Hit and Run Lawyer Brooklyn

New York does not use the term “hit and run” in its Vehicle and Traffic Law, and it does not divide this offense into degrees the way many people assume. The governing statute, § 600, currently carries the heading “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting,” and it is built around two subdivisions rather than a tiered degree system. § 600(1) covers incidents involving only property damage, requiring a driver who knows or has cause to know their vehicle caused damage to stop, exchange information, or report to police, punishable as a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail. § 600(2) covers incidents involving personal injury, with grading that depends on the specific facts, not on a “first degree” or “second degree” label.

Because the informal phrase “hit and run” gets applied loosely to a wide range of conduct, correctly identifying which subdivision of § 600 actually applies, and which specific factual trigger under § 600(2)(c) governs a personal-injury case, is the necessary first step in any Brooklyn matter of this kind. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review the specific facts against the statute’s actual structure and can be reached at (888) 437-7747, staffed for intake 24/7.

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What a Hit and Run Charge Means in Brooklyn

A charge commonly called “hit and run” in Brooklyn is prosecuted under § 600, whose current official heading is “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting,” not the older “leaving scene of an accident” phrasing some secondary sources still use. § 600(1)(a) applies to property-damage-only incidents: a driver who knows or has cause to know their vehicle damaged another’s real or personal property must stop, exhibit license and insurance identification, and provide identifying and insurance information, or report to the nearest police station or judicial officer if the other party is not present. A violation is a traffic infraction, with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail.

§ 600(2) applies where personal injury is involved, and its grading structure is tied to the specific factual trigger described in § 600(2)(c) rather than to any “degree” terminology, since the statute contains none. A violation resulting solely from a failure to exhibit license or insurance identification or exchange information is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense, with a fine of $250 to $500, rising to a class A misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $1,000 for a second or subsequent such violation. Any other type of § 600(2)(a) violation, meaning conduct beyond the mere-failure category, is a class A misdemeanor with a fine of $750 to $1,000 for a first offense, escalating to a class E felony with a fine of $1,000 to $3,000 after a prior conviction of that kind, a class E felony with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 where serious physical injury results, and a class D felony with a fine of $2,000 to $5,000 where death results.

Because § 600 grades conduct by subdivision and by the specific factual trigger in § 600(2)(c), rather than by degree, describing a Brooklyn case as “hit and run in the first degree” or any similar phrase does not reflect how the statute is actually written, and a precise reading of which trigger applies is essential in any matter proceeding through the New York State trial courts in Brooklyn.

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

When a client contacts the firm about a hit and run allegation in Brooklyn, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin by determining whether § 600(1) property-damage provisions or § 600(2) personal-injury provisions apply, since the two carry very different exposure. Where personal injury is involved, the review focuses closely on which factual trigger under § 600(2)(c) the prosecution is relying on, since the difference between a mere failure to exchange information and a more serious violation can be the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony.

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys also examine whether any enhancement applies, such as a prior conviction of the same kind, or whether the case involves an allegation of serious physical injury or death, since each of these factual findings under § 600(2)(c) carries its own fine range and classification. Building a case theory around the statute’s actual structure, rather than the informal “hit and run” label, is central to this review.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and bring additional courtroom experience to these matters. Because Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. does not maintain a physical location in Brooklyn, this review is coordinated through scheduled consultations rather than an in-person Brooklyn office. The firm does not offer free consultations; a consultation may be scheduled by calling the 24/7 intake line at (888) 437-7747.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris is the Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., which he founded in 1997. He is a former prosecutor, and his background in accounting and information systems from George Mason University has been applied to complex financial and technology-related cases handled by the firm. Mr. Sris is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and his New York admission covers § 600 matters arising in Brooklyn.

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys concentrate in traffic and criminal defense matters, including charges commonly called hit and run under § 600. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and are referenced collectively rather than by name in this material. To discuss a Brooklyn hit and run allegation, call (888) 437-7747, staffed for intake 24/7, to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New York law use the term “hit and run”?

No. The governing statute, § 600, is officially titled “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting.” “Hit and run” is a common descriptive phrase, not the statute’s language.

Does § 600 have “degrees” like some other offenses?

No. § 600 contains only two subdivisions, property damage under § 600(1) and personal injury under § 600(2), with grading tied to the specific factual trigger in § 600(2)(c) rather than any degree terminology.

What is the penalty for a property-damage-only violation?

Under § 600(1), a violation is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail.

How severe can a personal-injury violation become?

Under § 600(2)(c), penalties range from a class B misdemeanor for a mere failure to exhibit license or exchange information up to a class D felony, fine $2,000 to $5,000, where death results.

Does the firm have an office in Brooklyn?

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. does not maintain a physical location in Brooklyn. Clients are served through scheduled consultations for matters in the New York State trial courts in Brooklyn. The firm’s principal office is in Fairfax, Virginia.

Is a free consultation available?

No. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. does not offer free consultations. A scheduled consultation may be requested by calling (888) 437-7747, staffed for intake 24/7.

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.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

The same rules apply outside Brooklyn County, and our page on hit and run charges across New York walks through each stage.