Principal Office
15110 Dallas Pkwy #400
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 233-5700
15110 Dallas Pkwy #400
Dallas, TX 75248
(972) 233-5700
Years Defending Texans
Cases Dismissed
Criminal Cases Handled
Counties Served Across Texas
Available | Serving All of Texas
Leaving the scene of an accident can turn a stressful moment into a felony charge.
In Texas, failure to stop and render aid (FSRA) is taken seriously—and the penalties increase quickly depending on the level of injury involved. What may feel like a brief decision in the moment can carry long-term consequences.
These cases are often built on assumptions about what happened—and why.
At the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy, we defend drivers across Dallas–Fort Worth facing these allegations and know how these cases are charged. If you’re dealing with a situation like this, working with a Traffic Offense Lawyer Dallas can help you understand your position and challenge the case early.
This guide explains how Texas defines FSRA, how penalties are determined, and the defenses that may apply.
Drivers in Texas have specific duties at the scene of a crash. Those duties come from several sections of the Texas Transportation Code:
The duties generally include stopping at or near the scene, returning if it is unsafe to stop on the road, providing your name, address, registration, and insurance information, and providing or arranging reasonable aid to anyone injured. Calling 911 is often the most reasonable form of aid.
A driver who fails to meet these duties can be charged with FSRA, even if the underlying crash was not their fault.
Failure to stop and render aid involving people is the most serious version of the offense. Penalties scale with the severity of the injury:
A separate criminal case for the underlying conduct, such as DWI or vehicular manslaughter, may proceed alongside the FSRA charge.
Failure to stop after an accident involving only vehicle damage is generally a misdemeanor:
These cases often involve parking lot collisions, sideswipes in heavy traffic, or low-speed bumps where one driver leaves before exchanging information.
If a driver strikes an unattended vehicle, such as a parked car, the law still requires the driver to stop and either locate the owner or leave a written notice with the driver’s name, address, and registration. Failure to do so can be charged as:
The statute requires drivers to provide “reasonable assistance” to injured persons, which can include calling 911 or arranging transportation to a medical facility when a person is unconscious, seriously hurt, or asks for help.
A driver does not have to provide medical care they are not trained to give. Calling for emergency help is generally enough. Leaving the scene without making any effort, even after a minor collision involving an injured person, is what often leads to felony charges.
These cases often start with everyday driving situations that turn into serious legal problems:
If you realize after the fact that you may have been involved in a crash, speak with our Traffic Offense attorneys before contacting police or insurance.
The early days after an FSRA accusation are critical. Helpful steps include:
These steps protect both the criminal defense and any civil claim that may follow.
Each case is unique, but defense themes often include:
A successful defense often relies on careful timeline reconstruction, accident reconstruction, and challenges to the state’s evidence about who was driving and what they knew.
Many FSRA cases come with companion charges, including:
A coordinated defense strategy looks at the case as a whole rather than each charge in isolation.
Our firm has more than 35 years of criminal defense experience in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. We have handled hit and run, FSRA, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases across 16 counties in North Texas. We know how investigators reconstruct collisions and how to challenge questionable identifications.
To discuss a leaving-the-scene case, contact our Criminal Defense Lawyer Dallas or reach our team through our contact page.
It can be. When an accident causes serious bodily injury, FSRA is a third-degree felony, and when it causes death it is a second-degree felony. Lower-level injuries and vehicle-only damage are usually charged as misdemeanors.
Knowledge is a required element of FSRA. If you genuinely did not know a collision had occurred, that may be a defense. The state has to prove that you were aware of the accident and chose not to comply with your duties.
Yes. Texas law requires drivers to stop and exchange information after any accident that damages a vehicle. For unattended vehicles, leaving a written note with your information may satisfy the duty.
Fear or shock is understandable but does not eliminate the legal duty. Returning to the scene, contacting the police, or self-reporting through an attorney can help mitigate the situation. Our attorneys often guide clients through the safest way to address this.
Yes, in some cases. Reductions and dismissals depend on the evidence of identification and knowledge, the level of injury, and the client’s prior record. Our attorneys evaluate every angle, from suppression motions to plea reductions and trial defense.
Whether you're facing a felony charge or fighting a traffic ticket, every case deserves serious attention. Get an experienced defense team in your corner now.
