The crime of striking another vehicle and fleeing from the scene of the crime is one of the more unique laws on the books in Minnesota because it is almost exclusively a “heat of the moment” crime, in that the action is not premeditated. You can certainly decide to strike your ex-boyfriend’s car with your truck, but that would likely carry a charge of criminal damage to property or even attempted manslaughter. Instead, hit and run crimes occur when a person accidentally strikes another vehicle but then makes the conscious decision not to give the other party contact details. Here’s a closer look at the hit and run law in Minnesota, and the potential penalties for fleeing the scene of an accident.
Hit and Run Basics
For the following examples, we’re assuming that the driver is an otherwise law abiding citizen, i.e. they aren’t under the influence of drugs or driving with a revoked license, as those factors would lead to upgraded charges.
There are two simple scenarios that occur during a normal traffic accident with another vehicle. Either you strike/are struck by another driver, or you strike an unattended vehicle. Here’s what you need to do to avoid a hit and run in each scenario.
Driver vs. Driver – Even if you are not at fault, the law states that a driver involved in a crash must stop their vehicle as soon as safely possible and return to the scene of an accident. That means even if another driver rear ends your car, you can’t just drive off without speaking with the other driver, because the other driver will need your information if either of you decide to file a claim. At the scene of the accident, you are required to give the other driver or the police your:
- Name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Registration
This is all that is required, but you also may want to jot down other aspects of the crash, like the location, the other driver’s license plate number and a contact phone number. If you don’t stop or attempt to provide the four bulleted points to the other driver or a police officer, you could be charged with hit and run.
Driver vs. Unattended Car – If you have reasonable suspicion to suspect you struck another car, Minnesota law states that you have to make “reasonable” attempts to notify the other driver. This is dependent on the situation, but typically “reasonable” attempt means leaving your contact information on a note placed on the other vehicle, leaving your contact information with a neighbor who knows the owner of the vehicle, or notifying the police that you struck a specific vehicle. Failing to take reasonable steps to contact the unattended vehicle’s owner can result in a hit and run charge.
Hit and Run Penalties in Minnesota
Assuming nobody was hurt, if a person drives away without providing the above information, they can be charged with a misdemeanor hit and run charge. This charges carries a potential fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. The person may also have their license suspended and they could be on the hook for court costs and damages.
Things get a lot more dicey when an injury is involved. If the accident results in what’s known as “substantial bodily harm,” a person can face a fine of up to $3,000 and up to one year in jail. Minnesota defines substantial bodily harm as an injury that causes temporary but serious disfigurement or fracture.
The next level is a felony-level hit and run that involves “great bodily harm,” and it carries a potential penalty of a fine up to $4,000 and up to two years in jail. Great bodily harm is classified as an accident causing bodily injury resulting in a high chance of death, permanent disfigurement or the loss of an organ.
Finally, a person will face felony charges if their hit and run involves the death of another party. This charge carries the potential of up to $5,000 in fines and up to three years in prison. Again this only applies to situations involving law abiding drivers, not those operating under the influence.
