Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Published on: May 9, 2017

‘Bachelor’ Chris Soules Asks Court to Drop Charges Related to Deadly Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Chris Soules is asking an Iowa district court to drop charges related to his leaving the scene of a deadly April 24 crash with a tractor, saying he did everything he was supposed to do under the law.

The former ‘Bachelor’ star says he called 911 and identified himself after his pickup truck crashed into the tractor. He then tried to resuscitate the 66-year-old driver, who was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Soules stayed at the scene of the crash until emergency responders arrived, but was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

For whatever reason, the charging officer failed to include in the Complaint and Affidavit that Soules provided his name and accident location to the telecommunication arm of law enforcement before leaving the crash site.

If you have been in a car accident, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. It can certainly be hard to maintain a clear head and take the necessary steps. First and foremost, it is important to make sure that everyone is OK. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately to get qualified medical professionals to the scene.

Once you have established that all the people involved are safe, you should exchange information with the others involved including:

Their names
Descriptions of the vehicles involved
Insurance company for all drivers
Addresses
Drivers license numbers
License plate numbers

If there are any witnesses, it is a good idea to get their information as well.

Published on: November 23, 2016

Dennis Rodman Charged With Leaving The Scene Of An Accident In California

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has been charged with hit-and-run for an alleged wrong-way driving crash on a Southern California freeway.

Orange County prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against Rodman on Monday for a July 20 accident on Interstate 5 in Santa Ana.

Prosecutors believe Rodman’s SUV was traveling north in a southbound carpool lane around 12:30 a.m., forcing a sedan to swerve into a dividing wall to avoid a collision.

Rodman’s attorney argues that the incident occurred on a poorly signed exit ramp. He says Rodman corrected the driving error without the cars touching, then stopped and spoke to people in the other car.

Rodman has also been charged with driving across a dividing section without a valid license and giving police false information.

He could face two years in county jail if convicted.

Wrong way driving accidents can arise for many reasons, although the most common is impaired drivers. However, this is not always the case. With the rising number of wrong way driving-related incidents, the state of Florida is seeing that these crashes can be chalked up to many other factors, including, poorly lit/visible signs, missing signs, poorly lit areas, interchanges under construction, confusing interstate entrance/exit ramps, and more.

Published on: November 25, 2015

Avoid a DUI & Criminal Penalties Thanksgiving Weekend

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Thanksgiving is a time of year when families get together to celebrate memories and honor traditions. However, this is also the time of year when law enforcement agencies gear up to catch drunk drivers on our roadways.

Most law enforcement agencies, receive federal grants to increase their staffing levels during the holiday season, which typically begins with the four-day Thanksgiving weekend and continues to New Year’s Day. Arrests for DUI are highest during this time period.

The following are a few tips that may prove helpful to avoid a Thanksgiving DUI:

Do not drink and drive. If you have been drinking, call a cab, a friend or use a ride share app like Uber or Lyft to get home safe. If you know you will be drinking, designate a sober driver to take you home.
If you are pulled over, do not talk to law enforcement about where you were or what you were doing. Remember, you have the right to remain silent until you have your lawyer present.
If you are involved in an accident, stop immediately and remain at the scene. Do not admit to anything and request to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Do not fall asleep inside your vehicle. You could get arrested if the officer observes that you have the keys in the ignition or if the engine is running.
Drive cautiously. Police will be closely monitoring motorists for any mistakes they make. In particular, they will be on the lookout for motorists who may be driving too fast or too slow, or running red lights or failing to stop at stop signs.

Published on: June 12, 2012

U.S. Commerce Secretary Accused of Hit-And-Run in San Gabriel Valley :: Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson was found unconscious in his Lexus after allegedly hitting two vehicles shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday in San Gabriel Valley.

An agency official confirmed Secretary Bryson suffered a seizure. He was given medication, but it is unknown what kind of treatment he received or where it was given.

The 68-year-old was cited for felony hit-and-run, but was not booked and taken to the hospital where he remained overnight.

Sources said Bryson was unaccompanied by security during the crashes because he was driving his own vehicle on personal time.

Bryson allegedly voluntarily submitted to a Breathalyzer test following the accident, but it did not detect any alcohol.

Los Angeles authorities apparently took a blood test and are awaiting the results before deciding whether or not to file charges in connection with the accidents.

Whether or not the collisions were due to a medical condition is part of the investigation, which is ongoing.

Authorities claim Bryson was driving a Lexus Saturday just after 5 p.m. when he allegedly rear-ended a Buick that was waiting for a train to pass.

Bryson apparently got out of his vehicle to talk to the three occupants inside the Buick, and then left the scene and struck the Buick a second time, authorities said. According to a police report, the occupants in the Buick followed Bryson’s car and dialed 911 for assistance.

Bryson allegedly continued driving his Lexus and crashed into a second vehicle with two people inside.

When officers arrived at the scene, they apparently found Bryson alone and unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle.

A Commerce official said Secretary Bryson was given medication to treat the seizure.

In Florida, leaving the scene of an accident, also known as hit-and-run, is a serious criminal offense that can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the specifics of the case. This crime is charged when a person involved in an accident flees the scene without providing the other party involved with their name, address, driver’s license and registration information. Additionally, if an accident you are involved in results in the death or injury of another person, you are obligated to stop and reasonably assist any injured parties by calling for medical care. Failing to render appropriate assistance after an accident you were involved in could lead to a felony conviction of leaving the scene of an accident.

If you leave the scene of an accident that causes only property damage, you could be facing second-degree misdemeanor charges carrying consequences of up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $500. Leaving the scene of an accident with a serious injury can result in third-degree felony charges punishable by up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $5,000. A hit-and-run causing death can lead to first-degree felony charges punishable by up to 30 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Furthermore, if you are convicted of leaving the scene of an accident your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked and your insurance premiums will increase.

If you were charged with a hit-and-run, it is essential to consult with a Florida Criminal Traffic Defense Lawyer as soon as possible to make sure your rights are protected. At Whittel & Melton, we can help you present your side of the story, so that none of your statements to law enforcement can be misinterpreted and used against you in trial. Our experienced criminal traffic offense lawyers can work towards getting your charges reduced or dismissed entirely.

Published on: December 26, 2008

Man Dies In Head-on collision; Second Driver Flees Scene

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Hernando Today reports that a Hernando County man died early Saturday in a head-on collision on U.S. 19 at Grizzly Bear Lane.
Florida Highway Patrol spokesman said that two cars where were traveling in opposite directions along U.S. 19 where there is a 30-foot grass median separating the north and southbound lanes. FHP said that as the vehicles approached the median at the intersection of Grizzly Bear Lane, one of the vehicles crossed over and traveled into the path of the other vehicle, causing a head-on collision. The crash left both vehicles obstructing the southbound lands of U.S. 19 for four hours.

Unfortunately, one of the drivers died at the scene while the other driver fled the accident site on foot despite receiving serious injuries- but was eventually found and transferred to Oak Hill Regional Hospital for medical treatment.

Depending on the facts, Leaving the Scene of an Accident can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. For example, if a driver flees the scene of a car crash and it is clear that there are injuries, The State Attorney’s Office could charge the person who left with a felony, subjecting the defendant to prison time.