Former Michigan Prosecutor | Jonathan Andrew Paul
  • Crimes
    • Domestic Violence
    • Retail Fraud
    • Drug Offenses
    • Assaultive
    • College/Tailgate Offenses >
      • Minor in Possession
      • Ann Arbor MIP
      • Ann Arbor Fake ID
      • Ann Arbor UIP
      • Ann Arbor Open Container
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Handling a Traffic Ticket
    • Careless/Reckless Driving
    • Probation Violation
    • Early Discharge Probation
    • Larceny
    • Malicious Destruction of Property
    • Embezzlement
    • Juvenile Charges
  • Drunk Driving
    • Evidence >
      • Chemical Tests >
        • Implied Consent Law
        • Independent Chemical Test
        • Single Car Accident | DUI Defense
        • Effects of Body Temperature
        • Cross-Examining the DataMaster
        • Blood Testing 101
        • Impact of Methyl Alcohol/Paraldehyde
        • Radio Frequency Issues w/DataMaster
      • Right to Counsel
      • Preliminary Breath Test (PBT)
      • Field Sobriety Tests
      • Police Traffic Stop >
        • Sleeping in Car Defense
        • Cross-Examination - The Not Driving Defense
      • Police Statements
    • DUI Consequences >
      • Ignition Interlock
      • Restitution
      • Vehicle Immobilization
      • Travel Restrictions
      • Child Custody
      • Employment/Education
      • Traveling to Canada?
      • Vehicle Forfeiture
      • Civil Liability
      • Commercial Driver's License
    • DUI Trial Guide >
      • Jury Selection
      • Opening Statement
      • Cross-Examination
      • Closing Argument
      • Jury vs Bench Trial
    • Setting Bond >
      • Alcohol/Drug Testing Part #1
      • Alcohol/Drug Testing Part #2
      • Posting Bond
    • DUI Offenses >
      • Operating While Intoxicated
      • Operating While Visibly Impaired
      • Super Drunk/High BAC
      • Operating Presence of Controlled Substance
      • Child Endangerment
      • Felony Drunk Driving
      • DUI Under 21 Years Old
      • DUI Causing Injury/Death
    • Sobriety Court
    • DUI Pardons
  • Hiring a Super Lawyer
  • Courts
    • Wayne County >
      • More Courts >
        • Allen Park
        • Dearborn Heights
        • Detroit
        • Ecorse
        • Hamtramck
        • Harper Woods
        • Highland
        • Lincoln Park
        • Redford
        • Southgate
        • Taylor
        • Woodhaven
        • Wyandotte
      • Plymouth
      • Northville
      • Canton
      • Romulus
      • Livonia
      • Dearborn
      • Grosse Pointe
      • Westland
    • Oakland County >
      • Novi
      • Troy
      • Southfield
      • Royal Oak | Berkley
      • Rochester Hills
      • Farmington Hills
      • Bloomfield Hills
      • Waterford
      • Clarkston
      • Oak Park
      • Pontiac
      • Ferndale/Madison Heights/Hazel Park Drunk Driving DUI Criminal Attorney | Oakland County
    • Washtenaw County >
      • Ann Arbor
      • Chelsea
      • Pittsfield Township
      • Saline
      • Ypsilanti 14A
      • Ypsilanti 14B
    • Macomb County >
      • Center Line
      • Clinton Township
      • Eastpointe
      • Fraser
      • New Baltimore
      • Romeo
      • Roseville
      • Shelby Township
      • Sterling Heights
      • St. Clair Shores
      • Warren
    • Other Counties >
      • Livingston County
      • Monroe County
      • Jackson County
      • Lenawee County
      • East Lansing
  • Expungement
    • DUI Expungement
  • 5-Star DUI Defense
  • FAQ
  • Legal Guides
    • DUI Expungement
    • Arrested in Michigan? NOW WHAT!
    • Being Investigated?
    • 18 Key Questions for DUI's
    • Michigan License Restoration
  • Client Reviews
  • Growth Mindset
  • Inside the Prosecutor Mind
    • Drunk Driving >
      • OWI First Offense
      • OWI Second Offense
      • OWI Third Offense
      • Field Sobriety Tests
      • Chemical Tests
      • Implied Consent
      • Hardship License
      • Sobriety Court
    • Expungement
    • Assault/DV Charges >
      • Domestic Violence
      • Misdemeanor Assault
      • Felonious Assault
    • Theft Offenses >
      • Retail Fraud
      • Embezzlement
      • Larceny
    • College Offenses >
      • Open Container
      • Minor in Possession (MIP)
      • Urinating in Public
      • Fake ID
    • Drug Charges >
      • Felony Drug Possession
    • Driving - Traffic >
      • Reckless Careless Driving
      • Driving While License Suspended
      • Leaving Scene of Accident
    • Disorderly Conduct
    • Probation Violation
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Malicious Destruction of Property
    • Travel Requests
    • Bond Violations
  • Contact Me
  • Leading with Empathy

Charged with Leaving Scene of Accident Ottawa County 58th District Court - Fleeing the Scene in Holland, Hudsonville and Grand Haven

8/4/2023

 

​Navigating the Legal Landscape: A Former Prosecutor's Perspective on Leaving the Scene of an Accident Cases in Ottawa County

Over the course of my tenure as a prosecutor in Ottawa County, Michigan, I've gained considerable experience in handling Leaving the Scene of an Accident cases. My jurisdiction spanned Hudsonville, Holland, and Grand Haven, bustling communities within the 58th District Court. These charges varied extensively based on case-specific details, but the most common one was Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Property Damage.

This charge typically refers to a scenario where the defendant, following an accident, chose not to stay put, leading to potential criminal misdemeanor charges and a 6-point hit on their driving record. My methodology as a prosecutor was rooted in a thorough understanding of each case. To achieve this, I'd interact with the law enforcement officers and witnesses involved, considering factors such as:

- The time and location of the incident
- The nature of the damaged property
- The driving record of the individual charged
- The defendant's account of the event
- The defendant's attempts to stay or report the incident

However, a case involving a first-time offender with a minor fender-bender is vastly different from a scenario where someone demolishes multiple mailboxes and ends up with a toppled car in someone's yard at 2 am. The law doesn't make these distinctions, but a prosecutor's job involves the application of common sense.

For many defendants, the primary concern is avoiding the significant hit to their driving record and the implications of a criminal misdemeanor. Often, these cases could be negotiated down to a 0-point offense like 'failure to report an accident.' This remains a misdemeanor but serves as a starting point for case resolution. 

In cases involving personal injuries, however, the stakes are considerably higher. Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Personal Injury can lead to serious legal consequences. Should the injury be severe, or result in death, charges elevate to the felony level, leading to license suspensions and other penalties. 

Having navigated these cases as a prosecutor, I'm well-positioned to guide clients through the labyrinth of legal possibilities. If the evidence against a client is strong, our strategy focuses on resolution rather than an uphill battle in court. In most scenarios, there is room for compromise.

Typical resolutions aim to prevent a criminal misdemeanor charge, license suspension, or points on the license. Depending on the case specifics, there may also be restitution for property damage or personal injury involved. The restitution amount can be contested in a hearing, but we may use this as leverage to negotiate favorable outcomes for our clients.

No one should leave the scene of an accident, but there are often extenuating circumstances. It's crucial to highlight these factors to the court and present our clients in the best possible light. This might involve having the client undertake a driver improvement course, community service, or even therapy if emotional or mental issues contributed to their decision to leave the scene. 

Our ultimate goal is to transform an unfortunate incident into a learning experience for our client, rather than a lifelong setback. Every case is unique, and as a former prosecutor, I bring invaluable insights to the table, providing the best possible representation for my clients in the 58th District Court of Ottawa County.

Comments are closed.
    top criminal lawyer michigan, metro detroit, northville, plymouth attorney
    Jonathan Andrew PaulReviewsout of 164 reviews
    Jonathan Andrew PaulClients’ ChoiceAward 2024

    Call Me Today
    248-924-9458
    ​
    Email Me

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Search the Blog

    Blog Posts

    - The Michigan Retrograde Extrapolation Guide

    - Selecting an Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Selecting an Oakland County Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Drunk Driving Consults

    - The One Question Your Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Should not be Able to Answer

    - Are the police allowed to follow me home from a bar?

    - Is it illegal to smoke weed and drive a car in Michigan? What's the legal limit for pot?

    - Michigan Police Confessions 101

    - Michigan 7411 Drug Crimes

    - FAQ: Shoplifting in Michigan

    - Michigan HYTA Eligibility

    - Can I be on probation while    away at college?

    - What is a Deferred Judgment of Guilt?

    - Michigan CDL Alcohol Penalties 

    - Ann Arbor Arrested for Fake ID, Urinating in Public, Minor in Possession, Open Container

    - Should I Admit to Drinking Alcohol?

    - Arrested for Minor in Possession in Ann Arbor?

    - Michigan DUI Probation Violation Hearings

    - How To: Claiming Self Defense at Trial 

    - Michigan Sex Offender FAQ

    - Should I use the Public Defender?

    - Washtenaw County Felony OWI Options

    - Handling a Michigan traffic ticket

    - How to beat a Careless Driving Charge

    - Hiring a Wayne County Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Michigan DUI Concealed Weapon Permit

    - What's a Michigan Preliminary Examination?

    Neighbor Disputes

    - Can I Remove my GPS Tether?

    - Vehicle forfeitures 
     - Will I lose my license for a drug charge?

    - Michigan Driver's Responsibility Fees

    - Falsely Accused on Domestic Violence
    - 48th District Court Prosecutors 
    - Am I eligible for expungement with two convictions?
Representing clients in Ann Arbor, Canton, Brighton, Howell, Saline, Adrian, Taylor, Plymouth, Northville, Westland, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, Warren, Sterling Heights, Farmington, Pontiac, Romulus, Lansing, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, Rochester, Jackson, East Lansing, Garden City, Livonia, Dearborn, Detroit, St Clair Shores, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Waterford, Milford, Shelby Township Clarkston, Oak Park, Berkley, Fraser, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township and others throughout Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Jackson, Saginaw, Macomb, Ingham, Lenawee, Charlevoix, Ottawa, Clinton, Eaton, Kent, Crawford, Allegan, Emmet, Barry, Kalkaska, Berrien, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland County & Northern Michigan 

Representing clients faced with DUI/drunk driving, retail fraud/shoplifting, drug charges, MDOP, domestic violence, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, fake ID, open container, UIP, early termination probation  and other misdemeanor and felony charges. 

Evening & Weekend Service Available Call Me: 248-924-9458

Picture

Ann Arbor Office Location

Plymouth Office Location

Michigan Defense Attorney Jonathan Paul - Former New York & Michigan Prosecutor