As per estimates put forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 8,650 people have died due to traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2024. This figure suggests a decrease of 3.2% in comparison to the estimated 8,935 deaths within the same quarter of 2023.
Traffic accidents induced by recklessness may be either intentional or unintentional. Reckless driving can sometimes lead to deaths. This act can become vehicular manslaughter if there is intent to harm. Vehicular homicide and manslaughter have some similarities and differences.
It would be best if you understood your rights. The best move is to hire an experienced vehicular homicide attorney or defense attorney who is practicing in your state who knows personal injury laws really well.
Knowing the difference between vehicular homicide and manslaughter can help you handle your case.
Definition of Vehicular Homicide
Vehicular homicide is killing someone with your car while speeding, drunk driving, or simply failing to observe some traffic signs. Establishing a case of vehicular homicide requires the prosecution to contend that the defendant acted negligently while establishing conscious disregard of risk to human life.
The punishments imposed on the offender may include imprisonment, fines, and suspension of driving privileges.
The victim of vehicular homicide has the right to sue for damages in a personal injury suit. According to the personal injury lawyers firm’s website, https://www.merrittandmerritt.com/, you can technically try to handle a personal injury claim by yourself. Keep in mind that doing this is very risky and carries no real advantage over a good outcome.
An experienced DUI attorney, one who practices in vehicular homicide cases, can assist in negotiating plea bargains for the defense or in striving to negotiate lesser charges or sentences.
Definition of Manslaughter
Intent distinguishes vehicular homicide from manslaughter. Killing a human without planning beforehand is manslaughter. These killings often occur during an emotional outburst or in some negligent manner and are never planned.
Manslaughter can be of two types: One is voluntary, when a person intentionally kills another under some circumstances that diminish culpability, such as provocation.
The other is involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the death of someone as a result of another person’s negligence or recklessness. To give an example, a man provoked to quite extreme tension pushes another man in an argument and that man dies; then, the charge would be voluntary manslaughter.
The death of another person during an accident caused by reckless driving would be classified as involuntary manslaughter.
Key Differences Between the Two
You can better understand the legal policies that are associated with penalizing vehicular homicide and manslaughter if you look at the main differences between the two. At their respective cores, these two differ by intent level and the surrounding circumstances giving rise to their occurrence.
Another thing about them is that the degree of punishment differs. Several places regard vehicular homicide to be a serious crime, and the punishments for being found guilty of this crime are usually harsh.
Legal Consequences and Penalties
Facing a charge of vehicular homicide is terrifying, and the entire situation may heavily impact your life. The penalties for vehicular homicide and manslaughter vary according to the state in which the accused stands charged, the peculiarities of the actual case, and whether an accused has any previous criminal record.
When charged with vehicular homicide, some jurisdictions treat the offense as a felony, with assessments of punishments running anything from several years to life, depending upon the seriousness of the crime and the intent of the driver. Vehicle homicide defendants are subjected to heavy fines, which further place a burden on them.
Whereas manslaughter is a lesser crime, and the punishment is lighter than that for felony charges, penalties for manslaughter involve serving years in prison or paying huge fines. People convicted of manslaughter also suffer harm to their careers and relationships.
Both offenses may result in a driving suspension and require attendance at a treatment program. By consulting a knowledgeable attorney on such matters, one will come to understand the implications of each charge.
Examples of Each Offense
Studying real instances of vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter cases would also serve to better understand how these charges are prosecuted and the factors leading to the resolution of the cause.
For example, if a drunk driver hit and killed a pedestrian walking on the street, charges probably would have been brought for vehicular homicide because the driver’s conduct was reckless. The case demonstrates that intoxication may increase the charges against a person.
For example, if the driver had not been speeding and had not acted with reckless disregard for his actions, then the likelihood is that the outcome would have been termed manslaughter instead of vehicular homicide.
This is a significant distinction between homicide by vehicle and vehicular manslaughter. With vehicular homicide, it’s quite a bit more naggingly purposeful or negligently committed, whereas vehicular manslaughter could be considered an accident resulting from recklessness.
Factors Influencing Charges
Depending on the conditions present in the cases, various factors affect the degree of a charge of vehicular homicide or manslaughter. Reckless driving or instances where drug or alcohol intoxication came into play prior to driving could result in more serious charges.
More severe sentences would be imposed if the offender is involved in a high-speed chase after being pursued by officers.
If the victim happens to be a child or a pedestrian, expect more serious legal consequences. Your previous driving record may also be relevant and would have a bearing on the sentence handed down.
Different states might have varying statutes and penalties for vehicular homicide and manslaughter.
Implications for Victims’ Families
Most of the time, vehicular manslaughter or homicide leaves the families of the victim emotionally depressed.
Emotional pressure can bring up a host of different and conflicting feelings in a person. This makes the task of attending court hearing dates, trials, and plea bargains harder.
Funeral and medical bills in light of injuries would impose increasing financial stress, especially if the person’s death led to loss of wages. The financial burden may exacerbate the emotional stress experienced by the bereaved family.
A verdict can change how someone thinks about justice. If the statement seems too light, it could make the ordinary person feel let down. It could be tougher to achieve peace if it’s too severe. You may feel better supported if you talk to other people who have been through something similar.
Therapy is a useful method to process feelings of grief, anger, and betrayal.
Cases of manslaughter and vehicular homicide involve sufficient complications that require the representation and expert defense of a well-trained legal professional. The involvement of a lawyer helps to avoid the costs associated with expensive and frustrating mistakes during the case process.
A good attorney could be trusted to take care of any legal hassle involved with your case.
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