It is a criminal offense (crime) for the operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident to leave the scene of the accident. Leaving the scene of an accident is commonly known as hit-and-run, and may be charged as one of a few criminal offenses—and as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the state’s statutes.

For example, it is a crime to leave the scene of an accident involving another vehicle when there is damage to an occupied vehicle. The operators of the vehicles in such an accident must stop and exchange relevant information, such as name, address, vehicle make and model, license plate number, and insurance information.

If the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident with an unoccupied parked vehicle, the operator generally must stop and find the owner of the vehicle that was hit, or leave a note with the operator’s name, address, telephone number or e-mail address, and insurance company and policy number.

Similarly, if the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident with unattended property, the operator must stop and make a reasonable effort to find the owner of the property and leave the operator’s name, address, telephone number or e-mail address, and insurance company and policy number.

And if the operator of a motor vehicle is involved in an accident that involves bodily injury or death, the operator must stop and, if able, render aid to any injured persons. The failure to do so is a felony offense in many states, and may be punished by jail or prison time, fines, and the revocation of driving privileges.

Hit-and-run and failure-to-stop-and-render-aid laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—usually in the vehicle code, transportation code, or penal or criminal code.

In Virginia, hit-and-run, also known as leaving the scene of an accident, is a serious criminal offense. Under Virginia Code § 46.2-894, drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage must immediately stop as close to the scene as possible without obstructing traffic, report their name, address, driver's license number, and vehicle registration number to the State Police or local law enforcement, and render reasonable assistance to any injured person. Failure to do so can result in felony charges if the accident results in death or injury, or if the property damage exceeds $1,000. If the property damage is less than $1,000, the offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor. When an unattended vehicle or property is damaged, the driver must make a reasonable effort to find the owner or leave a note with their contact information and report the accident to law enforcement. The penalties for hit-and-run offenses in Virginia can include fines, imprisonment, and the suspension or revocation of driving privileges, depending on the severity of the incident.