Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2011-08-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

You are driving down the street and someone stops abruptly in front of you and you hit the back of that person’s vehicle. The thought crosses your mind, should I stay or should I go? No one else is around, there is no way anyone will ever know it was me…think again. In the State of Florida it is not a crime to get into an automobile accident unless it is a D.U.I related crash or a crash involving serious bodily injury or death. It is however a crime to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging information with the other driver. Leaving the scene of an accident is a second degree misdemeanor punishable by six months probation and sixty days county jail and a $500 fine. The charge also can carry with it six points assessed against your license.

Let’s review the above scenario again but this time you stay and the police are called. At the worst you could be cited for careless driving or following too closely. Both are considered non-criminal traffic infractions and carry a $166 fine and three points against your license. Below is a list of articles dealing with leaving the scene of an accident and subsequent consequences.

Largo Hit and Run Accident

Leaving Scene of Accident Gets 15 Years Prison

Probation for Leaving Scene of Fatal Accident

Man Accused of DUI after Leaving Scene of Accident

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Should I Stay or Should I Go?