A.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then immediately return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of § 12-4-3. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of § 12-4-3. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. Any person failing to stop or comply with said requirements under such circumstances shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (66-7-202 NMSA 1978)
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting
in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which
is driven or attended by any person shall give his name, address,
and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving and shall
upon request exhibit his driver's license to the person struck or
the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided
with and shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable
assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements
for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon or hospital
for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment
is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.
(66-7-203 NMSA 1978)
The driver of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which
is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then and there either
locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle of the name
and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended
vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck
a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of
the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the
circumstances thereof. (66-7-204 NMSA 1978)
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to fixtures or other property legally upon or adjacent to a street shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of his name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle he is driving and shall upon request exhibit his driver's license and shall make report of such accident when and as required in § 12-4-7. (66-7-205 NMSA 1978)
A.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury
to or death of any person, or property damage to an apparent extent
of $500 or more, shall immediately, by the quickest means of communication,
give notice of such accident to the Police Department if the accident
occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county
sheriff or the nearest office of the New Mexico State Police. (66-7-206
NMSA 1978)
B.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving an immediate notice of an accident as required in Subsection A and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, such occupant shall give or cause to be given the notice not given by the driver. (66-7-208)
A.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in bodily
injury to or death of any person, or total property damage to an apparent
extent of $500 or more, shall, within five days after such accident,
forward a written report of such accident to the Police Department
and State Department of Transportation. (66-7-207 NMSA 1978)
B.
The provisions of this section shall not be applicable when the accident
has been investigated at the scene by a police officer while the driver
was present.
C.
The provisions of this section may be met by submission to the Police
Department of a copy of any accident report required under state law.
(*)
D.
Whenever the driver is physically incapable of making a written report
of an accident as required in this chapter and such driver is not
the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved in
such accident shall, within five days after learning of the accident,
make such report not made by the driver. (66-7-208 NMSA 1978)
E.
The Police Department may require any driver of a vehicle involved
in an accident of which report must be made as provided in this section
to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient
in the opinion of the Department and may require witnesses of accidents
to render reports concerning the accident to the Department.
F.
Every police officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates
a motor vehicle accident of which report must be made as required
in this section, either at the time of and at the scene of the accident
or thereafter, by interviewing participants or witnesses shall, within
24 hours after completing such investigation, forward a written report
of such accident to the Police Department and State Department of
Transportation. (66-7-207 NMSA 1978)
The person in charge of any garage or repair shop, dealers,
or wreckers of vehicles, to which is brought any motor vehicle which
shows evidence of having been involved in an accident of which report
must be made as provided in this chapter, or struck by any bullet,
shall report to the Police Department within 24 hours after such motor
vehicle is received, giving such vehicle identification number, registration
number, and the name and address of the owner or operator of such
vehicle. (66-7-212 NMSA 1978)
No person shall give information to the Police Department in
oral or written reports of accidents, knowing or having reason to
believe that the information is false. (*)
A.
All accident reports made by persons involved in accidents or by
persons in charge of garages shall be without prejudice to the individual
so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the Police Department
and State Department of Transportation or state agencies having use
for the records for accident prevention purposes or for the administration
of the laws of this state relating to the deposits of security and
proof of financial responsibility by persons driving or the owners
of motor vehicles, except that the Police Department and State Department
of Transportation may disclose:
(1)
The identity of a person involved in an accident when his identity
is not otherwise known or when the person denies his presence at the
accident; or
(2)
The fact that the owner or operator of a motor vehicle involved
in the accident is or is not insured and if he is insured, the name
and address of his insurance carrier.
B.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, no accident report
shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising
out of an accident.
C.
The Police Department and State Department of Transportation shall
furnish, upon demand of any person who has or claims to have made
a report or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a
specified accident report has or has not been made to the Police Department
and State Department of Transportation solely to prove a compliance
or a failure to comply with the requirement that a report be made
to the Police Department.
D.
A certified copy of the investigating officer's accident report may
be introduced into evidence in any arbitration or civil action involving
the insurer's liability under a motor vehicle or automobile liability
policy containing uninsured motorist coverage as required by NMSA
1978, § 66-5-301, to prove that the owner or operator of
the other motor vehicle involved in the accident is either insured
or uninsured. The Police Department and investigating agency shall
furnish a certified copy of the investigating officer's accident report
to either party to the arbitration or civil action or to the court
on request. The certified copy of the investigating officer's report
is prima facie evidence that the owner or operator of the other motor
vehicle is either insured or uninsured. (66-7-213 NMSA 1978)
