There are a number of duties on a driver in the case of an accident or incident under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It is an offence to fail to report an accident and fail to exchange details. This is commonly referred to as “hit and run”. This carries significant penalties.
More commonly these offences are dealt with by way of penalty point endorsement of 5-10 points. Sentences can even be of significant periods of custody if they involve failing to stop for the police when required todo so.
If involved in an accident where damage or personal injury has occurred, the driver must remain at the scene to provide their name and address as well as the details of the owner of the vehicle. If there is nobody to report the accident to, then you are required to report the accident to a police station within 24 hours of the accident.
Common defences include the fact that the accused was not driving, they had no knowledge of any accident occurring or that they did indeed exchange details as soon as possible.
The only burden on the accused is that on the balance of probabilities that had no knowledge that there had been an accident if relying on this defence.