That split second decision to keep driving after hitting someone could get you 20 years in prison. The law does not mess around in Texas!
Imagine this: it’s 10 o’clock at night, you’re driving home tired from work and you get into a car accident. Maybe it’s a fender bender, maybe it’s more serious. Panic sets in, and the thought of dealing with the drama feels overwhelming. So you make a split-second decision: you flee the scene….
IT ISN’T WORTH IT.
Under Texas law, if you were involved in an auto accident you must stop your vehicle in a safe place and remain at the scene. Check to see if anyone needs medical help and follow all the protocols for reporting the accident correctly.
Seems simple enough, right?
But still, way too many people get scared and make the decision to just take off. Well let’s break down the harsh reality of what you’d be risking by committing a hit-and-run in Texas:
If someone died in the accident, fleeing the scene is considered a 2nd degree felony. That means you could be facing up to 20 years in prison or a little over ¼ of your life – according to the average life expectancy of someone living in America. Plus, you’re liable to pay up to $10,000 in fines on top of that. All for one panicked decision in a moment of crisis. (TRANSPORTATION CODE TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC)
Even if no one died, if there were serious injuries like broken bones or disfigurement, it’s still a 3rd degree felony. You’d be looking at anywhere from 2 to 10 years in a box and thousands more in fines.
Minor injuries? That’ll still get you up to 5 years in prison or at least 1 year in county jail. Plus, you could be fined $5,000. (TRANSPORTATION CODE TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC)
The penalties just get worse and worse the more severe the accident is.
So for your own sake, if you’re ever in that situation, do not run! It’s not worth risking your entire future over, even if you don’t have your future figured out yet. Spending 20 years in prison because you left the scene of an accident? That’s insane… when you really think about the people that still risk it anyway.
No matter how scared or panicked you might feel in that moment, just stop, check on people, call for help if necessary, and deal with it the right way from the start. Because we promise you, a 2nd or 3rd degree felony conviction will ruin your life a hundred times over compared to whatever trouble you think you’re avoiding by leaving the scene of an auto accident you’re involved in.
Sources:
TRANSPORTATION CODE TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (no date) Transportation code Chapter 550. collisions and collision reports. Available at: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm (Accessed: 26 February 2024).
