A person can be charged with vehicular manslaughter for accidentally killing another person while driving. The charges also involve negligence—or some sort of supposed irresponsibility—on the part of the driver. Because vehicular manslaughter is a criminal offense, it ought to be immediately handled by an experienced attorney who will fight for your rights and innocence. It is best to secure a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible following your charges, because the family members and loved ones of the deceased person will want to push the case forward without delay. It will be necessary to obtain the assistance of a lawyer who understands the field and will be able to skillfully and effectively bring to light any details that will benefit you and help to pursue a favorable outcome for you.
Charges of vehicular manslaughter vary depending on several things, such as under what circumstances the accident actually occurred. For example, if you received such charges after speeding slightly, it is more like that you will be charged with a misdemeanor rather than a felony. Felony charges usually result if the driver was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred. Other crucial factors pertain to any previous charges the driver may have received in the past.
You may be facing charges for vehicular manslaughter for a situation in which you had no control. For example, if you were driving and suddenly had a heart attack, stroke, seizure, or any other emergency, you should not have to have criminal charges on your record. In addition, if your vehicle experiences a failure, you should not be charged with negligence. Situations of medical emergencies and vehicular failures are not uncommon and must be carefully considered when dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases.
Take, for example, a case that has not been finalized in Danville, California. The accident occurred in November 2011 when a male driver ran into the vehicle of a mother and daughter, killing both the females in the process. According to the man and his defense attorney, he lost control of his vehicle due to his seizure condition. He was travelling at a pace that exceeded the speed limit and was running a red light when the accident occurred. It was shown that he was not distracted by any communications device, such as a cell phone, iPod, or any other apparatus, when the accident took place—a fact which is in his favor. The man's attorney claimed that the accident was a result of a sudden seizure which, of course, he could not avoid.
Other times, accidents occur because of vehicular malfunctions. This was the case for an Omaha female driver who was in a car accident in February, 2012. She claimed that her brakes failed, causing her to go through a red light and run into another car. A mother was killed, and her son was injured. Cases of vehicular malfunction often cannot be foreseen or avoided, in which case the driver may receive less severe charges. It could all boil down to the ability of the defendant's attorney to prove that the defendant was not being negligent behind the wheel at the time of the accident.
If you are facing vehicular manslaughter charges, you should not waste time in securing dependable defense. Accidents can occur without a moment's notice, and you may be facing charges that are illegitimate and false. In those situations, it is imperative that you have an experienced lawyer take on your case and prove your innocence. Vehicular manslaughter charges are serious and therefore require serious defense. However, you do not need to be frightened, because with the right kind of defense, your charges may be reduced or eliminated completely.
