After someone is involved in an accident, they are required to leave their name, address and contact information, their driver's license number, their license plate number and their auto insurance information. If you hit an unattended car, you must either try and find the owner or leave a note providing your name and contact information and a description of the accident.

As the Hawaii Revised Statutes §291C-14 explains,

"(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall give the driver's name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving, and shall upon request and if available exhibit the driver's license or permit to drive to any person injured in the accident or to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in the accident and shall give such information and upon request exhibit such license or permit to any police officer at the scene of the accident or who is investigating the accident and shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of the person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person; provided that if the vehicle involved in the accident is a bicycle, the driver of the bicycle need not exhibit a license or permit to drive."

A hit and run is "the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is involved in a collision with another vehicle, property or human being, who knowingly fails to stop to give his/her name, license number, and other information as required by statute to the injured party, a witness, or law enforcement officers." About 11 percent of crashes nationwide involve a hit-and-run driver, according to data compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. According to Killerinfographics.com, 45% of 3,000 motorists interviewed said they had their parked car damages, but only 15% received the details left to them by the guilty party.

A hit and run can result in your driver's license getting suspended, your driving privileges being revoked entirely, and/or being pressed with criminal charges. If you have been charged with a hit and run in Honolulu, you could face other very serious consequences that include:

• If you hit an unattended vehicle, you will have to pay a $100 fine for the trauma system special fund.
• If you caused damage to a vehicle driven by a person, you will have to pay a $100 fine for the trauma system special fund.
• If you caused bodily injury, this is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $100 fine for the neurotrauma special fund and a $100 fine for the trauma system special fund
• If you caused substantial injury, this is a Class C felony punishable by a $250 fine for the neurotrauma special fund and a $250 fine for the trauma system special fund
• If you caused a death, this is a Class B felony and will result in the revocation of your driver's license, a $500 fine for the neutrauma special fund and a $500 fund for the trauma system special fund

For more information about hit and runs in Honolulu, check out the DMV's resources by clicking here. You can also contact my office at (808) 536-5242 to benefit from my more than 20 years of legal experience as a Honolulu criminal lawyer. I would be more than happy to provide you with the helpful advice, caring guidance and aggressive defense that you are seeking today!