List of Hit and Run UK Penalties

Committing a motoring offence and driving away without accepting responsibility is known as a ‘hit-and-run’ offence. This can also include cases where an individual fails to report an accident.  A driver who commits a hit-and-run offence will not only be charged for their initial offence but with a further hit-and-run conviction.

The maximum penalty for a hit-and-run offence is an unlimited fine, five to 10 penalty points and up to six months in prison. What an offender is charged with will depend on the circumstances of the incident and their involvement in it. Additionally, if the offender's driving licence already carries penalty points from another driving offence, they are likely to incur an increased penalty. For this reason, it is important that drivers understand their responsibilities when it comes to being involved in accidents.

In the following guide, the motoring offence experts at JMW have explained what you should do if you are involved in or are witness to a motor accident or offence and what the penalties are if you do not.

What Should I Do Following an Accident?

Following a car accident, you should stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so, turn off your engine and make sure your hazard lights are on. Following this, you should check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If any of the occupants of your vehicle are injured, you should call an ambulance immediately. If no one is injured, you should try to keep yourself and your passengers calm and try to process the situation - car accidents can be shocking and you should take a moment to understand and note down what happened.

Until you are completely aware of what happened, you should not admit responsibility, as doing so may cause you to be liable for the situation. Instead, make sure any other individuals involved are accounted for - seek medical attention for them if they can not do so themselves. If the other driver is unharmed, you should then share your name, address and insurance details with them and any other drivers involved when requested to do so. By law, this is a necessary step.

You should also take notes of:

• The other vehicles involved - the licence plates, models, makes and colours
• The time and date of the incident
• The weather conditions
• The damage caused
• Any other witnesses

These details will all be important when seeking insurance or in court, if it escalates to that. If you believe you are at fault, you should make sure to do all of these steps so you can prove you tried to help the situation.

If you believe that one of the other drivers caused the collision deliberately, has no insurance or is showing signs of alcohol or drug intoxication, you should contact the police and report the incident as soon as possible and well within 24 hours.

What Will Happen if I Do Not Stop After an Accident?

If you fail to conduct yourself appropriately following an accident, whether intentionally or not, you may be charged with a hit-and-run offence on top of any other offences you may have committed.

As just a few examples, hit-and-run penalties may be incurred following:

• Careless or inconsiderate driving offences
• Drink driving offences
• Drug driving offences
• Traffic light offences
• Speed limit offences

If you are not followed and stopped by the police, you will receive contact via letter at the registered address of the vehicle. This will contain the details of your offence and instructions that you must follow or respond to within a declared time limit.

What Should I Do if I Am Being Prosecuted for a Hit-and-Run Offence?

Hit-and-run prosecutions can make serious offences even worse, so it is best to seek professional advice before making any decisions. If you disagree with your prosecution and want to dispute it, you should get in contact with the expert motoring offence solicitors at JMW. Our team is made up of individuals with a wide and in-depth knowledge of the field, and we will be able to use this to help you.

For more information, call us now on 0345 872 6666, or fill out an online contact form.