It is a criminal offense (crime) for the operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident to leave the scene of the accident. Leaving the scene of an accident is commonly known as hit-and-run, and may be charged as one of a few criminal offenses—and as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the state’s statutes.

For example, it is a crime to leave the scene of an accident involving another vehicle when there is damage to an occupied vehicle. The operators of the vehicles in such an accident must stop and exchange relevant information, such as name, address, vehicle make and model, license plate number, and insurance information.

If the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident with an unoccupied parked vehicle, the operator generally must stop and find the owner of the vehicle that was hit, or leave a note with the operator’s name, address, telephone number or e-mail address, and insurance company and policy number.

Similarly, if the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident with unattended property, the operator must stop and make a reasonable effort to find the owner of the property and leave the operator’s name, address, telephone number or e-mail address, and insurance company and policy number.

And if the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident that involves bodily injury or death, the operator must stop and, if able, render aid to any injured persons. The failure to do so is a felony offense in many states, and may be punished by jail or prison time, fines, and the revocation of driving privileges.

Hit-and-run and failure-to-stop-and-render-aid laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—usually in the vehicle code, transportation code, or penal or criminal code.

In Louisiana (LA), hit-and-run is a serious criminal offense under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14:100. The law requires that any operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident must immediately stop at the scene, regardless of whether the accident involves an occupied vehicle, an unoccupied parked vehicle, unattended property, or results in bodily injury or death. The operator is required to exchange information such as name, address, vehicle identification, and insurance details with the other party if the accident involves another vehicle. If the accident involves an unoccupied vehicle or unattended property, the operator must make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or leave a note with the necessary information. In cases where the accident results in bodily injury or death, the operator must also render aid to the injured persons. The severity of the charges for leaving the scene of an accident in Louisiana can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the circumstances, such as the extent of property damage or whether there were injuries or fatalities. Penalties for hit-and-run offenses may include fines, imprisonment, and revocation of driving privileges.