After a Crash
La. R.S. 32:398 — a crash with an injury, a death, or over $500 in damage is reported to the police at once
The driver of a vehicle in a crash that injures or kills anyone, or does more than $500 in property damage, immediately notifies the local police inside a city or town, or the nearest sheriff's office or state police station outside one.
- The driver gives a name, address and the vehicle's registration number to anyone injured and to the driver or occupant of any vehicle damaged, and shows the license on request if it is available.
- The same information goes to any officer at the scene or investigating the crash.
- In an area under an evacuation order or a declared emergency, the driver has 72 hours to do these things.
- A crash report costs not more than $5 if it runs two pages or less, and not more than $20 if longer, and it goes only to the parties, their insurers and a few others the law names.
Driving off is hit and run. Hit and run driving is intentionally failing to stop at the scene, give one's identity and render reasonable aid. With no death or serious injury it carries up to $500, up to 6 months, or both. Where death or serious bodily injury results and the driver knew or should have known it, the penalty is up to $5,000, or 2 to 10 years, or both.
Sources for this section (2)
- La. R.S. 32:398 — Crash reports; when and to whom made; information aid; fees for copies; fees for crash photographs and videos
- La. R.S. 14:100 — Hit-and-run driving
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.