Maryland’s duty to remain at the scene of an accident is triggered by the driver’s knowledge that an accident occurred. If you genuinely did not realize you hit another vehicle or object — a low-speed contact in a parking lot, a bump you did not feel, contact you had no reason to notice — then Read More

A Maryland traffic conviction affects your insurance through a system that operates separately from the MVA point system. Insurers use their own lookback period — typically 3 to 5 years from the conviction date — to surcharge premiums, and serious convictions like DUI, reckless driving, or driving uninsured can trigger an SR-22 filing requirement, policy Read More

A Maryland hit-and-run charge under Md. Code, Transp. § 20-102 or § 20-103 typically unfolds in one of two ways: the driver is identified and charged at or near the scene, or — more often — the driver is charged days or weeks later after a police investigation traces the vehicle. Either way, hit-and-run is Read More

A lapse in your car insurance in Maryland sets off an automatic chain of consequences under Md. Code, Transp. § 17-106 — often before you realize anything is wrong. The moment your carrier notifies the MVA that your required coverage has terminated, the MVA begins assessing an uninsured-motorist penalty fee ($200 for the first 30 Read More

Maryland hit-and-run penalties scale sharply with the severity of the accident. Leaving the scene of an accident that caused only property damage is a misdemeanor under Md. Code, Transp. § 20-103, carrying up to 2 months in jail, a $500 fine, and 8 points. Leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury is a Read More