public intoxication and obstructing official police business. This man is also expected to be charged with the hit and run on the officer.
Even when the victim is not an officer of the law, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious crime. It is always your responsibility as a driver to stop after an accident.
Penalties of Failing to Stop After an Accident in Ohio
In Ohio, failing to stop after an accident is called a hit skip. It does not matter how minor the damages or whether or not one of the drivers is present for the accident, drivers are always mandated to stop. Some of the penalties for a minor hit skip violation include: up to six months in prison, up to a $500 in fines, and a minimum of six months’ worth of license suspensions.
These are significant penalties, especially if you rely on your car as a source of income or for your education. Disregarding the moral implications of a hit skip, the legal consequences can have you hurting financially as well as a permanent mark on your criminal record. Especially in an age of prolific video surveillance, you must assume that someone is watching and odds are they have a way to record the incident.
Types of Hit Skip Violations
Hit skip violations do not only pertain to vehicle on vehicle collisions. A driver’s requirement to stop applies in any situation where property, both public and private, is damaged.
- A driver collides with a curb, sign, building or any stationary object that results in property damage;
- A driver collides with another vehicle causing vehicular damage, property damage or personal injury;
- A driver hits a parked car resulting in various damages; or
- A driver slides on ice, snow or hydroplanes, causing property damage or personal injury.
Contact a Cleveland Car Accident Attorney Today
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident in Cleveland or Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers is here to help you get through it. Our attorneys will work hard on your behalf to makes sure your rights are protected if you have been a victim of a hit and run, or if you have questions about how to recover compensation after the car accident process. Call our team today to schedule your consultation now.
