Formal charges were filed on Tuesday against four people accused of leaving a restaurant without paying their bill and subsequently running over the waitress who came out to confront them as they fled.  Charges include felony aggravated assault, felony hit-and-run with injury and misdemeanor defrauding an innkeeper.

The four suspects left the restaurant in Anaheim without paying their bill which prompted the young female server to follow them out to the parking lot to confront them.  As the suspects drove away, the waitress was struck by the car and knocked down, suffering only minor to moderate injuries.

Felony hit-and-run with injury is a serious crime in California and something that prosecutors take very seriously.  As you may know from the increased coverage of, and stricter laws regarding, hit-and-runs, they have become somewhat of an epidemic in Southern California.  Felony hit-and-run is punishable by either 16 months, 2 years or 3 years in state prison.  If someone dies or is seriously injured, that range jumps to between 2 to 4 years.

But wait, there’s more!  There may also be a license suspension from the DMV and/or 2 points added to your driving record as a result of this incident.  This is a completely separate proceeding from the criminal charges and should be something your attorney handles and takes into consideration when resolving your case.

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run in Los Angeles, read more about the nuts and bolts here.  Remember to always contact your attorney prior to speaking to law enforcement, even if you think you might have been justified in leaving, you might make incriminating statements that can be used against you later on.

Attorney Ross Erlich handles all aspects of both misdemeanor and felony hit-and-run charges in Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Burbank and Pasadena.  If you were involved in a hit-and-run, contact our office immediately and let us be the ones to answer the cops’ questions, not you.