California Vehicle Code (CVC) 20003 makes it clear that drivers have a responsibility to do more than just stop after an accident causing an injury or death. According to California traffic laws, drivers must make certain information available to all parties involved.
Providing the Proper Information After a California Car Accident
Drivers involved in serious accidents have a duty to provide the proper identification and information so that the financial damages involved in an accident can be resolved later.
The duty is explained in this vehicle code:
CVC 20003.
“(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall also give his or her name, current residence address, the names and current residence addresses of any occupant of the driver’s vehicle injured in the accident, the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving, and the name and current residence address of the owner to the person struck or the driver or occupants of any vehicle collided with, and shall give the information to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident.”
To put it into simpler terms, drivers are required to:
- Provide their names
- Provide their address
- Provide the names and addresses of others in the driver’s car
- Provide a vehicle registration number
- The name and address of the car’s owner
This information is to be provided to the other drivers involved, their passengers, and any pedestrians involved. It must be provided to police officers and/or California Highway Patrol officers on the scene.
There are a few other requirements included in CVC 20003:
- Providing assistance to anyone injured
- Providing transportation or arranging for hospital transportation for injured victims
- Drivers must produce their driver’s licenses if requested
CVC 20004. concerns the duty of a driver involved in a fatal accident when no officers are able to respond to the scene. The driver is required to contact a police department or the nearest CHP office as soon as possible to provide the above information.
Punishment for Failure to Provide Accident Information Required by CVC 20003
Failing to make this information available to other people involved in your accident can result in big fines and even prison time.
You could face imprisonment in a state prison or a county jail for a year or less. Some will receive a fine of anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000. Some will receive both jail time and fines.
If drivers are charged with a felony hit-and-run along with concealing information, the penalties can go much further. The potential punishments are covered in our article going over CVC 20001.
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 reckless 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.
