Leaving the Scene Lawyer Suffolk County

New York law imposes specific duties on a driver involved in a collision, and failing to meet those duties is charged under VTL § 600, officially titled “Leaving scene of an incident without reporting.” The statute requires a driver to stop, exchange identifying and insurance information, or report to police, and the consequences for failing to do so differ sharply depending on whether the incident involved only property damage or also involved personal injury. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. reviews the specific facts of a Suffolk County incident against the applicable § 600 subdivision. The firm does not offer free consultations; call (888) 437-7747, staffed 24/7, to request a scheduled consultation.

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The Statutory Duties Under VTL § 600

Under § 600(1)(a), a driver who knows or has cause to know their vehicle caused damage to another’s real or personal property must stop, exhibit their license and insurance identification, and provide identifying and insurance information to the affected party, or report to the nearest police station or judicial officer if that party is not present. A § 600(1) violation is a traffic infraction, with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail. Transportation network company and peer-to-peer car-sharing drivers carry additional disclosure duties under this subdivision.

Under § 600(2)(a), the same general duties apply where the incident involves personal injury, including reporting to a police officer if one is present. The grading of a § 600(2) violation depends on the specific facts, per § 600(2)(c): a violation resulting solely from a failure to exhibit license or insurance identification or exchange information is a class B misdemeanor, fine $250 to $500 on a first offense, or a class A misdemeanor, fine $500 to $1,000, on a second or subsequent offense. Any other § 600(2)(a) violation is a class A misdemeanor, fine $750 to $1,000, elevating to a class E felony, fine $1,000 to $3,000, after a prior conviction of the same kind, to a class E felony, fine $1,000 to $5,000, where serious physical injury results, and to a class D felony, fine $2,000 to $5,000, where death results. The statute uses no “degrees” language — grading runs by subdivision and by the specific factual trigger, not by a first/second/third-degree label.

Why the Specific Duty Breached Matters

Because § 600 liability turns on precisely which duty was breached and what resulted from the incident, the facts of a Suffolk County case need careful review before assuming which penalty tier applies. The firm reviews those facts and discusses realistic options without guaranteeing any particular outcome.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He attended George Mason University, where he developed a background in accounting and information systems. Mr. Sris founded the firm in 1997, and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys handle § 600 matters for Suffolk County clients alongside him.

The firm does not maintain a physical location in Suffolk County. The firm’s principal office is 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032, by appointment. The firm’s intake line is staffed 24/7 at (888) 437-7747. The firm does not offer free consultations; callers may request a scheduled consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does New York require a driver to do after a collision?

Under VTL § 600, a driver must stop, exhibit license and insurance identification, and exchange information with the other party, or report to police if that party is not present.

Is leaving the scene of a property-damage incident a felony?

No. Under § 600(1), it is a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in jail.

Does New York use “first degree” or “second degree” for this charge?

No. § 600 has no “degrees” terminology. Grading depends on the subdivision, property damage versus personal injury, and, for injury cases, the specific factual trigger under § 600(2)(c).

What if I stopped but didn’t exchange information?

Under § 600(2)(c), a violation resulting solely from failing to exhibit license or insurance identification, or from failing to exchange information, is a class B misdemeanor on a first offense, fine $250 to $500.

Can leaving the scene become a felony?

Yes. Under § 600(2)(c), it becomes a class E felony after a prior conviction of the same kind or where serious physical injury results, and a class D felony where death results.

Does the firm offer a free consultation for a leaving-the-scene charge?

No. The firm does not offer free consultations. Call (888) 437-7747, staffed 24/7, to request a scheduled consultation.

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Suffolk County cases follow the same route as the rest of the state, and our page on leaving the scene cases in New York explains each stage.