Close

Former Senior LA Prosecutor.
Harvard Law School Educated.
Now Providing an Aggressive Defense For You.

Burbank Hit And Run

Automobile accidents are a daily occurrence in the Burbank area, and while they may result in costly civil damages, they usually do not involve criminal penalties. However, if a person drives away or flees an accident instead of staying to exchange information, the act of fleeing is a crime in Burbank under California's hit and run laws. Although allegations of drunk or impaired driving are not necessarily involved in a hit and run case, hit and run offenses are frequently connected to Burbank DUI offenses and DUI with injury cases occurring in Burbank.

A hit and run offense can be either a misdemeanor under California Vehicle Code Section 20002 VC if the collision involved property or a "felony" under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 VC if the underlying collision resulted in injury or death to someone else. While commonly referred to as "felony hit and run," California Vehicle Code Section 20001 VC is actually a "wobbler" offense which can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the extent of damage, the criminal history of the defendant and other relevant circumstances. The Burbank City Attorney would handle the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses while the Burbank Branch of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office would prosecute felonies in the area.

Hit and run charges in Burbank can be filed in any situation where a driver leaves the scene of a collision. This includes accidents in which the driver is not at fault or accidents where the damages are minimal.

When dealing with hit and run offenses involving damaged property, the property in question can be a number of different items, including cars, buildings, houses, fences, bicycles and even pets. A driver involved in any collision is legally required to stop and exchange contact information with the other driver involved or the owner of the property damaged. If the owner is not there, a driver is expected to leave a note for the driver in a place that is easy to locate. If requested to, a driver must show a driver's license, registration information for the vehicle, insurance information and the driver must divulge the name of the vehicle's owner if it belongs to someone else. If the collision results in injury, the other driver is legally required to render assistance, even if that assistance is limited to contacting 911.

Someone convicted of a hit and run misdemeanor in Burbank can be sentenced to up to six months in jail, expensive court fines as well as restitution to cover any damages. For hit and run offenses that result in injury or death, the defendant can be sent to prison for up to four years. The DMV will assess two points to a driver's license upon any hit and run conviction.

For those charged with hit and run in the Burbank area, there may be a number of legal defenses that they can rely on. If the underlying accident that prompted the hit and run involved no damages at all or damages solely to the defendant, then the defendant would not be criminally liable under the hit and run statutes. Additionally, the crime of hit and run requires that a driver intentionally flees the scene of an accident. There are often circumstances where a person hits something (or even someone) without being aware of the collision. If the hit and run was completely unintentional, that driver would not be guilty of a criminal offense. Finally, there can be situations where a driver must quickly leave the scene of an accident because there exists a legitimate threat to his or her own safety. This may be the case where a driver is involved in an accident in an unfamiliar neighborhood and the other driver becomes violent or a crowd of angry neighbors begin to threaten the driver. Under these circumstances, there may be a valid duress defense if the driver is charged with criminal hit and run.

If you or someone you know have been charged with hit and run in Burbank, it is critical that you speak with an effective Burbank criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Burbank Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut is a former Deputy District Attorney with over 14 years of prosecutorial experience, including a rotation prosecuting felonies at the Burbank Courthouse. As a result, Mr. Kraut has gained a reputation in Burbank for being a skilled litigator who possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of criminal law and procedure.

For more information about Burbank Hit and Run, and to schedule your free consultation, contact Burbank Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located at 2600 West Olive Avenue, 5th Floor, Burbank, CA 91505. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 818-563-9810.


Client Reviews
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is outstanding! He genuinely cared about my case and instructed my mom and I throughout the entire process. He was very clear on what he needed in order to receive the best results. He kept us updated until the end. I thank him so much for getting my charges rejected. I highly recommend him to anyone with legal needs! Shaquan
★★★★★
I contacted Michael with concern for my personal and business reputation. He was very reassuring and confident the entire time. After about 3 weeks it was determined that no charges were being filed by any agency and I was in the clear of any investigation. One thing that is amazing is just how FAST Michael is at replying to phone calls, texts, and even emails! We are talking under 30 minutes in most cases. That is unheard of for most attorneys! Michael is incredible and not your typical run of the mill attorney. For best results hire him if you feel like you might be under investigation or could face charges. Even if you know you are innocent it is best to take care of the smoke before it becomes a fire. Brad
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is-hands down-the best criminal defense attorney and I can't begin to thank him for all that he did for me and my family. I reached out to him in the middle of the night and less than a couple hours later, he had gotten back to me and scheduled a meeting. He's a no-nonsense attorney who knows how to get the job done! From the second we retained him, I had peace of mind in knowing that we were in the best hands possible. If Michael Kraut couldn't get it done, I knew that it couldn't be done at all. You can't put a price tag on your freedom. He was worth every single penny. Lida
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is an outstanding attorney. He was extremely professional, and straightforward, yet sensitive with my case. I am confident I made the right choice by hiring Michael. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a truly experienced lawyer. Daniel
★★★★★
Michael Kraut - I cannot thank you enough for all that you did for ​my son. When I came to you I read that you used to be a district attorney but I never knew how much that meant until I watch you in court. I knew it took 3 months but the final day when I heard the judge say that all charges were dismissed it was all worth it! I will always be grateful for all that you did for us. A.N.
Contact Us