California Crimes - Hit and Run

Any driver involved in an accident involving injury to another person, or in death, is required to stop and to provide his  identity, current residence address and address of any occupants of his/her vehicle and some other information as required under Vehicle Code Section 20003, and to render aid to any persons injured in the accident (California Vehicle Code § 20001(a)). Failure to do so could result in a conviction under the code and such conviction can result in imprisonment in state prison or county jail and imposition of fines. Of course if the accident results in death or permanent injury then there is mandatory jail time and the state prison time could be as high as four years.

             Reckless Driving With Injury

Vehicle Code Section 23103 states "A person who drives a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving" and sets the punishment for this misdemeanor offense as a minimum of 5 days and maximum of 90 days in county jail.

Vehicle Code Section 23105 on the other hand addresses reckless driving crimes which also involve certain injuries.  According to Section 23105 "(a) A person convicted of reckless driving in violation of
Section 23103 that proximately causes one or more of the injuries
specified in subdivision (b) to a person other than the driver, shall
be punished by imprisonment in the state prison, or by imprisonment
in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months,
or by a fine of not less than two hundred twenty dollars ($220) nor
more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and
imprisonment.

   (b) This section applies to all of the following injuries:
   (1) A loss of consciousness.
   (2) A concussion.
   (3) A bone fracture.
   (4) A protracted loss or impairment of function of a bodily member
or organ.
   (5) A wound requiring extensive suturing.
   (6) A serious disfigurement.
   (7) Brain injury.
   (8) Paralysis.

   (c) This section does not preclude or prohibit prosecution under
any other provision of law."

Criminal Defense Team has handled many reckless driving cases in which the client was accused of driving recklessly and causing severe, sometimes life threatening injuries.  We fully appreciate the heartache involved with such cases and the delicate balance between representing a client aggressively and showing victims the respect they deserve.  Our criminal defense and reckless driving defense attorneys' experience and knowledge of the law helps provide our clients unparalleled representation.


Criminal Defense Team has handled many hit and run cases in Orange, Los Angels and Inland Empire criminal courts.  We have been very successful in getting the district attorneys to either reduce or drop the charges.  Call us to day for a free consultation with an experienced criminal law attorney in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles or Riverside county. For information related to drug related crimes please also visit our sister site at www.drugcrimesdefenseoc.com/PracticeAreas.shtml