Under New Jersey law, if you leave the scene of an accident in most circumstances, you’ll face a motor vehicle summons and the matter is handled in municipal courts.
That’s not the case when the accident in question results in serious bodily injury to another person.
Under the terms of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1, Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, you won’t just be dealing with a traffic ticket.
Instead, you’ll be charged with a third degree felony level crime.
While most third degree crimes have a presumption of non-incarceration for first offenders, that’s stripped away, so you’re likely to face real jail time, between three and five years, if you’re convicted.
You’ll also face fines of up to $15,000.
Car accidents are scary, and it’s normal to panic and do things you wouldn’t otherwise do in a situation like that.
For instance, driving away from the scene of an accident where someone has been injured.
If this happened to you, an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help protect you from the worst consequences and give you the best shot of being able to move on with your life.
If you’ve been charged under 2C:12-1.1, call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 and talk to an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney for free.