A hit and run is a crime in which a driver collides with another car, a pedestrian, or other personal property and leaves the scene without properly identifying himself or herself. In all states, the person who causes a car accident is legally obligated to stop and provide help and identifying information to the other party. If the driver instead leaves the scene without offering assistance or providing information, he or she may be charged with a hit and run.

There exist a variety of reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident, including:

• Intoxication
• Panic
• Road rage: the driver may have caused the collision purposely
• Avoiding arrest because of an existing warrant
• Avoiding insurance issues involving property damage

Regardless of these reasons, most states do have similar laws that require a driver who causes an accident to stop and provide personal information before leaving the scene, although the penalties and definition of a hit and run varies from state to state. For example, the state hit and run law in Wisconsin requires that any driver involved in an accident that results in vehicle damage, injury, or death, must stop and follow logical steps to himself or herself and to provide assistance. The driver must stop in the nearest safe location close to the scene of the accident and is legally required to remain at the scene until he or she:

• Has provided the other party with adequate personal information, including the driver’s full name, home address, and vehicle registration number.
• Has displayed a valid driver’s license to the person who was injured, the driver of the other vehicle, or another competent occupant of the vehicle.
• Has offered a reasonable level of assistance to any person who was injured in the accident. This assistance can include calling the police or an ambulance and waiting until they have arrived at the scene and collected additional information or bringing the injured person to a hospital or another medical practitioner if the person obviously needs medical help or if the injured person requests medical assistance.

In Wisconsin, if a person leaves the scene of an accident without completing each of these steps, he or she can be charged with a hit and run crime. The penalties imposed for this charge can vary from a small fine to a major felony charge depending on the severity of the incident and the actions taken by the hit and run driver.

For more information about car accidents and driving laws, visit the website of the Kenosha car accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.