Being charged with a motoring offence can be upsetting, and many people are unsure of the process they should follow or what to do next. Hopefully this post should give you the direction you need, so if you think that you’ve been treated unfairly you’ll know exactly what to do.
Write down your version of events as soon as possible
Whether it’s an accident that has left you emotional and distressed, or a speeding charge issued a week after the offence was committed, as soon as you’re aware of the incident you should aim to write down in as much detail as possible, your version of events. Your memory is bound to fade as time goes by, and your strongest defence can come from the tiniest detail.
Try to recall as much as you can, including what was said, who was involved, the names of any police officers who attended the scene, and what they informed you the process would be. Sometimes if the wrong procedure has been followed or the wrong instructions given, this can add to your defence. For example, if you have been given a breathalyser test but were given the wrong instructions for using the equipment, it can lead to a faulty reading.
Seek professional guidance
Next, it is absolutely essential that you contact one of the driving offence solicitors in your area. Although it might feel like the end of the world following a motoring offence charge, there are a lot of variables in these cases, and it is only a legal professional who will be able to tell you where you stand and whether or not you should appeal against the decision.
For example, if you’ve been charged with driving without insurance but you had a genuine belief that insurance was in place because it is a company vehicle, then this could be something your solicitor can put forward as a defence on your behalf.
If you have been accused of speeding, there may be doubts over the reliability of the speed-measuring equipment and the reading produced, or there could be a lack of evidence of the speed limit in the area.
Stay calm and gather evidence
After speaking with your solicitor, they will be able to judge your case and inform you of the kind of evidence you need to gather. For example, there have been occasions where people have been charged with failure to provide specimens following an accident. However, if you were taken straight to hospital, doctors and nurses do not follow the same procedure as the police station, so this could be an error in the communication between organisations rather than your fault. These things all require evidence, but it could help win your case.
If you’ve recently been charged with a motoring offence, why not leave a comment about your experience.
