(Photo credit: Richard Masoner/Flickr)
Taking responsibility for your actions is an important part of being a driver. When you’re operating a vehicle that could hurt yourself and others, it’s important that if an accident occurs, you always stop the vehicle to check that everyone involved in the incident is alright.
If you’re involved in a collision, this is extremely important since stopping can make a difference whether someone arrives at the hospital on time. It’s also the right thing to do and if you don’t, there will be criminal charges laid against you.
In mid-June, a 19-year-old Keswick man was charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death after he hit a cyclist at Davenport and Avenue Road.
The 26-year-old cyclist was attempting to turn east from Avenue Road onto Davenport Road, when he was struck at the intersection. The cyclist was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and he died at the hospital.
The Keswick man failed to remain at the scene of the crime, but he turned himself in 12 hours later, according to the Toronto Sun. The driver was recently released on a $10,000 bail, along with conditions such as not being allowed to drive, ordering him to continue living with his parents and having a required curfew between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. His court date is set for late July.
In another case in Edmonton, police are looking for additional suspects after a truck hit a motorcyclist in mid-July, according to CTV Edmonton. The motorcycle was heading northbound when the truck turned left and hit the vehicle. The driver fled the scene, but was soon stopped by witnesses, who told police that two other men and a woman also ran from the scene. A woman has since been taken into custody. Meanwhile, the motorcyclist suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Whether you’re the driver or a passenger in a vehicle, everyone involved in a crash must remain at the scene. Being involved in a hit and run accident makes the issue worse.
For any driver, an accident is a traumatic experience. It’s important to know what to do when you’re involved in an accident, which includes staying put to ensure everyone is OK. Determine whether you need to call 911. If there’s no need to and you’ve exchanged driver information and taken pictures of the accident, then it’s alright to leave. Remember, don’t make a bad situation worse by being involved in a hit and run accident.
Accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of their role in the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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