No Criminal Charges for LeAnn Rimes Hit and Run

Last month, LeAnn Rimes was involved in a hit and run accident in Los Angeles in which she was accused of rear ending a car stopped in a left turn lane. Reports indicated that there were no injuries and minor damage to the vehicles. The alleged hit and run occurred when LeAnn Rimes decided to leave the scene without exchanging information with the other driver.

Shortly after her alleged hit and run crime, LeAnn Rimes got a visit at home from her local Los Angeles police officers wanting to question her about her involvement in the hit and run accident.

According to police, LeAnn Rimes was very cooperative with the officers and told them she was not aware that she had hit the car and gladly provided them with the necessary insurance information that she should have provided the other driver at the scene of the hit and run accident.

As a result, the police closed the hit and run investigation against LeAnn Rimes without even sending it to the Los Angeles City Attorney for possible criminal hit and run charges.

Here are just a few things LeAnn Rimes won't have to deal with for not having to face criminal charges for her Los Angeles hit and run. She won't have to spend money to hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer, take time off work to go to court, find a sitter to watch her kids while she is attending court, risk a potential criminal conviction, be put on probation if convicted of hit and run, be ordered to complete some community service, have two points on her DMV record and have her car insurance rates won't go up. Yeah!

Let me be clear, this is the absolute right result. LeAnn Rimes is not a criminal nor do I think she should have to face criminal charges under these circumstances. However, after 13 years spent as a practicing Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer, I can say that the less famous probably wouldn't have been so fortunate under these very same circumstances.

Many good people with Los Angeles hit and run cases just like LeAnn Rimes' often have criminal charges filed against them and have to deal with all of the factors listed above. So, does it pay to be famous? If your LeAnn Rimes, the answer seems to be yes. As for what can everyone else do if they find themselves in a hit and run accident in Los Angeles? You better learn how to belt out tune or just don't leave the scene. If those aren't realistic options for you, you can always take the bus.

FYI: In California, the crime of hit and run is essentially “leaving the scene of an accident” without exchanging or attempting to exchange identifying information with the other party involved. Hit and run has nothing to do with the severity of the accident, the extent of the property damage resulting from the accident, or even, whether you are at fault for the accident. The bottom line is, if you drive away from the scene of an accident, even if it is not your fault, you can be charged with the crime of hit and run.

Written by Gabriel Dorman
Los Angeles, California
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/
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