Leaving Scene of Accident

State traffic laws require any driver involved in an accident to stop his or her vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.  They must exchange identification and contact information with any other driver involved in the incident.  If a driver collides with an unattended vehicle or other property, most states require that the individual make a reasonable effort to identify the property owner.  If the owner cannot be found, the driver should visible leave a note indicating his name, address and registration information.  Furthermore, the driver is also required by law to contact law enforcement and notify them of the accident.

If the accident involves injuries, a driver has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to help any person who is injured.  This includes calling for emergency medical and police services. 

Fines and Penalties

The penalties for leaving the scene of an accident that results in bodily injury are much more severe than the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident that involves only property damage.  The first offense that involves personal injury subjects a driver to a fine of $500 to $1,000 and a jail sentence of 180 days.  The fines will be doubled if the offense occurs in either a construction zone, or a 65 mph zone.  If someone is injured or killed in the accident, hit and run driving is charged as a felony that can result in a state prison sentence of 5 years and possible fines of $5,000 to $10,000.

Traffic Points and Impact on Driving Record / License

A driver who leaves the scene of an accident where serious injuries have occurred will be assessed 8 points against their driver’s license.  The individual’s driver’s license will be suspended for a period of one year.

Hiring a Lawyer

There are many possible defenses to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.  In some cases, there may be problems proving that you were driving the vehicle during the accident.  In other cases, the driver may not even realize that he or she caused an accident.  When an individual is charged with a hit and run offense, the court may take into account the nature of the accident, the extent of the damage, cooperation with law enforcement and if they had a prior criminal record.  Whatever the circumstances are, you need to hire competent legal professionals to defend you against the charges.