Rashee Rice Car Accident: What Fleeing the Scene Really Costs — Hit and Run Laws Explained

On March 30, 2024, a multi-vehicle crash on a Dallas-area highway left six people injured. Two cars were involved in what authorities described as street racing — a Lamborghini driven by Corvante Grayson and a Porsche later linked to Rashee Rice, then a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both drivers fled the scene after the crash. Rice later turned himself in to Dallas police and, in July 2024, pleaded guilty to eight counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle. He received deferred adjudication — meaning if he completes probation successfully, the charges would not result in a formal conviction.

The case generated significant media coverage — but more importantly, it illustrates a set of legal consequences that apply to any driver who leaves the scene of an accident in the US, famous or not.

What Are Hit and Run Laws in Texas?

Texas law (Transportation Code §550.021 and §550.022) requires every driver involved in an accident to immediately stop at the scene or as close as safely possible, provide identification and insurance information, and render reasonable assistance to injured parties.

Failing to do these things — regardless of whether you caused the accident — is a criminal offense. The severity depends on what happened:

• Accident involving death or serious bodily injury: Third-degree felony in Texas, carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines
• Accident involving injury only: Third-degree felony or Class A misdemeanor depending on injury severity
• Accident with only property damage: Class C misdemeanor (minor) to Class B depending on damage amount

Rice faced eight counts of aggravated assault — the actual collision charges — separate from the failure-to-stop charges. The combination, had he pursued trial rather than a plea deal, could have resulted in a substantially longer sentence.

Hit and Run Laws in All 50 States

Every US state has a hit and run statute. While the specific penalties vary, the core requirements are consistent: stop, provide information, render aid. Here is a representative sample of how states treat serious hit and run offenses:

• California: Hit and run causing death or injury is a felony with up to 4 years in prison
• Florida: Hit and run with death is a first-degree felony carrying up to 30 years
• New York: Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death carries up to 7 years
• Illinois: Hit and run causing death is a Class 1 felony with 4 to 15 years
• Georgia: Serious injury hit and run: up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine

In virtually every state, the penalties for hit and run are significantly more severe than what you would face for the underlying accident itself. A drunk driver who stays and cooperates typically receives lighter treatment than a sober driver who flees.

What Happens Civilly When a Driver Flees?

Fleeing the scene creates enormous problems for your civil liability — and enormous advantages for the victims.

First, flight from the scene is legally treated as "consciousness of guilt" — evidence that you knew you were at fault. This is admissible in civil proceedings. Second, hit and run is typically treated as an aggravating factor that supports punitive damages. Third, in states with dram shop laws, a fleeing driver who was intoxicated may implicate the establishment that served them.

For the victims: if the driver who hit you fled the scene, you have several options.

• Uninsured motorist coverage: Most states allow UM claims against hit and run drivers even if they are not identified
• State crime victim funds: Many states have funds that compensate crime victims, and hit and run is a crime
• License plate photos / surveillance footage: Police increasingly identify hit and run drivers through cameras. Once identified, civil claims proceed normally.
• Attorney investigation: Personal injury attorneys regularly investigate hit and run cases and identify defendants using tools unavailable to the public

What Should You Do If a Driver Flees After Hitting You?

Do not chase them. Pursuing a fleeing driver puts you and other road users in danger, and anything you do during a chase can complicate your legal case.

Instead: call 911 immediately and report the hit and run. Provide the best description you have of the vehicle — make, model, color, and any partial plate numbers you caught. If bystanders saw the plate, ask them to share it with police. Check for nearby business security cameras or residential doorbell cameras that may have captured the vehicle.

Then contact an attorney. Hit and run cases have specific insurance and legal angles that an experienced accident attorney navigates routinely. Use our free lawyer finder to connect with attorneys in your state who handle hit and run cases.

The Street Racing Element — Additional Liability

In the Rice case, authorities alleged street racing was involved. This matters legally because street racing dramatically changes the liability picture in several ways:

• Both drivers in a street race can be held jointly and severally liable for all injuries caused
• Street racing typically supports punitive damages claims due to the level of recklessness involved
• In some states, bystanders or passengers injured by street racers have specific statutory protections
• Organizers or promoters of street racing events can potentially be held liable

If a street racing situation contributed to your accident, document any witnesses who observed the racing behavior before impact, any video footage of the vehicles before the collision, and report everything to both police and your attorney. This is a specialized area of personal injury law — get experienced representation.