How Did Mr. Lee Avoid a Jail Sentence After Fleeing From an Accident Scene?

Mr. Lee (52), a university professor, was driving home on a late August evening. As usual, he was exhausted after an extended shift and perhaps got a little distracted. He didn’t quite notice that his vehicle had already swerved to the left side of the road and hit another parked vehicle at the back.

Now, what Mr. Lee did wrong was, he panicked a little too much! This was the first time that he suffered a collision, so. he panicked and fled the scene as fast as he could. However, what he didn’t notice was that a random guy from the neighborhood had recorded his license plate number.

The cops were determined to put the professor in jail. However, since Mr. Lee was wise enough to call a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer, his reputation was saved!

Let’s take a closer look and understand how this all happened.

What Was Mr. Lee Supposed to Do?

First and foremost, Mr. Lee collided with an empty vehicle. So, there was not a single chance of any injuries or death cases. However, instead of fleeing from the scene, he could have been saved —

• If he immediately stopped his vehicle at the scene.
• If he provided the cops with his name, address, vehicle registration number, driver’s license, and insurance proof.

But panic and fear made him flee from the scene. In Pennsylvania, if you are involved in an accident that didn’t cause any injuries, but inflicted damage to property or another vehicle, and you leave the scene, it becomes a third-degree misdemeanor. And it’s a punishable offense with a one-year imprisonment.

This reason saved Mr. Lee from facing any serious charges. Not just that, but this also made the job easier for our expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyers to frame a defense strategy for our client.

How Did Our Expert Legal Team Help?

The moment we got a call from Mr. Lee, we knew we had to act fast.

We gathered all the facts and thoroughly reviewed the police report. The initial police report stated that the driver had fled the scene. Mr. Lee had also received a notice of suspension from PennDOT. Our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers immediately filed an appeal on the suspension. This allowed Mr. Lee to continue driving while we worked on his case.

Next, we negotiated with the District Attorney’s office and presented a strong defense as Mr. Lee had no prior criminal record. Moreover, the accident resulted in only minor property damage. The car he hit was empty, and therefore, there was no serious consequence for our client to be in jail.

And our consistent efforts really paid off! We were able to reach a favorable plea agreement. We made Mr. Lee plead guilty to a lesser offense- careless driving. This was a mere summary offense, which allowed him to avoid a more serious conviction. He paid a small fine, and his driver’s license was not suspended either.

This outcome was a huge relief for him. Such cases are reminders that even in the worst-case scenarios, a good legal strategy can turn things around. So, if you or your friend are in a similar situation, contact us at 844.PITT.DUI, and book a free consultation with our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers today!