can be tried as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity of injuries and property damages. Minor cases can earn a punishment of one year in prison with a $600 fine while more severe cases can be punished with 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

If you’re involved in a car accident, make sure you stay on the scene. Next, you’ll want to alert the authorities. Failing to follow these steps can result in serious legal and financial ramifications.

Knowing what to do in the event of an accident is very important, whether it’s your fault or not. Following improper procedures can get you a hit-and-run charge on your driving record.

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What is a hit-and-run?

A hit-and-run can be any incident where a collision occurs and the motorist flees the scene of the accident before providing proof of insurance and proper identification. A hit-and-run isn’t limited to just vehicles, this law applies to collisions with persons or property as well.

A hit-and-run is not dependent on fault. You can be charged with a hit-and-run for any accident you are involved in, regardless of who caused it.

Under

Connecticut's car accident laws

, a hit-and-run violation is also commonly referred to as evading responsibility.

What happens if you commit a hit-and-run in Connecticut?

If you are ever involved in a collision, do not leave the scene of the accident. The potential ramifications are financially and legally severe.

Is a hit-and-run a felony in Connecticut?

The key factor in Connecticut General Statute 14-224 is whether or not serious physical injuries were caused as a result of the hit-and-run.

A serious injury can be defined as a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or impairment of proper bodily functions.

If the court determines that a serious physical injury or death was caused by the hit-and-run, you will be tried for a felony in the state of Connecticut.

What is the punishment for a hit-and-run in Connecticut?

The punishment for a hit-and-run in Connecticut depends on the extent of the damage or injuries caused by the collision. All hit-and-runs have associated jail time and financial punishments. That said, incidents that only involve property are much less severe than those involving physical injury.

Here are the possible punishments for a hit-and-run in Connecticut:

Result of accident	Jail time	Fine	Legal classification
Property damage only	Up to one year	$75 to $600	Misdemeanor
Minor injuries caused	Up to five years	$75 to $600	Felony
Serious injuries or death	Up to 20 years with a minimum of two years	Up to $20,000	Felony

In other words, leaving the scene of an accident only makes a bad situation worse. Always stay on the scene to potentially avoid these life-altering punishments.

MORE:

5 driving violations that could land you in jail

How to avoid a hit-and-run charge

In a traditional vehicle-on-vehicle accident—simply stop, alert the authorities, and share your insurance and identification with everyone involved in the collision.

Hit-and-runs that involve an unattended vehicle or stationary property can face the same punishments as a car-on-car accident. If you hit a parked vehicle, you need to attempt to locate the owner. If you cannot locate them, you must leave a note securely attached to the vehicle providing your name, address, and vehicle registration.

You must also report the incident to local police.

In any sort of accident, it is required by Connecticut law to render assistance to anyone that may be injured. If you fail to provide appropriate care, you could be accused of hit-and-run.

MORE:

14 safe driving tips

What should I do if I experience a hit-and-run in Connecticut?

Try to stay calm, identify as many details as you can about the fleeing vehicle, and alert the authorities. After you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run incident, it’s important to focus in order to provide accurate information to the police officer and your insurance provider.

At the scene of a hit-and-run

Do not try to follow the vehicle, that will only put you in a more dangerous situation. Attempting to collect valuable information is the best thing you can do. Here are some common details to note:

Circumstances of the crash and all vehicles involved

Characteristics of the fleeing car: license plate, make, model, color, and body style

The appearance of the driver

The direction the car was headed

Unique identifiers on the fleeing car (stickers, modifications, etc)

Discuss the hit-and-run with other witnesses. This is a great opportunity to confirm the details you remember and learn any new information. Begin taking pictures of the scene for evidence.

Make sure there are no serious injuries on the scene. If you leave the scene while someone requires medical attention, you could also be accused of a hit-and-run, regardless of fault.

After you leave the scene

Make sure that the police officer filed the police report. You can also request a copy of the report. The details of the accident will be vital in discussing your coverage with your insurance provider.

Insurance claims should be filed immediately, within 24 hours of the accident.

The whole reason you get insurance is to protect you from all of life’s surprises, like being involved in a hit-and-run incident.

If the hit-and-run motorist is identified, you and your vehicle will most likely be covered by their

liability car insurance

. Most states require minimum liability coverage, Connecticut is no exception.

If you don’t have any information about the driver or their vehicle, filing a claim becomes more difficult. If you only have liability insurance, you’re out of luck. However, you may be covered if you have

collision insurance

uninsured motorist coverage

, or

medical payments coverage

What insurance covers a hit-and-run?

Insurance type	Will it cover a hit-and-run?	Notes
Collision coverage	Yes	May need to pay the deductible first
Uninsured motorist coverage	Maybe	Most providers can use this policy in the event of an unidentified motorist in a hit-and-run incident
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage	Yes	Additional coverage to fill in gaps in your health insurance; possible deductible payment
Personal injury protection (PIP)	Yes	Can cover lost wages and other expenses affected by the hit-and-run

MORE: Does insurance cover a hit and run?

How to find affordable insurance for collisions and more

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FAQs

Will a hit-and-run affect my insurance?

As a victim of a hit-and-run, it should not affect your car insurance rates.

If you are a hit-and-run offender, it’s likely that your car insurance will be expensive for as long as the charge is on your record. Occasionally, first-time offenders in Connecticut will be able to attend accelerated rehabilitation programs in an attempt to clean their records.

Do I need a lawyer if I’ve committed a hit-and-run?

Considering 20 years of jail time is on the table, it’s a good idea to seek legal counsel if you’ve committed a hit-and-run.

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