It is a crime in Pennsylvania if a motorist whose vehicle has been involved in an accident that causes property damage or injury does not stay at the scene until assistance has been given or information provided. Despite this legal requirement, we are seeing more and more hit-and-run incidents. I wondered why some law enforcement officials have branded this trend an “epidemic.” This concern was underscored in a report issued last week by the AAA.

Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries is regarded as a felony, not only here in Pennsylvania, but in many other states, too. A conviction could significantly affect a driver for the rest of his or her life, along with the family and future job prospects.

Even after having served a jail term or been fined, a felony stays on a person’s record for life.

Drivers who are involved in these types of accidents, regardless of how slight they are, are required to do certain things. For example, if your vehicle has hit another one, a building or caused any property damage, the motorist is expected to provide information to the occupant or owner and to contact police.

If no one is present, motorists are required to leave written information about the accident. If the owner of the other vehicle or the property-owner is present, then the motorist is required to provide pertinent information, such as name, vehicle registration number, license plate number, insurance company and/or policy number.

If a person is injured, you are required to provide aid, call for assistance or help transport the injured to the nearest medical facility.

Here in Pennsylvania, any crash involving property damage will likely result in a misdemeanor charge, while one involving injuries or death could likely lead to felony charges. The fine can vary from $5,000 to $15,000, while jail sentences vary from seven days to seven years.

The just-released study by the AAA said that hit-and-run deaths rose a troubling 60 percent between 2009 and 2016. The AAA said that pedestrians and bicyclists account for nearly 65 percent of these deaths. To put this problem into its most startling perspective, more than one hit-and-run accident happens on average every minute of every day in the U.S. AAA said its study showed that hit-and-run deaths hit an all-time high of 2,049 in 2016. On average, 682,000 drivers fled the scene in each of the study years.

Pennsylvania places 17th safest when it comes to these types of deaths, the best among mid-Atlantic states, but a state Department of Transportation representative said that this is still too high.

You are most likely to be struck and killed by hit-and-run drivers in New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, Nevada and Arizona and least likely in New Hampshire, Maine, Minnesota, Utah and Vermont.

I wanted to know why the number of hit-and-run accidents has spiked so dramatically, but the AAA report said the causes are elusive. Still, the report said, because of the increase in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths from hit-and-run drivers, a vehicle is much more likely to still be drivable compared with incidents involving other vehicles, tempting motorists to drive off.

I have my own ideas, too, although these are neither substantiated nor dismissed by the AAA study. Those who have suspended or no licenses, and those who have been drinking are less likely to stop at the scene of a crash. This seems only logical. Then there is the matter of higher insurance rates brought on by such an incident.

The study also found that most of these types of incidents involving pedestrians occur between midnight and 4 a.m., when drivers are more likely to flee unseen. This leads me to wonder why pedestrians are walking along streets and roads so early in the morning.

AAA said drivers can avoid being involved in hit-and-run incidents by being aware of their surroundings, yielding to crossing pedestrians even when not in designated crosswalks and giving cyclists plenty of room when passing them.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com