The driver of any motor vehicle involved in a collision shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision, or as close to the scene as possible, and reasonably investigate what was struck. If the driver knows or has reason to know the collision resulted in injury to or death of another, the driver in every event shall remain at the scene of the collision until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of this section as to the giving of information. The stop must be made without unnecessarily obstructing traffic.
The driver of any motor vehicle involved in a collision shall immediately stop the motor vehicle at the scene of the collision, or as close to the collision as possible, and reasonably investigate what was struck. If the driver knows or has reason to know the collision involves damage to a vehicle driven or attended by another, the driver in every event shall remain at the scene of the collision until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of this section as to the giving of information. The stop must be made without unnecessarily obstructing traffic.
The driver of any motor vehicle involved in a collision shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision, or as close to the scene as possible, and reasonably investigate what was struck. If the driver knows or has reason to know the collision resulted in damage to any unattended vehicle, the driver must either locate and notify the driver or owner of the vehicle of the name and address of the driver and registered owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle, report this same information to a peace officer, or leave in a conspicuous place in or secured to the vehicle struck, a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the registered owner of the vehicle doing the striking. The stop must be made without unnecessarily obstructing traffic.
If the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision knows or has reason to know the collision resulted only in damage to fixtures legally upon or adjacent to a highway, the driver shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the property of that fact, of the driver's name and address, and of the registration plate number of the vehicle being driven and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit the driver's license, and make an accident report in every case.
Whenever any motor vehicle shall be operated within this state, by any person other than the owner, with the consent of the owner, express or implied, the operator thereof shall in case of accident, be deemed the agent of the owner of such motor vehicle in the operation thereof.
[See Note.]
The driver of a vehicle involved in a collision resulting in bodily injury to or death of another shall, after compliance with this section and by the quickest means of communication, give notice of the collision to the local police department if the collision occurs within a municipality, to a State Patrol officer if the collision occurs on a trunk highway, or to the office of the sheriff of the county.
MS 2020 [Repealed, 1Sp2021 c 5 art 4 s 151]
A peace officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates an accident that must be reported under this section shall, within ten days after the date of the accident, forward an electronic or written report of the accident as prescribed by the commissioner of public safety. Within two business days after identification of a fatality that resulted from an accident, the reporting agency must notify the commissioner of the basic circumstances of the accident using an electronic format as prescribed by the commissioner.
The commissioner of public safety shall prescribe the format for the accident reports required under this section. Upon request the commissioner shall make available the format to police departments, coroners, sheriffs, garages, and other suitable agencies or individuals. The electronic or written report to be completed by individuals involved in accidents and by investigating peace officers must disclose the causes, existing conditions, and the individuals and vehicles involved.
[Repealed, 2005 c 163 s 89]
Every coroner or other official performing like functions shall report in writing to the commissioner of public safety the death of any individual within the coroner's jurisdiction as the result of an accident involving a vehicle and the circumstances of the accident. The report must be made within 15 days after the death.
In the case of drivers killed in vehicle accidents and of the death of pedestrians 16 years of age or older, who die within four hours after an accident, the coroner or other official performing like functions shall examine the body and shall make tests as are necessary to determine the presence and percentage concentration of alcohol, and drugs if feasible, in the blood of the victim. This information must be included in each report submitted pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision and shall be tabulated on a monthly basis by the commissioner of public safety. This information may be used only for statistical purposes that do not reveal the identity of the deceased.
The individual in charge of any garage or repair shop to which is brought any vehicle that shows evidence of having been struck by any bullet shall immediately report to the local police or sheriff and to the commissioner of public safety within 24 hours after the vehicle is received, giving the engine number if any, registration plate number, and the name and address of the registered owner or operator of the vehicle.
The commissioner may suspend the license, or any nonresident's operating privilege, of any person who willfully fails, refuses, or neglects to make report of a traffic accident as required by the laws of this state. A license suspension under this section is subject to the notice requirements of section 171.18, subdivision 2.
It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subdivisions 1, 2, and 6 that the driver left the scene of the collision to take any individual suffering immediately demonstrable bodily injury in the collision to receive emergency medical care if the driver of the involved vehicle gives notice to a law enforcement agency as required by subdivision 6 as soon as reasonably feasible after the emergency medical care has been undertaken.
The use and operation by a resident of this state or the resident's agent, or by a nonresident or the nonresident's agent, of a motor vehicle within the state of Minnesota, is deemed an irrevocable appointment by the resident if absent from this state continuously for six months or more following an accident, or by the nonresident at any time, of the commissioner of public safety to be the resident's or nonresident's true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against the resident or nonresident or the executor, administrator, or personal representative of the resident or nonresident growing out of the use and operation of a motor vehicle within this state, resulting in damages or loss to person or property, whether the damage or loss occurs on a highway or on abutting public or private property. This appointment is binding upon the nonresident's executor, administrator, or personal representative. The use or operation of a motor vehicle by the resident or nonresident is a signification of agreement that any process in any action against the resident or nonresident or executor, administrator, or personal representative of the resident or nonresident that is so served has the same legal force and validity as if served upon the resident or nonresident personally or on the executor, administrator, or personal representative of the resident or nonresident. Service of process must be made by serving a copy thereof upon the commissioner or by filing a copy in the commissioner's office, together with payment of a fee of $20, and is deemed sufficient service upon the absent resident or the nonresident or the executor, administrator, or personal representative of the resident or nonresident; provided that notice of service and a copy of the process are sent by mail by the plaintiff within ten days to the defendant at the defendant's last known address and that the plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with the provisions of this chapter is attached to the summons.
If an accident report has been prepared by a person involved in an accident and no report has been prepared by a law enforcement officer, the owners of the vehicles involved in an accident shall have the same access to information maintained by the Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services Division, about the vehicles, their owners, and their drivers that would have been available to a law enforcement officer reporting on the accident.
The court in which the action is pending may order a continuance as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend the action, not exceeding 90 days from the date of filing of the action in that court. The fee of $20 paid by the plaintiff to the commissioner at the time of service of the proceedings must be taxed in the plaintiff's cost if the plaintiff prevails in the suit. The commissioner shall keep a record of all processes so served, which must show the day and hour of service.
The provisions of this section apply equally whether the term "accident" or "collision" is used.
The commissioner must monitor and audit the furnishing of records by full-service providers under this section to ensure full-service providers are complying with this section, chapter 13, and United States Code, title 18, section 2721, et seq.
Minn. Stat. § 169.09
(2720-168, 2720-169, 2720-170, 2720-171, 2720-172, 2720-173) 1937 c 464 s 18-23; 1939 c 430 s 2,3; 1941 c 439; 1943 c 548 s 1; 1945 c 207 s 1; 1945 c 285 s 4,34; 1947 c 114 s 1; 1947 c 428 s 7-10; 1959 c 679 s 1; 1963 c 280 s 1; 1963 c 634 s 1; 1965 c 815 s 1; 1967 c 397 s 1; Ex1967 c 3 s 1; 1971 c 491 s 5-11; Ex1971 c 27 s 3-5; 1974 c 22 s 1-4; 1974 c 343 s 1; 1977 c 53 s 1; 1978 c 461 s 1,2; 1978 c 679 s 1; 1980 c 498 s 2,3; 1981 c 37 s 2; 1981 c 357 s 60; 1982 c 545 s 22; 1982 c 617 s 6; 1983 c 345 s 2-7; 1984 c 622 s 1-4; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1Sp1985 c 4 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 180 s 1; 1987 c 383 s 5; 1989 c 290 art 6 s 1; 1989 c 321 s 9; 1991 c 319 s 16; 1993 c 351 s 27, 28; 1994 c 399 s 1; 1996 c 346 s 3; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 1; 1997 c 230 s 2; 1999 c 227 s 22; 2001 c 91 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 39-41; 2005 c 163 s 60-75; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 35; 2009 c 108s 5; 2012 c 185 s 3; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 28; 2014 c 186 s 1