A DUI hit and run is when a driver leaves the scene of a crash after driving under the influence. It's serious because you're facing two separate charges at once: the DUI and the hit and run, each with its own penalties.
California splits hit and run into two statutes. Leaving the scene of an accident that caused only property damage is a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code 20002. Leaving the scene of an accident that injured or killed another person is charged under Vehicle Code 20001, and that one is a wobbler that can be filed as a felony with significant prison exposure.
What makes these cases distinctive is that the two charges don't rise and fall together. You could have a strong defense on the DUI and still face the hit and run, or the reverse. The leaving-the-scene charge turns on whether you knew, or should have known, that you were in an accident and failed to stop and exchange information.
That knowledge element is often where the defense lives. If you genuinely didn't realize you'd hit something, or the "damage" was minor and unnoticed, that can matter. Prompt, careful handling also helps, because coming forward and cooperating can change how a case is charged.
Read more on the hit and run page and the criminal defense page.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different. For a free consultation, call (858) 622-7280 or visit /contact.