The Renault Logan Incident and Subsequent Court Proceedings
The Renault Logan driver halted after hearing car horns. A Lada Largus overtook, and the Logan driver began claiming that the other vehicle had caused damage to his car.
Seeing no damage to his own vehicle, Logan’s driver photographed both cars and drove away, concluding that no accident had occurred.
The Largus driver then called the traffic police. The officers prepared an administrative violation protocol against the Renault owner. The Magistrate’s Court found the Logan driver guilty under Part 2 of Article 12.27 of the Code of Administrative Violations, which covers non compliance with obligations related to a traffic accident, and he was deprived of his driving rights for one year.
As evidence, the court admitted the protocol, a diagram of the accident scene, a photograph of the damage to the Lada Largus, and the owner’s testimony.
Logan’s driver disagreed with the ruling and appealed to the Mytishchi City Court of the Moscow Region. The appeal was denied. The court noted that there was no evidence showing the accident did not occur and that the driver simply sought to avoid liability.
However, in the First Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction, Case No. 16-4416 / 2022, it was observed that the traffic police report stated the Largus had a damaged front bumper grille, while there was no damage to the Renault. From this, it could not be concluded that the Largus suffered damage as a result of the incident in question rather than before it.
The decision of the court
As a result, the Court of Cassation overturned the lower court’s decision and remanded the case for a new trial. The Mytishchi City Court then reconsidered the matter, but overturned the World Court’s ruling and cleared the Logan owner of liability.
The case reflects how differing interpretations of evidence and timing can lead to shifts in liability determinations within the Russian judiciary. The sequence demonstrates the importance of precise documentation and the potential for appellate review to change outcomes when proof of causality is uncertain.
Photo
Photo: Vasily Kuzmichenok/TASS
Vote – win Lada!
Take part in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix vote and help choose the best car novelties of the year.
Participants in the survey can enter a drawing for three frets as a thank you for their time. The drawing is open to everyone who completes the questionnaire before the stated deadline.