Vermont Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do

Overview of Vermont Hit and Run Laws

Last verified: March 2026. This page reflects current 23 V.S.A. Section 1128 and applicable penalty classifications as amended through 2025.

Under 23 V.S.A. Section 1128, any driver involved in a crash that causes injury to another person or damage to property must immediately stop, provide reasonable assistance, and share identifying information. Leaving the scene without meeting these obligations is a criminal offense in Vermont.

Penalties depend on the severity of the crash. A hit and run involving only property damage or minor injury is a misdemeanor carrying up to two years in jail and a $2,000 fine. When the crash causes serious bodily injury, the offense becomes a felony with up to five years in prison. If someone dies, the driver who fled faces one to 15 years behind bars.

Vermont is a fault state, meaning the at-fault driver bears financial responsibility for damages. The state follows a modified comparative negligence system under 12 V.S.A. Section 1036, which uses the 51% bar rule. If you are 51% or more at fault for the crash, you cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Driver Duties After an Accident in Vermont

Section 1128 spells out exactly what drivers must do after a crash. Failing to perform any of these duties can result in criminal charges.

Stop Immediately

You must bring your vehicle to a stop as close to the crash scene as possible without blocking traffic more than necessary. Under 23 V.S.A. Section 1102, if your vehicle creates a hazard, you should move it to a safe location. However, if someone has died or suffered serious injuries, or if you were carrying hazardous materials, do not move your vehicle until investigators finish their work.

Render Reasonable Assistance

You must provide reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured. This includes calling emergency services and, if the injured person requests it or it is clearly necessary, transporting them to a physician or hospital.

Provide Identifying Information

You must give the following information to any injured person, property owner, or law enforcement officer at the scene:

• Your full name
• Your residence address
• Your driver license number
• The name of the vehicle owner (if different from the driver)

Report the Crash

Under 23 V.S.A. Section 1129, you must file a written crash report with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within 72 hours if the crash involves:

• Death of any person
• Injury to any person
• Total property damage of $3,000 or more

The report must be mailed using forms provided by the Commissioner. You should use the quickest available means of communication to notify law enforcement as soon as possible.

Unattended Vehicle or Property Collisions

If you strike an unattended vehicle or property and cannot locate the owner, you must leave a written note in a visible spot on the damaged property. The note must include your name, address, vehicle registration number, and contact information. If property damage exceeds $3,000, you must also notify law enforcement.

When Hit and Run Is a Misdemeanor in Vermont

Vermont classifies crimes punishable by two years or less of imprisonment as misdemeanors. Under Section 1128(a), leaving the scene of a crash that involves property damage or non-serious injury carries:

• A maximum fine of $2,000
• Up to 2 years imprisonment
• Or both

A mandatory $50 surcharge is added to any fine, which goes to the DUI Enforcement Fund.

Examples of misdemeanor hit and run include striking a parked car and driving away, sideswiping a mailbox or fence without stopping, or leaving the scene of a fender bender where no one is seriously hurt.

Criminal Statute of Limitations

Under 13 V.S.A. Section 4501, the statute of limitations for misdemeanor offenses is three years from the date of the offense. Prosecutors must file charges within that window.

When Hit and Run Is a Felony in Vermont

Crimes punishable by more than two years of imprisonment are felonies under Vermont law. Section 1128(b) and (c) establish felony-level penalties for more serious hit and run offenses.

Serious Bodily Injury (Section 1128(b))

Leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury carries:

• Up to 5 years imprisonment
• A maximum fine of $3,000
• Or both

Serious bodily injury under Vermont law means any injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes permanent disfigurement, prolonged loss of function, or prolonged impairment of any bodily organ. Examples include organ damage, severe burns, facial disfigurement, and limb amputation.

Death (Section 1128(c))

Leaving the scene of a fatal crash carries the harshest penalties:

• Not less than 1 year imprisonment
• Up to 15 years imprisonment
• A maximum fine of $3,000
• Or both

This is one of the few Vermont traffic offenses that carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence.

Criminal Statute of Limitations for Felonies

For felony hit and run charges not specifically listed in 13 V.S.A. Section 4501, the general statute of limitations is three years. However, if the crash results in death and the charge is elevated to manslaughter, there is no statute of limitations.

DUI Hit and Run in Vermont

When a driver flees the scene while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the consequences escalate significantly. Under 23 V.S.A. Section 1210 and related DUI provisions:

• DUI causing serious bodily injury: Up to 15 years in prison and a $5,000 fine
• DUI causing death: Up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine

Each victim counts as a separate offense. A driver who causes a crash while intoxicated that injures three people could face three separate felony charges, each carrying up to 15 years.

Penalties Summary Table

Offense	Classification	Maximum Jail/Prison	Maximum Fine
Property damage or non-serious injury	Misdemeanor	2 years	$2,000
Serious bodily injury	Felony	5 years	$3,000
Death	Felony	1 to 15 years	$3,000
DUI causing serious injury	Felony	15 years	$5,000
DUI causing death	Felony	15 years	$10,000

All hit and run convictions include a mandatory $50 surcharge for the DUI Enforcement Fund. A conviction may also result in license suspension or revocation at the discretion of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

Insurance Implications After a Hit and Run

Vermont is a fault state, so the at-fault driver is financially responsible for the other party's damages. But what happens when the at-fault driver flees and is never identified?

Under 23 V.S.A. Section 941, every auto insurance policy issued in Vermont must include uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. This coverage specifically applies to hit-and-run crashes where the other driver is unidentified.

Vermont Minimum UM/UIM Coverage

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury

If your liability coverage limits exceed those minimums, your UM/UIM limits must match your liability limits unless you direct your insurer otherwise in writing. This means most Vermont drivers carry more than the minimum UM/UIM coverage.

Steps to File a UM Claim After a Hit and Run

1. Report the crash to law enforcement immediately
2. Document the scene with photos and witness contact information
3. Seek medical attention for any injuries
4. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible
5. File a written crash report with the Vermont DMV within 72 hours

Vermont Crash Statistics

According to Vermont State Police and Vermont Agency of Transportation data:

• 61 traffic fatalities occurred on Vermont roads in 2025, up from 58 in 2024
• The 10-year average for traffic fatalities is approximately 65 per year
• Vermont saw highway deaths increase in 2025 after two consecutive years of decline
• Historical averages have dropped significantly: 137 per year in the 1970s, 78 in the 2000s, and 62 in the 2010s
• The 2020s average has ticked up slightly to 66 deaths per year

Vermont's small population and rural road network create a different crash profile than larger states. Winter driving conditions, winding mountain roads, and encounters with wildlife contribute to the state's unique crash patterns. Hit-and-run incidents remain a concern, particularly during months with reduced visibility and icy roads.

Vermont Good Samaritan Law

Title 12, Section 519 establishes Vermont's Good Samaritan law, which creates a legal duty to assist others in certain situations. Vermont is one of the few states that requires bystanders to help.

The law states that any person who knows another is exposed to grave physical harm must provide reasonable assistance, as long as doing so does not put the helper in danger or interfere with important duties owed to others.

Key points about the Good Samaritan law:

• Failure to assist is punishable by a maximum fine of $100
• If you caused the accident or fled the scene, a court may impose punitive damages in any civil lawsuit
• People who provide reasonable emergency assistance are protected from civil liability unless their actions amount to gross negligence

This law reinforces the duties under Section 1128. A driver who leaves the scene of a crash may face both criminal hit and run charges and a separate penalty for failing to render assistance under the Good Samaritan law.

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