Motor vehicle laws in the United States vary from state to state, but some principles are the same everywhere. Leaving the scene will add to the problems you have when you are involved in any sort of accident. While the amount and types of insurance drivers are required to carry can vary from state to state, most states require some kind of insurance.

Leaving the scene of an accident

When you are involved in an accident, the law requires that you stop and make some kind of report. How exactly this works depends on what happened.

Hitting an unoccupied car

If you hit a parked car in a parking lot, you should make an attempt to find the owner of the car and provide the information he'll need to file a report with his insurance company. If you can't find the owner, leaving a note with your name and phone number or address may be sufficient, but if the damage is significant, you may wish to call your insurance company and the police in order to get a proper report that includes your version of what happened.

Accidents in moving traffic

When an accident occurs in traffic, your responsibilities remain the same: You must stop and let the other driver have the information needed for an insurance claim. In a traffic accident, the police should be called. You are also wise to call your insurance agent and make sure you know what else you may have to do immediately and later on. If someone is injured, it is extremely important that you stop. While leaving the scene of a fender-bender may only involve a traffic ticket in some states, leaving the scene of an accident where someone has been hurt is very serious in every state and can result in felony charges.

Driving without insurance

Each state has different laws about automobile insurance, but all require drivers to either carry insurance or furnish proof that, in the event of an accident, they are financially able to be responsible for damages. In some states, driving without insurance is a traffic ticket, but in others, it is a more serious violation: For instance, in New Jersey, you could face a fine of $1,000, a term of community service and loss of your driver's license. In most states that require insurance, police will require proof of insurance if they stop you for any reason. But when your lack of insurance becomes an issue in a traffic accident, you can expect the court to take this very seriously.

What do I do now?

If you have already left the scene of an accident, and you were already driving without insurance, you would be smart to contact a lawyer. You have already done two things that can get you in a great deal of trouble. While being honest and turning yourself in won't take away the penalties, being discovered later will likely make things a great deal worse. Whatever the cost of a lawyer, it will be less than the cost of facing the law without good advice.

Source:

Leaving the scene of an accident

No insurance in New Jersey

No insurance generally

Resource:

Leaving-the-scene laws in each state