aitah for considerinf leaving my son in the county jail hospital over the weekend instead of paying $9,500.00 in bail?

[u/ShowerElectrical9342]

My son hit a pregnant woman with his vehicle and broke his nose and has stitches on his lip.

He was arrested and is in the county jail hospital. He wouldn't tell me how badly injured the woman is, except that she might lose the baby.

He's a careless, distracted driver who has totalled 2 cars, which his bio dad immediately replaced with even better cars!

But now his bio dad is gone (heart attack) and I don't want to enable this dangerous driving problem.

I'm overwhelmed.

He has had accidents before, and has always been bailed out.

I'm trying to get a regular lawyer because now he says she might lose the baby and sue him.

He's 19.

But no one wants me to take the time to get a regular lawyer instead of this public defender who insists I must send the bail money NOW or my son will be in jail all weekend.

Honestly, I don't know. Maybe that would be good for him. Like a wakeup call.

He didn't mention alcohol, but why else would he he arrested for a car accident?

Help! I have to move fast!

AITAH for even thinking about letting him spend a weekend in jail?

[u/STUNTPENlS]

Let him rot in county lockup.

If the baby dies, in some states, he could be charged with vehicular manslaughter.

[u/Odd-Artist-2595 → u/STUNTPENlS]

And, if he takes off, your bail money is gone. He’s an adult. You can’t stop him if he decides to go. A weekend in jail isn’t going to hurt him in the slightest. In fact, it might do him some good. Besides, if he does get tried and sentenced to jail, the time he spends in this weekend will probably be counted toward time served. He’ll get out two days early.

[u/NeedleworkerPresent6 → u/Odd-Artist-2595]

The math isn’t working. Right now it is just a misdemeanor car accident, unless DUI I’m guessing. And bail isn’t set until you see a judge. ??? And by the way, you go to the hospital with an officer there and then get transported to jail after being checked out if truly hurt. This is odd.

[u/Classic-Cantaloupe47 → u/NeedleworkerPresent6]

Certain charges have automatic bail amounts. If they haven't charged him w assault by auto, vehicular manslaughter, whatever, those bail amounts don't factor in yet. If he was charged with DUI or something requiring arrest, then the set bail amounts would apply. On a Friday, the DA isn't making indictment decisions, I'm sure.
If he wasn't under the influence (alcohol or drug) then DUI won't apply, but if the victim was seriously injured and at risk of losing the baby, they should have taken blood regardless to rule out that he had anything affecting him. He could be charged, if he wasn't DUI, if he tried to flee after the accident, or if witnesses reported that he was driving recklessly prior to the crash.

Regardless, whether you bail him out or not, he would be charged and booked, and most counties have online inmate databases. Sometimes, the records only show if the person is still in custody, others show any case they were arrested on that are still going through the system. But you should be able to see why they arrested him. If not online, you can probably call the jail and ask what he's been charged with. If he's injured and being treated at the hospital, usually two officers accompany the inmate to the ER/hospital and he's in custody the entire time. If he is discharged, then they'll bring him back to the jail and process him before he can be bailed out.

And personally, he doesn't give a shit about burning through your and his dad's money every time he totals a car and gets a better one. He has no consideration for the safety of others when he's driving like a moron. I wouldn't let him drive anything that's in your name. That's a huge liability you may already be on the hook for already. I would let him sit for at least the weekend, but probably longer, if it were me. He has no regard for anyone.