Looking for a Hit and Run Lawyer in Vancouver? Then you’ve come to the right place
Our hit and run lawyer in Vancouver – Jamie Butler of Butler & Company has acted as counsel in thousands of automobile accident related cases all over British Columbia. He can help you every step of the way in your hit and run case whether it is to deal with the police and ICBC after an accident, later obtain a plea negotiation (often involving no further license prohibition) or as competent and diligent counsel at trial.
The Criminal Code of Canada defines the charges in this way:
Failure to stop at scene of accident
252. (1) Every person commits an offence who has the care, charge or control of a vehicle, vessel or aircraft that is involved in an accident with
- (a) another person,
- (b) a vehicle, vessel or aircraft, or
- (c) in the case of a vehicle, cattle in the charge of another person,
and with intent to escape civil or criminal liability fails to stop the vehicle, vessel or, if possible, the aircraft, give his or her name and address and, where any person has been injured or appears to require assistance, offer assistance.
The legal basis for a criminal hit and run charge:
The basis of this charge is that a driver became involved in a motor vehicle accident and thereafter departed the scene in an effort to escape liability for the accident.
Upon conviction, unlike in impaired driving charges, a criminal record might still be avoided as absolute or conditional discharges are available under the law. A driving prohibition is also discretionary but often ordered as part of the sentence, depending upon the facts and circumstances. If an accident occurred in the process there may be additional civil repercussions and ICBC may not indemnify you for any property damage or injury claims if you are convicted. Therefore the repercussions of being convicted can be enormous.
Here is a great video example of a hit and run caught on dashcam and is an example of the many kinds of situations associated with this crime:
Defences to a hit and run charge:
The defences to a hit and run are all different depending on the nature of the evidence. Sometimes when the vehicle involved is not immediately located or stopped by the police they involve the lack of proof of the actual identity of the driver at the time of the offence. Other times they involve showing the Court through evidence that the driver was, in fact, unaware of the accident or returned to the accident scene at a reasonable time after the accident. As there can be several reasons why a person may depart the scene of an accident aside from to avoid “civil of criminal liability for the accident” (ie. mere fright, injury, assaults, etc.) defences can be crafted by your criminal defence lawyer at Butler & Company and thereafter presented to the Court or Crown to meet with the unique circumstances of your case.
To best determine your defence for this charge you should contact our lawyer, Jamie Butler, at 604-318-3838, to discuss the unique facts and circumstances that may apply to your case so that he may create a defence for you and provide timely advise whether or not you choose to hire him as your legal representative. This legal advice often can be the difference between succeeding or failing in your particular matter. Jamie can also help you with driving prohibition charges such as IRP and ADP matters.
Plea deals available to a hit and run criminal charges:
Often times, though not every time, our experienced injury lawyer, Jamie Butler, is able to secure a plea negotiation for a substitutional charge to be added so that you plead guilty to a Motor Vehicle Act offence (such as “undue care and attention” or “failing to remain at the scene” or being charged as an “owner” rather than a “driver” to a Motor Vehicle Act charge) instead of a criminal hit and run charge. Often times a criminal records can be avoided for these charges. For most information about plea negotiations, the avoidance of a criminal record and retaining your privilege/right to drive CLICK HERE