Chicago, IL asked in Car Accidents and Criminal Law for Illinois

Q: I was in an accident And i panicked for whatever reason and I drove off. What do I do now

I was in an accident And i panicked for whatever reason and I drove off. I checked online and there was a report made with no injuries but there was damage over 1500 dollars. I have insurance and I have a license I don't know why I panicked. But now I don't know what to do should I turn myself in? I just don't want to go to jail. I have 2 kids that I have custody of and my other son comes every other week. I don't know what to do??

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1 Lawyer Answer
Charles Candiano
Charles Candiano
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Chicago, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: Doing Nothing is NOT an option! Consult a local traffic/criminal defense attorney with further details to assess your options. Do NOT provide any further details online as you are admitting to a crime. If you had a valid license and insurance, there could be no immediate consequence beyond your insurance carrier increasing your premium or canceling your policy in the coming months. Causing an accident is an offense that very rarely causes anyone's license to be suspended and taking ownership of your mistake should make it a non-issue with regard to custody. On the other hand, leaving the scene will all but guarantee a suspension, and provides support for an argument that you are irresponsible and should not be entrusted with the custody of your children. Moreover, if your license is suspended, you may lose your job and thereby your ability to earn a living for your children, not to mention the ability to take them to school functions and medical appointments.

There is no reason to blow this out of proportion and there is no reason to minimize it. Leaving the scene of an accident is not something that a mature adult cannot do without consequences. Meet with a Traffic Attorney and STOP POSTING.

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