What to Do When Traffic Police Call About a Minor Hit-and-Run?
3 Answers
This constitutes a hit-and-run traffic offense, which is illegal. You need to surrender yourself at the police station or re-establish contact with the owner of the scratched vehicle to seek forgiveness and provide compensation. If the circumstances are particularly severe, you may face imprisonment ranging from three to seven years; if the hit-and-run results in death, the sentence could be seven years or more.
I've been driving since I was young. In similar situations, when the traffic police call, I answer honestly and admit my negligence. Fleeing from a minor accident could escalate it into a traffic offense, resulting in fines of several thousand yuan, 12 demerit points, or even detention, potentially affecting license renewal. The right approach is to apologize, cooperate with the investigation, and ideally proactively contact the other driver to cover minor repair costs. The key is to develop the habit of stopping immediately after an accident, taking photos for evidence, and not fleeing just because no one seems to be watching—surveillance or dash cams are common. This concerns personal safety and credibility; handling it proactively can prevent more trouble.
As a driver who is on the road all year round, I will immediately answer the traffic police's call and admit my mistake. Even a minor scratch can be considered full responsibility if you flee, resulting in fines and increased insurance rates. The correct approach: first, calmly apologize, ask the other party about the damages, and review surveillance or photos together to reconstruct the scene; then contact the insurance company to explain the situation and see if the scratch repair costs can be claimed. Daily recommendation: install blind spot monitoring to reduce the risk of collisions. Maintaining honesty can simplify the entire process and avoid the legal quagmire of being held accountable.
