Do you know the laws about what you MUST do even if you only had "a reason to believe" you may have just been involved in an automobile accident?

The answer may surprise you.  As with any other area of the law, ignorance is no excuse.

The Michigan Motor Vehicle code provides us the answers in Sections 257.617 through 257.622.

First, if you know, or have reason to believe, that you had been involved in an accident resulting in personal injury or ANY property damage you must stop at the scene, or face a misdemeanor criminal citation.

Furthermore you MUST provide the following at the scene:

(a) your name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is operating, including the name and address of the owner, to a police officer, the individual struck, or the driver or occupants of the vehicle with which he or she has collided.

(b) Render to any individual injured in the accident reasonable assistance in securing medical aid or arrange for or provide transportation to any injured individual.

Again, failure to provide the information or help mentioned in (a) and (b) above could also result in a (another) misdemeanor criminal citation against you.

Furthermore, The driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident that injures or kills any person, or that damages property to an apparent extent totaling $1,000.00 or more, shall immediately report that accident at the nearest or most convenient police station, or to the nearest or most convenient police officer.  Again, failure to do so, could result in a (another) criminal citation.

The BOTTOM LINE is this:  Stop even if you just think you may have hit something, or something hit you.  Render assistance to any injured party, and call the police.  If the police don't respond, exchange your personal information with the other driver.  Then call the police again!