California Vehicle Code (CVC) 20001 makes it clear that drivers must stop after any accident that caused injuries or a fatality or face fines and/or jail time. The code also states that drivers found guilty of fleeing the scene of a crime will face additional jail time.
The Duty to Stop After Striking Another Vehicle or a Person
Specific California vehicle codes explain the duty of motorists who cause accidents involving injuries or a heartbreaking fatality. It also covers the punishment for those who take off from the scene to leave victims waiting on medical care.
The responsibilities of all California drivers after an accident are documented here:
“(a) The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and shall fulfill the requirements of Sections 20003 and 20004.”
Sections 20003. & 20004. mentioned above go over how a driver involved in an accident involving the injury or death of any person must do more than just stop. Drivers are required to provide their names, contact and address information. The driver must provide the registration number of the vehicle and present a driver’s license if requested.
Section 20004 requires drivers involved in a fatal accident where a traffic or police officer is not present to immediately report the accident to the nearest police department or California Highway Patrol (CHP) office.
Punishment for California Drivers Who Don’t Stop After Accidents
CVC 20001 also sets the punishments for drivers who don’t stop after accidents. This covers the hit-and-run violators as well.
Those who don’t stop after any sort of accident involving injury and fail to provide the required information can face:
- Imprisonment in the state prison, or in a county jail for not more than one year,
- or a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000),
- or jail time and a fine.
If a permanent serious injury or a fatality is involved in the injury, a negligent driver would fact stiffer punishment:
- imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, or in a county jail for not less than 90 days nor more than one year,
- or a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000),
- or both jail time and a fine.
California legislators have defined a permanent serious injury as the loss or permanent impairment of function of a bodily member or organ.
What Is The Punishment for Hit-And-Run in California?
A hit-and-run driver can face misdemeanor or felony charges. A misdemeanor hit-and-run charge would usually involve only property damage. A felony charge would be applied if an accident victim suffered an injury or died.
Drivers ignoring their duty to stop to exchange information and help injured victims after a collision can face additional penalties, beyond those mentioned above.
Section 20001 explains the consequences for drivers who injure or kill drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, or pedestrian and then flee the scene:
(c) A person who flees the scene of the crime after committing a violation of Section 191.5 of, or paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 192 of the Penal Code, upon conviction of any of those sections, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed, shall be punished by an additional term of imprisonment of five years in the state prison. This additional term shall not be imposed unless the allegation is charged in the accusatory pleading and admitted by the defendant or found to be true by the trier of fact. The court shall not strike a finding that brings a person within the provisions of this subdivision or an allegation made pursuant to this subdivision.
Section 192 of the California Penal Code goes over the laws regarding vehicular manslaughter.
You can find more on California Hit-and-Run Laws in our article explaining the statutes encompassed by CVC 20002.
Contact a California Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident on a California road involving a serious injury, you should talk over your case and your options with a California Car Accident Lawyer at Maison Law. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our skilled attorneys.
It’s a chance to determine how much a careless hit-and-run driver should be providing to you. If you’ve been struck and hurt by a hit-and-run motorist who hasn’t been found, there are usually ways that you can still secure help in paying recovery costs. Let us go over what your case is worth and how to best hold a car insurance company fully accountable.
