The two statutes
| VC §20002 | VC §20001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Involves | Property damage only | Injury or death |
| Level | Misdemeanor | Wobbler — misdemeanor or felony |
| Typical bail | Low, often scheduled misdemeanor amounts | Substantially higher, injury-severity dependent |
| Duty at issue | Stop, identify, leave information | Stop, identify, render reasonable assistance |
What defense counsel actually argues
- Knowledge — the driver did not know a collision or injury occurred.
- Identity — someone else was driving.
- Compliance — information was exchanged or reasonable steps were taken.
- Civil compromise on qualifying property-damage misdemeanors, which is a statutory mechanism under Penal Code §1377 and is not available on injury cases.
Bail on a hit and run
The number comes from the county schedule and scales with the injury allegations, prior record, and any DUI count filed alongside. A DUI paired with §20001 changes the picture substantially — see DUI bail bonds.
After release
Every hearing is mandatory, license consequences run on a parallel DMV track, and the bond stays live until the case closes. What you should and shouldn't do while out on bail applies.