Case Law

Driving related decisions by the courts.

CASE LAW - Ferguson v Kennedy

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis case concerns a collision that occurred on a gravel mountain road near Agassiz, BC. Solomon Kennedy had been passed by a pickup truck that raised a cloud of dust as it passed. Mr. Kennedy was travelling into the sun and was unable to see ahead due to the glare in the dust cloud. Connor Ferguson was travelling in the opposite direction as the pickup passed and saw that the Kennedy vehicle was partly on his side of the road. He sounded his horn and braked to a stop but was struck by the Kennedy vehicle.

CASE LAW - R v Zargarian

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis is an appeal by Bahman Zargarian from his conviction by a Judicial Justice of the Peace in Provincial Court at Nanaimo on December 19, 2012. Mr. Zargarian's vehicle had been observed in traffic by a constable who visually determined that it was travelling faster than the posted speed limit of 50 km/h. Based on that observation, the constable stopped the vehicle and issued Mr. Zargarian, who was driving, a speeding ticket. Mr. Zargarian disputed the ticket and was convicted in provincial traffic court.

CASE LAW - Ali v Fineblit

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis case arises from a collision at the intersection of West 7th Avenue and Pine Street in Vancouver, B.C. A motorcycle driven by Rizwan Ali had stopped at the stop sign on 7th anticipating a left turn onto Pine. Shirley Fineblit was following behind Mr. Ali and decided to pass by him on the left because he had been driving his motorcycle slowly and she thought he was turning right. Mr. Ali turned left and collided with Ms. Fineblit as she passed by.

CASE LAW - Van Bree v Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

BC Courts Coat of ArmsIt looks like British Columbia's Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) program is under a cloud again. In this case Mr. Justice B.C. MacKenzie is asked to stay a driving prohibition issued under the program to Tony Van Bree on May 23, 2015. The basis for the action is that the IRP legislation challenge has made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada and a decision on its validity in law is pending.

Protecting Your Interest After a Hit & Run

Intersection CrashIn response to hearing the siren of an approaching fire engine, Cindy Li slowed in preparation to yield to it. While her vehicle was still moving, it was struck from behind by another car. She stopped, exited her car, walked back to the other car and spoke to the young male driver, requesting that he pull over to exchange information. As she returned to her car, the male drove around her and disappeared from sight.

CASE LAW - McQuillan v Dean

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis case involves a collision that occurred on Quarry Road in Coquitlam, B.C. Todd McQuillan stopped the Chevrolet Aveo he was driving on the shoulder just past the crest of a hill in order to photograph a bear that had crossed the road in front of him. Madam Justice Gray found that it was possible that part of the vehicle was in the travelled part of the lane. The road has a posted speed of 50 km/h.

CASE LAW - R v Malcolm

BC Courts Coat of ArmsKenneth Malcolm wanted by. He sped up and tailgated a vehicle in the fast lane. When it didn't move out of his way, he changed to the slow lane, overtook and tailgated the vehicle there. That driver braked briefly so that both vehicles had to slow, eventually dropping behind the vehicle that Mr. Malcolm initially hoped would get out of his way.

CASE LAW - Davies v Elston

BC Courts Coat of ArmsJim Davies was unhappy with how close Kevin Elston parked his pickup truck to a cycle lane. The rearview mirror on the truck was a hazard to passing cyclists. Mr. Davies commented to his son who was riding along with him. Mr. Elston overheard the conversation, got into his truck and caught up to the Davies.

CASE LAW - Ziemer v Wheeler

BC Courts Coat of ArmsHarris Wheeler was driving northbound on Highway 97 south of Taylor, B.C. when his vehicle collided with a moose. Shortly afterward Aron Walter, driving southbound, struck that moose which was then laying on the highway. That collision caused his vehicle to cross over the center line where he struck a vehicle driven by Raymond Ziemer head on.