Sometimes, immediately after an accident, people make a very bad decision. Deciding they were probably or potentially at fault, they decide to leave the scene of the accident and hope they won’t be identified later. These people almost always get caught, due to the increased number of traffic cameras and the ease with which witnesses can remember a simple license plate number. Leaving the scene of an accident is not just a responsibility; it is also a criminal offense!
Leaving the scene of a crime in most places is a felony; in some it is a serious crime. It can also be interpreted that someone left an accident to cover up something, such as the fact that he had been drinking or something illegal that he had in his car. If this is discovered, it is tampering with evidence, another serious crime. A small mistake caused by anxiety and fear could turn what would be a routine accident into a ten year jail sentence!
For example, consider a hypothetical example. A man could be driving home late at night, possibly intoxicated, when he strikes and kills a woman crossing the street. He flees the scene, possibly to hide the fact that he had been drinking. By leaving the scene of the crime, he demonstrated his willingness to break the law. Not only could this have immediate consequences, but it could also be used against him later for the other charges that followed.
If you have been involved in any type of accident: stay put! The odds of your successful escape are incredibly low. Even if you are scared because of your immigration status or some other legal issue, you will likely face more scrutiny and consequences if you run than if you had stayed. For the most part, police attending a crime scene seek to determine some measure of fault (to include intoxication of any of the drivers) and record the situation. They are not there to investigate immigration matters or, in most cases, anything inside the car.
If you have been involved in an accident, it is important that you contact an accident attorney immediately. An accident attorney will often go to the scene and point out details that the police need to record. They may also review the post-accident event for issues that may affect the liability situation; specifically, whose insurance is responsible. This will have a significant financial impact on you, as it will affect your premiums and your driving record.