Stricter hit-and-run laws will likely impact accused Reno man
Stricter hit-and-run laws will likely impact accused Reno man
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 05, 2016
Almost all roads are open to bicyclists as well as drivers of motor vehicles. The attitude and the law is that operators of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Most often, this objective is achieved and no one gets hurt. Unfortunately, this was not the case for a man who was recently struck on his bicycle by a Reno man who was found after fleeing the scene of the accident.
The car accident resulted in serious injuries to the bicyclist, including broken bones. These are common injuries for bicyclists who come into contact with motor vehicles. Just after midnight last month, Reno officers responded to a report of the accident in which the bicyclist was injured and the motorist fled the scene. The public’s assistance was asked in finding the man involved in the accident. He was located off an anonymous tip-line, and upon search of the man’s property, it was discovered that his vehicle and damage matched the description of the crash.
Interestingly enough, hit-and-run laws in the state of Nevada have become stricter in the last year. Criminal penalties for drivers convicted of hit-and-run have doubled from years’ past. Before the change, it was on the same criminal level punishment as felony DUI. Clearly, hit-and-run is an offense in a league of its own as there is clear malicious intent for a driver to leave the scene of an accident. An increase in the severity of hit-and-run penalty is an indication of how serious a crime of this magnitude is and how it can negatively affect the injured and their family.
For those who have experienced a hit-and-run car accident first hand – you know how serious it can be and the ramifications that can coincide with such an event. Medical expenses, loss of wages and even permanent loss of quality of life can follow after a hit-and-run. The man on the bicycle was fortunate in that they did eventually locate the driver who struck him. For those who are fortunate like this man, it is imperative to think about pressing further charges if injured as a result of the incident.
Source: rgj.com, ” Reno man arrested after hit-and-run crash with cyclist ,” Sarah Litz, July 27, 2016