Can I leave the scene of accident if I only damaged a road sign in Missouri? What to do
Whether it’s snow, rain, potholes or another hazard, the roads can be filled with obstacles that can make your drive around the Kansas City area dangerous. Sometimes, drivers lose control and end up hitting an object.
If they hit another car, they will need to report the incident to the police, or they could be charged with a hit-and-run. The offense of leaving the scene of an accident in Missouri is a class A misdemeanor or a class E felony if the following occurs, according to Missouri statute 577.060:
- Physical injury was caused to person
- Over $1,000 in damage was caused to someone else’s property
- The driver had previously been found guilty of any offense in violation of section 577.060
What if someone hits a different object, like a stop sign? Do they also have to report that to the police? Here’s what local law enforcement says.
Do I need to report a knocked-down road sign in Missouri?
If you or someone else damaged any property with your vehicle, you should report the incident.
Damage to any property other than your own vehicle caused by your vehicle should be reported, said Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department. He said you should call 311 or report it online to KCPD.
“In the case of one vehicle, impacting a stop sign and nothing else, no injuries, that could most likely be reported by walking into a police station or online,” he said.
You can also make a report to 311 or the police if you’ve returned home immediately after hitting the road sign, but you must report any accidents that happen within a year, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Failure to do so could fall under the state ordinance that covers leaving the scene of a property damage crash without reporting or providing required information, so you could be charged with a hit-and-run.
National insurance company Progressive also recommends drivers contact their local government agency and report the damage to the road sign immediately if you hit one with your car.
You must report any accidents that caused property damage costing more than $500 to the Missouri driver’s license bureau.
