Wednesday, July 27, 2011

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH

The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible, immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident and remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of rendering aid as stated by the Texas Transportation Code. It's called a “scene” because some people like to act like they're injured and you really should get back there as quickly as possible so they don't have a chance to make up a story for their one-man play.
An operator of a vehicle required to stop the vehicle must do so without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If it can be moved by your own means then you should move it. Otherwise, unless you happen to have Superman in your back pocket to move your upside-down vehicle to the side of the road, you should just get yourself out of the way of traffic as quickly as possible.
A person commits an offense if the person does not stop or otherwise comply with the laws for rendering aid and accidents involving personal injury or death. Such an offense is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $5,000 or both the fine and the imprisonment or confinement. Stick around at the scene of the accident and help out where you can so you can use that time and money to get your clunker fixed.


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