The penalties for leaving the scene of a vehicle accident are steep, and are one of the many reasons that you should report them and remain until the police have arrived to file their reports, even if you’re in a hurry or feel like the accident might not be that big of a deal.
The penalties for being found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident include:
Up to $5000 fine
Up to 5 years in the Idaho state penitentiary
1 year suspension of driver’s license, where you are not allowed to drive at all.
This combination of factors can be absolutely crippling. No-one wants to spend years in prison over a fender bender, so it is absolutely crucial to remain on the scene after a car accident until the police have allowed you to leave.