Leaving the Scene of a Collision with an Unattended Vehicle or Property in Maryland

Accidents happen, and clipping a parked car's mirror or backing into a neighbor's fence is a common mistake. However, driving away because you are scared of higher insurance premiums turns a minor civil dispute into a serious criminal traffic offense. Maryland law strictly mandates how you must handle collisions involving unattended property. A conviction for leaving the scene can result in major fines and enough points to suspend your driver's license. If you are being accused of hitting unattended property and fleeing, you can browse our US Attorneys directory to find a local lawyer who can help protect your driving record.

Hitting a Car in a Parking Lot

Parking lots are the most common locations for unattended vehicle collisions. Under Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 20-105, you have a legal obligation to stop immediately. You cannot simply glance around, see that no one is looking, and drive off. The law requires you to make a reasonable attempt to locate the owner. If you are at a grocery store in Columbia, for instance, you could go inside and ask customer service to page the owner of the vehicle. If the owner cannot be found, you must leave a written note in a conspicuous, secure place (such as securely under the windshield wiper). The note must clearly state your name, your address, and the registration number of the vehicle you were driving.

Failing to follow these steps transforms the incident into a hit-and-run. If caught, you will likely be summoned to a local court, such as the District Court of Maryland for Howard County, Ellicott City or the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, Baltimore, depending on where the incident took place.

Striking State Infrastructure (Guardrails/Signs)

The statute does not only apply to private vehicles; it applies to any unattended property. This includes city light poles, highway guardrails, road signs, and even residential mailboxes. If you slide on black ice and strike a state-owned guardrail, you have damaged property belonging to the government. In these situations, locating the 'owner' is impossible at the scene. Therefore, the law requires you to report the collision to the nearest police department or state authorities immediately. Failing to report damage to public infrastructure can lead to the state tracking you down via traffic cameras, debris left at the scene, or witness reports.

How Long You Have to Find the Owner or Leave a Note

Maryland law is clear that you must stop 'immediately' and fulfill your duties. You do not have 24 hours to go home, think about it, and decide to go back and leave a note. The attempt to locate the owner or leave the required information must happen at the time of the collision. If you left the scene because you panicked, contacting a lawyer immediately is your best option. An attorney can help you formally report the accident to the authorities post-incident, which, while not a perfect defense, can demonstrate to a judge that you took responsibility, potentially mitigating the harsh 8-point penalty assessed by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Glen Burnie.

Addressing the Fear of Increased Insurance Premiums

Many drivers flee minor fender-benders because they are terrified their insurance rates will skyrocket. While it is true that causing an accident can increase your premiums, being convicted of a hit-and-run is exponentially worse. Under Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 16-402(a)(32), a property damage hit-and-run conviction carries 8 points. Accumulating 8 points triggers an automatic license suspension in Maryland. Once your insurance company sees a hit-and-run conviction and a license suspension, they may drop your coverage entirely or place you in a high-risk category where premiums are staggeringly high. Dealing with the minor insurance hike of a scratched bumper is always better than facing criminal charges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)