577.060. Leaving the scene of an accident — penalties.
You must stop and share your info after an accident
This law makes it illegal to leave an accident scene without stopping to give your name, address, vehicle info, and driver’s license number to the other party or the police.
1. A person breaks this law if they:
- Operate a vehicle or boat involved in an accident that causes injury, death, or property damage, and
- Know the accident happened but leave the scene without giving the following information to the other person, police officer, or nearest police station:
- Name,
- Home address,
- Vehicle or vessel registration/license number, and
- Driver’s license number (if they have one).
2. Police officers have the right to enter private property if invited by someone injured in the accident to investigate what happened and carry out their duties.
3. Penalties for leaving the scene are:
- Class A misdemeanor in most cases.
- Class E felony if:
- Someone is physically injured,
- Property damage is over $1,000, or
- The person has been found guilty of this offense before (in Missouri or another state).
- Class D felony if someone dies because of the accident.
4. If an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) causes death or serious injury, the investigating officer must write a report, send it to the Department of Public Safety, and keep a record of it.
5. This law does not apply to ATVs when damage happens during organized races, derbies, or rallies.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Missouri criminal defense lawyer.
