Whenever you are driving no matter the state where you are, one thing that you really need to be careful of are the pedestrians walking on the way and look for the best possible ways that you can avoid hitting them. You are going to deal with some significant consequences if you end up hitting a pedestrian and some of these consequences includes losing your drivers license, facing criminal charges and also pay heavy fines. Hit a pedestrian, what should i expect is what this article addresses so continue reading with us.
If you want to be an informed motorist then it would be beneficial for you to have a good idea of what to expect if you eventually knock down a pedestrian.
Hit A Pedestrian, What Should I Expect
Fines
If you hit a pedestrian in a state like California then you are most likely to be fined and in situations like this, you are most likely to pay up to one thousand dollars. Another thing that you would have to keep in mind is whether you hit the pedestrian due to negligence or on purpose, you would end up paying the fine. What this means is if you hit a pedestrian due to lack of knowledge of traffic laws you are likely to be fined more money. You might however get a lower fine if you hit a pedestrian that was jaywalking or not lose your license too.
Criminal Charges
You are also likely to face criminal charges if you hit a pedestrian that is walking on the way. However, you are likely to face charges of manslaughter if you end up hitting a pedestrian and he or she dies. This can be seen as felony in court and you could be looking at spending time in prison and you are likely to face charges of misdemeanor if you were to get involved in a hit and run. All of these are criminal charges that would be charged against you if you hit a pedestrian intentionally.
However, if you were to hit a pedestrian by accident and you took the necessary steps required in reporting an accident then you might not be facing criminal charges.
Suspension Of License Or Revocation Of License
One other consequence that you might be looking at when you hit a pedestrian is having your license revoked or suspended. This is when you license is rendered invalid but on a permanent basis and you would no longer be permitted to drive a vehicle till the suspension is ruled out. There are certain steps that you would be required to go through if you want to have your license reinstated but having your license revoked and no longer valid is a more bigger problem.
This would mean getting a new drivers license but having any of these happen to your drivers license would be only when you intentionally hit a pedestrian or maybe you were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Other Exceptions
There are still certain exceptions if you hit a pedestrian and these exceptions can only be granted when you are not at fault for hitting the pedestrian in an accident. If a pedestrian doesn’t obey traffic laws or was walking under the influence of drugs or alcohol then you would not be facing any of the disciplinary charges.
If you are a driver that obeys traffic laws and also report yourself when you hit a pedestrian then you are likely to get some exceptions. If pedestrians get hit by a vehicle for not crossing the street properly then you would be granted exemptions too.
Conclusion
Whenever you hit the road to drive, one thing that you should avoid doing is hitting a pedestrian. You should always be on the lookout for pedestrians when driving and also, you should obey traffic laws. Remember that you are likely to face criminal charges, fines and suspension of license are the consequences of hitting a pedestrian but if you are smart enough to report it to the police then you are likely to avoid any of these consequences.
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