![A car's bumper dented after a minor hit and run accident.](https://shouselawdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/minor-hit-and-run-accident-300x200.jpeg)
Often times, yes. Most jurisdictions say that the police are required to investigate a reported hit and run offense. This includes those cases involving only minor injuries or property damage.
But note that the police will typically spend more time and resources investigating serious hit and run accidents (for example, those involving death or a serious injury).
Most states say that you commit misdemeanor hit and run if you flee the scene of an auto accident after hitting a car and causing property damage. The crime is punishable by a fine and/or jail time.
You generally commit felony hit and run if you flee the scene of an accident where you injured or killed someone. The crime is punishable by more serious consequences in comparison to misdemeanor hit and run.
If you are involved in an auto accident, most state laws say that you are required to present to other motorists your:
- driver’s license,
- vehicle registration,
- contact information (including your phone number), and
- insurance information.
You may also be required to help get aid to injured third parties, such as calling 911 and waiting until first responders arrive.
1. Do police officers review minor hit and run cases?
Law enforcement personnel usually have to investigate all reported hit and run cases. This includes hit and run cases involving minor property damage and/or physical injuries.
But note that the hit and run laws of most states recognize different types of hit and run car accidents. For example, many states say that leaving the scene of an accident can trigger criminal charges of:
- hit and run causing property damage,
- hit and run causing physical injury, and
- hit and run causing fatalities.1
Given this, police will usually spend more time investigating serious hit and run offenses in comparison to minor accidents. Serious offenses are most often those involving:
- death, or
- serious bodily injury.
In practice, this usually means that if the police are busy with reviewing a serious hit and run incident, it might take awhile before they commence a hit and run investigation involving minor injuries or damage.
2. Does the available evidence make a difference?
Typically, yes. In general, police will spend more time investigating hit and run cases that involve a significant amount of evidence.
This is to say that if a minor case involves few workable leads, police will often pay less attention to it than a case with several leads or many eyewitnesses.
3. How long will an investigation take?
The overall length of a hit and run investigation will usually depend on the amount of evidence in a case and the state law governing the incident.
But note that police departments usually resolve cases involving minor physical injuries or property damage quicker than more serious cases. This is because minor cases generally involve smaller levels of impact.
Please also keep in mind that the length of an investigation will vary depending on how busy a police department is, as well as their staffing levels. If the police are tasked with reviewing many auto accident cases, it will usually take them longer to begin investigating a minor hit and run case.
4. What about a hit and run involving no property damage?
Police usually are not required to investigate hit and run cases where there is no property damage or injury.
Recall that a hit and run driver is only guilty of a crime if he/she leaves the scene of the accident where, at the minimum, there is some type of property damage.2
If there is no property damage, then:
- there is technically no crime, and
- the police are not obligated to investigate the incident.
5. Will an insurance company investigate a minor hit and run?
If you file an insurance claim after a minor hit and run, the insurance company will often investigate the incident.
An insurer investigates a hit and run accident to determine if it will provide you compensation for any losses, including:
- medical bills, and
- lost wages.
An insurance company’s investigation may include:
- reviewing any pertinent police reports or accident reports,
- reviewing any available medical records,
- speaking with witnesses,
- looking at photos of any damaged motor vehicles or property, and
- reviewing videos of surveillance cameras (for example, if a person hit an unattended vehicle or parked car in a parking lot).
Note that if you do submit an insurance claim, you should contact a criminal defense attorney for help. A defense lawyer or law firm can help you:
- file a claim, and
- negotiate the claim on your behalf.
Most attorneys provide free consultations, meaning you can receive legal advice at no cost.
Further, your communications with a defense attorney are protected by the attorney-client relationship. This means a lawyer can only disclose your confidences after getting your consent.
Legal References:
- See, for example, Colorado Revised Statutes 42-4-1601.
- See, for example, California Vehicle Code 20002 VC.