Three Reasons Why Drivers Flee the Scene of an Accident
Hit and run traffic violations: These are not pleasant things at all, both for the victim(s) in the car crash and for the driver (since, in many cases, drivers can be located after committing a hit and run offense). It’s hard to imagine that any driver would ever want to be on the receiving end of a hit and run crash, so consequently it’s hard to understand why drivers responsible for an accident would be willing to put others in that unfortunate position.
But when you really think about it, it’s easy to see how hit and run car accidents occur at all, and why so many drivers willingly leave the scene after an accident:
- First, it should be noted that many drivers are simply unaware that they are guilty of a hit and run offense. Drivers may face traffic violations for hit and run car accidents if they have caused damage to any property or injury to any person and if they left the scene of the accident without contacting law enforcement officials or leaving their contact information with the victim of the accident.
- Hit and run car accidents tend to be on one of two sides of the spectrum: either the damage is so mild that the driver didn’t think anything of it and drove away, or the accident is so serious that the driver panics and speeds away because he/she doesn’t know what else to do. Most drivers do not consciously want to cause any more pain after causing a serious accident, but they go into shock and don’t know what else to do, so they flee the scene.
- Finally, many drivers leave the scene of an accident because they are uninsured and/or do not have a valid driver’s license, and they know that they’ll be ticketed — and possibly even arrested — if the cops show up. What these drivers may not realize is that they face even worse traffic tickets and fines if they leave the scene of an accident and are caught later on.