Being involved in a car accident can be a life-altering event. It can affect physical health, financial stability, mental well-being, and overall quality of life for both parties involved. However, what’s worse than that is leaving the scene of an accident.
Also known as a hit-and-run, leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense in Alabama. Not only does it have serious legal implications, but it also leads to various employment-related consequences. Let’s find out more about the legal and potential employment risks associated with the act of leaving a scene after an accident.
Understanding Hit-and-Run Laws in Alabama
Quite like many other states, there are risks leaving the scene of an accident in Alabama. The law clearly specifies the legal obligations of drivers involved in car accidents. Drivers must stop at the scene if an accident results in death, injury, or property damage. As per the law, drivers must:
- Share their name, address, and vehicle registration number
- Show their driver’s license when requested
- Call for help if someone is injured and even arrange for medical treatment
- Report the accident to the authorities if it involves death, injury, or significant property damage
Not complying with any of these requirements would be considered an offense and may be treated as hit-and-run. While it depends on the circumstances of the accident, you should expect severe penalties for a hit-and-run in Alabama. For instance:
If you are involved in an accident that results in property damage but you leave the scene, it is considered a Class A misdemeanor. In this case, you may get a fine of up to $6,000 with possible license suspension and a year in jail.
However, if the accident involves death or serious injury and you leave the scene, it turns into a Class C felony. The consequences are much more severe in this case, including a prison sentence of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $15,000 and a license revocation. These penalties are also applied in addition to any other charges related to the accident, such as vehicular manslaughter or reckless driving.
This doesn’t stop here because the implications of leaving the scene would go beyond criminal penalties. Sometimes, victims sue you for damages, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. The act might also result in the cancellation of your insurance policy or you may end up paying higher premiums. And of course, you would no longer be able to drive legally in Alabama after a hit-and-run conviction.
Employment Risks and Consequences
It is never a good idea to leave the scene after an accident because it can have long-lasting impacts on your employment prospects as well. For instance:
Problems Finding New Jobs
The biggest issue with hit-and-run convictions, especially a felony, will stay on your records, and any new employer would learn about it while conducting background checks. Many employers are going to run background checks as part of the hiring process, and they would not trust you for important roles when you are convicted of hit-and-run. This is especially true for positions related to finances, driving, or working with vulnerable populations.
Issues Continuing Your Current Job
If you are already employed, a hit-and-run conviction will still hurt you in more ways than you can imagine. For starters, there’s always a risk of being fired because many companies have clear policies about dismissing employees convicted of felonies. Similarly, you may end up losing your professional license if you are related to certain professions, such as healthcare workers, lawyers, or financial advisors. You will also have serious trouble if you are related to government jobs that require security clearances.
People associated with certain industries are more likely to deal with severe consequences of hit-and-run convictions. For instance, a hit-and-run conviction would make it difficult for those to get insured, making it practically impossible to find jobs in transportation and logistics.
Many healthcare facilities would never consider someone with criminal convictions because they think it is necessary to protect patient safety. Educational institutions usually have strict policies for hiring someone who doesn’t follow the rules or disregards others’ safety.
Hit-and-run convictions can have long-term effects on career progression. For those employed and convicted, it would be extremely difficult to advance to higher positions, especially those involving public trust. Starting a business can become a lot more challenging because you won’t be able to secure loans, obtain licenses, or win contracts.
An important point to understand is that while employers in Alabama need to follow the guidelines set by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a hit-and-run conviction can still put you in trouble. The guidelines force employers to consider the nature of the offense, the nature of the job, and the time that has passed since the offense.
Dealing with Employment Challenges for Hit-and-Run Convicts
If you have been in an accident and left the scene, it is very important to work with a legal expert. Ideally, you should stay at the scene and let your lawyer handle everything for you. However, if you have already been convicted and now facing employment challenges, here are a few strategies to make things better:
- Talk to your lawyer and see if your conviction could be expunged in any way. Certain criminal records can be expunged under Alabama law, and though hit-and-run felonies don’t fall under this category, your lawyer can still help.
- Be sure to produce some rehabilitation evidence to secure a job. It may include safety driving courses, completion of substance abuse programs, or community service.
- Not all municipalities have adopted the “Ban the Box” law, which prohibits employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal record upfront. If no such law is in place, it is better to tell your employer about your past convictions and show how you have changed.
- Put your emphasis on your qualifications and skills and back that up with a positive work history to help mitigate concerns.
You may also consider going for roles and positions less impacted by your driving records. Pursuing freelance work is your last resort, which may work for many because employers don’t do background checks.
Endnote
Leaving the scene of an accident is never going to work in your favor in Alabama. In fact, it would result in severe legal consequences and problems with your employment prospects. It is always better to report the accident and not leave the scene. Be sure to seek legal assistance if you leave the scene or are a victim of hit-and-run accidents.
