Is It Illegal To Drive Past A Car Accident Without Stopping?

When Are You Legally Obligated to Stop?

It's essential to know that if you are directly involved in an accident, it is illegal not to stop, regardless of the level of damage or who is at fault for the accident. In addition, you are generally required to:

• Exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved.
• Assist the other driver and/or their passengers. This may mean calling an ambulance, helping move them to a safe area, or even transporting them to the hospital if necessary.
• Report the accident to the police if it results in injury, death, or significant property damage. For example, in Virginia, you're required to contact the police if the property damage exceeds $1,500 so an official police report can be created.

If you were not involved in the accident, however, you are not legally required to stop or involve yourself in any way.

How Can You Help If You've Witnessed a Car Accident?

• Call 911. Getting medical help to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible saves lives. Stay on the phone with dispatchers and follow their recommendations to support those present.
• Check on the victims. If you can safely do so before police or paramedics arrive, check on the victims of the accident. Do not provide medical attention unless you are qualified to do so and it is absolutely necessary. Follow the dispatcher's instructions on how and when to take such actions.
• Offer to provide your contact information. It is also helpful to provide your contact information so that those involved can contact you if they need to verify any information you may have.
• Offer to provide your dashcam footage. If your vehicle has a dash camera that captured the incident, that footage can be very valuable in an investigation.
• Let the police reporting to the scene know what you saw. This may help those who are victims to get the legal guidance they need.

Can You Get Sued for Trying to Help Someone Who Was in a Car Accident?

The unfortunate truth is that people can and have been sued for attempting to provide assistance after an accident. However, you aren't without legal protections should you decide to do so.

Some of the key things to know about these laws are:

• They protect you from civil liability when you provide medical support to someone in a medical emergency, including a car accident.
• If you are providing help to someone without any expectation of compensation, these laws typically apply to you.
• These laws encourage you to take action to help save a person’s life when you can do so before trained professionals are able to arrive.
• Those who engage in this type of help are not required by law to provide any type of information or to visit the hospital. They are able to leave the location when they want to do so.

The Bottom Line

There are situations in which you must stop after a car accident. If you were the victim or you caused the accident, stop. However, if you were not directly involved, you are not legally required to stop.

If you do stop, make sure you take steps to protect yourself from claims made against you, such as contacting the police for immediate help. If you were not a witness to what occurred, other people are already on the scene, or stopping would create even more danger, do not do so.