McKinney, Texas Vehicular Manslaughter Attorneys

Lawyers Defending Against Manslaughter Charges Involving Vehicles in McKinney

Traffic accidents can be dangerous situations, resulting in serious injuries. When accidents occur, a person may be accused of acting negligently and causing harm to others, and this may sometimes lead to criminal charges. In some of the most serious cases, a person may be charged with vehicular manslaughter based on claims that they were responsible for causing someone's death in a car wreck. As with other types of manslaughter charges, the penalties that people may face in these situations can be serious, and a conviction could lead to a sentence of years or even decades in prison.

At Texas Defense Firm, our lawyers provide representation for clients who have been accused of violent crimes, including homicide. We know how serious manslaughter charges can be, and we work to ensure that our clients can respond correctly to accusations that they drove negligently or recklessly and were responsible for causing someone's death. Our goal is to avoid a criminal conviction whenever possible or secure an outcome that will minimize the penalties that may affect a person's life and future.

When a Driver May Be Charged With Manslaughter

Charges of manslaughter will typically be based on accusations that a person recklessly caused someone's death. Following a fatal traffic accident, a person may be accused of engaging in dangerous conduct behind the wheel. Recklessness will usually go beyond negligence or carelessness, so a prosecutor will need to show that a person was aware that their actions could be dangerous and did not pay attention to potential risks.

Examples of reckless driving that could lead to charges of vehicular manslaughter may include participating in a street race, fleeing from police, driving aggressively, driving at extremely high speeds, or purposely colliding with another vehicle. If a person allegedly caused a fatal accident because of their recklessness, they could be charged with manslaughter.

When a prosecutor is unable to prove that a person consciously disregarded risks while driving, they may decide to pursue charges of criminally negligent homicide rather than vehicular manslaughter. These charges may be based on claims that a person engaged in risky or dangerous behaviors but was not fully aware that their actions could potentially lead to a fatal accident.

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Intoxication Manslaughter

When a fatal accident allegedly occurred because a person was driving while they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they could face charges of intoxication manslaughter in addition to any DWI charges that may apply in a given case. In these cases, a prosecutor may not need to prove that a person engaged in reckless behavior while driving. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing an accident may be enough to charge the person with intoxication manslaughter.

Penalties for Vehicular Manslaughter Charges

A person who is accused of vehicular manslaughter may face the same penalties that would apply in other manslaughter cases. Manslaughter is typically charged as a second-degree felony, and a person could be sentenced to between two and 20 years in prison. Intoxication manslaughter is also a second-degree felony. However, a second offense of intoxication manslaughter may be charged as a first-degree felony, and the sentence range in these cases will increase to between five and 99 years in prison.

Criminally negligent homicide is generally classified as a state jail felony, and the potential sentence in these cases may last from six months to two years. Because of the reduced charges that may apply for this offense, some people charged with vehicular manslaughter may take steps to reduce charges to criminally negligent homicide so that they can minimize the penalties that may apply in their case.

Defense Strategies for People Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter

At Texas Defense Firm, we can examine the facts surrounding a car accident to determine the best options for defense against charges of vehicular manslaughter. We may be able to show that a person was not acting recklessly when an accident occurred or that a death was caused by other factors, such as a person's failure to use a seat belt.

In cases involving charges of intoxication manslaughter, some of the same defenses that may apply in DWI cases may be used. Our lawyers may take steps to show that a person was not above the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration, did not have controlled substances in their system, and did not cause an accident due to intoxication. We may challenge the reliability of breath tests or blood tests performed after an accident or review other evidence to challenge accusations that a person had been drinking alcohol or using drugs.

Accident reconstruction evidence can play an important role in vehicular manslaughter cases. By determining what happened before and during an accident, our attorneys may highlight issues that led to a collision and caused a fatality, such as mechanical problems with one or both vehicles, road hazards, or weather conditions. By challenging whether our client caused an accident, we can take steps to defend against a conviction.

Contact Our McKinney, TX Vehicular Manslaughter Attorneys

A fatal traffic accident is a tragic situation, and the family members of a victim may be looking to blame someone for causing their loved one's death. A person who has been accused of causing an accident will need to determine how to respond to these accusations, and the attorneys at Texas Defense Firm can help people in these situations defend against manslaughter charges. We will work to protect the rights of our clients and help them resolve these matters successfully. Contact our McKinney vehicular manslaughter defense lawyers at 972-369-0577 to arrange a free consultation.