Failure to Stop or Report an Accident

If an accident occurs and personal injury is caused to someone that is not the driver of the vehicle or if the accident results in property damage, the driver is required to stop his/her vehicle and exchange details with the other party.

If for any reason, the driver does not supply their details to the other party, they must report for the accident to the police as soon as practicable.

In such circumstances, it is best that you report the incident to the police without delay even if there is no clear sign of injury at the scene.

For example, if you are involved in a minor accident and the other party assures you that they are fine, you could still be charged with the offence if it later transpires that the other party did, in fact, sustain an injury in the accident.

Furthermore, the CPS do not need to even prove that a physical injury has occurred as “shock” is considered as an injury for the purposes of this offence, so it is always better to be safe than sorry.

It is a defence to claim that you had no knowledge of the accident, and therefore, had no reason to stop. The burden will rest on the defendant if they wish to advance such a defence to prove that they had no knowledge of the accident.

If you have been charged with this offence, please do get in touch with our expert motoring law team and allow us to explain the next steps as well as how we can help you.

‘I failed to stop after an accident or report an accident’

If it is suspected that you failed to stop and report an accident, you may face charges for one or both offences.

This typically happens through a notice of intended prosecution (NIP), which outlines the nature of the offence, the time and location it occurred, and the potential penalties you may face. The consequences for these offences can be severe.

According to the sentencing guidelines for failure to stop/report, penalties could include:

• Up to 6 months’ imprisonment
• Disqualification from driving or 5 to 10 penalty points on your licence
• An unlimited fine

If you are investigated for this motoring offence, contact our expert solicitors without delay.

‘I am being wrongly accused of being in a car accident’

If you are under investigation for this offence, we can assist. Sometimes, the police can be convinced to take no further action if we are able to make early representations, in which case, you would not be charged with the offence.

If the matter does proceed to Court, please call us and we can advise on how we can assist.

Who we are and how we can help

At JHR Solicitors, we are committed to providing the legal guidance you need to maximise your chances of a successful outcome.

Whether you are facing a minor offence or a serious legal matter, our expert driving offence solicitors have extensive experience navigating a wide range of cases.

As experts in this field, we are dedicated to guiding clients through the complexities of the criminal justice system with clarity and support.