Los Angeles Vehicular Manslaughter Attorney

Enhanced DUI Penalties

With any driving under the influence offense, the penalties will be enhanced if there was property damage, you have previous DUI convictions or if bodily injury or death resulted. In our state, there are several distinct charges that can be filed against you if your DUI caused a fatality. If death was the immediate result of your DUI but lacked what is called "gross negligence," you can be charged with vehicular manslaughter. It becomes gross vehicular manslaughter when you drove in a manner considered extremely reckless and without regard or concern for the safety of others.

In the case of vehicular manslaughter, you can be jailed for not more than 1 year or imprisoned in a California state prison for up to 4 years. You can be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison if you are convicted on a gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated charge. If you have been convicted on other DUI charges in the past, vehicular manslaughter can be punished by a 15 year to life prison sentence.

Vehicular manslaughter charges are extremely serious and a conviction will affect your life significantly. You will thereafter be facing life as a convicted felon with all the restrictions that a felon faces.

Defending Vehicular Manslaughter Charges

We investigate your case thoroughly, looking for incorrect or careless work by law enforcement or prosecutors that can be used in your defense. At times, it can be shown that data presented by a prosecutor will lack the scientific foundation needed to convict you. If it can be proven that your actions were not the factual cause of the accident or fatality, this could be effective in defending your case. It could not be more critical to have an immediate case review by our firm. Every detail of the evidence that led to your arrest must be analyzed on an immediate basis.

In some cases, we work to get charges reduced so that the penalties you face are less severe. It is important, however, that we move on your case quickly as the more time we have to investigate and prepare your defense, the better your chances for a favorable result in court. We will pursue every possible advantage for you from the moment we take on your case.