Failing to Stop Offence Solicitors
We have over 30 years’ experience in successfully handling failure to stop/report cases. It is vital the work begins on your defence as soon as possible to give us the best possible chance to avoid any potential driving bans.
Failure to Stop / Failure to Report
The current UK law concerning failing to stop after a road traffic accident or failure to stop in other situations falls under the 1988 Road Traffic Act.
Section 170(2) the driver of the motor vehicle must stop and if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring give his name and address the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and the identification marked with the vehicle. The duty to stop means to stop sufficiently long enough to exchange the particulars above.
Section 170 (3) places an obligation on the driver if he has not stopped to report the accident to a police constable or police station as soon as reasonably practical and in any case within 24 hours. The duty to report means “as soon as reasonably practical” it does not mean the driver has 24 hours within which to report the collision.
When the evidence reveals that the defendant is guilty of both the above failure to stop laws proceedings will be brought for both offences. The failure to stop is usually viewed as the more serious of the two.
Do not assume there are no defences to the charges. An example of a defence of failing to stop is where the driver can satisfy the Court that he was unaware that an accident had occurred. It may be that you did stop and waited for a reasonable time before leaving the scene.
Penalties for Failing to Stop Offences
The penalties are serious and in the more severe cases of failing to stop the court has the power to issue a prison sentence for up to six months imprisonment. We are able to help with all of the above offences but it's important that you contact as soon as possible to give you the best chance at the best possible outcome . So don't delay contact us today to see how we can help you avoid a possible failure to stop conviction.