What are the penalties for leaving the scene of an accident in Illinois?
The law in Illinois makes leaving the scene of an accident a serious criminal offense that can result in incarceration. If you have been involved in a crash and drove away, you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Drivers who are involved in an accident involving property damage without injury or death must provide information to the other driver(s). Failure to do so can result in a Class A misdemeanor charge. See 625 ILCS 5/11-402. The penalty for this offense is up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500. If you are charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and the court finds you guilty, the Secretary of State will suspend your driver’s license if it is determined that the damage to any vehicle is over $1,000. An accident involving property damage less than $1,500 does not have to be reported to the police. However, if any vehicle involved in the wreck is uninsured and there is more than $500 in property damage, the accident must be reported to the police
