Are you a driver of the road or recreational vehicles? Do you drive regularly or occasionally? Are you a young driver who has just obtained his driving license or do you have several years of experience as a driver? Regardless of your situation, you must be aware of and comply with the various road safety laws in force.
If you do not comply with the regulations, then you are committing an offence, some of which are provided for and others come under the Criminal Code, such as hit and run, for example.
What
is a hit and run?
You've probably heard of it before, but do you know exactly what a hit-and-run is?
You should be aware that you will very likely be charged with an offense if, when driving an automobile or other vehicle, you are involved in a collision or have a collision with something whether it is another vehicle, a person, an object or an animal weighing, and that:
- You leave the scene of the incident without having left your details with the people involved.
- You do not return to the scene of the collision.
- You do not contact the police if someone is injured or if the owner of the damaged property is absent and cannot be reached (such as if you hit another unoccupied vehicle or an object in a parking lot).
- You are not helping someone who is injured or who appears to need assistance.
In all the cases described above, you must provide the police, the owner of the damaged property or the person who suffered the damage with all the information required, that is:
- Your name;
- Your address;
- Your driver's license number;
- Your vehicle's license plate number;
- The name and address shown on the registration of the vehicle you were driving (if it is not yours);
- The insurance certificate.
In summary, when a person has suffered an injury, it is imperative to remain at the scene or return there immediately after the accident in order to provide the necessary assistance to this person.
The penalties incurred range from a small fine in the least serious cases and can be big in other cases, depending on whether it is an accident involving a person, property, or animal.
In the most serious cases, if you do not stop your vehicle as soon as possible when you are being chased by a police officer and you deliberately flee, you will be charged with a hit-and-run. This criminal offense can lead to the revocation of your driver's license as well as a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a criminal record.
Why
contact a lawyer?
Are you facing charges of hit and run or have you committed such an offence? Contact a criminal lawyer as soon as possible. Indeed, only a professional can explain the penalties incurred and assist you in the various legal proceedings. He is also in the best position to defend you. His professionalism makes all the difference during the legal process.
In any case, you must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the offense to be found guilty. A Criminal Lawyer knows the steps necessary to ensure that the evidence is complete, to look for possible procedural defects, negotiate with the prosecution, build your case, and represent you at trial, etc.
