What Happens If You Leave the Scene of an Accident to Avoid a DUI in Nevada?
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident is stressful under normal circumstances. If you were also driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs when you were involved in an accident, you may be more inclined to make bad decisions in the immediate aftermath. For example, you may be tempted to take off instead of remaining at the scene of the accident. The attorneys at The Vegas Lawyers explain why leaving the scene of an accident to avoid DUI in Nevada can lead to additional charges and penalties.
What Are My Legal Obligations Following an Accident in Nevada?
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident that causes damage to property or injury to a person, Nevada law, governed by NRS 484E.030, makes it very clear that you are required to stop at the scene of the accident and provide your name, registration, and address to the other parties involved in the collision and/or to the police.
If someone was injured in the crash, you are also required to render “reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such 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.”
In addition, Nevada law requires you to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency following a motor vehicle accident that results in death, bodily injury, or property damage valued at $750 or more. This means that even if the police are not called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident, you have a legal obligation to notify the police of the crash by filing a Nevada SR-1 accident report within 10 days of the accident. Failing to file an accident report can result in the suspension of your driving privileges for up to a year while filing a false accident report can be charged as a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
Leaving the Scene of an Accident to Avoid a DUI Is a Crime in Nevada
If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time you are involved in a collision, your knee-jerk reaction may be to leave the scene of the accident to try and avoid being charged with driving under the influence (DUI). Doing so, however, exposes you to additional criminal charges being filed against you because leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Nevada.
In the State of Nevada, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, or failing to provide information or render aid, is a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. It may also result in six points being charged against your driver’s license under Nevada’s demerit point system.
If you leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident that caused injury or death in Nevada, you may be charged with a Category B felony for each person injured or killed in the collision. If convicted, you could be sentenced to a prison term of two to 20 years and/or be fined up to $5,000. Moreover, your sentence cannot be suspended, and you face revocation of your driver’s license if convicted.
Keep in mind that the charges and penalties you face for leaving the scene of an accident to avoid a DUI are in addition to any charges and penalties directly related to driving under the influence. While it can make it more difficult to convict you of DUI without a breath test result taken immediately after a crash, the state can still charge and convict you of DUI even if you fled the scene of the accident.
What Should I Do If I Left the Scene of a DUI Accident in Las Vegas?
If you left the scene of a DUI accident in Las Vegas, consult with the experienced Las Vegas DUI defense attorneys at The Vegas Lawyers as soon as possible to discuss your next steps. Call us at 702-707-7000 or contact us online.