Dictionary of Law
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hit and run :: legal definition


Hit and run - n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is involved in a collision with another vehicle, property or human being, who knowingly fails to stop to give his/her name, license number and other information as required by statute to the injured party, a witness or law enforcement officers. If there is only property damage and no other person is present, leaving the information attached to the damaged property may be sufficient, provided the person causing the accident makes a report to the police. Hit and run statutes vary from state to state. It is not a violation of the constitutional protection against self-incrimination to be required to stop and give this information since it is a report and not an admission of guilt. Some hit and run cases are difficult to determine, such as the driver leaves the accident scene to go a block to his/her house or the neighborhood repair garage, and then walks back to the scene.


Related Law Terms

abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
abstract of title :: n. the written report on a title search which show ... e also: chain of title title report
acceleration clause :: n. a provision in a contract or promissory note th ... . See also: acceleration assumption
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
advancement :: n. a gift made by a person to one of his or her ch ... tate gift in contemplation of death
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
assign :: 1) v. to transfer to another person any asset such ... en shows up in contracts and wills.
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
care :: n. in law, to be attentive, prudent and vigilant. ... she is involved. See also: careless
case law :: n. reported decisions of appeals courts and other ... es. See also: case system precedent
chattel :: n. an item of personal property which is movable, ... ments). See also: personal property
citation :: n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the proba ... se is not in point." See also: cite
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time.
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
conservatee :: n. a person whom a court has determined because of ... and the like. See also: conservator
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
conversion :: n. a civil wrong (tort) in which one converts anot ... the crime of theft. See also: theft
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
devisee :: n. a person who receives a gift of real property b ... will. See also: beneficiary legatee
disfigure :: v. to cause permanent change in a person's body, p ... . See also: damages general damages
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
driving under the influence (DUI) :: n. commonly called "drunk driving," it refers to o ... (DWI), drunk driving, or a "deuce".
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
estate :: n. 1) all that one owns in real estate and other a ... ife estate probate real estate will
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
forfeit :: v. to lose property or rights involuntarily as a p ... drunk driving. See also: forfeiture
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
future interest :: n. a right to receive either real property or pers ... maturity (age 18) or upon marriage.
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
guest :: n. 1) in general, a person paying to stay in a hot ... ce. See also: guest statute invitee
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
incompetent :: adj. 1) referring to a person who is not able to m ... n incompetency incompetent evidence
incriminate :: v. to make a statement in which one admits that he ... d to information which would be so.
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
information and belief :: n. a phrase often used in legal pleadings (complai ... nswer complaint declaration perjury
informed consent :: n. agreement to do something or to allow something ... . See also: consent Miranda warning
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
invitee :: n. a person who comes onto another's property, pre ... ail employees. See also: negligence
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
loss of use :: n. the inability to use an automobile, premises or ... ding or premises. See also: damages
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
notice to quit :: n. the notice given by a landlord (owner) to a ten ... h-to-month notice unlawful detainer
notorious possession :: n. occupation of real property or holding personal ... e is as if the person is the owner.
nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
personal effects :: n. things which include clothes, cosmetics and ite ... e, Susannah"). See also: personalty
pledge :: v. to deposit personal property as security for a ... ise to do something. See also: pawn
pour over will :: n. a will of a person who has already executed a t ... invalid trust. See also: trust will
pro rata :: (proh rat-ah or proh ray-tah) adj. from Latin for ... e year in which he/she holds title.
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
restrictive covenant :: n. 1) an agreement included in a deed to real prop ... o: covenant that runs with the land
security deposit :: n. a payment required by a landlord from a tenant ... lso: landlord and tenant lease rent
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication
slander :: n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or ... . See also: defamation fair comment
state of domicile :: n. the state in which a person has his/her permane ... orated. See also: domicile resident
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
theft :: n. the generic term for all crimes in which a pers ... rglary embezzlement larceny robbery
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
title report :: n. the written analysis of the status of title to ... lso: abstract title title insurance
title search :: n. the examination of county records for the prope ... e escrow lien title title insurance
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested.
transfer :: n. 1) the movement of property from one person or ... son or shipment to continue travel.
transferred intent :: n. in both criminal and tort (civil wrong) law, wh ... hit upon Truehart. See also: intent
trespass :: n. entering another person's property without perm ... for an illegal purpose is a crime.
unconscionable :: adj. referring to a contract or bargain which is s ... ee also: adhesion contract contract
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability
wrongful termination :: n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer ... ing an employee's grounds for suit.

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - H

habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
habitable :: adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can ... rent. See also: landlord and tenant
habitual criminal :: n. under the statutes of many states, a person who ... r any further criminal convictions.
half blood :: 1) adj. sharing one parent only. 2) n. a half brot ... icularly Native American and white.
harass :: (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or c ... also: harassment sexual harassment
harassment :: (either harris-meant or huh-rass-meant) n. the act ... See also: harass sexual harassment
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
headnote :: n. the summary of the key legal points determined ... not the court's. See also: reports
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
hearsay :: n. 1) second-hand evidence in which the witness is ... t or gossip. See also: hearsay rule
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
heat of passion :: n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an ... oing. See also: manslaughter murder
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
heir apparent :: n. the person who is expected to receive a share o ... isinherited by will. See also: heir
heiress :: n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who ... in the "department store heiress."
heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion
held :: v. decided or ruled, as "the court held that the c ... See also: decision judgment ruling
hereditament :: n. any kind of property which can be inherited. Th ... till found in some wills and deeds.
hidden asset :: n. an item of value which does not show on the boo ... ets on a profit and loss statement.