Is a hit and run always a felony?

No. The jurisdiction, injury level, damage, prior offenses and applicable duties matter. Hawaii has a misdemeanor bodily-injury tier, while Arkansas has a property-damage felony tier. Use the precise statute and subsection rather than a nationwide shortcut.

Can hit and run be a felony if no one is hurt?

Yes. For example, a knowing property-damage violation under Arkansas § 27-53-102 is a Class D felony at $10,000 or more in actual damage. Connecticut also treats a subsequent property-damage offense under § 14-224(b)(3) as a Class D felony. Other states have different rules.

How long do I have to report a collision?

Do not assume there is a 24–48-hour grace period. Immediate stopping, assistance and reporting duties can apply separately from a later written report. Texas § 550.026, for example, requires immediate notice in specified injury, death or undrivable-vehicle crashes. Check the rule for the incident; call 911 for emergency assistance.

Does leaving a note on a parked car satisfy the law?

It depends on the statute and circumstances. Texas § 550.024 specifies a conspicuous notice for a damaged unattended vehicle, including required identifying information and the circumstances. Occupied vehicles, injuries and other reporting duties involve different provisions. Do not assume a generic note resolves every obligation.

Does going back later erase the offense?

Do not assume so. Some duties apply immediately. Deal with any emergency and obtain prompt legal advice about remaining duties and a possible charge; a later return or report does not itself guarantee that an earlier failure has been cured.

Will I lose my license or need an SR-22?

Check the exact offense and licensing notice. Some provisions require revocation on conviction, including Oklahoma’s injury/death provisions. Reinstatement and insurance filings are separate questions for the licensing agency and insurer. This article cannot assign a universal suspension or filing period.

What if I did not know someone was injured?

The required mental state depends on the statute and case law. Knowledge of an accident and awareness of injury may be separate issues. New Mexico’s UJI 14-4513 and 14-4514 commentary identifies unresolved questions; a lack-of-knowledge claim is not automatically a complete defense.

Can the record be sealed or expunged?

Eligibility depends on the jurisdiction, exact offense, disposition, sentence completion and applicable exclusions. Obtain the court disposition and ask about the specific process. There is no universal five- or ten-year waiting period for all hit-and-run cases, and a table of criminal penalties does not establish record-relief eligibility.

Is Hit and Run a Felony? State Laws and Next Steps

The charge depends on the state, the harm, the driver’s legal duties and other facts. Compare the rules and prepare the documents needed to understand a charge.

Last updated: 2026-09-08

Quick Answer

Hit and run can be a felony, a misdemeanor or another type of traffic offense. There is no nationwide rule that all property-damage cases are misdemeanors or that every injury makes the offense a felony. For example, Arkansas has a property-damage felony threshold of $10,000, while Hawaii distinguishes ordinary bodily injury from substantial or serious bodily injury.

Start with the exact statute and subsection on the citation or charging document, the location and date of the incident, and the alleged injury or damage. A driver’s duties after a crash are a separate question from who caused the crash. The state summaries below help identify those differences; they do not determine guilt, predict a sentence or replace the law applicable to the incident.

Felony vs Misdemeanor: Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor	Felony	Misdemeanor
Injury severity	Some states distinguish substantial injury, serious injury and death. Hawaii uses Class C and B felony tiers for different levels of harm.	An injury does not automatically mean a felony. Hawaii’s ordinary bodily-injury provision, § 291C-12.6, is a misdemeanor.
Property damage	Arkansas § 27-53-102(d) reaches a Class D felony at $10,000 or more in actual damage for a knowing violation.	That Arkansas provision uses Class A for $1,000 to under $10,000 and Class B otherwise. Other states use different rules.
Prior offenses	Connecticut makes a subsequent property-damage offense under § 14-224(b)(3) a Class D felony, with at least a $2,000 fine.	Connecticut classifies the first such offense as a Class A misdemeanor. Confirm which prior convictions count under the applicable law.
Sentence and other consequences	Check the offense provision, general sentencing law and applicable enhancements. A statutory range is not a prediction of time actually served.	A misdemeanor can still carry jail, fines or licensing consequences. Check the specific offense and agency notice; do not infer a fixed penalty from the label.

State-by-State: How Each State Classifies It

51 jurisdictions. Start with the exact statute and subsection on the charging document. The incident date, alleged facts and applicable enhancements can change the classification or sentence.

State	Statute	Classification	Felony class	Penalty summary	Key note
Alabama	Ala. Code §§ 32-10-1, 32-10-2, 32-10-6	Property damage only = Class A misdemeanor; injury or death = Class C felony. Effective Oct. 1, 2026, fatal hit-and-run upgrades to Class B felony under the Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act.	Class C felony (death or personal injury); Class B felony (fatal hit-and-run, effective Oct. 1, 2026)	Class C felony: 1 year and 1 day to 10 years prison + up to $15,000 fine. Class B felony (effective Oct. 1, 2026): 2–20 years + up to $30,000 fine.	Mandatory driver's license revocation upon conviction (§ 32-10-1(g)). The Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act (signed Mar. 9, 2026) upgrades fatal hit-and-run from Class C to Class B felony effective Oct. 1, 2026.
Alaska	Alaska Stat. §§ 28.35.050, 28.35.060	Failure to provide identifying information = misdemeanor; failure to render reasonable assistance to an injured person = felony. Property-damage-only failures are misdemeanors.	Felony (unclassified) for failure to render aid to an injured person under AS 28.35.060(c)	Felony (failure to render aid): up to 10 years imprisonment + up to $10,000 fine. Misdemeanor (failure to give info): up to 1 year + up to $500 fine.	Strict knowledge requirement: State must prove driver KNEW of the accident/injury (Kimoktoak v. State, 1978). Felony applies only to failure to render aid, not failure to give identifying information (Bass v. State, 2016).
Arizona	Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-661 (injury/death), 28-662 (property damage), 28-663	Property damage (attended vehicle) = Class 1 misdemeanor. Non-serious injury = Class 5 felony. Serious physical injury or death = Class 3 felony, or Class 2 felony if the driver caused the accident.	Class 2 felony (driver-caused accident, death/serious injury); Class 3 felony (non-driver-caused death/serious injury); Class 5 felony (non-serious injury)	Class 2 felony: up to 12.5 years prison (non-dangerous first offense) + up to $150,000 fine. Sentences run consecutive to any other charges from the same accident.	Mandatory license revocation: 3 years (non-serious injury), 5 years (serious physical injury), 10 years (death). Mandatory alcohol/drug screening if substance contributed.
Arkansas	Ark. Code §§ 27-53-101, 27-53-102, 27-53-103; § 5-4-401 (ordinary prison terms)	Physical injury: Class D felony under § 27-53-101(c). Serious physical injury or death with a knowing or reckless failure to comply: Class B under (d). A knowing property-damage violation is Class B misdemeanor below $1,000, Class A from $1,000 to under $10,000, and Class D felony at $10,000 or more.	Class B felony (serious injury/death, knowing or reckless); Class D felony (physical injury or $10,000+ property damage)	Ordinary prison ranges: Class B, 5–20 years; Class D, up to 6 years. Fines and applicable enhancements are separate.	Section 27-53-101(e) requires license revocation for convictions under that section. The property-damage offense expressly requires a knowing violation; do not apply a blanket strict-liability description to all tiers.
California	Cal. Veh. Code § 20001 (injury/death), § 20002 (property damage)	Property damage only = misdemeanor (§ 20002). Injury or death = 'wobbler' chargeable as felony OR misdemeanor at prosecutor's discretion (§ 20001).	Felony wobbler; aggravated tier for death or permanent/serious injury	Aggravated tier (death or permanent serious injury): 2, 3, or 4 years state prison + $1,000–$10,000 fine. Additional consecutive 5 years if driver flees after vehicular manslaughter. Property-damage misdemeanor: up to 6 months jail + $1,000 fine.	Fault for the underlying accident is irrelevant — even a not-at-fault driver who leaves can be charged. Two DMV points on driving record for either tier.
Colorado	C.R.S. §§ 42-4-1601 (injury/death), 42-4-1602 (property damage), 42-4-1603	Property damage (attended vehicle) = Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. Injury = Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense. Serious bodily injury = Class 5 felony. Death = Class 3 felony.	Class 3 felony (death); Class 5 felony (serious bodily injury)	Class 3 felony (death): 4–12 years prison + up to $750,000 fine. Class 5 felony (serious bodily injury): 1–3 years + up to $100,000 fine.	Strict-liability offense — prosecution need not prove the driver knew an accident occurred or that anyone was injured (People v. Manzo, 2006). Driver must affirmatively identify as the driver before leaving (People v. Hernandez, 2011).
Connecticut	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224 (2026 Supplement); §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36a, 53a-41, 53a-42	Death or serious physical injury = Class B felony. Physical injury = Class D felony. Property damage = Class A misdemeanor (first offense), Class D felony (subsequent offense).	Class B felony (death or serious physical injury); Class D felony (physical injury or repeat property-damage)	Ordinary Class B: 1–20 years; fine up to $15,000. Class D: up to 5 years; fine up to $5,000. Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days; fine up to $2,000. Subsequent property-damage offense: at least a $2,000 fine.	Use the current class-based penalties. The older two-year/$20,000 provision was replaced in 2023. P.A. 25-80 added the subsequent-offense minimum fine; it did not restore that earlier prison/fine provision. Sentencing alternatives and enhancements require separate review.
Delaware	21 Del. C. §§ 4201, 4202, 4205	Property damage only = violation ($25–$75 fine, first offense). Injury = misdemeanor (1–2 years + $1,000–$3,000). Death = Class E felony.	Class E felony (collision resulting in death)	Class E felony (death): up to 5 years prison + mandatory minimum 1 year (first 6 months non-suspendable). Injury misdemeanor: 1–2 years + $1,000–$3,000 fine.	Death tier carries a mandatory 1-year minimum with the first 6 months non-suspendable. Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over misdemeanors; death felonies go to Superior Court.
District of Columbia	D.C. Code § 50-2201.05c (Leaving After Colliding)	All leaving-after-colliding offenses are misdemeanors in DC. Personal injury: up to 180 days (first), up to 1 year (subsequent). Property damage: up to 30 days (first), up to 90 days (subsequent).	None — DC has no felony hit-and-run tier	Personal injury, subsequent offense: up to 1 year incarceration. First offense: up to 180 days. Property damage subsequent: up to 90 days.	DC is an outlier: no felony hit-and-run tier exists. Affirmative defense available if driver left due to reasonable belief that personal safety was at risk, provided they called 911 and gave identifying info as soon as safe. Intoxication or lack of fault is NOT a defense.
Florida	Fla. Stat. § 316.027 (injury/death — Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act), § 316.061 (property damage), § 316.062 (duty to give info/aid)	Property damage only = 2nd-degree misdemeanor. Non-serious injury = 3rd-degree felony. Serious bodily injury = 2nd-degree felony. Death = 1st-degree felony.	1st-degree felony (death); 2nd-degree felony (serious bodily injury); 3rd-degree felony (non-serious injury)	1st-degree felony (death): up to 30 years prison + $10,000 fine, with 4-year mandatory minimum. DUI hit-and-run fatality: 4-year mandatory minimum the court cannot depart from.	Named the 'Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act' (2014) after a triathlete killed in a 2012 hit-and-run. Mandatory license revocation of at least 3 years. 'Vulnerable road user' enhancement ranks the offense one level higher.
Georgia	O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 (duty to stop); § 40-6-393(b) (homicide by vehicle 1st degree); § 40-6-394(c) (serious injury by vehicle)	Property damage / non-serious injury = misdemeanor. Hit-and-run causing death or serious injury = felony under § 40-6-270(b) (1–5 years). Vehicular homicide 1st degree with hit-and-run = 3–15 years.	Felony under § 40-6-270(b) (1–5 years); § 40-6-393(b) homicide by vehicle 1st degree (3–15 years); § 40-6-394(c) serious injury by vehicle (1–10 years)	Homicide by vehicle 1st degree with hit-and-run: 3–15 years prison. Hit-and-run under § 40-6-270(b) alone: 1–5 years.	Since 2008 the State need NOT prove leaving the scene was a contributing cause of death — only that the accident caused the death and the driver knowingly fled (State v. Holland, 2020). Driver must contact EMS if victim is unconscious or appears deceased.
Hawaii	HRS §§ 291C-12, 291C-12.5, 291C-12.6, 291C-13, 291C-14; § 706-660	Ordinary bodily injury: misdemeanor (§ 291C-12.6). Substantial bodily injury: Class C felony (§ 291C-12.5). Serious bodily injury or death: Class B felony (§ 291C-12). Property damage has a separate provision in § 291C-13.	Class C for substantial bodily injury; Class B for serious bodily injury or death.	Ordinary felony prison maxima under § 706-660(1): Class B, 10 years; Class C, 5 years. Fines and surcharges are separate. These are not mandatory minimum terms.	Section 291C-12 requires license revocation and a $500 neurotrauma surcharge, and permits a trauma-system surcharge up to $500. The corresponding surcharge amounts under § 291C-12.5 are $250 and up to $250. “Bodily,” “substantial” and “serious” injury are distinct tiers.
Idaho	Idaho Code § 18-8007 (injury/death), § 49-1301 (property damage)	Property damage only = misdemeanor (up to 6 months / $1,000). Injury or death (driver knew or should have known) = felony.	Felony (unclassified — penalty specified in statute)	Up to 5 years in state penitentiary and/or up to $5,000 fine, plus mandatory 1-year license revocation.	Mandatory 1-year license revocation precludes any work permit or limited driving privileges — no hardship exception available. Duty to render reasonable assistance including conveying injured persons to a medical facility.
Illinois	625 ILCS 5/11-401 (injury/death), 5/11-402 (attended vehicle), 5/11-404 (unattended property)	Property damage = Class A misdemeanor. Personal injury or death = Class 4 felony. Failure to comply with the half-hour return/report duty = Class 2 felony (no death) or Class 1 felony (death).	Class 1 felony (failure to report when crash results in death); Class 4 felony (base injury tier)	Class 1 felony: 4–15 years prison + up to $25,000 fine. Class 2 felony: 3–7 years. Class 4 felony: 1–3 years.	Mandatory license revocation by Secretary of State upon any conviction under § 11-401. Chemical testing within 12 hours of the crash; refusal triggers statutory summary revocation. P.A. 102-982 (2023) reworded 'accident' to 'crash' throughout.
Indiana	Ind. Code § 9-26-1-1.1 (duties/penalties), § 9-26-1-1.2 (traffic obstruction)	Property damage = Class B misdemeanor. Bodily injury = Class A misdemeanor. Moderate/serious bodily injury or prior conviction = Level 6 felony. Death or catastrophic injury = Level 4 felony. OWI causing death + leaving scene = Level 3 felony.	Level 3 felony (OWI causing death + leaving scene); Level 4 felony (death or catastrophic injury)	Level 3 felony: 3–16 years prison + up to $10,000 fine. Level 4 felony: 2–12 years + $10,000 fine.	Operator commits a separate offense for each person injured or killed. Court may order consecutive terms not subject to normal sentencing restrictions. Separate OWI-related leaving-scene offenses carry the highest penalties.
Iowa	Iowa Code § 321.261 (injury/death), § 321.262 (property damage), § 321.263 (info/aid)	Property damage = simple misdemeanor. Injury = serious misdemeanor. Serious injury = aggravated misdemeanor, or Class D felony if driver caused the accident. Death = Class D felony; death caused by driver = Class C felony (HF 524, 2021).	Class C felony (driver-caused death); Class D felony (death not caused by driver, or caused serious injury)	Class C felony: up to 10 years prison. Class D felony: up to 5 years + $1,025–$10,245 fine.	HF 524 (2021) created the Class C felony tier for caused-death cases. Mandatory license revocation under § 321.209. Persons harmed are explicitly recognized as 'victims' in related proceedings.
Kansas	K.S.A. § 8-1602 (injury/death), § 8-1605 (unattended property)	Property damage < $1,000 = misdemeanor. Injury or property damage >= $1,000 = Class A person misdemeanor. Great bodily harm = severity level 8 person felony. Death (driver unaware) = severity level 6. Death (driver knew/should have known) = severity level 4. Multiple deaths with knowledge = severity level 3.	Severity level 3 person felony (multiple deaths, knew or should have known); severity level 4 (death, knew or should have known)	Sentence determined by Kansas sentencing guidelines grid for person felonies (varies by criminal history). License revocation: Director may revoke upon conviction (discretionary).	Multi-tier ladder based on both injury severity AND driver's knowledge. Property-damage threshold of $1,000 separates misdemeanor from Class A person misdemeanor. Director's license revocation is discretionary, not mandatory.
Kentucky	KRS §§ 189.580(1)(a), 189.990(1)(b), 532.060	Violation of § 189.580(1)(a): a fine and/or up to one year in county jail, unless the accident involved death or serious physical injury and the person knew or should have known of it; that tier is a Class D felony. Unattended property has separate duties under § 189.580(2).	Class D felony (death or serious physical injury, knew or should have known)	Class D ordinary prison term: 1–5 years under § 532.060. Otherwise, § 189.990(1)(b) provides a $20–$2,000 fine, up to one year in county jail, or both.	Do not apply the § 189.990(1)(b) penalty to every duty in § 189.580. Its cross-reference is specifically to (1)(a). The separate unattended-property rule and immediate-notification/written-report provisions need their own analysis.
Louisiana	La. R.S. § 14:100 (hit-and-run driving)	No death or serious bodily injury = misdemeanor (up to 6 months + $500). With alcohol/drug involvement = misdemeanor with mandatory minimum 10 days. Death or serious bodily injury with knowledge = felony (2–10 years). Enhanced felony tier (5–20 years) when additional conditions met.	Felony (2–10 years under (C)(2); 5–20 years under (C)(3) enhanced tier)	Up to 20 years imprisonment with or without hard labor under (C)(3); or up to 10 years (2 years without parole/probation/suspension) + $5,000 fine under (C)(2).	Mandatory minimum 10-day jail term when alcohol/drugs contributed and driver fled with knowledge that flight could affect a criminal investigation. 'Vehicle' includes watercraft. 'Serious bodily injury' defined in § 14:2(C).
Maine	29-A M.R.S.A. § 2252 (injury/death), § 2253 (vehicle damage), § 2251 (accident reports)	Maine uses Class A–E crime classifications. Property damage (attended vehicle) = Class E crime. Failure to stop in injury/death accident = Class D crime. Intentional/knowing/reckless failure where accident resulted in serious bodily injury or death = Class C crime.	Class C crime (serious bodily injury or death, intentional/knowing/reckless failure)	Class C crime: up to 5 years imprisonment + up to $5,000 fine. Class D: up to 364 days + $2,000. Class E: up to 6 months + $1,000.	The most serious tier (Class C) requires intentional, knowing, or reckless failure AND serious bodily injury or death — mere negligent flight from an injury accident is only Class D. 'Reportable accident' threshold is $2,000+ property damage (raised in 2023).
Maryland	Md. Transp. Code §§ 20-102 (injury/death), 20-103 (property damage), 20-104 (info/aid), 20-105 (unattended)	Property damage = misdemeanor. Bodily injury = misdemeanor (up to 1 year / $3,000). Death without knowledge = up to 5 years / $5,000. Knew or should have known death might result and death occurred = felony (up to 10 years / $10,000).	Felony (§ 20-102(b)(3)(ii) — knew death might result and death occurred)	Up to 10 years imprisonment + up to $10,000 fine (felony tier). Misdemeanor death tier (without knowledge): up to 5 years + $5,000.	Maryland is unusual: mere flight from a fatal accident is a misdemeanor unless the State proves the driver knew or should have known the accident might cause death. Driver has a duty to render reasonable aid, including transporting injured persons.
Massachusetts	M.G.L. c. 90, § 24 (§ 24(2)(a) property damage; § 24(2)(a½)(1) injury; § 24(2)(a½)(2) death)	Property damage = misdemeanor ($20–$200 and/or 2 weeks–2 years). Personal injury = 6 months–2 years (house of correction). Injury resulting in death = felony.	Felony tier (death): state prison 2.5–10 years, or house of correction 1–2.5 years; mandatory 1-year minimum before parole/probation eligibility.	Death tier: 2.5–10 years state prison + $1,000–$5,000 fine (with 1-year mandatory minimum).	Mandatory license revocation: 60 days (property damage, first), 1 year (injury), 3 years (death, first) / 10 years (subsequent). Property-damage tier applies even on private property (Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, 2016); injury/death tiers require a 'public way.'
Michigan	MCL 257.618 (property damage), 257.617a (injury), 257.617 (serious impairment/death), 257.619 (duties)	Property/vehicle damage = misdemeanor (up to 90 days / $100). Personal injury = misdemeanor (up to 1 year / $1,000). Serious impairment of body function = felony (up to 5 years / $5,000). Death = felony (up to 15 years / $10,000).	Felony (serious impairment: up to 5 years; death: up to 15 years)	Death tier: up to 15 years prison + $10,000 fine.	Mandatory Secretary of State license suspension for injury-tier conviction. Driver has a duty to render reasonable assistance and arrange medical aid/transport for injured persons (MCL 257.619). 6 points for property-damage leaving-the-scene.
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 169.09	Property/attended-vehicle damage = misdemeanor. Bodily harm = up to 364 days / $3,000. Great bodily harm or death = felony.	Felony (death: up to 3 years / $5,000; great bodily harm: up to 2 years / $4,000)	Death tier: up to 3 years imprisonment + $5,000 fine.	Affirmative defense: leaving the scene to take an injured person for emergency medical care is allowed if driver gives notice to law enforcement as soon as reasonably feasible. Commissioner may suspend license of any driver who willfully fails to report.
Mississippi	Miss. Code § 63-3-401 (injury/death), § 63-3-403 (property damage), § 63-3-405 (info/aid), § 63-3-407 (unattended)	Property damage = misdemeanor. Injury = willful failure to stop, 30 days–1 year and/or $100–$5,000. Death or serious bodily harm (mutilation, disfigurement, permanent disability) = felony, 5–20 years.	Felony (death or serious bodily harm: 5–20 years)	Death/serious-bodily-harm tier: 5–20 years imprisonment + up to $10,000 fine.	Mandatory license revocation upon conviction under § 63-3-401. Duty to render reasonable assistance including arranging transport to a hospital, with civil immunity for good-faith emergency care.
Missouri	RSMo § 577.060 (Leaving the scene of an accident)	Property damage only = Class A misdemeanor. Enhanced to Class E felony if physical injury, property damage > $1,000, or prior conviction. Death = Class D felony.	Class D felony (death); Class E felony (injury / damage >$1,000 / prior)	Class D felony: up to 7 years + $10,000 fine. Class E felony: up to 4 years + $10,000. Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year + $2,000.	The $1,000 property-damage threshold elevates an otherwise-misdemeanor to a Class E felony (effective Aug. 28, 2017, SB 34). Applies to operators of both vehicles and vessels, and on private property.
Montana	MCA §§ 61-7-103 (injury/death), 61-7-104 (vehicle damage), 61-7-105 (info/aid), 61-7-118 (penalties)	Property/vehicle damage = misdemeanor. Injury = misdemeanor (30 days–1 year / $100–$5,000). Serious bodily injury or death = felony (1–10 years / up to $50,000).	Felony under § 61-7-118(3) (serious bodily injury or death)	Serious bodily injury / death tier: 1–10 years in state prison + up to $50,000 fine, plus mandatory license revocation.	Mandatory driver's license revocation for the felony tier. Driver must remain at the scene until an on-duty peace officer gives express permission to leave (with exceptions for emergency medical care).
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-696 (property damage), § 60-697 (injury/death duty), § 60-698 (penalty)	Property damage = Class II misdemeanor (up to 6 months / $1,000), elevated to Class I misdemeanor with prior. Injury (non-serious) = Class IIIA felony. Death or serious bodily injury = Class III felony.	Class III felony (death or serious bodily injury); Class IIIA felony (injury)	Class III felony: up to 4 years prison + $25,000 fine, with 1–15 year mandatory license revocation. Class IIIA felony: up to 3 years + $10,000.	Mandatory license revocation of not less than 1 year nor more than 15 years upon conviction under § 60-698 (court must order the person not to drive).
Nevada	NRS 484E.010 (injury/death), 484E.020 (property damage), 484E.030 (info/aid), 484E.040 (unattended)	Property damage = misdemeanor (up to 6 months / $1,000, 6 DMV demerit points). Bodily injury or death = Category B felony.	Category B felony (bodily injury or death)	Category B felony: mandatory 2–20 years in prison + up to $5,000 fine.	Knowledge element: State must prove driver knew or should have known of the accident (Clancy v. State, 2013); actual knowledge not required. Knowledge of the injury/death is NOT an element (Dettloff v. State, 2004). NRS 484E.040 does not apply to private property (Urias v. Dist. Ct., 2025).
New Hampshire	RSA 264:25 (conduct after accident), 264:29 (penalties), 264:26 (info/aid)	Property damage = misdemeanor (for natural persons). Death or personal injury = Class B felony. Giving false information = Class B felony.	Class B felony (death or personal injury; or knowingly giving false information)	Class B felony: 3.5–7 years in state prison + up to $4,000 fine. Misdemeanor: up to 1 year in house of correction.	Voluntary intoxication is NOT a defense to the knowledge requirement. State v. Smith (2024) affirmed that the 'competing harms' justification defense is unavailable where the defendant's own flight created the danger. Written report required within 15 days if injury/death or damage > $1,000.
New Jersey	N.J.S.A. 39:4-129 (motor vehicle violation); N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1 (serious bodily injury); N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1 (death)	Property damage = traffic offense (up to 180 days jail, $200–$500, 6-month license suspension). Serious bodily injury = crime of the 3rd degree. Death = crime of the 2nd degree.	Second-degree crime (death): 5–10 years; third-degree crime (serious bodily injury): 3–5 years	Death tier (2nd-degree crime): 5–10 years in prison + up to $150,000 fine. Serious injury (3rd-degree): 3–5 years + up to $15,000.	Knowledge of serious bodily injury/death is NOT an element of 2C:12-1.1. Conviction does not merge with aggravated assault / assault by auto and sentences run consecutively. License: 1-year suspension for first offense involving injury/death; permanent forfeiture for subsequent; 8 MVC points.
New Mexico	NMSA §§ 66-7-201, 66-7-202, 31-18-15; UJI 14-4513 and 14-4514	Great bodily harm or death: fourth-degree felony under § 66-7-201(B); knowing failure to stop or comply with duties: third-degree felony under (C). Without great bodily harm or death: misdemeanor under (D). Attended-vehicle property damage is addressed separately in § 66-7-202.	Fourth degree under (B); third degree under (C). Neither subsection defines a second-degree tier.	Ordinary basic sentence: third degree, 3 years; fourth degree, 18 months; a fine up to $5,000 may also apply. Enhancements and whether the charged offense itself resulted in death require separate sentencing analysis. Section 66-7-201(E) requires license revocation.	UJI 14-4513 addresses (B)/(D); UJI 14-4514 addresses (C). Their commentary identifies unresolved questions about awareness of injury. Do not reduce the distinction to a settled “knew the injury was serious versus did not know” rule. UJI 14-4516 concerns the separate information/aid offense.
New York	N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 600	Property damage = traffic infraction (non-criminal). Personal injury = Class A misdemeanor. Serious physical injury or prior conviction = Class E felony. Death = Class D felony.	Class D felony (death); Class E felony (serious physical injury or repeat offense)	Class D felony (death): up to 7 years state prison + $2,000–$5,000 fine. Class E felony: up to 4 years + $1,000–$5,000. Property-damage infraction: up to 15 days + $250.	Statute uses 'knows or has cause to know' standard — prosecutors need not prove actual knowledge that injury occurred. Charges can be upgraded if a victim's condition worsens over time.
North Carolina	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166	Property damage = Class 1 misdemeanor. Injury to a person = Class H felony. Serious bodily injury or death = Class F felony.	Class F felony (serious bodily injury or death); Class H felony (injury)	Class F felony: 10–41 months in prison (judge must sentence in aggravated range when death occurs). Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 120 days jail.	Mandatory 1-year DMV license revocation upon conviction (no judicial discretion to waive). Felony charges require a 'willful' violation — the driver deliberately left knowing (or reasonably should have known) a crash occurred.
North Dakota	N.D. Cent. Code § 39-08-04 (injury/death), § 39-08-05 (property damage)	Property damage = Class B misdemeanor. Personal injury = Class A misdemeanor. Serious personal injury (negligent failure) = Class C felony. Death (negligent failure) = Class B felony.	Class B felony (death, negligently failing to comply); Class C felony (serious personal injury, negligently)	Class B felony: up to 10 years + $20,000 fine. Class C felony: up to 5 years + $10,000. Mandatory license revocation upon conviction.	Mandatory license revocation for any person convicted under § 39-08-04. State v. Robideaux (1991) confirmed leaving-the-scene and manslaughter are separate offenses — no double jeopardy bar.
Ohio	Ohio Rev. Code § 4549.02 (public roads), § 4549.021 (private property), § 4549.03 (real property)	Property damage = misdemeanor of the 1st degree. Serious physical harm = felony of the 5th degree (or F4 if offender knew). Death = felony of the 3rd degree (or F2 if offender knew).	Felony of the 2nd degree (death, offender knew); F3 (death, without knowledge); F5/F4 (serious harm)	F2: 2–8 years + $15,000. F3: 9–36 months + $10,000. M1: up to 180 days + $1,000. Mandatory Class 5 license suspension (6 months–3 years).	Three separate hit-skip statutes for different locations. Knowledge of the harm is the key element elevating F5 to F4 and F3 to F2. Mandatory license suspension in all cases (first 6 months non-suspendable).
Oklahoma	47 O.S. §§ 10-102, 10-102.1, 10-103; 21 O.S. § 20J	Nonfatal injury: Class B5 felony. Death: Class B4 felony. Damage only to a driven or attended vehicle: misdemeanor under § 10-103.	Class B5 under § 10-102; Class B4 under § 10-102.1. These class designations appear in the amendments effective January 1, 2026.	Nonfatal injury: 10 days–2 years, a $50–$1,000 fine, or both. Death: 1–10 years, a $1,000–$10,000 fine, or both. Attended-vehicle damage: up to 1 year, a fine up to $500, or both.	The injury/death provisions require the specified willful, malicious or felonious failure to stop or comply, and require license revocation on conviction. Class B5 does not create one universal prison range: § 20J(B) points to the corresponding offense penalties.
Oregon	Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.705 (injury/death), § 811.700 (property damage)	Property damage = Class A misdemeanor. Injury or death = Class C felony. Serious physical injury or death = Class B felony.	Class B felony (serious physical injury or death); Class C felony (injury)	Class B felony: up to 10 years + $250,000. Class C felony: up to 5 years + $125,000. Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days + $6,250.	Applies to collisions 'caused by the motion of a vehicle or its load' anywhere — not limited to public highways. SB 1574 (2024) added a duty for drivers who discover after leaving that they may have been in an injury/death collision to immediately contact 9-1-1.
Pennsylvania	75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3742 (injury/death), § 3743 (attended property), § 3745 (unattended property)	Property damage (attended) = misdemeanor of the 3rd degree. Unattended property = summary offense. Personal injury = misdemeanor of the 1st degree. Serious bodily injury = felony of the 3rd degree. Death = felony of the 2nd degree.	Felony of the 2nd degree (death); felony of the 3rd degree (serious bodily injury)	F2 (death): mandatory minimum 3 years prison (non-reducible) + mandatory $2,500 fine; max 10 years + $25,000. F3 (serious bodily injury): mandatory min 90 days + $1,000; max 7 years.	§ 3742(c) expressly forbids courts from imposing any lesser sentence than the mandatory minimums or placing the offender on probation for serious-injury or death tiers. Mandatory minimum for death raised from 1 year to 3 years by 2014 amendment.
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1 (injury/death), § 31-26-2 (property damage), § 31-26-4 (unattended)	Property damage to attended vehicle = misdemeanor (up to 6 months + $500–$1,000). Unattended vehicle = civil penalty up to $500. Personal injury, serious bodily injury, and death are all felonies.	Felony for all injury tiers: personal injury, serious bodily injury, and death	Death: 2–15 years + $5,000–$10,000 + 3-year license revocation. Serious bodily injury: 1–10 years + $1,000–$5,000. Personal injury: up to 5 years + $5,000 + 1–5 year revocation. Second death conviction within 5 years: 5–20 years.	Statute also applies to collisions involving bicyclists. Knowledge element satisfied when driver 'reasonably should have known' they were in an injury/death accident (State v. Szarek, 1981).
South Carolina	S.C. Code § 56-5-1210 (injury/death), § 56-5-1220 (attended vehicle damage)	Damage to attended vehicle (no injury) = misdemeanor (up to 1 year + $100–$5,000). Injury (no great bodily injury or death) = misdemeanor. Great bodily injury = felony. Death = felony.	Felony for great bodily injury and for death	Death: 1–25 years + $10,000–$25,000. Great bodily injury: 30 days–10 years + $5,000–$10,000. DMV shall revoke license upon conviction.	§ 56-5-1290 is NOT the hit-and-run penalty statute — it only governs evidentiary use of accident reports. Felony penalties live in § 56-5-1210, upheld in State v. Harrison (2013). Mandatory license revocation upon conviction.
South Dakota	S.D. Codified Laws § 32-34-5 (injury/death), § 32-34-6 (property damage), § 32-34-3 (duty to stop)	Property damage = Class 1 misdemeanor. Injury OR death = Class 6 felony. No separate death tier — both injury and death fall under the same Class 6 felony.	Class 6 felony (injury or death)	Class 6 felony: up to 2 years prison and/or $4,000 fine. Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 1 year and/or $2,000 fine.	State v. Nekolite (2020) — the SD Supreme Court held the State need NOT prove the driver knew injury resulted; knowledge of the accident itself suffices.
Tennessee	T.C.A. § 55-10-101 (injury/death), § 55-10-102 (property damage), § 55-10-103 (duty)	Property damage = Class B misdemeanor (<= $1,500) or Class A misdemeanor (> $1,500). Injury (no death) = Class A misdemeanor. Felony ONLY when death results AND driver knew or should have known the person was fatally injured.	Class E felony (death only, with knowledge element)	Class E felony: 1–6 years + up to $3,000 fine. Class A misdemeanor: up to 11 months 29 days + $2,500.	When the fleeing driver is also charged with vehicular assault or vehicular homicide, Tennessee law can require the hit-and-run sentence to run consecutively to the other offense. The $1,500 damage threshold separates Class B from Class A misdemeanor.
Texas	Tex. Transp. Code §§ 550.021–550.026; Penal Code §§ 12.33, 12.34	Attended-vehicle damage: Class C misdemeanor below $200; Class B at $200 or more. Serious bodily injury: third-degree felony. Death: second-degree felony. Other injury has the distinct punishment in § 550.021(c)(2).	Second degree for death; third degree for serious bodily injury. Do not label § 550.021(c)(2) a state jail felony.	Ordinary second degree: 2–20 years; third degree: 2–10 years; either may include a fine up to $10,000. Other injury: up to 5 years in prison or 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both.	Section 550.022(b) concerns specified metropolitan freeway locations and vehicles that can be normally and safely driven. Moving to a suitable location does not eliminate information duties. Unattended vehicles, other property and immediate reporting have separate rules in §§ 550.024–550.026.
Utah	Utah Code § 41-6a-401 (base), § 41-6a-401.3 (serious injury), § 41-6a-401.5 (death)	Property damage = Class B misdemeanor. Injury = Class A misdemeanor (minimum $750 fine). Serious bodily injury = 3rd-degree felony. Death = 3rd-degree felony.	Third-degree felony (serious bodily injury or death)	Third-degree felony: 0–5 years + $5,000 (minimum $750 fine). Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days + $2,500. Class B misdemeanor: up to 6 months + $1,000.	Felony enhancements are split across companion sections (§ 41-6a-401.3 and § 41-6a-401.5). A minimum fine of $750 applies to both the injury Class A misdemeanor and the felony tiers.
Vermont	23 V.S.A. § 1128 (duty to stop/penalties), § 1129 (crash reports)	Base offense (injury or property damage): up to 2 years / $2,000. Serious bodily injury: up to 5 years / $3,000. Death: 1–15 years / $3,000.	Felony (death: 1–15 years; serious bodily injury: up to 5 years)	Death resulting: 1–15 years imprisonment + up to $3,000 fine. Serious bodily injury: up to 5 years + $3,000.	State v. Sidway (1981) — actual knowledge of the accident/impact is an essential element; knowledge of resulting injury/damage need only be constructive. State v. Keiser (2002) upheld a death-resulting conviction with a 10–15 year sentence.
Virginia	Va. Code §§ 46.2-894 (driver's duty), 46.2-895 (passenger duty), 46.2-900 (penalties)	Property damage <= $1,000 = Class 1 misdemeanor. Property damage > $1,000 OR any injury/death = Class 5 felony. The $1,000 threshold is the felony/misdemeanor dividing line — serious property damage alone can be a felony.	Class 5 felony (injury/death or property damage >$1,000); Class 6 felony (passenger failing to report when injury/death occurred)	Class 5 felony: 1–10 years prison (or up to 12 months jail) + up to $2,500 fine. Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 12 months + $2,500.	Butcher v. Commonwealth (2018) clarified the reporting requirement is disjunctive — driver satisfies the statute by reporting to ANY ONE of: law enforcement, the injured person, the other driver, or the property custodian. Neel v. Commonwealth (2007): for felony injury-based hit-and-run, the Commonwealth must prove the driver knew or should have known injury resulted.
Washington	RCW § 46.52.020 (injury/death/attended property), § 46.52.010 (unattended), § 46.52.030 (accident reports)	Unattended vehicle/property = simple misdemeanor (up to 90 days / $1,000). Attended vehicle or property damage (no injury) = gross misdemeanor. Injury = Class C felony. Death = Class B felony.	Class B felony (death); Class C felony (injury)	Class B felony: up to 10 years + $20,000. Class C felony: up to 5 years + $10,000. Gross misdemeanor: up to 364 days + $5,000.	Mandatory driver's license revocation of at least 1 year upon conviction for failure to stop after an accident involving injury, death, or damage to an attended vehicle. Fault is irrelevant — leaving the scene is a separate crime even if the driver was not at fault.
West Virginia	W. Va. Code § 17C-4-1 (Erin's Law — injury/death), § 17C-4-2 (property damage), § 17C-4-3 (duty to render aid)	Property damage = misdemeanor (up to 6 months + $100–$500). Bodily injury = misdemeanor (up to 1 year / $1,000). Serious bodily injury = felony (1–3 years / $2,500). Death = felony (1–5 years / $5,000).	Felony (serious bodily injury: 1–3 years; death: 1–5 years)	Death tier: 1–5 years imprisonment + up to $5,000 fine. Serious bodily injury: 1–3 years + up to $2,500.	Known as 'Erin's Law,' named for Erin Keener, a 21-year-old WVU student struck by a hit-and-run driver in 2005 who died three days later; the case remains unsolved. Mandatory license revocation for 1 year from conviction or release. State v. McClain (2022) held direct physical contact is NOT required.
Wisconsin	Wis. Stat. § 346.67 (striking person/attended vehicle), § 346.68 (unattended), § 346.69 (property), § 346.74 (penalties)	Unattended vehicle or property damage = civil forfeiture up to $200 (non-criminal). Striking person/attended vehicle, no injury: $300–$1,000 and/or up to 6 months. Injury: up to $10,000 and/or 9 months. Great bodily harm = Class E felony. Death = Class D felony.	Class D felony (death); Class E felony (great bodily harm)	Class D felony: up to 25 years + $100,000. Class E felony: up to 15 years + $50,000 (per Wis. Stat. § 939.50 general classifications — actual sentence depends on offense and prior record).	Wisconsin is distinctive in treating hit-and-run involving ONLY property damage or unattended vehicles as a civil forfeiture (non-criminal) — only § 346.67 (striking a person or attended/occupied vehicle) is criminalized. Prosecutor need NOT prove the operator knew they hit a person or attended vehicle (§ 346.67(3)).
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1101 (injury/death), § 31-5-1102 (property damage), § 31-5-1103 (duty)	Failure to stop or comply under § 31-5-1101 after injury or death is a misdemeanor under the general classification rule in § 31-5-1201(a). Damage to attended vehicles or property is a misdemeanor under § 31-5-1102.	No felony tier in § 31-5-1101. This does not rule out separate felony charges arising from the incident.	Injury/death: up to 1 year, a fine up to $5,000, or both. The general § 31-5-1201(b) schedule for offenses without another penalty starts with a fine up to $200 for a first conviction; repeat-offense penalties differ.	The 2026 House Journal records HB0042 as not considered in Committee of the Whole on February 23. Its proposed felony tier did not become law. Use the enacted statute, and distinguish this offense from any separate homicide or other charge.

Read the Exact Charge Before Comparing Penalties

Write down the statute, subsection, court, case number, incident date and next appearance or response date from the citation or charging papers. Separate each count: leaving the scene, DUI, reckless driving and homicide are different allegations. Do not treat the most severe row in a state table as the charge actually filed.

A change described in a statute’s history may no longer be the rule. Connecticut illustrates why both the current offense provision and the general sentencing law matter: its former special penalty was replaced with felony classifications. A proposed bill, such as Wyoming’s 2026 HB0042, is not an enacted penalty. Ask counsel which version applies to the incident date.

Identify the Facts That Change the Offense

Use this preparation list: Was anyone injured? What level of injury does the charging document allege? Was a vehicle occupied, attended or unattended? What actual property damage is alleged? What prior offense is being used? Which duty does the prosecution say was not performed? These are questions to resolve from the records, not facts to guess from a headline.

State terminology matters. Hawaii separates bodily, substantial bodily and serious bodily injury. Arkansas has a $10,000 property-damage felony threshold for a knowing violation. The exact subsection and legally defined facts matter more than a general rule that “injury means felony.”

Stopping, Exchanging Information and Calling for Help

If someone needs emergency assistance, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Keep yourself out of moving traffic. A later report should not be assumed to replace immediate duties at the scene.

Texas provides a concrete example: § 550.021 requires stopping and determining whether someone needs aid; § 550.023 specifies information and reasonable assistance. Section 550.026 requires immediate notification in specified injury, death or undrivable-vehicle crashes. These are distinct duties, not a nationwide permission to wait 24–48 hours.

Rules for moving a drivable vehicle, exchanging details, damaged unattended cars and other property also differ. In Texas, an unattended-car notice under § 550.024 is a different provision from the attended-vehicle rules. Use the law for the actual location and circumstances; do not assume leaving any note satisfies every duty.

If You Already Left or Were Charged

Address any ongoing medical emergency immediately. If there is a charge or potential charge, contact a criminal defense lawyer promptly about reporting duties and how to respond truthfully while protecting your rights. Do not alter evidence, invent a timeline or ask anyone to change an account. Returning later does not automatically erase an earlier failure to comply.

Keep the citation, charging document, police report if available, photographs, insurance correspondence and court or licensing notices. Preserve original files and distinguish what you personally remember from what another person told you. Ask counsel to identify the disputed elements and any deadlines; a claimed lack of knowledge is not automatically a successful defense.

If you cannot afford criminal defense, ask the court how to apply for appointed counsel and what financial information is required. Availability depends on the case and eligibility. A civil legal aid directory is not a promise of criminal representation.

Understand the Sentence Without Treating It as a Forecast

A statutory maximum, an ordinary sentencing range and a mandatory minimum are different things. The sentence can depend on the charged subsection, prior convictions, enhancements, additional counts and applicable sentencing alternatives. Time actually served is another question.

Ask counsel: Which range applies to this count? Is any part nonsuspendable? Are enhancements alleged? Could separate counts run consecutively? Are fines, restitution, court costs or supervision additional? The table cannot calculate these from the phrase “hit and run.”

New Mexico’s basic third- and fourth-degree sentences should not be presented as universal case-specific maxima. Its jury-instruction commentary also identifies unresolved injury-awareness questions; do not assume that knowing an accident happened and knowing the extent of injury are interchangeable.

Check Licensing and Insurance Separately

Keep any licensing-agency notice and identify its deadline, effective date and requested action. Ask the agency or counsel whether there is a hearing, whether a restriction is available, and what reinstatement requires. A criminal case outcome and a license action need separate attention.

Ask the insurer about your actual policy, claim-reporting duties, coverage, deductibles and any required proof of financial responsibility. Ask for the requirements and quote in writing. There is no reliable universal insurance-increase percentage or SR-22 duration that can be calculated from this article. Do not assume that paying a fine restores a license or that a move resolves an outstanding licensing requirement.

Prepare Questions About Records and Immigration

For record relief, gather the final disposition and sentence-completion information. Ask a qualified local lawyer which sealing, expungement or other process—if any—covers the precise offense and disposition, and what waiting period or exclusions apply. Do not assume every felony is permanent or that every misdemeanor disappears after a fixed number of years.

For an employment background report, identify which report was obtained and compare the entry with the court record; arrest, charge, conviction and dismissal are different outcomes. If an entry is inaccurate, use the reporting company’s dispute process and the relevant court record.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, ask defense counsel to coordinate with an immigration lawyer before a plea or other disposition. The exact offense and record matter; a misdemeanor label is not a guarantee that immigration consequences are absent.

A Consultation Checklist You Can Use

Bring: the exact statute and subsection; all counts; incident date and location; the court and next deadline; the alleged injury or damage; any prior conviction alleged; the account of stopping, information exchange and assistance; and court, DMV and insurer notices. Do not post identifying case details in a public forum to get a classification.

Ask for three separate answers: what the prosecution must prove, what the possible criminal sentence is, and what needs attention outside that sentence. Confirm who will handle each deadline and whether the lawyer’s fee includes licensing proceedings, trial or an appeal. A consultation or referral does not mean someone has agreed to represent you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hit and run always a felony?: No. The jurisdiction, injury level, damage, prior offenses and applicable duties matter. Hawaii has a misdemeanor bodily-injury tier, while Arkansas has a property-damage felony tier. Use the precise statute and subsection rather than a nationwide shortcut.
Can hit and run be a felony if no one is hurt?: Yes. For example, a knowing property-damage violation under Arkansas § 27-53-102 is a Class D felony at $10,000 or more in actual damage. Connecticut also treats a subsequent property-damage offense under § 14-224(b)(3) as a Class D felony. Other states have different rules.
How long do I have to report a collision?: Do not assume there is a 24–48-hour grace period. Immediate stopping, assistance and reporting duties can apply separately from a later written report. Texas § 550.026, for example, requires immediate notice in specified injury, death or undrivable-vehicle crashes. Check the rule for the incident; call 911 for emergency assistance.
Does leaving a note on a parked car satisfy the law?: It depends on the statute and circumstances. Texas § 550.024 specifies a conspicuous notice for a damaged unattended vehicle, including required identifying information and the circumstances. Occupied vehicles, injuries and other reporting duties involve different provisions. Do not assume a generic note resolves every obligation.
Does going back later erase the offense?: Do not assume so. Some duties apply immediately. Deal with any emergency and obtain prompt legal advice about remaining duties and a possible charge; a later return or report does not itself guarantee that an earlier failure has been cured.
Will I lose my license or need an SR-22?: Check the exact offense and licensing notice. Some provisions require revocation on conviction, including Oklahoma’s injury/death provisions. Reinstatement and insurance filings are separate questions for the licensing agency and insurer. This article cannot assign a universal suspension or filing period.
What if I did not know someone was injured?: The required mental state depends on the statute and case law. Knowledge of an accident and awareness of injury may be separate issues. New Mexico’s UJI 14-4513 and 14-4514 commentary identifies unresolved questions; a lack-of-knowledge claim is not automatically a complete defense.
Can the record be sealed or expunged?: Eligibility depends on the jurisdiction, exact offense, disposition, sentence completion and applicable exclusions. Obtain the court disposition and ask about the specific process. There is no universal five- or ten-year waiting period for all hit-and-run cases, and a table of criminal penalties does not establish record-relief eligibility.

Helpful Resources

Is It a Felony? Common Crimes Classified
Our overview of 12 common crimes and when each crosses the line from misdemeanor to felony
Is Domestic Violence a Felony?
When domestic violence becomes a felony — aggravating factors and 50-state statute table
Is DUI a Felony?
When a DUI becomes a felony — prior convictions, injury, and state thresholds
Felony vs Misdemeanor: What's the Difference?
The core differences between felonies and misdemeanors — sentencing, collateral consequences, and rights
Felony Classes and Degrees Explained
How felonies are organized by severity — federal classes A-E, state degree systems, and sentencing ranges
Traffic / Driving Offense Lawyer Guide
How to find and work with a traffic and driving-offense defense attorney
Bail Bonds — How Bail Works
How bail is set and how to post bail after a hit-and-run charge
SR-22 Insurance After a Felony
SR-22 insurance requirements after a serious driving offense

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Free Legal AidFree legal aid by state
ExpungementClean Slate laws — automatic expungement
Background ChecksWhat shows up on a background check?
ToolsReentry Checklist — Preparation Steps After Release

Disclaimer: This is general legal information only, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and jurisdiction. Criminal classifications, penalties, and procedures differ depending on where the offense occurred and the specific facts of the case. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed criminal defense attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be entitled to a public defender — ask the court how to apply. For separate civil issues such as housing or benefits, a civil legal aid organization may be able to help, subject to eligibility and capacity. Use the court’s appointed-counsel process for a criminal defense request.