What is hit/skip or hit and run in Ohio?
- Hit and run and hit/skip are the same thing in Ohio. Courts and attorneys will often use the term hit/skip instead of hit and run. However, there is no difference between the two.
- A hit and run (hit/skip) occurs when you are driving a motor vehicle and you knowingly get into an accident and then leave the scene without notifying anyone of your identity.
- The damage can be to a person or property.
- You need to have knowledge of the collision or accident.
Can I be charged with hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio if I am off the road or on private property?
- Yes. You do not have to be on a public roadway to be charged with hit and run in Ohio.
- For example, if you are in a parking lot of a grocery store and cause an accident or collision that results in an injury to a person or property, you can still be charged with a hit and run.
What can I be charged with for hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio?
- There are 3 different types of hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio?
- Hit and run on a public road or highway
- Hit and run on public or private property that’s not on a public road or highway.
- Hit and run that involves realty or personal property that is attached to realty.
- Hit and run on a public road or highway
- If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident or collision with a person or property on a public road or highway, you must immediately stop at the scene of the accident or collision. You must remain at the scene until you give your name and address and license, if available, to any person injured, any person whose car is damaged, or a police officer at the scene.
- If you don’t own the vehicle, you need to give out the information of the owner.
- If you hit an unoccupied vehicle, you need to securely attach your information to the unoccupied vehicle.
- If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident or collision with a person or property on a public road or highway, you must immediately stop at the scene of the accident or collision. You must remain at the scene until you give your name and address and license, if available, to any person injured, any person whose car is damaged, or a police officer at the scene.
- Hit and run on public or private property that’s not on a public road or highway.
- If you are in a motor vehicle and cause damage to a person or property that’s not on a public road or highway, you must stop at the scene of the accident or collision. Upon the request of any person who is injured or their property is damaged, you must give that person your name and address and license, if available.
- If you don’t own the vehicle, you need to give out the information of the owner.
- If you do not give out this information at the scene, you must call the police within 24 hours and give them your information.
- If you hit an unoccupied vehicle, you need to securely attach your information to the unoccupied vehicle.
- If you are in a motor vehicle and cause damage to a person or property that’s not on a public road or highway, you must stop at the scene of the accident or collision. Upon the request of any person who is injured or their property is damaged, you must give that person your name and address and license, if available.
- Hit and run that involves realty or personal property that is attached to realty.
- If you are driving any vehicle and you cause any damage to real property or personal property attached to real property, you need to immediately stop at the scene. You must take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property. You must give them you name and address and license, if available.
- If you don’t own the vehicle, you need to give out the information of the owner.
- The property must be legally upon or adjacent to a public road or highway.
- If you can’t locate the owner or person in charge, you must contact the nearest law enforcement agency within 24 hours and give them your information.
- If you are driving any vehicle and you cause any damage to real property or personal property attached to real property, you need to immediately stop at the scene. You must take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property. You must give them you name and address and license, if available.
What are the penalties for hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio?
- If you violate any of the 3 numbered charges above, you will be charged with hit and run (hit/skip).
- The penalties for hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio range from a 1st degree misdemeanor to a 2nd degree felony. They are as follows:
- Hit and run in Ohio on a public road or highway
- A violation of this offense starts out as a 1st degree misdemeanor.
- If the accident or collision causes serious physical harm to a person
- 5th degree felony
- 4th degree felony if you knew that the accident or collision caused serious physical harm to a person
- If the accident or collision cause the death of a person
- 3rd degree felony.
- 2nd degree felony if you knew that the accident or collision caused the death of a person.
- All violations come with a mandatory class five license suspension (6 months to 3 years)
- All violations come with 6 points on your Ohio driver’s license.
- Hit and run in Ohio on public or private property that’s not on a public road or highway.
- A violation of this offense starts out as a 1st degree misdemeanor.
- If the accident or collision causes serious physical harm to a person
- 5th degree felony
- 4th degree felony if you knew that the accident or collision caused serious physical harm to a person
- If the accident or collision cause the death of a person
- 3rd degree felony.
- 2nd degree felony if you knew that the accident or collision caused the death of a person.
- All violations come with a mandatory class five license suspension (6 months to 3 years)
- All violations come with 6 points on your Ohio driver’s license.
- Hit and run in Ohio that involves realty or personal property that is attached to realty.
- A violation of this offense is a 1st degree misdemeanor.
- A violation comes with 2 points on your Ohio driver’s license.
- Hit and run in Ohio on a public road or highway
Can I get a hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio if I am not driving a motor vehicle?
- Yes. If you hit someone’s real property, you don’t have to be driving a motor vehicle.
- Therefore, if you hit someone’s real property with a bicycle, or other non-motor vehicle, you can still be charged with hit and run.
- However, to be charged with hit and run on a public road, or on private or public property, you need to be driving a motor vehicle.
- Therefore, if you are riding a bicycle and run into a car on the road or in a parking lot, you can’t be charged with hit and run.
- NOTE: If the owner of the property finds out who you are, they can still sue you for the damage to their property.
- Therefore, if you are riding a bicycle and run into a car on the road or in a parking lot, you can’t be charged with hit and run.
What to do if you've been charged with hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio?
- You will want to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Especially, if you caused the accident. An experienced attorney can talk to the prosecutor about paying for the damage that you may have caused. If you’re able to pay for the damage, it’s possible to get the charge reduced to something that’s not as severe.
- If you didn’t cause the damage, an attorney can work on getting traffic camera footage in the area. It’s possible that another car caused the damage.
- It’s possible that someone else was driving your vehicle. An attorney can relay this information to the prosecutor.
- I’m being investigated for a hit and run (hit/skip) in Ohio. What do I do?
- If a law enforcement officer has contacted you about a possible hit and run that you were involved in, you will want to call an attorney as soon as possible. You do not want to make any statements to the police. Oftentimes, the cops do not have enough evidence to charge you so they try to get you to confess to the offense. They may only know that your vehicle was involved in the accident. However, they may not have been able to identify you as the driver.
- An experienced attorney can get in touch with the police and try to figure out what they know. You’re much less likely to get charged with a hit and run if you do not speak to the police.
- If a law enforcement officer has contacted you about a possible hit and run that you were involved in, you will want to call an attorney as soon as possible. You do not want to make any statements to the police. Oftentimes, the cops do not have enough evidence to charge you so they try to get you to confess to the offense. They may only know that your vehicle was involved in the accident. However, they may not have been able to identify you as the driver.
Can my driver’s license in Ohio be suspended if I’m convicted of hit and run (hit/skip)?
- Yes. If you are convicted of hit and run in Ohio, you will get a mandatory class 5 driver’s license suspension (6 months to 3 years).
- NOTE: A hit and run that involves damage to real property does not come with a mandatory license suspension.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER TODAY
Call Makridis Law Firm at (330) 394-1587 as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation. We will make sure you are treated fairly and not wrongly accused or punished. We will review the evidence, investigate, explore all defenses, and negotiate a fair resolution in your case.