Leaving the Scene of a Car Accident in Illinois

Illinois state law 625 ILCS 5/Ch. 11 Art. IV regarding motor vehicle accidents involving death or personal injury states that the driver of any vehicle involved must stop their vehicle as close to the accident site as quickly and safely as possible.

A driver involved in a crash must also remain at the scene until their information has been given to the other driver and responding police officers and proper aid has been rendered to any injured parties.

If the other driver in your Illinois car accident failed to stop or comply with these rules, they are required to report the accident to a police or sheriff's office no later than 30 minutes following the car accident or in the event of hospitalization, 30 minutes following discharge. Drivers involved in a car accident in Illinois may be subject to chemical testing for the presence of alcohol or other intoxicating chemicals in their body.

The penalties for not complying with these laws are harsh. A class 4 felony charge will be filed if the Illinois car accident resulted in personal injury and the driver did not stop and remain at the scene. Failure to stop combined with failure to report the accident and submit to any required chemical testing will result in a class 2 felony. These charges increase to a class 1 felony if the accident resulted in death and the driver failed to stop and report.

Regardless of injury, all drivers involved in a car accident should stop and assess any damages. However, if you are involved in a car accident in Illinois with a hit-and-run driver, you should still immediately report the accident to the police and seek the counsel of an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Visit our library for more information on the first steps after your car accident. 

Contact an Illinois personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. for more complete information about building a successful personal injury claim after a car accident in Illinois. - (312) 263-0153