Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224 — stop, help, and give your name, address, license and registration numbers
An operator knowingly involved in an accident that injures someone or damages property stops at once and renders such assistance as may be needed, and gives their name, address, operator's license number and registration number to the person injured, the owner of the property, or any officer or witness.
Who handles this in Connecticut: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Connecticut directory.
- An operator unable to give that information to anyone there, for any reason, reports the injury or damage at once to a police officer, a constable, a state police officer, an inspector of motor vehicles or the nearest police station, with the place and circumstances of the accident.
- After an accident on a limited access highway that damages property only, each operator moves the vehicle off the traveled part of the highway to an untraveled area next to the site, if that can be done without risk of more damage or injury. Doing so does not count as leaving the scene.
| What happened | Leaving without doing it is |
|---|---|
| What happenedSomeone died, or suffered serious physical injury | Leaving without doing it isA class B felony |
| What happenedSomeone suffered physical injury | Leaving without doing it isA class D felony |
| What happenedOther injury or damage to property | Leaving without doing it isA class A misdemeanor the first time; a later one a class D felony, with a fine of at least $2,000 |
The same section forbids racing, contests, demonstrations of speed or skill and street takeovers on a public highway or parking area. A first one is a class A misdemeanor, and the court may impound the driver's own vehicle for up to 30 days.
Sources for this section (1)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224 — Evasion of responsibility in operation of motor vehicles. Racing, contests, demonstrations of speed or skill or street takeovers. Required removal of motor vehicle from traveled portion of highway. Penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Connecticut attorney.