Orlando Trial Lawyer Defends Drivers Accused of Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Trustworthy attorney handles “hit and run” cases in Florida

Drivers involved in an accident in Florida have certain legal responsibilities. The first and most basic of these duties is to stop and assess the situation. Someone may be injured and in need of critical assistance, which they may not get if other drivers flee the scene. Florida law imposes stiff penalties on “hit and run” drivers. If you left the scene of an accident, the best course of action is to turn yourself in and to call a criminal defense lawyer. You may have a viable defense or there may be circumstances that weigh in your favor. But the longer you wait, the more serious your situation can become. At The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. in Orlando, you will receive quality legal representation from a proven criminal defense lawyer. Mr. Yates has extensive experience defending traffic crime cases. He is a tenacious advocate who is ready to fight for the best possible outcome.

Statutory duties following an accident that damages property or injures

If you are involved in a Florida collision that results in property damage, you have the duty to:

  • Stop your vehicle as close to the scene as safely possible.
  • Exchange information with the other driver(s), including your name, address, registration number.
  • Show your driver’s license to the other drivers upon request.
  • Provide pertinent information to investigating officers.
  • Leave a note on damaged property that is unattended, such as a parked car, and immediately notify the police.

If the accident causes injury to a person, you have additional duties that include:

  • Rendering “reasonable assistance,” which ranges from first aid to actually transporting the person to a hospital or a doctor
  • Reporting the crash to the nearest police authority

Failure to carry out these duties can lead to serious criminal charges. For a crash that causes only property damage, the violation is a second-degree misdemeanor with penalties of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. If the crash causes injuries to another person, the charge becomes a third-degree felony with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. If the accident is fatal to anyone, the offense becomes a first-degree felony with penalties of up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, if the defendant in a fatal hit-and-run crash was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there is a mandatory minimum prison term of two years. The court will also revoke the license of the convicted driver.

Defenses to leaving the scene of an accident

Many hit-and-runs happen because a driver panicked or wanted to hide the fact they were driving under the influence or without a valid driver's license. However, there are cases where the driver has a valid defense, such as:

  • The driver did not know an accident occurred.
  • Circumstances prevented the driver from being able to stop.
  • Another driver was belligerent or threatening.

There are a number of other scenarios that can excuse a driver’s actions that are outside the letter of the law. Mr. Yates is determined to see you get every benefit of the doubt. He thoroughly investigates your crash to assemble the evidence necessary to present the strongest defense possible.

Contact a skilled criminal defense lawyer in Orlando for a consultation

The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. defends clients accused of leaving the scene of an accident in Orlando and beyond. For determined representation, call Tad A. Yates at 407-608-7777 or contact the firm online to schedule a consultation.

attorney

Mr. Yates is a past-President of the Orange County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. He previously served as Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 9th Judicial Circuit. 

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Testimonials

  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.

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  • Tad is an excellent attorney. Due to a momentary lapse in judgement, I was put in a bad position and could not be more grateful that I hired Tad. From the moment I met Tad, I knew that I was in great hands! Tad explained to me all possible outcomes of the case and really helped put my mind at ease. In the end, I wound up with a very positive outcome and I owe it all to him. Tad was always available when I needed to speak with him and I couldn’t be happier that I hired him. Without the help and guidance of Tad, I’m not sure where I would be today. Tad is not only an amazing attorney, but an all-around great person!

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  • I do not have enough words to describe how amazing the experience with this attorney was. He works very hard to obtain the best results for his clients. I could not have asked for better services. I had exceptional fast results, I highly recommend this attorney. Thank you again, Tad Yates.

  • After consulting with several different highly recommended lawyers, I decided to hire Tad. It was a decision that would truly effect my life in a very profound way. Tad never promised results, he did however layout his experience and give me his word he would put all his effort into my case. I felt that was the honesty I deserved. He was sincere, honest, and reliable. Every time we attended court he seemed to hold a very good relationship with all the court's people. My case with Tad lasted about 9 months. There were many times I wanted to break down, not knowing what the results would ultimately be; however Tad always personalized my case and would constantly provide me with assurance of his efforts. He was always extremely accessible. This gave me a lot of peace. The results of my case ended up being extremely satisfying. I was looking at losing everything, for good. I now have my peace, my freedom, and I am currently very successful. Even after my case, Tad kept tabs with me and ensured I was doing as I should. There is a handful of people God put in my life of whom helped me get to the next level, there is no denying Tad is one of them.

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  • Tad came highly recommended. Set up a consultation and after meeting him, hired him immediately. Tad is extremely knowledgeable, efficient and truly cares. He was always available to speak and support during a very difficult situation. Although he has many clients, he always made us feel important and took the time necessary to ensure our questions were answered and that we were comfortable with strategy and next steps. He ultimately achieved the desired result and we are forever grateful.

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  • When I met Tad Yates, I was frantic, scared and misinformed about the legalities of my case. He quickly reassured me that everything was going to be alright and started at once preparing my defense. Every time I needed to speak with him, he was there to give advice and inform me the status of my case. As a result of his hard work, he managed to get my case dismissed and this blemish off my record. If you’re thinking of hiring or consulting with Mr. Yates, your in great hands.- A.

    I was referred to Tad by a friend of the family. They told me what he did for them and assured me that he would do the same for me. He exceeded my expectations from start to finish. He used his knowledge of the law, professionalism and relationship skills to have my case completely dropped. No plea deals what so ever. He never once doubted me however he did explain exactly what we had to overcome. If you find yourself in a situation that could impact you for the rest of your life, whether you did anything wrong or not I would encourage you to give him a call.

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Ratings & Reviews

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    Strongly recommend Tad Yates as an attorney as well as his office staff, Kathy. They are absolutely on top of their game. Very attentive, astute and courteous. The kindness and understanding shown by their office is incomparable. They have ...
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    — Louis .Tsantes

  • lawyers
    5.0/5.0

    Time spent in any legal process can be stressful. Tad is a great communicator and put me at ease with the process. His knowledge and plan of action where exactly what I needed. I would definitely recommend giving his office a call if you ar...
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    — Client

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    I was highly recommended by a former Circuit Judge in Orlando to contact Mr Yates. He immediately took my call and put me at ease immediately. After his investigation into the matter he agreed to take my case. I never met him in person and ...
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    — Farrell Gordon

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    If you're reading this and you have a case pending, you need to stop immediately and call Tad's office. Take it from someone who has been there, Tad is a consummate professional and highly skilled tactician who will get you the best possibl...
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    — Brenden McDaniels

  • google
    5.0/5.0

    Tad is fantastic. Not only did he get my case dismissed in a timely manner, but he also made himself available over the holidays to provide advice and refer me to another law firm. He truly cares about his clients. I would highly recommend ...
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    — Leah