Quick answer: A hit and run in Annapolis — legally, leaving the scene of an accident — is charged under Md. Code, Transp. § 20-102 and § 20-103, and the level tracks what the crash caused. Property-damage-only is a misdemeanor: up to 2 months and a $500 fine under § 20-103. Bodily injury is up to 1 year and $3,000. It becomes a felony if you knew or should have known someone suffered serious bodily injury (up to 5 years, $5,000) or died (up to 10 years, $10,000). A conviction adds 8 to 12 points. Even a minor parking-lot bump you drive away from is a crime — but these charges are very defensible.
I’m David Waranch, and I’ve handled thousands of Maryland traffic and serious traffic cases, many of them in the Annapolis courts. If you’re facing a hit and run lawyer in Annapolis situation, here is exactly what the law says and how a defense actually works in Anne Arundel County.
What Counts as Hit and Run in Maryland?
Maryland law requires every driver involved in a crash to stop, stay at the scene, and share information. There is no exception for a crash you think was minor, and there is no exception for hitting a parked car or an empty vehicle. The duties come from three sections that work together:
- Transp. § 20-102 — stop and remain when the crash causes bodily injury or death.
- Transp. § 20-103 — stop and remain when the crash damages only an attended vehicle or property.
- Transp. § 20-104 — give your name, address, and registration, show your license on request, and render reasonable aid to anyone injured.
Drive off before doing all of that and the State can charge you, even if the other driver was partly at fault and even if you came back later. For the statewide overview, see our Maryland hit and run lawyer page.
What Are the Penalties for Leaving the Scene in Maryland?
The penalty ladder tracks the harm caused. What separates a fine-only misdemeanor from a felony carrying years in prison is what happened to the people in the other vehicle — not what you intended.
| What the crash caused | Classification | Maximum jail/prison | Maximum fine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attended property/vehicle damage only (§ 20-103) | Misdemeanor | 2 months | $500 | 8 |
| Bodily injury (§ 20-102(a)) | Misdemeanor | 1 year | $3,000 | 12 |
| Serious bodily injury, knew or should have known (§ 20-102) | Felony | 5 years | $5,000 | 12 |
| Death, knew or should have known (§ 20-102) | Felony | 10 years | $10,000 | 12 |
The felony tiers turn on knowledge. Under § 20-102, the serious-injury and death felonies apply to a driver who “knew or reasonably should have known” the accident might cause that harm, and that knowledge element is often the whole fight. The point values come from Transp. § 16-402: 8 points for failing to stop after a property-damage crash and 12 points when the crash involved bodily injury or death. Points on that scale can trigger a separate MVA suspension on top of the criminal case, so read our guide to Maryland’s point system.
“A person who violates this section and who knew or reasonably should have known that the accident might result in the death of another person and death actually occurred to another person, is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.” — Transp. § 20-102
The distinction between a property-damage case and an injury case decides almost everything about your exposure. For a full breakdown of where that line falls, see property damage vs. injury hit and run.
Leaving even a minor crash is a crime — do not treat it as “just paying a ticket.” Injury, serious-injury, and death hit and run are must-appear charges you cannot prepay. A property-damage charge under § 20-103 may show a preset amount, but paying it is a guilty plea that creates a conviction and puts points on your record. Requesting a trial keeps your options open at no extra cost beyond a fine that a judge can increase up to $500, and it preserves probation before judgment under Crim. Proc. § 6-220 — which is foreclosed the moment you pay.
What Defenses Work Against a Hit and Run Charge?
Hit and run charges are fact-sensitive, and police reports rarely tell the whole story. The State must prove you were the driver, that a reportable accident happened, and — for the felony tiers — that you knew or should have known how serious it was. Depending on the evidence, we may be able to show:
- You didn’t know a crash occurred. In a low-speed lot or a tight downtown street, light contact can leave no obvious impact, sound, or damage — and if you didn’t know, the duty to stop was never triggered.
- No injury, so the felony tiers don’t apply. The most serious charges require actual serious bodily injury or death you should have foreseen. Overcharging is common, and moving a case down the ladder changes everything.
- Identity is weak. The State must prove you were driving, not just that you own the car. A grainy plate read or a shaky witness is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
- You substantially complied. You stopped, exchanged information, or promptly reported the crash — which can satisfy or come close to satisfying § 20-104.
- The stop or interrogation was unlawful. If your rights were violated, we move to suppress the evidence that flowed from it.
Restitution and early responsibility matter too. Paying for the damage or reaching out to the other driver can be powerful mitigation with an Anne Arundel County prosecutor. And because a hit and run often rides alongside charges like driving without insurance, driving while suspended, or DUI, we build one strategy that protects you on every front.
Can I Avoid a Conviction With Probation Before Judgment?
Often, yes — especially on the lesser tiers. Probation before judgment under Crim. Proc. § 6-220 lets the court withhold the conviction, place you on probation, and discharge you with no conviction on your record once you finish the terms. For a property-damage or bodily-injury hit and run, a well-prepared PBJ request backed by restitution is frequently the goal. The felony tiers are far harder, but moving the charge down the ladder can still keep the worst consequences off the table. To see why paying instead of appearing forfeits this, read payable vs. must-appear tickets in Maryland.
Police Want Me to “Come In and Explain.” What Should I Do?
Many Annapolis hit and run cases start with a call or letter asking you to come in and give your side. How you respond can decide the case before it is even charged. The safe checklist:
- Don’t “just explain what happened” on your own — a statement about knowledge is exactly what the felony tiers need.
- Don’t assume it’s no big deal because the damage looked small.
- Do save your insurance information, photos, dashcam, and any notes about the incident.
- Do call a lawyer first, so we can control how, when, and whether you speak with investigators or the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Getting counsel involved before you talk often puts you in a far better position than walking in alone. For what comes next, see what happens after a hit and run charge in Maryland, and for how a conviction affects coverage, our overview of insurance and hit and run.
How Are Hit and Run Cases Handled in Annapolis?
Hit and run charges from Annapolis and the surrounding parts of Anne Arundel County are heard in the District Court in Annapolis, with the Circuit Court in Annapolis handling jury trials, appeals, and felony matters. Most of the cases I see come off the corridors that feed the city — US-50/301 near the Bay Bridge, MD-2 (Ritchie Highway and Solomons Island Road), and the downtown grid around Rowe Boulevard.
Because injury and felony hit and run are must-appear, there is a mandatory court date you cannot resolve by mail. That is not a reason to panic — it is the opening to negotiate. Prosecutors and judges respond to a driver who took responsibility and shows up with a plan. For related driving charges anywhere in the county, our Anne Arundel County traffic lawyer page is a good next stop.
How an Annapolis Hit and Run Lawyer Can Help
The earlier I get involved, the more options we have. On an Annapolis case that means pinning down the correct charge and pushing it down the § 20-102/§ 20-103 ladder, attacking the knowledge and identity elements, gathering video and witnesses before they disappear, arranging restitution that moves prosecutors, and negotiating a dismissal, reduction, or PBJ so nothing sticks — then appearing with you in the Annapolis courts.
Many of my clients avoid jail entirely and walk away without a permanent conviction. If you’re worried about your record, your license, and your future, let’s talk before you make any statement.
Annapolis Hit and Run: FAQ
It can be. Leaving the scene of a property-damage crash under Transp. § 20-103 is a misdemeanor with up to 2 months in jail and a $500 fine. Leaving a crash with bodily injury is a misdemeanor with up to 1 year and a $3,000 fine. It becomes a felony under § 20-102 when the driver knew or should have known the crash caused serious bodily injury (up to 5 years, $5,000) or death (up to 10 years, $10,000).
Yes. Under Transp. § 20-103 you must stop and leave your name, address, and registration even when the only damage is to an attended vehicle or property. Driving off from a parking-lot bump is a misdemeanor and adds 8 points, so what feels minor is still a chargeable leaving-the-scene offense.
Often, yes. Depending on the facts, the case may end in a dismissal, a reduction to a lesser charge, or probation before judgment under Crim. Proc. § 6-220, which avoids a conviction. Restitution, a strong challenge to the knowledge or identity element, and showing up with a plan all make those outcomes more likely, especially on the lesser tiers.
Law Offices of David R. Waranch — 301-563-9575 · toll-free 1-877-566-2408. Hablamos Español.
Last updated: August 2026. Statutory references: Md. Code, Transp. § 20-102, § 20-103, § 20-104, § 16-402; Crim. Proc. § 6-220. This page is general information about Maryland law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.