Sugar Land Hit and Run Lawyer | The Love DuCote Law Firm LLC

Hit and Run Lawyer in Sugar Land, TX If you left the scene of a crash, or police believe you did, you may be facing a hit and run charge. How serious that charge is depends on how much harm the crash did. Leaving is a second degree felony when the crash caused a death, a third degree felony when it caused serious bodily injury, and a misdemeanor when only property was damaged.

The Love DuCote Law Firm LLC defends drivers in Sugar Land who are accused of leaving the scene, and we represent clients facing criminal charges throughout Fort Bend County, Harris County and beyond. Virtual meetings are available. Call [phonenumber] or contact us to talk about the charge.

What Counts as a Hit and Run in Texas?

What Counts as a Hit and Run in Texas? Texas law does not use the phrase hit and run. Instead, Section 550.021 of the Texas Transportation Code and the sections around it list what a driver must do after a crash that hurts someone.

A hit and run charge means the state says a driver left before doing these things:

Stop at the scene or as close to it as possible, and go back right away if they did not stop there
Check whether anyone is hurt and give reasonable help, such as arranging a ride to a hospital when treatment is clearly needed or the person asks
Share their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance company, as Section 550.023 requires, and show a driver’s license if asked

This offense is commonly called failure to stop and render aid when someone is hurt. The same stop-and-share duties apply when a crash damages only a vehicle someone was driving or watching over, under Section 550.022.

When someone is hurt or killed, or a vehicle cannot be driven safely, Section 550.026 also requires a driver to notify police right away. Inside Sugar Land city limits, that notice goes to the Sugar Land Police Department. Outside the city, it generally goes to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office or the nearest Department of Public Safety office.

Is a Hit and Run a Felony in Texas?

It can be. Serious bodily injury, a term the Texas Penal Code defines, means an injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or a long-lasting loss or impairment of how a body part or organ works. The offense levels run as follows:

What the collision caused	Offense level or punishment
Death	Second degree felony
Serious bodily injury	Third degree felony
Other injury	Up to five years in prison or up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both
Damage to a vehicle or parked car only	Class C misdemeanor under $200 in total damage; Class B misdemeanor at $200 or more

For a driver, the offense level shapes everything that follows, from possible jail time to how long prosecutors have to file a charge.

What If You Did Not Know You Hit Anything?

What the driver knew matters. Texas courts have held that the state must show the driver knew a collision happened, not just that one did. A driver who truly did not notice an impact may have a defense on that point.

That knowledge does not have to come from a confession, though. The state can try to prove it with indirect evidence, such as damage to the car, the sound of the impact, or what the driver did afterward. Because one of our attorneys is a former prosecutor, we have insight into how the other side may try to prove what a driver knew, and we are willing to take a case to trial when it needs one.

What Happens If Police Contact You About a Hit and Run?

A call from Sugar Land police, a card left at your door, or a visit from a Fort Bend County investigator can be frightening, especially before you know what charge is being considered. Police may trace a car through its license plate, but the owner is not always the driver, and the state has to prove who was behind the wheel.

Questions about what the driver noticed at the scene go to the heart of the case. If an officer has reached out, we can speak with investigators for you before any statement is given, so you are not left explaining a crash you may still be trying to make sense of. Records from the days after a crash can also help show what happened, including:

Photographs of the vehicles and the scene
Repair estimates and insurance notices
The vehicle itself, before any repairs

Can You Be Charged With a Hit and Run Months Later?

Yes. When the crash caused a death, Article 12.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure sets no time limit, so a charge can be filed at any time. Most other felony hit and run charges must be filed within three years, the general deadline for felonies. Under Article 12.02, misdemeanor charges for damage-only crashes must be filed within two years.

Waiting to learn whether a charge is coming is hard. We can check whether the filing period has run so you know where you stand.

Do You Have to Leave a Note If You Hit a Parked Car?

Yes, unless you find the owner. Under Section 550.024, a driver who hits a parked car must stop and either give the owner the driver’s name and address and those of the car’s owner, or leave a note with that information and a short description of the crash where it is easy to see. Skipping both is a Class C or Class B misdemeanor, depending on the amount of damage.

Talk With a Hit and Run Lawyer in Sugar Land About Your Case

A hit and run accusation can bring fear of jail, a criminal record, and questions you may not know how to answer. The Love DuCote Law Firm LLC defends drivers accused of hit and run and failure to stop and render aid, including any DWI charge from the same crash.

We serve clients in Sugar Land, Fort Bend, Houston, Harris County and Katy, Texas, and virtual meetings are available. Call 832-662-1294 or contact us today to speak with a hit and run lawyer in Sugar Land about your charge.

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Hit and Run Lawyer in Sugar Land, TX

What Counts as a Hit and Run in Texas?

Is a Hit and Run a Felony in Texas?

What If You Did Not Know You Hit Anything?

What Happens If Police Contact You About a Hit and Run?

Can You Be Charged With a Hit and Run Months Later?

Do You Have to Leave a Note If You Hit a Parked Car?

Talk With a Hit and Run Lawyer in Sugar Land About Your Case

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