Criminal Traffic Offenses - Legal Defense in Road Traffic Crime Cases

Anyone who drives knows that no one is fully protected from Criminal Traffic Offenses. If you’ve been involved in a serious traffic incident leading to a criminal case, getting immediate help from experienced traffic offense lawyers and criminal defense lawyers is essential. At MB Legal, our defense lawyers are here to protect your rights in cases involving traffic violations, accidents, or negligent driving.

What Constitutes a Road Traffic Crime?

Road traffic crimes are offenses committed as a result of violating traffic regulations, which cause serious consequences such as death, severe or moderate bodily injury, or significantly endanger traffic safety.

As a rule, the underlying violations are set out in the Decision No. 955-N (2007) “On approving the list of malfunctions and conditions prohibiting the operation of vehicles” of the Government of Armenia and the Law “On Road Safety.” When these regulations are violated and cause harmful consequences, criminal liability arises.

The main types of road traffic crimes include:

Violation of traffic safety rules or vehicle operation requirements by a driver, resulting in serious or moderate harm to health through negligence (Article 342 of the Criminal Code).
Allowing or driving a vehicle unlawfully, including: driving while intoxicated, underage driving (under 16), driving without a license, driving while disqualified, or entrusting the vehicle to someone obviously unfit to drive safely due to physical or mental condition, if such negligence caused serious or moderate harm (Article 343 of the Criminal Code).
Driving without the right to drive a vehicle, after being deprived or suspended of that right, or re-committing the same act within one year after being held liable for it (Article 344 of the Criminal Code).

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Why Do You Need a Lawyer?

The key feature of road traffic crimes is that the issue of guilt is determined through forensic examination. During the expert analysis, numerous factors are considered, including road surface, weather, lighting, visibility, vehicle speed, sudden obstacles, possibility of avoiding the accident, and pedestrian behavior.

Most of this information comes from witness testimonies. Therefore, consulting a lawyer before giving testimony is crucial so that your statements are not later used against you, and all relevant circumstances are taken into account during the examination. Even the smallest details can significantly change the reconstruction of the accident and either confirm or disprove guilt.

According to the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, expert opinions are admissible as evidence. This means victims or defendants may challenge the investigator’s unsatisfactory expert conclusions with their own specialized justifications.

Wouldn’t it be Easier to Admit Guilt and Accept a Lighter Punishment?

Ending criminal prosecution on non-exonerating grounds, such as reconciliation with the victim, carries long-term risks that may result in lifelong financial obligations. For example, if a person loses their ability to work or dies as a result of the accident, the established guilt in criminal proceedings may also serve as grounds for civil liability. This may require compensation for lost income or child support for the victim’s underage children.

For this reason, we strongly recommend not to give up prematurely but to fight for acquittal.