Los Angeles DUI Lawyer Blog

A lot of my clients during a consultation ask me why it is important to have a Los Angeles Criminal Defense attorney when they have been arrested for a hit and run case. While it may seem straightforward to appear before a judge, the benefit of a knowledgeable attorney representing you not only reduces your stress but may lead to a reduction or dismissal of your case.

An attorney is able to gather more information regarding the incident from the authorities rather than if you attempted to do so yourself due to the valuable reputation they have built with the many judges and prosecutors in Southern California. Such information like; How much damage was there?, was there injury to the other party? Were the injuries major or minor? These facts are crucial in preparing a powerful defense. Additionally an attorney can contact the opposite party and explore the option to compromise out of court. If the opposite party is willing to reach an agreement outside of court and will be reimbursed, the criminal defense attorney can prepare a civil compromise which greatly increases the chances of the criminal case being dropped.

An attorney can also give you valuable advice on what to say and when it is best to decline not only in court before the Judge but also to your insurance company. One such case that was handled by our office involved a case in which we had the charge reduced but the DMV refused to acknowledge this reduction insisting that they must charge high rates. After much discussion between the insurance company, DMV and our office we were able to reduce the rates to the normal amount.
The attorneys at Hoffman and Associates have had years of experience, and this experience is reflected in the expert manner with which we argue your case. Our thirty years of practice have given us a solid reputation among the courts of Southern California allowing us to extend this as a benefit to your case.

California law requires that any driver in involved in an accident, regardless of fault, stop and exchange drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance. These requirements are set out in California vehicle code section 20002.

The law offices of Hoffman and Associates specializes in representing drivers facing possible hit-and-run charges by not complying with the law. Popular reasons given for not stopping are lack of auto insurance, fear of getting arrested for a driving under the influence charge, driving on a suspended license, and having outstanding failures to appear or warrants for their arrest.

Regardless of the reason that a driver did not stop, WE CAN HELP ! One of the common and most frequently asked questions by potential clients is whether they made a mistake by either confessing to the police about their leaving the scene of an accident, or telling the police a fabricated story in an effort to absolve themslves from responsibility. A popular alibi is that their car was stolen, which further complicates such a hit-and-run case by adding charges of filing a false police report or insurance claim.

There is one significant reason that drivers finding themselves in this situation should consider before contacting the police to be cooperative or to ease their conscience. Any statements made by a driver to the police can be used as legal admissions of their guilt often laying a foundation for a criminal prosecution of a misdemeanor (non-injury) or a felony (serious injury) hit-and-run.

A hit-and-run defense attorney has the luxury of gathering valuable information about the accident from the police including how the accident happened, extent of damages to other cars or personal property, and any injury claims by the other parties. Statements made to the police by an attorney on behalf of the driver are not legal admissions of responsibility, and cannot be used against the client should criminal charges be filed.

An experienced hit-and-run attorney knows what to say, and more importantly is aware of what not to say to the police. An effective counsel can facilitate and negotiate in many cases, an informal restitution of damages suffered by the other party, and if aggreeable, resolve the matter without being referred to the prosecutor for the filing of charges. Upon the successful negotiation of a civil compromise, the client benefits by avoiding the far more expensive and potential serious consequences of a hit-and-run conviction.

Taking advantage of our firms FREE PHONE OR OFFICE CONSULTATION on any legal matter, can help you understand the various stages of resolving this type of case, and the options and benefits in being cooperative and proactive in resolving this legal issue.

Hit and Run accidents are more common than people tend to think. According to statistics from the Federal Department of Transportation they have increased by 15% since 2000. Additionally, the federal statistics indicate that California has the highest number of accidents resulting from Hit and Runs. With so many offenses, the need for a highly skilled Los Angeles Criminal Defense attorney is necessary to prepare a civil compromise and prepare the best strategic defense possible.

There are many reasons people tend to commit Hit and Run offenses, including not having a valid driver's license, have had their license revoked, can't or haven't paid their insurance, and many people who don't qualify for a driver's license in the first place. These are often the driving motivation for people to leave the scene after an accident, resulting in a Hit and Run. Fortunately, the majority of these accidents leaves damage to property more than persons, however, even the smallest injury to a person still causes great damage.

An experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense attorney has handled thousands of Hit and Run cases. A knowledgeable attorney, like Ronald Hoffman, can provide a powerful defense and zealously advocate your case so that you see reduced charges or a dismissal. Our firm immediately gets to work convincing the injured party to drop charges and seek restitution outside of the court system. As a result we are able to prepare a civil compromise and present it to the prosecution which will not only strengthen your case and its chances for dismissal, but weaken prosecution's desire to bring the case to court. Our goal from the beginning of your case through to its completion is to quickly take action, get the charges dropped and avoid any charges being put on your record.

Ensure that your record remains clean, especially when the injured party has agreed to seek reimbursement outside of the judicial system. There is no need to be charged in criminal court when both parties have made amends. Contact our office for a free consultation and learn what we can do for you without cost of obligation!