Cited for leaving the scene after a contact the driver never felt
Start a free AI-assisted chat and connect with an experienced Georgia attorney, with no obligation.
Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Founding Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed September 27, 2023
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I have been cited for hit and run, but I did not know I had bumped the other car.
Attorney Answer
The statute describes what a driver must do when involved in an accident — and what the driver knew is the question the charge turns on.
O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270(a) requires the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or damage to a vehicle driven or attended by any person to stop immediately at the scene, and then to:
(1) Give his or her name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving; > (2) Upon request and if it is available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with;
and it adds that the driver “shall in every event remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements of this subsection.”
The duty is triggered by being involved in an accident. Whether a driver realized a contact had occurred is therefore central rather than peripheral — a low-speed contact in a car park, unfelt and unheard, is a different situation from a driver who knew and drove away. That is a matter of evidence: the damage, the speed, the noise, and what any camera shows.
This is a criminal citation, so how to respond to it is a decision to make with a lawyer who has seen the paperwork, not from a general page.
What you can do
1. Get a copy of the citation and note the court date exactly. 2. Photograph your own vehicle, particularly the area said to have made contact. 3. Note where the contact is alleged to have happened, and whether any camera covers it. 4. Do not discuss the incident with the other driver or their insurer. 5. Speak to a Georgia attorney before the court date — many will review a citation at no cost.
⏱ Time limits apply. Georgia sets deadlines for every kind of claim and they are shorter than most people expect. Confirm the one that governs your situation with a Georgia attorney before assuming there is time.
A Georgia attorney can tell you quickly how the facts here line up, and most will look at a matter like this at no cost.
*Attorney review is supported by AI-assisted drafting and legal research algorithms. Use of this Chat does not create an attorney-client relationship.
By using this service you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
Courts & Legal Aid in Georgia
- File or look up a case through the Georgia Courts.
- Get free civil legal help from GeorgiaLegalAid.
- Use the LSC — Find Legal Aid to find a local legal-aid office by ZIP code.
- Use the LawHelp.org to browse free legal information and self-help resources.
- Use the ABA Lawyer Referral Directory to get matched with a local attorney through your state bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Georgia require a driver to do after a collision?
O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270(a) requires the driver to stop immediately at the scene, give their name, address and vehicle registration number, exhibit their license on request where available, and remain at the scene until those requirements are met.
Does the duty to stop depend on the driver knowing there was a contact?
The duty attaches to a driver involved in an accident, so what the driver was aware of at the time is central to whether the requirement was engaged. That is assessed on the evidence.
What evidence matters in a disputed minor-contact case?
The extent and position of the damage, the speed involved, and any available camera footage from the location. Those are what indicate whether a contact would have been noticeable.