How Common Are Hit And Run Accidents In NYC?

According to NYPD data, were you aware that hit and run accidents in New York City have increased approximately 26 percent? Hit and run accidents are unfortunately on the rise in New York City. More and more people are reporting that they were injured in a hit-and-run accident but what’s surprising is that very few hit-and-run accidents result in an arrest.

Authorities estimate that only around 9 percent of hit and run drivers who were responsible for injuring someone in New York City were arrested. That’s why if you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you need a winning NYC law firm on your side.

At Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, we can help you seek compensation if you have been involved in this type of accident. Our firm is well versed in seeking justice on behalf of our clients.

Hit And Run Accidents In NYC Often Result In Injury?

In a single year, there were believed to be 36,000 hit and run incidents, but recently this annual number rose to an approximated 46,0000. This past year in 2021, it’s estimated that this number has increased somewhat despite the slightly reduced road presence in NYC.

Additionally, it’s believed that most of these accidents resulted in property damage, but around 5,000 people were injured in hit and run accidents in one year, according to the New York City Council.

What Are The Penalties For Hit And Run Accidents IN New York City?

In New York City, if you leave the scene of an injury accident, you could be criminally charged and receive a jail sentence of up to one year.

However, if there were serious injuries or a fatality involved in the hit and run accident, it will become a felony, and you could be sentenced to up to seven years in jail. Have a brief look below to learn more about the NYC hit-and-run penalties.

• Surcharge: You will have to pay a mandatory surcharge of between $88 and $93.
• Fines: For property damages in a hit and run, you could be fined up to $250, and if there were injuries, you could be fined up to $5,000.
• Points: If you were the at-fault driver in a hit and run and it resulted in no injuries or only minor injuries, you will lose 3 points on your driver’s license.
• License revocation: Your license will be revoked for one year if you were involved in a hit and run accident in NYC.
• Prison: If there were no injuries in your hit and run accident, you could face up to 15 days in prison. If you refuse to provide your insurance information when injuries have occurred, you could face up to three months in jail. Additionally, if you leave the scene of the hit and run accident before the police arrive, you could face up to one year in prison.

Are There Defenses Against Hit And Run Accidents?

Although it might not seem believable, there are two defenses against hit-and-run accidents. For example, some hit-and-run defendants can argue that they genuinely did not know that they had hit a person or vehicle or that they believed what they hit was not damaged.

The second defense is that the other driver involved in the hit and run was present and explicitly said no damage was done to their person or vehicle. Essentially, if the other driver or person hit tells the at-fault driver not to worry about the accident and then leaves without providing any insurance or contact information, the at-fault driver can use this as a valid defense.

Get In Contact With An NYC Hit And Run Attorney Today To Discuss Your Case

Hit and run accidents can be incredibly difficult to navigate and hard to prove, which is why you need to consider speaking with an NYC hit and run accident attorney. An experienced attorney will be able to source all possible information you could need to prove your innocence or prove that a driver wronged you.

At Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, we have worked on many hit-and-run accidents in NYC. Our firm is more than capable of assessing and handling your case, and we promise to do our utmost best to get you the result you want. Get in contact with us today if you would like to discuss your case.