Can You Leave the Scene of an Accident if There Are No Injuries?

Following a car accident, you are likely to feel a rush of adrenaline, which makes you desperate to take action to defend yourself – but it also clouds your judgment. This is why you should never flee the scene of an auto accident.

You may seem able to make a “clean getaway” from the accident scene. This strategy, however, is rarely successful and eventually results in especially bad consequences. Learn more today by talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer.

There may be evidence after a driver leaves the scene. 

It is likely that your “clean getaway” will be ruined. Identifying evidence may still be discovered, such as:

• The other driver – or an alert observer – hears your car’s engine revving and keeps a record of your basic physical description as well as that of your vehicle.
• A street camera or a witness can record your vehicle’s license plate.
• Police responding to a reported accident scene observe your car and conclude it matches the description of a car involved in the crash.

Leaving the scene of a car accident might cause more complications than you might think.

You are obligated to help if someone is injured.

If anyone else was hurt in the crash, you must provide “reasonable assistance” to them. This does not necessarily imply that you must rush into a fire to save another driver or provide emergency medical treatment for which you are not qualified. It does, however, require you to call for emergency medical assistance (at the very least). You should avoid administering first aid without the consent of the other driver unless:

• He or she has sustained major injuries.
• You are certified and trained to provide first aid.

Avoid moving an injured person who seems to have a neck, head, and/or spine injury unless required to save the person’s life. Otherwise, you risk creating severe or long-term injuries and/or impairments.

If you leave the site of an accident with no injuries, a criminal case may be filed against you. If the other driver was seriously injured in the accident and fled the scene, you could be accused of a Class D felony.

Suppose you have been in a car accident caused by another driver and notice that the driver is driving away from the scene. In that case, you must act quickly (if possible) to assist law authorities in identifying the driver. You should also talk to an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.