“Hit skip” or “hit and run” are commonly used terms for leaving the scene after being involved in a traffic collision. In Ohio, failing to stop after you’ve been involved in an accident is an offense that carries potential criminal punishment, as well as consequences to your driver’s license.
Ohio law requires motorists involved in an accident or collision to stop and remain at the scene until they have provided their name and contact information to anyone injured in the accident, anyone else involved in the accident, and any police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident.
The purpose of the law is to prevent drivers from fleeing the scene after an accident. It aims to ensure drivers involved in accidents remain to exchange information, render aid to any injured people, and cooperate with any law enforcement investigation.
At baseline, failure to stop after an accident is a misdemeanor of the first degree – the most serious level of misdemeanor. A “hit skip” could rise to the felony level, however, if the accident resulted in serious physical harm to a person.
Generally, a first-degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. Failure to stop after an accident also has an impact on an offender’s driver’s license. If convicted, the Court must impose a driver’s license suspension for a period of six months to three years.
If you are charged with his-skip under Ohio Revised Code Section 4549.02 or an equivalent local statute, contact the Tyack Law Firm by calling (614) 221-1342 to discuss possible defenses.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from the Tyack Law Firm Co., L.P.A., or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel or representation on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, county, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
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