Car accidents can be very frightening events for anyone involved. A Mount Vernon woman claims she fled the scene after she hit a motorcyclist because she was scared. She allegedly called for her car to be towed, but ignored the motorcyclist she hit. Leaving the scene of an accident before details are exchanged is a criminal offense in Washington.

The accident occurred in Anacortes when the motorcyclist slowed due to another accident ahead of him. The woman may not have noticed he was slowing, and she apparently hit him from behind. According to reports, the motorcyclist came off his cycle and was hit again by a different car. The motorcyclist died this morning at a hospital.

Officials traced the woman because her license plate fell off during the accident and they later saw her car being towed. The charges against her are not clear yet, though police are looking into a hit-and-run. While the woman appears to have left the scene of the accident, she did not necessarily cause the motorcyclists' injuries which resulted in his death.

Since another car hit the motorcyclist after he fell off of his motorcycle, it is possible some of his injuries are due to that collision. It will likely be difficult for investigators to decide which part of the accident caused the motorcyclists' injuries and death.

In cases like this where it is not entirely clear what the results of a person's actions are, a strong criminal defense is important. Anyone facing criminal charges resulting from a similarly complex accident may find benefit in consulting a criminal defense attorney.

Source: Seattle Times, "Driver calls for tow but not 911 after fatal crash in Anacortes," John de Leon, Aug. 22, 2012