Tex. Transp. Code Section 550.021
Collision Involving Personal Injury or Death

Mentioned in

Mistakes with the Mistake Defense in Texas Criminal Law

St. Mary's Law Journal, January 23, 2023

“When the Texas legislature enacted a comprehensive penal code in 1974, it provided specifically for the defenses of mistake of fact and mistake of law. Unfortunately, the adoption of those provisions reflects a missed opportunity…”
 
Bibliographic info

(a)

The operator of a vehicle involved in a collision that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury to or death of a person shall:

(1)

immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision or as close to the scene as possible;

(2)

immediately return to the scene of the collision if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the collision;

(3)

immediately determine whether a person is involved in the collision, and if a person is involved in the collision, whether that person requires aid; and

(4)

remain at the scene of the collision until the operator complies with the requirements of Section 550.023 (Duty to Give Information and Render Aid).

(b)

An operator of a vehicle required to stop the vehicle by Subsection (a) shall do so without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(c)

A person commits an offense if the person does not stop or does not comply with the requirements of this section. An offense under this section:

(1)

involving a collision resulting in:

(A)

death of a person is a felony of the second degree; or

(B)

serious bodily injury, as defined by Section 1.07 (Definitions), Penal Code, to a person is a felony of the third degree; and

(2)

involving a collision resulting in injury to which Subdivision (1) does not apply is punishable by:

(A)

imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year;

(B)

a fine not to exceed $5,000; or

(C)

both the fine and the imprisonment or confinement.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 97 (H.B. 1840), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 70 (S.B. 275), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1099 (H.B. 3668), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 45, eff. September 1, 2023.

Source: Section 550.021 — Collision Involving Personal Injury or Death, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­550.­htm#550.­021 (accessed Apr. 13, 2024).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
Apr. 13, 2024

§ 550.021’s source at texas​.gov