After A Crash
Veh. & Traf. Law § 600 — a driver stops and exchanges license, insurance and contact details before leaving
Property damage. A driver who knows or has cause to know the vehicle caused damage to someone else's property stops before leaving, shows the license and insurance identification card, and gives name, address, insurance carrier and policy information, and license number to the owner. If the owner is not there, the driver reports it as soon as physically able to the nearest police station or judicial officer. Leaving without doing so is a traffic infraction, a fine of up to $250, up to fifteen days in jail, or both.
Personal injury. Where someone is injured, the driver stops, shows the license and insurance card, and gives the same information to the injured person if practical and to a police officer, or, with no officer nearby, reports it as soon as physically able to the nearest police station or judicial officer. Failing only to show the documents or exchange the information is a class B misdemeanor with a fine of $250 to $500; leaving otherwise is a class A misdemeanor with a fine of $750 to $1,000.
A written report within ten days. When anyone is killed or injured, or property of any one person is damaged by more than $1,000, the driver reports the accident in writing to the commissioner of motor vehicles within ten days. Failing to report is a misdemeanor and a ground for suspending or revoking the license or registration.
A police officer at the scene asks the drivers, when they are physically able, to exchange this information, and helps them do it.
Sources for this section (2)
- Veh. & Traf. Law § 600 — Leaving scene of an incident without reporting
- Veh. & Traf. Law § 605 — Report required upon accident
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.