Hit and Run Laws in the United States (2026 Guide)
Every state requires drivers involved in a crash to stop, exchange information, and render aid to injured persons. Leaving the scene of a property-damage crash is typically a misdemeanor. Leaving after a crash that injures someone is a felony in most states, and the exposure climbs steeply when someone dies: Florida punishes a fatal hit-and-run as a first-degree felony carrying up to 30 years in prison.
Hit-and-run laws require every driver involved in a traffic crash to stop, identify themselves, and help anyone who is injured. Leaving the scene transforms what might have been a minor traffic violation or no-fault accident into a criminal offense that can carry years in prison.
Every state and the District of Columbia has hit-and-run statutes. The penalties vary widely depending on the severity of the crash, but the legal duty is universal: if you are involved in a collision, you are required to stop.
What the Law Requires
Duty to Stop
Every state requires the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash to stop immediately at the scene or as close to the scene as safely possible without obstructing traffic. This applies whether the crash involves another vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, a parked car, or fixed property.
Duty to Exchange Information
After stopping, drivers must provide:
- Full name and current address
- Driver's license number
- Vehicle registration number
- Insurance carrier and policy number
If the other driver or property owner is not present, most states require the driver to leave a written note with this information in a conspicuous place on the damaged vehicle or property.
Duty to Render Aid
When a crash involves injuries, drivers must provide reasonable assistance to injured persons. This includes calling 911, administering basic first aid if trained to do so, and arranging transportation to a medical facility when necessary.
Duty to Report
Drivers must report the crash to the nearest law enforcement agency. Most states require reporting "immediately" or "as soon as reasonably possible." Failing to report a crash, even after stopping and exchanging information, can result in separate charges.
Penalty Overview by Crash Severity
Nearly every state uses a tiered penalty structure based on the severity of the crash.
| Crash Severity | Typical Classification | Typical Penalty Range |
|---|---|---|
| Property damage only | Misdemeanor | Fine plus up to 6-12 months jail |
| Minor injury | Misdemeanor or low felony | 6 months to 5 years |
| Serious bodily injury | Felony | 1 to 10 years |
| Death | Felony (often high-degree) | 2 to 30 years, some with mandatory minimums |
States with the Harshest Penalties
Florida
Florida imposes some of the toughest hit-and-run penalties in the country under Fla. Stat. 316.027. A fatal hit-and-run is a first-degree felony carrying a mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison. The statute sets no ceiling of its own and instead punishes the offense "as provided in s. 775.082," and Fla. Stat. 775.082(3)(b) punishes a first-degree felony "by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years." Serious bodily injury triggers second-degree felony charges, capped at 15 years. Florida also enhances sentences when victims are "vulnerable road users" such as pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users.
Vermont
Vermont pairs a 15-year maximum with an unusual mandatory floor of 1 year. Under 23 V.S.A. 1128, a driver who fails to stop and render assistance after a crash that causes death faces a fine of up to $3,000, imprisonment for not less than 1 year nor more than 15 years, or both. A crash causing serious bodily injury carries up to 5 years, and even a basic hit-and-run violation carries up to 2 years.
Pennsylvania
Under 75 Pa.C.S. 3742, Pennsylvania imposes a mandatory minimum of 3 years and a mandatory $2,500 fine for fatal hit-and-run. Courts cannot impose less than these minimums.
Massachusetts
Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, 24, leaving the scene after knowingly causing injury that results in death carries 2.5 to 10 years in state prison plus a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, or 1 to 2.5 years in a jail or house of correction plus the same fine range. The statute bars any reduction below 1 year, and a person convicted under it is not eligible for probation, parole, or furlough until that year is served.
Virginia
Virginia Code 46.2-894 sets an unusually low threshold for felony charges. Property damage exceeding just $1,000 triggers a Class 5 felony, punishable under Va. Code 18.2-10(e) by 1 to 10 years in prison or, at the discretion of the court or jury, up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Given current repair costs, most vehicle-involved hit-and-runs in Virginia qualify as felonies.
Michigan
Michigan splits its leaving-the-scene offenses across two sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code, and the distinction is easy to get wrong. MCL 257.617a covers a crash that injures someone short of serious impairment of a body function: a driver who violates the duty to stop is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. That section carries no penalty for a serious-impairment or fatal crash.
The felony tiers sit in the adjacent section. Under MCL 257.617, leaving a crash that results in serious impairment of a body function or death is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. Subsection (3) raises that ceiling for the driver who caused the crash: if the individual violates the duty to stop following an accident that individual caused and the accident results in the death of another individual, the offense is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. Our Michigan hit-and-run laws page covers the state detail.
Hit-and-Run Statistics
Hit-and-run drivers kill well over a thousand pedestrians a year in the United States, though the last two years of data show the count falling from its 2022 peak.
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total hit-and-run crashes per year (est.) | 737,100 (approximately one every 43 seconds) | AAA Foundation (2015 data) |
| Pedestrian hit-and-run deaths (2024) | 1,749 | IIHS |
| Pedestrian hit-and-run deaths (2023) | 1,844 | IIHS |
| Pedestrian hit-and-run deaths (2022, peak year) | 1,939 | IIHS |
| Pedestrian hit-and-run deaths (2015) | 1,123 | IIHS |
| Share of pedestrian deaths from hit-and-runs (2024) | 25% | IIHS |
| Share of pedestrian deaths from hit-and-runs (2015) | 20% | IIHS |
| Total pedestrian deaths (2024) | 7,080 | IIHS |
| Total US traffic fatalities (2024) | 39,254 | NHTSA/FARS |
| Total US traffic fatalities (2023) | 41,025 | NHTSA/FARS |
Pedestrian hit-and-run deaths climbed from 1,123 in 2015 to a peak of 1,939 in 2022, then fell in each of the next two years, to 1,844 in 2023 and 1,749 in 2024. The share of all pedestrian deaths caused by hit-and-run drivers rose from 20% in 2015 to 26% in 2022 and has held at 25% since.
Total US traffic fatalities followed the same direction, falling from 41,025 in 2023 to 39,254 in 2024. The recent decline does not change the legal exposure of any individual driver who leaves a scene.
Hit-and-Run Laws by State
Select your state for a detailed guide to penalties, reporting requirements, and what to do after a hit-and-run.
Canadian Provinces
| Province | Province |
|---|---|
| Alberta | Nova Scotia |
| British Columbia | Ontario |
| Manitoba | PEI |
| New Brunswick | Quebec |
| Newfoundland | Saskatchewan |
Also see: Canada Hit and Run Laws (national overview)
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run
If You Are the Driver
- Stop immediately at the scene or as close as safely possible
- Turn on hazard lights and move to the shoulder if you can do so safely
- Call 911 if anyone is injured
- Provide reasonable aid to injured persons
- Exchange your name, address, license number, registration, and insurance information with the other parties
- Wait for police to arrive when injuries are involved
- Document the scene with photos and gather witness contact information
- Report the crash to your insurance company promptly
If You Are the Victim
- Do not chase the fleeing driver
- Note whatever details you can: license plate (even partial), vehicle make, model, color, direction of travel, driver description
- Call 911 immediately
- Get medical attention even if injuries seem minor
- Take photos of all damage, injuries, and scene conditions
- Collect names and phone numbers from any witnesses
- File a police report as soon as possible
- Contact your insurance company to start a claim
- Check for surveillance cameras at nearby businesses that may have captured the incident
If You Hit an Unattended Vehicle or Property
- Stop and attempt to locate the owner
- Leave a written note in a visible location with your name, address, phone number, and a description of what happened
- Report the incident to police
- Take photos of the damage and your note
How Hit-and-Run Affects Insurance
Insurance treats hit-and-run drivers as uninsured because they cannot be identified. If you are the victim, your own insurance coverage determines your protection.
Key Coverage Types
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Vehicle damage from the hit-and-run (you pay your deductible) | Optional in most states |
| Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) | Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering | Required in about 20 states and DC; counts vary by source |
| Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) | Vehicle repairs (some states exclude hit-and-run) | Varies by state |
| Medical Payments (MedPay) | Medical expenses regardless of fault | Optional |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Medical expenses, lost wages in no-fault states | Required in no-fault states |
About 14.0% of motorists in the United States were uninsured in 2022, roughly one in seven drivers, according to the Insurance Research Council estimate published by the Insurance Information Institute. That rate is why uninsured motorist coverage does the heavy lifting after a hit-and-run. Filing a hit-and-run claim as a victim generally does not raise your premiums because you were not at fault, though practices vary by insurer.
Coverage mandates change from state to state and from year to year, so confirm what your own policy actually includes with your insurer or your state insurance department rather than relying on a national count.
Common Defenses
Drivers charged with hit-and-run may raise several defenses:
- Lack of knowledge: The driver did not know a collision occurred. This is the most commonly raised defense, particularly for large vehicles where minor impacts may go unnoticed.
- Safety concerns: The driver left because remaining at the scene posed a genuine safety threat. Most statutes permit reporting later if staying is dangerous.
- Incapacitation: The driver's own injuries prevented compliance with stop-and-report duties.
- Mistaken identity: The defendant was not the driver involved in the crash.
Voluntarily returning to the scene or self-reporting to police may serve as a mitigating factor at sentencing, but it does not negate the underlying charge.
Estimate a car accident settlement
If you were hurt in a crash, our free car accident settlement calculator gives a rough payout range based on your medical bills, lost wages, your state fault rules, and insurance limits. It is an estimate only, not a prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hit-and-run a felony or misdemeanor?
It depends on the severity and the state. Property-damage-only hit-and-runs are typically misdemeanors. Hit-and-runs involving injury or death are felonies in most states, though Michigan grades a failure to stop after a crash causing injury short of serious impairment as a 1-year misdemeanor under MCL 257.617a. Michigan handles the serious cases separately under MCL 257.617, where a crash causing serious impairment or death is a felony carrying up to 5 years, rising to 15 years when the fleeing driver caused a fatal crash. Virginia classifies even property damage over $1,000 as a felony.
What is the penalty for a hit-and-run involving death?
Penalties for fatal hit-and-run generally range from about 2 years at the low end to 30 years in Florida, where leaving a fatal crash is a first-degree felony punishable under Fla. Stat. 775.082(3)(b). Florida also imposes a mandatory minimum of 4 years, and Pennsylvania a mandatory minimum of 3 years. Massachusetts sets 2.5 to 10 years in state prison with at least 1 year that cannot be suspended. Vermont allows up to 15 years, with a 1-year minimum, and Michigan allows up to 15 years when the fleeing driver caused the fatal crash.
What should I do if someone hits my parked car and leaves?
Document the damage with photos, check for witnesses and nearby surveillance cameras, file a police report, and contact your insurance company. Your collision coverage will cover repairs minus your deductible. If the driver is later identified, your insurer can pursue them for reimbursement.
Will my insurance go up after a hit-and-run claim?
Generally no. Since you were the victim and not at fault, most insurers will not raise your premiums. However, practices vary by company and state. Filing under your own collision coverage requires paying your deductible.
How long do police investigate a hit-and-run?
Investigation timelines vary based on severity and available evidence. Fatal and serious injury cases receive priority and may remain open for years. Minor property damage cases with no leads may receive limited investigation. Providing a license plate number, witness information, or camera footage significantly increases the chances of identifying the driver.
Can I be charged with hit-and-run if I did not know I hit something?
Lack of knowledge is a valid defense in most states. The prosecution generally must prove you knew or should have known a collision occurred. However, courts evaluate this based on the circumstances, including the severity of the impact and damage.
Are hit-and-run deaths still rising?
Not in the most recent data. IIHS figures show pedestrian hit-and-run deaths peaked at 1,939 in 2022, then fell to 1,844 in 2023 and 1,749 in 2024. Hit-and-run drivers still account for about 25% of all pedestrian deaths, up from 20% in 2015.
Updates
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Corrected the maximum-penalty figure for fatal hit-and-run. The page previously topped out at 15 years; a fatal hit-and-run in Florida is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years under Fla. Stat. 775.082(3)(b), and that ceiling now appears in the lede, the key takeaways, the penalty table and the FAQ. Corrected the Michigan penalty citation, which pointed at MCL 257.617a (a section covering injury crashes only) rather than MCL 257.617, which carries the serious-impairment and fatal-crash felonies, and restated both Michigan tiers with figures. Clarified that a Virginia Class 5 felony may be punished either as a felony or, at the court's or jury's discretion, as a misdemeanor. Refreshed the crash statistics through 2024, which show pedestrian hit-and-run deaths falling from their 2022 peak, corrected the national uninsured-driver rate to 14.0%, and cleaned up the source list.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) - National Traffic Fatality Totals(www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov).gov
- IIHS - Pedestrian Fatality Facts (hit-and-run pedestrian deaths, 2015-2024)(iihs.org)
- AAA Foundation - Hit-and-Run Crashes Study(aaafoundation.org)
- Florida Statutes 316.027 - Crash Involving Death or Personal Injuries(flsenate.gov).gov
- Florida Statutes 775.082(3)(b) - First-Degree Felony Punishable by Up to 30 Years(flsenate.gov).gov
- 23 V.S.A. 1128 - Vermont: Duty to Stop and Render Assistance; Penalties(legislature.vermont.gov).gov
- Pennsylvania 75 Pa.C.S. 3742 - Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury(palegis.us).gov
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, s. 24 - Leaving the Scene After Causing Injury or Death(malegislature.gov).gov
- Virginia Code 46.2-894 - Duty to Stop at Scene(law.lis.virginia.gov).gov
- Virginia Code 18.2-10(e) - Punishment for Class 5 Felonies(law.lis.virginia.gov).gov
- MCL 257.617 - Michigan: Failure to Stop After Accident Causing Serious Impairment or Death(legislature.mi.gov).gov
- MCL 257.617a - Michigan: Duty to Stop After Accident Resulting in Injury(legislature.mi.gov).gov
- Insurance Information Institute - Uninsured Motorists (Insurance Research Council estimate)(iii.org)
- USAGov - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(usa.gov).gov