What the Law Actually Requires (in Real-Life Terms)
Under C.G.S. § 14-224, if you know you were involved in a motor-vehicle accident, you must:
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Stop as soon as it’s safe,
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Provide your info (name, address, registration/plate, and show your license) to the other person or police, and
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Render reasonable assistance to anyone who may be injured.
If no one is present (e.g., a parked car) or stopping is unsafe, you’re expected to promptly report the accident to the police once you’re safe.
The core of § 14-224 is simple: stop, share information, help if needed, and promptly report if you couldn’t exchange info at the scene.
When Evading Becomes a Misdemeanor vs. a Felony
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Property damage only → usually a misdemeanor under § 14-224.
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Injury, serious physical injury, or death → can be a felony, with steeper exposure and collateral consequences.
Even lower-level cases can involve fines, probation, a possible jail component, and DMV license consequences. Our aim is to avoid a conviction entirely whenever the facts support it.
The Real-World Scenarios I See Most
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“It seemed too minor.” You felt a tap, no one waved you down, and you drove on; later, a mark appears or the other driver files a report.
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Nighttime/bad weather. You couldn’t safely stop, or you didn’t realize contact occurred until later.
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Parked car / no one present. You intended to leave a note or call it in and didn’t.
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Insurance confusion. Reporting to insurance doesn’t satisfy § 14-224 by itself.
Single-Car Crashes, DUI Assumptions, and Evading Responsibility
A typical pattern: a single-car accident, the driver leaves the scene and goes home, sometimes refusing to answer the door because they’ve been drinking. Hours later, any chemical test or observations are untethered from the time of driving, so a DUI case gets weaker. Departments and prosecutors often pivot to Evading Responsibility (§ 14-224)—sometimes assuming DUI simply because it was a single-car crash and the driver left.
Assumption isn’t evidence. To convict for DUI, the State must prove you operated and were under the influence at the time of driving—not hours later. No witness to the operation, a fuzzy timeline, or possible post-incident drinking can undercut that narrative. Our job is to force proof, not guesswork.
Case Snapshot: The Scrape That Led Home
A former client had a severe single-car crash that disconnected an axle. They limped the car home, metal dragging on the pavement—leaving a continuous scrape in the asphalt from the scene to the driveway. Officers followed the trail, arrived at the residence, and arrested for DUI and Evading Responsibility (C.G.S. § 14-224).
Lesson: Trying to “wait out” a DUI by leaving the scene often backfires. Physical evidence (fluid trails, gouges, wheel marks), witnesses, and a tight timeline can let police tie operation and impairment together—and now you’re facing both DUI and evading.
Why Evading Often Rides with DUI
In single-car cases, police and prosecutors frequently stack evading with DUI. They’ll pursue DUI if they can prove operation + impairment at the time of driving and keep evading as a parallel or fallback when DUI proof is thin (delayed contact/no clean timeline). We work to separate assumption from evidence, steer the evading count toward AR when appropriate, and litigate or negotiate the DUI on its own merits.
The AR Program: A Practical Way to Get the Case Dismissed
For many first-time offenders, the Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR) Program can lead to a dismissal—no conviction and eventual erasure if you complete every term.
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Who decides? Defense applies; the judge decides. Prosecutors are heard, and victims are notified in injury/property cases, but the court makes the call.
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Typical terms: charitable contribution, restitution, community service, a safe-driving/traffic responsibility class, and supervision.
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In practice, supervision is usually 6–12 months; up to 2 years in more serious cases.
Outcome: Finish the terms, stay arrest-free, and the court dismisses the charge.
If You’re Already Home: Don’t Open the Door—Call a Lawyer
If you’re home after an incident, you’re not required to open your door or answer questions. You have the right to remain silent and decline consent to entry or search. Exercising those rights—politely—is not interfering.
Speaking while intoxicated lets officers record odor, speech, balance, and admissions to backfill a DUI timeline tied to the crash. That’s how an evading check becomes a DUI arrest.
What to do if police knock:
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Don’t open the door. If needed, say through the door: “I don’t consent to entry or search. I’m invoking my right to remain silent. My attorney will contact you.”
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Call me immediately at (203) 357-5555.
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Don’t discuss drinking, driving, timing, or the crash; don’t delete data.
Defenses and Leverage That Actually Move the Needle
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Knowledge matters. § 14-224 requires that you knew you were in an accident. On light contact, awareness can be genuinely disputable.
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Safety first. If stopping right there was unsafe, a prompt report from a safe location aligns with the statute’s intent.
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Who/when proof. We pressure-test operation and the timeline with 911 logs, video, telematics, and location data.
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Charge fit. We insist that injury documentation matches any felony-level allegation.
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Mitigation early. Fast insurance notice, estimates, and restitution show accountability, helping us secure AR or other non-conviction outcomes.
What to Do Right Now (Even If No Court Date Yet)
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Notify your insurer and open the claim.
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Don’t contact the other party—let counsel/insurance handle it.
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Save evidence: dash-cam, photos, repair invoices, GPS data, and your notes.
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Get ahead on mitigation: estimates, proof of repairs, and any known medical info.
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Call counsel early so your best story is presented from day one.
DMV and Collateral Issues
A conviction for evading can trigger license suspension and insurance issues. The best protection is a non-conviction resolution—ideally AR—planned with DMV and coverage implications in mind.
FAQs
Is it still “evading” if I reported later?
Maybe. § 14-224 expects a stop & exchange or a prompt police report if that wasn’t possible. Reporting later helps, but doesn’t automatically cure failure to stop.
What if I didn’t realize there was contact?
Awareness is required. On very light contact, especially at speed or in bad weather, lack of awareness can be a real defense.
Can I get AR for evading?
Often, yes, for first-time property damage cases; injury cases get more scrutiny and victim input. The judge decides after we present mitigation.
How long is AR supervision?
Typically 6–12 months; up to 2 years in more serious cases.
Will I go to jail for a first offense?
Rare in first-time, property-only cases when we act responsibly and present well. Felony injury cases carry higher risk.
Do I have to talk to the other driver’s insurer?
No. Let your insurer and your lawyer handle communications.
What if the car I hit was parked?
You still have duties under § 14-224—leave proper info and/or promptly report to police.
Will AR dismissal erase the record?
Upon successful completion, the case is dismissed, and the records are erased.
I was scared and kept driving on I-95. Is that a defense?
Fear alone isn’t a legal defense, but safety concerns matter. Reporting promptly from a safe place helps.
Talk to a Connecticut Hit-and-Run Defense Lawyer Today
If you’re being investigated or already charged with Evading Responsibility (C.G.S. § 14-224), the best move is to get in front of it—fast. A calm, respectful presentation, early restitution, and a strong AR Program plan can turn a scary case into a dismissal.
Call or text (203) 357-5555 for a free, confidential case review.
Prefer email? Use the Contact Page and I’ll respond quickly.
On our first call, we will:
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Map your options (misdemeanor vs. felony exposure, DMV, insurance).
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Screen for AR and outline a winning mitigation package.
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Protect yourself from self-inflicted damage with insurers or the police.
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Set a same-day court strategy so you walk in prepared, not reactive.