A driver who knocked a girl from her bicycle didn't stay at the scene out of panic, a court has heard, and instead made a 12-minute phone call to a friend as she drove home.

Thi Hang Nguyen claims she didn't realise a 13-year-old girl was critically injured in Bell Street, Coburg on November 5 last year, even though some of the victim's hair was caught Nguyen's shattered windscreen and she got out of her BMW to look back at the scene.

Nguyen, 41, did not go to police for four days despite repeated calls for her to come forward.

Thi Hang Nguyen in November after she was charged over the hit-run. Credit:Jason South

She later pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to render assistance, and on Tuesday applied for her case to stay before Melbourne Magistrates Court rather than be sent to the County Court, where heavier penalties would be in play. Prosecutors do not accept that Nguyen didn't know she hit the girl and want the case sent to the higher court.