Leaving the Scene of a Car Accident = Big Trouble

Two recent news stories put an interesting twist on the issue of people who left the scene of a car accident.

Everyone knows leaving the scene of a car accident, especially when someone suffers a personal injury, is a big, big no-no.

But do you know the penalties?

They are serious. You can and will go to jail if you leave the scene of an accident where someone is injured.

Do you know what to do if you are in a car accident? Our car accident lawyers in Waldorf will guide you through.

And discover everything you need to know with our Free Legal Guide to Car Accident Cases in Maryland. Know your options and be informed before you make big decisions about your accident case. Then get a free consultation to discuss your particular case.

Illustrative Stories

In one news story I saw long ago, a man who caused a car accident told police he fled the scene because his girlfriend was yelling at him. I’m pretty sure I don’t have to tell you this is not a legal excuse for fleeing the scene of an accident. In fact, somebody had to leak this one to the press because they were laughing at him.

I have a friend who got in a very serious motorcycle accident when a driver pulled out in front of him, and the adverse driver just kept on going. He said he was getting home to his sick daughter or something like that. Trouble is, he was on video pulling out of a drive through liquor store parking lot! Oops.

He still might not have gone to jail if he had shown just one tiny bit of remorse, but he actually had the nerve to ask if my friend was going to pay for the damages to his car. He did that at his criminal trial! He got a weekend in the clink for that stupid question.

The Penalties & Your Duties

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Maryland. There are three possible penalties, depending on whether your car accident caused personal injury or death.

• If you leave the scene of an accident where you only caused property damage, you could face 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. You could also get 8 points on your license, which will cause it to be suspended.
• If you leave the scene of an accident where you caused a personal injury, you will be treated more harshly by the courts. If someone is injured, you could face up to a year in jail and a $3000 fine. You could also get 12 points on your license, which will cause your license to be revoked. If someone dies in the accident, you could face 5 years in prison and a $5000 fine. You could also get 12 points on your license, causing it to be revoked. Five years in prison is no joke. You can see how serious the state takes hit and run crimes where there has been a car accident that causes death.

So, what are your duties if you cause a car accident?

• You must stop your vehicle immediately, or as soon as it is safe to do so.
• You must provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured in the accident. At the very least, this involves calling 911. Follow their instructions if someone is injured.
• You must provide your contact information, including name, address, and phone number. You do have to let the other driver or police inspect your driver’s license.
• You must provide your vehicle registration number.
• You must provide your car insurance information.

If you cause an accident to an unattended vehicle, you have to leave a note with this information. If you do not, you are guilty of a hit and run and will be charged with a crime when found.

If you are ever charged with the serious crime of leaving the scene of an accident, you should call an attorney immediately. This is not a criminal charge you should take lightly.

Bottom line: Do NOT leave the scene of an accident. It is a crime. It is also very immoral. Accidents happen. Don’t leave to save yourself and let a fellow human being suffer. If you do that, the court will treat you very harshly.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Everyone knows leaving the scene of a car accident, especially when someone suffers a serious personal injury, is a big no-no. The penalties are severe.

Want to know more? Discover what you need to know about car accident cases in Maryland. Click here to see our Free Legal Guide to Maryland car accident cases and get answers to your questions today. Know your options. Be informed. Protect yourself.

Need a Personal Injury lawyer? Please contact us for a consultation today if you need a Maryland personal injury lawyer for your car accident case.

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Author: This content was written and approved by Tucker Clagett, an attorney at Southern Maryland Law – Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett.