Vehicular Manslaughter Defense
Vehicular manslaughter results in one of the most serious criminal charges an individual may face in conjunction with a DUI case. Although manslaughter is a lesser charge than murder, it still involves the death of a human being and can result in years in California state prison.
Therefore, it is crucial that no time is wasted in contacting an aggressive, experienced DUI defense lawyer to uphold your rights. In these cases, make no doubt about it that the prosecuting attorney will try to pursue maximum penalties and will try to get the court to show you no leniency. That is why you have the opportunity to work with a defense lawyer—so you have an advocate in court who is watching out for your best interests every step of the way.
What California Law Says About DUI Manslaughter
Vehicular manslaughter is described in § 191.5 of the California Penal Code as the unlawful killing of another human being. Per this section of the statute, an action categorized as vehicular manslaughter does not have any malicious aforethought and does not include gross negligence.
Someone who is found guilty of this section of the law can be penalized by imprisonment in a county jail for up to 1 year. In some cases, this may be elevated to gross vehicular manslaughter, which can be penalized for 4, 6, or 10 years in a California state prison. In both cases, additional DUI penalties may apply as well, such as driver's license suspension, fines, and more.
Gold & Witham Felony DUI Lawyer
DUI manslaughter is a felony DUI charge. As with DUI with injury cases, the key will be the prosecution attempting to prove that the accident was your fault.
Your DUI attorney will therefore work to prove that:
- You were not at fault in the accident; and
- You were not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Those are just two of the many goals your attorney may work to achieve. Every case is different, and so a tailor-made plan of defense is your best bet. If you would like to get started with your case, call now! We have more than 40 years' combined experience and offer free consults.
