Hit and run | unauthorized removal from the scene of the accident
01. Areas of law
Highly specialized lawyers for allegations of hit-and-run
Unauthorized departure from the scene of an accident - also known in common parlance as hit-and-run or hit-and-run - is regulated in Section 142 of the Criminal Code (StGB) and is therefore a criminal offense. According to Section 142 of the Criminal Code, anyone who is involved in an accident and leaves the scene of the accident after a road traffic accident without allowing their personal details and the type of involvement to be determined, regardless of whether they themselves or the other party in the accident caused the accident, is liable to prosecution So it doesn't matter if you're to blame for the accident.
There is hardly any crime in which you can so quickly become the accused in an investigation, even if you believe that you have behaved correctly as a participant in the accident after an accident.
Section 142 of the Criminal Code provides for a prison sentence or a fine in the event of a conviction for hit-and-run. In addition, Section 69 of the Criminal Code states that there is also a risk of your driving license being revoked.
Have you been involved in an accident and are unsure whether you could have committed a criminal offense? Call us and receive an initial assessment from our highly specialized lawyers.
Accusation of hit-and-run - how to react correctly
In general, after a collision in traffic where there is a possibility of property damage or personal injury, you should always call the police and wait for them at the scene of the accident.
Although it is generally sufficient if you hand over your data to the other party involved in the accident and then inform your liability insurer completely and truthfully, we generally recommend that our clients call the police to the scene of the accident.
You must enable the determination to be made to someone who is willing to make the determination - this is always the police, but not always necessarily the other party in the accident.
If you were aware of a collision and nevertheless left the scene of the accident, you should definitely speak to a lawyer before giving any information to the police or your insurer or reporting the damage. Only a lawyer can give you an assessment of which course of action is right in your case.
If the accident occurred in stationary traffic, the third-party damage is minor, less than 24 hours have passed and you subsequently voluntarily allow the findings to be made, you may be exempt from punishment or the penalty may be significantly reduced. You can discuss with a lawyer whether the requirements are met in your case.
If you have already been informed of the hit-and-run accusation by the police, you should consult a lawyer.
Special case of vehicle driver investigation: It is not uncommon for there to only be a license plate number - this means that the police only know the license plate number of the vehicle that caused the accident, not the driver or person who caused the accident. In these cases, the owner of the vehicle is often visited by the police and asked who was the driver at a certain time. We always recommend that our clients not provide any information here for the time being. If you were driving the vehicle yourself, you as the accused have the right not to incriminate yourself. If a close family member (spouse, children, parents, etc.) was driving the vehicle, you have the right to refuse to testify. Before you provide information about the driver of the vehicle, you should get an initial assessment from a lawyer in order to better assess the possible consequences.
Hit and run is a criminal offense
Our law firm is highly specialized in criminal and traffic law. Our lawyers are specialists in criminal law and traffic law. Specialist lawyers are lawyers who are granted permission to use the title of specialist lawyer under strict conditions checked by the bar associations. The requirements include a minimum number of teaching units, passing exams (proof of theoretical knowledge) and proof that a certain number of cases in the respective area of law have been processed correctly. We receive regular training and have many years of professional experience.
If you are accused of hit-and-run, we advise and defend you not only in criminal proceedings. Our specialist lawyers always keep an eye on insurance and driving license issues and provide you with comprehensive advice on all possible follow-up problems. We also advise and defend you nationwide in possible subsequent civil or administrative law proceedings.
If you are already a suspect in a hit-and-run investigation, don't wait. Our lawyers can provide you with comprehensive advice on your specific case in a personal consultation. Every case is different, so make an appointment for an individual initial assessment.
