Laravel, Mysql duplicate entry

Using Laravel 5.1, i face a problem while creating new Member - system finds an existing entry and crashes.

Is there any Laravel/php way to verify if Member already exists before creation and update just updated_at stamps ?

$member = new Member(['group' => 1, 'user_id' => 1]);
$member->save();

 

SQLSTATE[23000]: Integrity constraint violation: 1062 Duplicate entry '1-1' for key 'MEMBER_GROUP';

via Chebli Mohamed