What is the ruling on swearing falsely that the driver who caused the accident was present, returned, and reconciled, in order to spare him the financial penalty?

Lying is forbidden, except to avert harm or to achieve a legitimate benefit that cannot be realized otherwise, while obliging the use of equivocation (tawriya) if possible. If the fine is unjust, there is no sin upon the questioner if he intended to avert harm from a Muslim and no harm befell others or rights were lost as a result. According to some scholars, he must offer expiation for breaking an oath. However, if the fine is based on a violation of permissible traffic laws, it is not permissible to evade it or resort to deceitful swearing, as these laws fall under the general provisions of Islamic law concerning the preservation of lives and property. In this case, he must repent, seek forgiveness, and offer expiation for breaking an oath as a precautionary measure.