What You Should Know About Hit And Run Arrangement Process

Due to the rise of hit and run incidents all over the nation, it is completely understandable that the law enforcement authorities do not take that kind of crime lightly. If you or your loved ones were involved in a hit and run incident, you will have to face the court and will be held responsible for your actions.

Once you are charged with hit and run, you will receive official notification that will oblige you to appear in court at a certain date and a certain time. You are required to appear in court by law or a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. In case the hit and run incident was a misdemeanor and no one was injured (or the damaged property worth was insignificant), your attorney will be allowed to appear in court instead. If it is a felony hit and run, your presence will be obligatory. The first court hearing is referred to as an arraignment and there are certain things that you will need to know about it.

First, the court will read the charges against you. This is when the judge will thoroughly explain to you what you are accused of, what kind of laws and legal regulations you have managed to break and what kind of legal punishment you can expect for this offense. It does not necessarily imply that you are guilty – it is only an indication that the authorities have the probable cause against you.

Secondly, the court will read your legal rights to you. According to the United States Constitution, every person has the right for legal representation, which means that you have the right to hire an attorney (if you will not be able to hire him yourself, a public defender will be assigned to your case). Furthermore, you have the right for a fair trial, meaning that all the evidence, which indicates that you are innocent shall also be taken into consideration and the court will do its best in order to treat you fairly. You also have the right to be heard, so you can explain the situation yourself – the way you see it.

The prosecution will offer you a plea bargain afterwards. You will have a choice – you can choose to plead guilty, which will mean that you acknowledge your crime and are ready for the legal penalties. In this cases, the penalties will not be as harsh, but pleading guilty is not always the very best option for you. There are other ways to get the case dismissed or minimize the legal punishment.

Finally, you will have the right to a trial extension. This means that if you did not manage to find proper legal representation, the court will provide you with 30 additional days to do so. During this time, you will need to find an attorney, who would represent you in court.

If you were arrested and charged with a hit and run offense, it is crucial to get in touch with a qualified and experienced criminal defense attorney, who had to deal with similar cases in the past. The Los Angeles Criminal Defense Experts will review your case details, go through all the available evidence and will come up with a solid defense strategy that will have a positive outcome in your case. Hiring an attorney is a better option than a public defender because public defenders have their hands full with other clients and will not have enough time and resources to be 100% involved in youir case.