In 2015 alone, there have been over 30,000 hit-and-run accidents in New York City. Of those, a staggering 4,000 accidents involved a personal injury of some sort (whether fatal or not). The number of accidents to property has not changed but the number of personal injury accidents where the driver has fled is what has become so alarming to the city.
Of the drivers that did in fact face charges, 480 faced criminal charges while 475 were given some sort of moving violation. There were 48 accidents that had catastrophic injuries and 28 drivers were found and subsequently arrested.
More and more drivers are leaving the scene of an accident, which in itself is already a crime. It has come to the point where City Council has decided to change the legislation and amend the fines for offenders. City Councilman, Jimmy Van Bramer wants to pass a bill that would affect repeat offenders who leave the scene of an accident. Hopefully this will deter people from leaving the scene of an accident- whether they hit a person or someone’s property.
“The bill by Van Bramer (D-Queens) would increase fines for repeat offenders in hit and runs to $1,000 in a crash with property damage, $2,000 to $5,000 if someone is injured, $5,000 to $10,000 if the injury is serious, and $10,000 if someone is killed. A bill passed last year created the city civil penalties for the first time, from $500 for a minor crash to $5,000 to $10,000 for a death.”
For a look at just how many newsworthy hit and run accidents there have been in New York, check out the New York Post’s section on hit runs. It can be found here.
Sources:
Daily News
NY Magazine
