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Leaving the Scene of an Accident
In all U.S. states, it is a crime for someone involved in a car accident to flee the scene. The purpose of these laws is to compel those involved to render any necessary assistance to those who might be injured, and to provide proper identification and insurance information, preventing them from escaping any criminal or civil liability which might arise from the accident.
In most states, leaving the scene of an accident which only resulted in property damage (no injuries) is a misdemeanor, meaning it can usually be punished by a fairly large fine (around $1,000) and/or a year or less in jail. It is usually a more severe crime to leave the scene of an accident which resulted in personal injury, as well as property damage.
In 3 states, it is a felony to leave the scene of an accident. These states are Utah, Kentucky, and Montana. This does not necessarily entail a larger fine, or more prison time, but having a felony on one’s criminal record is far more serious than a misdemeanor.
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