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Failure to give information to the owner after striking an unattended vehicle or property
If you are charged with failing to inform a car owner that you hit and damaged their car, you should speak with an attorney. Unlike many other traffic offenses, which are considered petty offenses or minor misdemeanors, committing a hit-and-run on a parked car or leaving the scene of an accident is a misdemeanor criminal charge.
In most cases, you are not obligated to render assistance after an accident. But if you hit and damage someone else’s car or other property, you are legally obligated to stop, give your information, and report it. This is true throughout Illinois, including Chicago and all of Cook County.
The law on failing to give information after damaging someone else’s property
The law regulating what a driver must do when they hit and damage a car or other property can be found in the Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5/11-404. The first obligation is to stop and locate the owner. Then, the driver must exchange insurance, contact, and registration information.
Of course, there will be occasions when you cannot find the owner of the property you damaged. If it is not feasible because of traffic, or if you cannot locate the owner, the law states you must leave information on or with the damaged property in an obvious, visible location. This information should include:
- Your name;
- Your address; and
- Your vehicle registration number.
After doing this, it is the driver’s responsibility to report the accident to the nearest police officer.
The penalty for failing to give information after damaging property
Failing to give information to an owner after striking a car or damaging property is a serious criminal charge — not a minor traffic violation. This charge is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois.
Class A misdemeanors can be punished with up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 plus court costs. This is not a petty offense or an insignificant charge. That is why it is so important to talk with an attorney if you are charged with failure to give information.
At Driver Defense Team, we aggressively defend those accused or charged with traffic offenses in Chicago and the surrounding areas. If you are charged with failure to give information to the owner after striking an unattended vehicle or property, or another traffic charge, contact us. We will help you understand your options and advise on your next steps.
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