Action in case of accident.

(a) The driver of any vehicle, knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or death

to any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto

as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene until

he has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.  Every such stop shall be

made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.  Any person who shall violate this

subsection shall be fined not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000, or be imprisoned for a

period of 180 days, or both.  The term of imprisonment required by this subsection shall be

imposed only if the accident resulted in death or injury to a person other than the driver

convicted of violating this section.

In addition, any person convicted under this subsection shall forfeit his right to operate a

motor vehicle over the highways of this State for a period of one year from the date of his

conviction for the first offense and for a subsequent offense shall thereafter permanently

forfeit his right to operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this State.

(b)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting only in

damage to a vehicle, including his own vehicle, or other property which is attended by any

person shall immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as

possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such

accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.  Every such

stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.  Any person who shall

violate this subsection shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $400, or be imprisoned

for a period of not more than 30 days, or both, for the first offense, and for a subsequent

offense, shall be fined not less than $400 nor more than $600, or be imprisoned for a period of

not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or both.

In addition, a person who violates this subsection shall, for a first offense, forfeit the right

to operate a motor vehicle in this State for a period of six months from the date of conviction,

and for a period of one year from the date of conviction for any subsequent offense.

(c)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or

death to any person or damage to any vehicle or property shall give his name and address and

exhibit his operators license and registration certificate of his vehicle to the person injured or

whose vehicle or property was damaged and to any police officer or witness of the accident,

and to the driver or occupants of the vehicle collided with and render to a person injured in the

accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying of that person to a hospital or a

physician for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that the treatment is necessary or

is requested by the injured person.

In the event that none of the persons specified are in condition to receive the information

to which they otherwise would be entitled under this subsection, and no police officer is

present, the driver of any vehicle involved in such accident after fulfilling all other

requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, insofar as possible on his part to be

performed, shall forthwith report such accident to the nearest office of the local police

department or of the county police of the county or of the State Police and submit thereto the

information specified in this subsection.

(d)The driver of any vehicle which knowingly collides with or is knowingly involved

in an accident with any vehicle or other property which is unattended resulting in any damage

to such vehicle or other property shall immediately stop and shall then and there locate and

notify the operator or owner of such vehicle or other property of the name and address of the

driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or other property or, in the

event an unattended vehicle is struck and the driver or owner thereof cannot be immediately

located, shall attach securely in a conspicuous place in or on such vehicle a written notice

giving the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle doing the striking or, in the

event other property is struck and the owner thereof cannot be immediately located, shall

notify the nearest office of the local police department or of the county police of the county or

of the State Police and in addition shall notify the owner of the property as soon as the owner

can be identified and located. Any person who violates this subsection shall be punished as

provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(e)There shall be a permissive inference that the driver of any motor vehicle

involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage in the amount of

$250.00 or more to any vehicle or property has knowledge that he was involved in such

accident.

For purposes of this section, it shall not be a defense that the operator of the motor

vehicle was unaware of the existence or extent of personal injury or property damage caused

by the accident as long as the operator was aware that he was involved in an accident.

There shall be a permissive inference that the registered owner of the vehicle which was

involved in an accident subject to the provisions of this section was the person involved in the

accident; provided, however, if that vehicle is owned by a rental car company or is a leased

vehicle, there shall be a permissive inference that the renter or authorized driver pursuant to a

rental car contract or the lessee, and not the owner of the vehicle, was involved in the

accident, and the requirements and penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be

applicable to that renter or authorized driver or lessee and not the owner of the vehicle.

Any person who suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of a

violation of this section or who suppresses the identity of the violator shall be subject to a fine

of not less than $250 or more than $1,000.

Amended 1940, c.147; 1967, c.189, s.1; 1977, c.407; 1978, c.180; 1979, c.463, s.1; 1994,

c.183, s.1; 2003, c.55, s.1; 2007, c.266, s.1.