Leaving the Scene of an Accident

New York requires any operator of a motor vehicle who knows or has reason to know that damage has occurred to property or injury has occurred to another person due to an incident involving the vehicle he was driving to stop and display his license and insurance information before leaving the area where the incident occurred.

Leaving the scene of an accident or incident, as it is defined in New York Vehicle & Traffic Code § 600, can be very serious, depending on the specific incident and the degree of injury suffered. Serving people in many areas of New York, the skilled traffic crime attorneys at Tilem & Associates, PC have the experience, knowledge and drive to fight for the best possible result in your case.

Our criminal defense lawyers handle cases throughout New York, including Westchester, the Bronx, Rockland, Nassau, Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains and Queens.

Leaving the scene of an incident involving property damage only, even if the property damaged is not a car but a sign, pole hydrant or house, is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine, three points on your license and up to 15 days in jail.

Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury is a crime punishable by up to one year in jail. Leaving the scene involving serious physical injury or death can result in felony charges carrying a maximum sentence of up to seven years.

These charges, even though they are violations of New York's Vehicle & Traffic Law and not the Penal Law, are very serious and can result in jail time. If you have been arrested, charged, questioned or think that you are a suspect in a leaving the scene of an incident case, please call us today at 877-377-8666 for a free consultation with a New York traffic crime attorney.