Pearland accident attorneys set forth this excerpt from the Texas Penal Code on the laws governing hit and run accidents.
§ 550.021. ACCIDENT INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH:
(a) The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall:
(1) Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible;
(2) Immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident; and
(3) Remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023.
(b) An operator of a vehicle required to stop the vehicle by Subsection (a) shall do so without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
(c) A person commits an offense if the person does not stop or does not comply with the requirements of this section. An offense under this section:
(1) Involving an accident resulting in death of or serious bodily injury, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, to a person is a felony of the third degree; and
(2) Involving an accident resulting in injury to which Subdivision (1) does not apply is punishable by:
(A) Imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year;
(B) A fine not to exceed $5,000; or
(C) Both the fine and the imprisonment or confinement.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., chapter 165, § 1, effective Sept. 1, 1995, as amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 97, § 2, effective September 1, 2007.
After a hit and run accident, it’s important that victims take swift action to retain an experienced attorney that can help marshal evidence against the hit and run driver to supplement the efforts of law enforcement investigations. Learn more about what you could do to obtain justice and a fair financial recovery when you’ve been injured by a hit and run driver by reading this related article by our Pearland accident attorneys.