Berlin Court rules on hit-and-run involving carsharing vehicle

The Berlin Regional Court has ruled on whether a driver who flees the scene of an accident while using a carsharing vehicle should lose their driving license. The case involved a driver who collided with another vehicle and left the scene without authorization.

Under German law, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious offense that can lead to fines, imprisonment, or the temporary loss of a driving license. However, the loss of a license is contingent upon whether the perpetrator caused “significant damage” to another person's property. The court established a threshold of 1,500 euros for what constitutes significant damage.

In this specific instance, the damage to the other driver's vehicle was valued at 1,000 euros. The court ruled that the damage to the rental car itself, which was being operated by the offender, cannot be included in the calculation of damage to another person's property. Consequently, because the threshold was not met, the driver's appeal against the loss of their license was successful.