Transportation Code · §550.021

Failure to Stop and Render Aid

Driver involved in an accident must stop, return to the scene, provide identifying information, and render reasonable aid. Felony levels scale with injury or death.

To prove this offense, the State must establish each of the following elements: Driver involved in accident; Failure to stop, return to scene, provide ID/info/aid; Felony levels scale with injury/death; Result in death: 2nd degree felony; SBI: 3rd degree felony.

The base classification is Felony if injury/death, with possible enhancements depending on the conduct, victim, location, or prior history of the actor.

Elements you must prove

  • Driver involved in accident
  • Failure to stop, return to scene, provide ID/info/aid
  • Felony levels scale with injury/death
  • Result in death: 2nd degree felony; SBI: 3rd degree felony
Texas Law — Charge Details
Class C Misd. → 2nd Degree Felony
Offense
Failure to Stop and Render Aid
Statute
Tex. Transp. Code §550.021–550.023
Classification
Felony if injury/death

Driver involved in an accident must stop, return to the scene, provide identifying information, and render reasonable aid. Felony levels scale with injury or death.

Potential Penalty Enhancements
If this condition applies…Charge escalates toStatute
Serious bodily injury results3rd degree felony§550.021
Death results2nd degree felony§550.021(c)(1)

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

Failure to stop and render aid (§550.021–550.023) — when a driver involved in an accident does not stop and provide identifying information / aid as required — is what level of offense when SBI or death results?

  1. Class C misdemeanor
  2. Class A misdemeanor
  3. Felony, with classification depending on result (e.g., 3rd degree if injury, 2nd degree if death) Correct
  4. State jail felony only
Why: FSRA (failure to stop and render aid) classifications scale with the harm: where the accident results in death, it is a 2nd degree felony; SBI elevates to 3rd degree felony; lesser injury and damage-only versions are below felony level.
Statute: Tex. Transp. Code §550.021–550.023

Statutory definitions for this topic

Failure to Stop and Render Aid (FSRA) Tex. Transp. Code §550.021–550.023
Driver involved in an accident who fails to stop, return to the scene, provide identifying information, or render reasonable aid as required. Felony levels scale with injury/death — death: 2nd degree felony; SBI: 3rd degree felony.