Were You Charged With Hit and Run?

If so, talk to a criminal defence lawyer at either of our Abbotsford or Surrey offices

TRAFFIC OFFENCES WE REPRESENT DUI / Impaired Driving | Driving While Prohibited | Dangerous Driving Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample | Hit and Run

It’s a criminal offence to leave the scene of an accident if you’re driving a vehicle involved. In fact, the laws says that a person who has the “care, charge or control” of a vehicle must stop and give thier name and address, the registered name and address of the vehicle being driving, and licence plate number*.

If a witness asks for the same above information, you must provide it. Furthermore, if someone is hurt, you must offer assistance.

That said, the part of the Criminal Code that sets this charge out (section 252) also states that you must have the “intent to escape civil or criminal liability”. If it’s proven you left the accident scene, it’s presumed you did so with intent. However, you can present evidence showing that you did not intend to leave the scene.

What Must the Prosecuting Attorney Prove In a Hit and Run Criminal Case?

In order to be found guilty, the prosecutomg attorney must prove that you were in the “care, charge or control” of the vehicle involved in the accident. If the charge against you only states you failed to give your name and address or that you failed to offer assistance to someone hurt, then those specific charges must also be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Talk To Our Langley Criminal Defence Lawyers Today - FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION

If you’ve been charged with hit and run (i.e. failure to stop at the scene of an accident), you owe it to yourself to talk to a criminal defence attorney. At Dykstra & Company, we offer a FREE initial 1/2 hour telephone consultation where you can talk to criminal defence lawyer about your hit and run case. Call us today toll free at 1.877.753.4793 to discuss your hit and run case.

Serving Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, and Greater Vancouver, BC.

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* The requirement to provide the name and address of the vehicle’s registered owner and licence plate number to other drivers and witnesses (if asked) is set out in the Motor Vehicle Act and not the Criminal Code.

If you hit a car or property and you can’t find the owner, then you must leave the following information in a place where it has a reasonable chance of being found:

• your name and address;
• name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle you were driving;
• the licence plate number of the vehicle you were driving.

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