Laws vary from state to state, but in most states it is a crime or criminal offense for the operator of a motor vehicle to leave the scene of single car accident involving an unattended (unoccupied) vehicle or other property, or to leave the scene of a single car accident involving highway fixtures (barricades, medians, guardrails), traffic control devices (stop signs, yield signs, railroad crossing gate arms, etc.), or other real or personal property (a ditch, embankment, or building).

It is also a criminal offense in most states for the operator of a motor vehicle to leave the scene of an accident involving personal injuries or death—including an accident in which the operator of a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian or cyclist, for example. And it is a criminal offense in most states for the operator of a motor vehicle to leave the scene of an accident involving multiple motor vehicles.

The duties of an operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident may vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in a code titled with a name like “vehicles and traffic” or “transportation,” for example. These duties generally include:

• the duty to share information such as name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration number with other motor vehicle operators involved in the accident, or owners of property involved in the accident—or with the police if such other persons are not able to receive the information;

• the duty to stop and locate or notify the owner of property involved in a motor vehicle accident (such as an unattended motor vehicle or other property) of the accident and of the motor vehicle operator’s name, address, and vehicle registration number, for example;

• the duty to notify the road authority (the state department of transportation, for example) of the accident, and provide the motor vehicle operator’s name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration number, for example;

• the duty to stop and provide any person who suffered personal injuries or death with any reasonable assistance possible, including calling an ambulance to transport such person to the hospital for medical care or evaluation (known as the duty to stop and render aid); and

• the duty to report to the police any accident involving bodily injury or death of any person, or involving property damage.

In Rhode Island, as in most states, it is indeed a criminal offense for the operator of a motor vehicle to leave the scene of an accident. This applies to accidents involving unattended vehicles or property, highway fixtures, traffic control devices, and other real or personal property. Rhode Island General Laws § 31-26-1 to § 31-26-3 outline the duties of a driver involved in an accident. The driver must stop at the scene, provide their name, address, driver's license number, and vehicle registration to other parties involved or to the police, and locate and notify the owner of any unattended vehicle or property damaged in the accident. Additionally, the driver must report the accident to the nearest police authority if it results in injury, death, or significant property damage. The law also requires the driver to render reasonable assistance to any person injured in the accident, which may include arranging for or transporting the injured person to a hospital if necessary. Failure to comply with these duties can result in significant legal penalties, including fines and possible imprisonment, depending on the severity of the accident and the resulting injuries or damages.