Statute text read on the official Alabama Legislature site on November 9, 2026. Penalties are serious (see below). General information, not legal advice; call 911 first if anyone needs help.
At the scene
| Duty | What the statute says | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Stop | The driver of a vehicle in a crash causing injury or death, or damage to a vehicle "driven or attended by any person," "shall immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene or as close thereto and shall return to or remain at" the scene until the duties in § 32-10-2 are met [1] | § 32-10-1(a) |
| Do not move it if someone is hurt | "A vehicle involved in an accident with injury to or death of any person may not be moved until directed by a law enforcement officer." [1] If there is no apparent injury and the driver is not impaired, the driver "may immediately move the vehicle" to the shoulder or another safe place nearby if it is drivable [1] | § 32-10-1(b) and (c) |
| Give information, show license, help | The driver "shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving, shall upon request exhibit his driver’s license" to the other driver or person struck, and "shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance," including arranging transportation to a physician or hospital if apparent that treatment is necessary or if the injured person requests it [2] | § 32-10-2 |
| Unattended vehicle | Stop, then locate and notify the owner or leave a written notice "in a conspicuous place" with name and address and a statement of the circumstances [8] | § 32-10-3 |
| Fixtures along the road | Take reasonable steps to notify the owner of damage to fixtures "legally upon or adjacent to a highway" [9] | § 32-10-4 |
Calling it in
Section 32-10-5(a): "The driver of any motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the local police department if such accident occurs within a municipality; otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or to the state highway patrol." [3]
In Birmingham that is the Birmingham Police Department (see how to get the report).
The written report to the state
Section 32-7-5: "The operator of every motor vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident within this state, in which any person is killed or injured or in which damage to the property of any one person, including himself or herself, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) is sustained, shall within 30 days after the accident report the matter in writing to the director." [5] The statute says the director prescribes the form and that the report is limited to information needed to decide whether the security-deposit rules apply because of insurance or other exceptions [5]. If the operator "is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, within 10 days after learning of the accident, make the report." [5]
Section 32-10-11 says reports made by persons involved in accidents are "without prejudice to the individual so reporting" [7] and that "No such report shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident," except a certificate showing whether a report was made [7].
What happens if you leave
Section 32-10-6(a) says a person convicted of violating §§ 32-10-1 through 32-10-5 is punished as follows: for a violation "involving only damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor"; "involving physical injury, a Class C felony"; "involving serious physical injury or death, a Class B felony." [4] [4] [4] The statute also treats people who suffer loss from such conduct as victims for restitution purposes [4]. Section 32-10-1(g) says "The director shall revoke the driver license of a person convicted under this section." [1]
The officer's report
Under § 32-10-7(a), an officer who investigates a crash must "within 24 hours after completing such investigation, forward the necessary completed written report or copy thereof of such accident to the director on the uniform accident report form." [6] That is separate from your own report. See who can get a copy.
Sources
- Ala. Code § 32-10-1, duties of driver involved in accident (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“or in damage to any vehicle driven or attended by any person, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene or as close thereto and shall return to or remain at or as close to the scene of the accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of Section 32-10-2”“A vehicle involved in an accident with injury to or death of any person may not be moved until directed by a law enforcement officer”“the driver may immediately move the vehicle from the roadway to the shoulder, emergency lane, median, or other location close to the accident site if the vehicle is drivable and can be safely moved from the roadway”“The director shall revoke the driver license of a person convicted under this section”“shall immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene or as close thereto and shall return to or remain at or as close to the scene of the accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of Section 32-10-2”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-2, duty to give information and render aid (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving, shall upon request exhibit his driver’s license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any motor or other vehicle collided with or damaged and shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the transportation of, or the making of arrangements for the transportation of such person to a physician or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transportation is requested by the injured person”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-5, immediate reports of accidents (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“The driver of any motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the local police department if such accident occurs within a municipality; otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or to the state highway patrol”“shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the local police department if such accident occurs within a municipality; otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or to the state highway patrol”“to the local police department if such accident occurs within a municipality; otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or to the state highway patrol”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-6, penalty for violation (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“For a violation involving only damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor”“For a violation involving physical injury, a Class C felony”“For a violation involving serious physical injury or death, a Class B felony”“shall be considered a victim for the purposes of Article 4A of Chapter 18 of Title 15”
- Ala. Code § 32-7-5, report required following accident (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“The operator of every motor vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident within this state, in which any person is killed or injured or in which damage to the property of any one person, including himself or herself, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) is sustained, shall within 30 days after the accident report the matter in writing to the director”“The report, the form of which shall be prescribed by the director, shall contain only the information necessary to enable the director to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security under Section 32-7-6 are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in this chapter”“If the operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, within 10 days after learning of the accident, make the report”“in which any person is killed or injured or in which damage to the property of any one person, including himself or herself, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) is sustained, shall within 30 days after the accident report the matter in writing to the director”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-7, written reports of accidents (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“within 24 hours after completing such investigation, forward the necessary completed written report or copy thereof of such accident to the director on the uniform accident report form supplied by the director”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-11, accident reports confidential (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting”“No such report shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-3, duty upon striking unattended vehicle (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“shall leave in a conspicuous place in or on the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and/or the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the circumstances thereof”
- Ala. Code § 32-10-4, duty upon striking fixtures upon a highway (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of his or her name and address”
Page last updated November 9, 2026. Attorney review pending. General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours and rules change; confirm on the official page. How we source.
Questions
Do I have to report a minor accident in Alabama?
It depends on what happened. In any crash that injures or kills someone or damages a vehicle driven or attended by someone, the driver must stop and remain at or return to the scene and give name, address and registration number (§§ 32-10-1 and 32-10-2) [1]. If anyone is injured or killed, the driver must give notice "immediately by the quickest means of communication" to the local police department if the crash is within a municipality, otherwise to the county sheriff or the state highway patrol [3]. Separately, the operator must report in writing to the state director within 30 days if any person is killed or injured or if damage to the property of any one person is more than $250 [5].
Who do I call, police or highway patrol?
The local police department if the crash is inside a municipality (in Birmingham, the Birmingham Police Department); otherwise the county sheriff or the state highway patrol [3]. Call 911 first if anyone needs help.
How long do I have to file the written report?
30 days after the accident. If the operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the vehicle must make it within 10 days after learning of the accident [5].
Can I move my car after a crash?
Not if anyone was injured or killed: "A vehicle involved in an accident with injury to or death of any person may not be moved until directed by a law enforcement officer." [1] If there is no apparent injury and the driver is not impaired, the driver may move a drivable vehicle to the shoulder, emergency lane, median or another location close to the site, and must return to or remain at or as close to the scene as safely possible [1].
Is leaving the scene a crime?
Yes. A person convicted of violating §§ 32-10-1 through 32-10-5 is punished for a violation "involving only damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor," "involving physical injury, a Class C felony," and "involving serious physical injury or death, a Class B felony." [4] [4] [4] The director "shall revoke the driver license of a person convicted under this section" (§ 32-10-1(g)) [1].
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