Every day we read about hit and run, leaving the scene accidents. It’s happening at epidemic proportions. Did you know that many of these could be avoided if people understood the laws in Colorado at the time of a vehicular accident? Here are the minimum requirements each driver must provide when involved in an accident.
If a driver hits another car, truck, motorcycle, bike, or motorized vehicle that has caused any injury, serious bodily injury or death to another, they are required to:
- Stop and stay at the scene or…
- Move to the nearest area away from traffic, if possible.
- Provide the driver’s name, address, phone, auto insurance and registration information.
- Report all accident information to local law enforcement and injuries to 911.
- Do not drive while under the influence of alcohol, medications, illegal substances or marijuana.
The term “injury” is any type of physical pain, illness or impairment of physical or mental condition. “Serious bodily injury” is any injury at the time of the incident or possible death including disfigurement, loss or impairment of any part of the body including organs. This includes breaks, fractures, or burns of the second or third degree.
Failure to follow these requirements may result in:
- A class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense if the accident resulted in injury to any person
- A class 4 felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury to any person
- A class 3 felony if the accident resulted in the death of any person.
DMV will revoke the driver’s license of the person convicted of a hit and run, leaving the scene.
As I write this blog post, two more hit and run accidents are stories on the local television station here in Denver Colorado. One driver was blinded by the sun and hit a pedestrian. People run out of fear. These individuals were located using The Medina Alert. The consequences for leaving the scene of a serious accident are much worse than following the traffic laws in Colorado.
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