The small 68 square miles of Washington, D.C. are bursting with the busy hustle and bustle of D.C. residents, many of whom walk and bike to work or use the Metro in lieu of the city’s too-often gridlocked streets. The high volume of pedestrian traffic is one reason for the city’s stricter laws regarding hit-and-runs. It is a reason why drivers in Washington, D.C., are held to strict auto insurance standards.
Hit-and-runs in Washington, D.C.
Hit-and-runs in the District of Columbia are formally called leaving after colliding, and unfortunately, are too common. Despite the District’s small size, data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data shows that in 2019, there were 22 fatal crashes in D.C. and 23 deaths for an overall rate of 0.61 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. The most deaths were pedestrians, accounting for 39% of total deaths from single-vehicle crashes.
According to Bankrate 2021 data, Washington, D.C. ranks ninth in the country for the most uninsured drivers. This presents an additional risk for D.C. drivers who risk financial devastation when they do not have adequate insurance coverage to help with losses when there is an accident.
Washington, D.C. hit-and-run laws
Just leaving the scene of an accident is considered a misdemeanor, according to Washington, D.C. law, § 50–2201.05c. If this is your first offense, you could face up to 180 days in jail or up to $1,000 in fines. After your second offense, you may receive up to...
Read Full Story: https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/washington-dc-hit-and-run/
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