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All states have laws covering hit and run accidents. Generally, a hit and run occurs when a driver is involved in an accident with a pedestrian, another car, or a fixed object, and leaves the scene without identifying herself or rendering aid to anyone who may need help. The definition of hit and run generally doesn't include fault. The violation is committed when the driver leaves the scene, regardless of whether he or she caused the accident. However, most states allow for a driver to temporarily leave the scene in order to get emergency help.
Penalties for leaving the scene of an accident include fines and jail time and may be classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Typically, felony hit and run occurs when a driver leaves the scene of an accident in which a driver or pedestrian has been injured. In addition, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident may also have his license suspended. Below are links to hit and run state laws.
| State | Statute |
| Alabama | Motor Vehicle Accidents (AL Code Title 32, Ch. 10) |
| Alaska | Action of Operator Immediately After Accident (AK Statutes 28.35.050) |
| Arizona | Accidents involving death or personal injury; failure to stop (ARS 28-661) |
| Arkansas | Accidents (AR Code Title 27, Ch. 53) |
| California | Accidents and Accident Reports (California Vehicle Code Sections 20000 - 20018) |
| Colorado | Accidents involving death or personal injuries - duty (CRS 42-4-1601) |
| Connecticut | Evasion of responsibility in operation of motor vehicles (Gen. Statutes of Connecticut section 14-224) |
| Delaware | Duty of driver involved in accident - property damage or injury Duty of driver involved in accident - injury or death (DE Code Title 21 section 4202) |
| District of Columbia | Fleeing from scene of accident; driving under influence of liquor or drugs (DC Code section 50-2201.05) |
| Florida | Crash involving death or personal injuries (FS 316.027) |
| Georgia | Accidents; duties of drivers (Georgia Code 40-6-270) |
| Hawaii | Accidents and Accident Reports (HRS sections 291C-11 to 291C-15) |
| Idaho | Accidents (ID Statutes Title 49, Ch. 13) |
| Illinois | Accidents (625 ILCS 5/11-401 to 5/11-416) |
| Indiana | Accidents and Accident Reports (Indiana Code Title 9, Article 26) |
| Iowa | Information and aid - leaving scene of accident (IA Code section 321.263) |
| Kansas | Accidents and Accident Reports (KS Statutes Ch. 8, Article 16) |
| Kentucky | Duty in case of accident [PDF] (KRS 189.580) |
| Louisiana | Accident reports (LRS 32:398) |
| Maine | Accidents involving death or personal injury (MRS Title 29-A section 2252) |
| Maryland | Accidents and Accident Reports (MD Transp. Code Title 20) |
| Massachusetts | Accident reports (90 MGL section 26) |
| Michigan | Accidents (MI Vehicle Code sections 257.617 to 257.624b) |
| Minnesota | Accidents (MN Statute 169.09) |
| Mississippi | Accidents and Reports (MS Code Title 63, Ch. 3 scroll to Article 9) |
| Montana | Accidents involving death or personal injuries (MCA section 61-7-103) |
| Missouri | Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident (MRS 577.060) |
| Nebraska | Motor vehicle accident; duty to stop (R.R.S. Nebr. § 60-696) |
| Nevada | Duty to stop...accident involving death or personal injury (NRS 484.219) |
| New Hampshire | Conduct after accident (NH Statutes 264:25) |
| New Jersey | Action in case of accident (NJ Statutes 39:4-129) |
| New Mexico | Accidents (NMS Ch. 66, Article 7, Part 3) |
| New York | Leaving scene of an accident without reporting (NY Vehicle & Traffic Code section 600) |
| North Carolina | Duty to stop in event of accident or collision (NCGS section 20-166) |
| North Dakota | Accidents involving death or personal injuries [PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-08 scroll to 39-08-04) |
| Ohio | Failure to stop after accident involving property of others (ORC section 4549.03) |
| Oklahoma | Accidents involving non-fatal injury (OK Statute 47-10-102) |
| Oregon | Rules of the Road: Accidents, Duties, and Reports [PDF] (OR Vehicle Code scroll to 811.700 to 811.740) |
| Pennsylvania | Miscellaneous Provisions: Accidents and Accident Reports [PDF] (PA Vehicle Code Ch. 37; scroll to Subchapter C) |
| Rhode Island | Accidents and Accident Reports (RI Code Ch. 31-26) |
| South Carolina | Duties of drivers involved in accident (SC Code scroll to sections 56-5-1210 to 56-5-1260) |
| South Dakota | Accidents and Accident Reports (SD Codified Laws Ch. 32-34) |
| Tennessee | Accidents involving death or personal injury (TN Code section 55-10-101) |
| Texas | Accidents and Accident Reports (TX Transp. Code Ch. 550) |
| Utah | Accidents...-- Duties of operator (UT Code 41-6a-401) |
| Vermont | Accidents; duty to stop (23 VSA section 1128) |
| Virginia | Accidents; duty of driver to stop (VA Code 46.2-894) |
| Washington | Accidents - reports (RCW Chapter 46.52) |
| West Virginia | Accidents involving damage to vehicle (WV Code section 17C-4-2) |
| Wisconsin | Accidents and Accident Reports [PDF] (WI Code Chapter 341 scroll to Subchapter XI) |
| Wyoming | Accidents; duty to stop (WY Statutes Title 31, Ch. 5, Article 11) |
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense, resulting in penalties ranging from the loss of driving privileges to incarceration. If you've been injured by a motorist who left the scene instead of stopping, you may be able to claim compensation. To learn more, you can speak with a traffic ticket attorney.
Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible.
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