Cases involving vehicular homicide are often very shocking and receive extensive media spotlight. An average day or a fun night out can end with very serious charges, including imprisonment, fines, and license revocation. One bad decision can spur a lifetime of devastating consequences.
Roadways are a dangerous place and home to countless accidents everyday. When accidents turn deadly, drivers may wind up facing serious felony convictions for causing the death of another human being. A charge of vehicular homicide can be brought against a person who unintentionally kills another person as a result of operating a motor vehicle. Common vehicular homicide cases involve drunk driving, substance abuse, reckless driving, speeding, texting while driving, or other kinds of grossly negligent driving behavior. Under Minnesota law, a charge of vehicular homicide can also be maintained for fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in death.
The consequences for an individual facing vehicular homicide charges are severe, including fines, imprisonment, license revocation, and costly insurance premiums. The sentencing guidelines under Minnesota law suggest a five- to seven-year prison term if found guilty of vehicular homicide. Minnesota law also recognizes the death of an unborn child and imposes a 48-month minimum sentence for causing the death of an unborn child. Under state law, the maximum sentence for causing the death of a human being or the death of an unborn child is 10-years imprisonment or payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.
In light of the severity of the punishments and retribution for a vehicular homicide conviction, it is dire that an accused person seeks competent legal counsel to provide the best possible defense strategy to defend the conviction. There are a variety of legal defenses available, including lack of negligence or gross negligence, causation, involuntary intoxication, insufficient evidence, and mistaken identity. Proving lack of causation between the driver's conduct and the resulting accident is an effective legal defense. The existence of supervening circumstances, such as a pothole in the road, defective car parts, or the actions of the victim or another party can break the chain of causation and result in an acquittal for the defendant charged. It is possible to show that the accident would have occurred regardless of the defendant's negligence or conduct.
If you've been charged with vehicular homicide, Bruno Law has effectively and aggressively represented the rights of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including this one. Protect your rights and your future.