Vehicle Code § 20001 – Felony Hit and Run
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Vehicle Code § 20001 – Felony Hit and Run (Injury or Death)
California Law
Vehicle Code – VEH
DIVISION 10. ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS [20000 – 20018]
( Division 10 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )
CHAPTER 1. Accidents and Accident Reports [20000 – 20018]
( Heading of Chapter 1 added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 281, Sec. 2. )
20004.
In the event of death of any person resulting from an accident, the driver of any vehicle involved after fulfilling the requirements of this division, and if there be no traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident to whom to give the information required by Section 20003, shall, without delay, report the accident to the nearest office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol or office of a duly authorized police authority and submit with the report the information required by Section 20003.
(Enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.)
California Law Summary
This law requires that if a driver is involved in a traffic accident that causes the death of any person, and there is no law enforcement officer present at the scene, the driver must immediately report the accident to the nearest police authority, such as the California Highway Patrol or a local police department.
Purpose
The statute ensures that fatal traffic accidents are promptly brought to the attention of law enforcement, even if officers are not initially at the scene, allowing for timely investigation and official documentation.
Application
In wrongful death claims or serious collision cases, this code establishes a legal duty to report, which may be considered when evaluating a driver’s compliance with the law and responsibility for the accident.
