Hit and Run Lawyer Queens County

“Hit and run” is the term most drivers use to search for what New York law formally addresses under the heading “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting.” The consequences that follow a hit and run allegation in Queens County depend heavily on whether the incident involved only property damage or also involved personal injury. Under N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law §600(1), leaving the scene of an incident involving only property damage without reporting is a traffic infraction, carrying a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail.

Leaving the scene of an incident involving personal injury is addressed separately under §600(2), where the statute does not create numbered “degrees” of the offense; instead, the charge is graded based on the specific circumstances, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on factors such as whether the driver has a prior conviction and the severity of the injury involved. A hit and run allegation connected to Queens County is handled in the New York State trial courts in Queens County. Because the potential charge level varies so widely based on the facts, an early review of the incident itself, including what contact or notice occurred at the scene, is important. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent drivers facing hit and run allegations connected to Queens County. A driver facing this kind of allegation may request a consultation with the firm by calling (888) 437-7747.

What Hit and Run Means in Queens County

New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law does not use the term “hit and run.” The relevant statute, §600, is officially headed “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting,” and it does not reference an “accident” or establish numbered “degrees” of the offense. Instead, the statute is organized around the type of harm involved and, for personal-injury cases, the specific circumstances of the driver’s conduct after the incident.

When the incident involves only property damage, §600(1) classifies leaving the scene without reporting as a traffic infraction, with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail. When the incident involves personal injury, §600(2) applies, and the grading is set out in §600(2)(c) rather than through separate “degrees.” A driver whose only violation is a failure to exhibit a license or exchange information faces a class B misdemeanor, with a fine of $250 to $500, on a first offense, rising to a class A misdemeanor, with a fine of $500 to $1,000, on a second or subsequent offense. Other violations of the personal-injury reporting requirement are graded as a class A misdemeanor, with a fine of $750 to $1,000. Where the driver has a prior conviction under this section, the charge is elevated to a class E felony, with a fine of $1,000 to $3,000. Where the injury involved is a serious injury, the charge is also a class E felony, with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000. Where the incident results in death, the charge is a class D felony, with a fine of $2,000 to $5,000.

Because the charge level in a hit and run matter connected to Queens County depends on these specific statutory factors rather than a generic “accident” standard, understanding which provision of §600 applies to a given set of facts is central to understanding the exposure involved.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Hit and Run Cases

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent drivers facing hit and run allegations in the New York State trial courts in Queens County. Representation typically begins with identifying which provision of §600 applies to the facts, since the statute is structured around the type of harm involved rather than a single uniform offense. For a property-damage-only allegation, attorneys review whether the elements of §600(1) are supported by the available evidence. For an allegation involving personal injury, attorneys review the grading factors under §600(2)(c), including whether the alleged conduct amounts to a mere failure to exhibit a license or exchange information, a more serious violation of the reporting requirement, or conduct involving a prior conviction, a serious injury, or a death, since each of these factors is tied to a different classification and fine range.

Because the personal-injury provisions of §600(2) can result in charges ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on these specific factors, attorneys give particular attention to the facts surrounding the incident itself, including what happened immediately after the incident and what, if any, contact or notice occurred at the scene. This review informs the range of realistic paths through the case, whether toward a negotiated resolution or toward trial.

The firm does not guarantee any particular outcome in a hit and run matter. Clients facing an allegation under §600, whether involving property damage or personal injury, may request a consultation with Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys to review the specific facts of their case.

Attorney Experience in Hit and Run Matters

The firm was founded in 1997 and has practiced traffic and driving-related defense, including matters under §600, since that time. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder, is a former prosecutor who is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

Before founding the firm, Mr. Sris developed a background in accounting and information systems at George Mason University. That background has been applied to complex financial and technology-related cases, including matters that require careful reconstruction of a sequence of events, such as what occurred immediately before and after an incident that leads to a hit and run allegation. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys bring this combined perspective to representation in hit and run matters connected to Queens County.

The firm does not offer free consultations. The firm does not guarantee any particular outcome in a hit and run case, whether the allegation involves property damage under §600(1) or personal injury under §600(2), and results in a prior case do not guarantee a similar result in a new one. Clients facing a hit and run allegation connected to Queens County may request a consultation with Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys to review the specific facts of their case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does New York law actually call a “hit and run”?

New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law does not use the term “hit and run.” The relevant statute, §600, is officially headed “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting.” It does not use the word “accident,” and it does not create numbered “degrees” of the offense. Instead, the statute is organized by the type of harm involved, property damage under §600(1) or personal injury under §600(2), with the personal-injury provision graded according to specific factors set out in §600(2)(c).

What happens if the hit and run only involved property damage?

Leaving the scene of an incident involving only property damage without reporting is addressed under §600(1). It is classified as a traffic infraction, with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail. This is the least serious classification under §600, and it does not apply once personal injury is involved, at which point the case is instead evaluated under the personal-injury provisions of §600(2).

Can a hit and run be charged as a felony?

Yes, in certain circumstances involving personal injury. Under §600(2)(c), a violation is elevated to a class E felony, with a fine of $1,000 to $3,000, where the driver has a prior conviction under this section, or where the injury involved is a serious injury, also a class E felony with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000. Where the incident results in death, the charge is a class D felony, with a fine of $2,000 to $5,000. A property-damage-only incident under §600(1) is not a felony.

Are there “first degree” and “second degree” hit and run charges in New York?

No. §600 does not create numbered degrees. The personal-injury provision, §600(2), is graded instead through the specific factors listed in §600(2)(c), such as whether the conduct was a mere failure to exhibit a license or exchange information, a more serious violation of the reporting requirement, a repeat violation, a serious injury, or a death. Each factor carries its own classification and fine range rather than a numbered degree.

Does it matter whether I knew someone was injured?

The grading of a personal-injury charge under §600(2)(c) turns on the specific circumstances and outcome of the incident rather than solely on the driver’s state of mind at the time. Because the classification can range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on factors such as prior convictions, the severity of the injury, and whether death resulted, a careful review of the facts is necessary to understand the applicable charge in a specific case.

What should I do after being contacted about a hit and run allegation?

A driver contacted about a hit and run allegation connected to Queens County may request a consultation with Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys to review the incident and the specific provision of §600 that applies. Because the classification of the charge depends heavily on the facts, including whether the incident involved only property damage or also personal injury, an early review can help clarify the realistic range of outcomes.

Related Pages

• Leaving the Scene Lawyer Queens County
• Reckless Driving Lawyer Queens County
• Vehicular Homicide Lawyer Queens County
• Vehicular Manslaughter Lawyer Queens County
• Aggressive Driving Lawyer Queens County

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

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