Gwinnett County Vehicular Homicide Lawyer
Georgia experiences nearly 2,000 fatal car accidents each year, and some of the accidents are criminal. If you were arrested for vehicular homicide, then you need the services of a skilled defense lawyer. Defendants face severe penalties, including a decade or more behind bars. Don’t leave your case to chance. Contact a Gwinnett County vehicular homicide lawyer at The Spizman Firm today.
Two Degrees of Vehicular Homicide
A motorist who causes the death of another person while driving unlawfully can face one of two vehicular homicide charges:
- First degree vehicular homicide. You can face first-degree charges if you caused a death while driving recklessly or under the influence, fleeing from the police, or after a hit and run. The punishment is 3-15 years in prison, along with other penalties.
- Second degree vehicular homicide. This crime involves any death caused by a less serious traffic offense, such as distracted driving or speeding. As a misdemeanor, second-degree vehicular homicide carries up to a year in jail.
It is possible to have other charges tacked on, as well. You should immediately call a defense lawyer at The Spizman Firm to discuss what charges you are currently facing.
Defenses to Vehicular Homicide
These cases turn on the defendant’s actions while behind the wheel. Typically, prosecutors bear the burden of showing either a minor or a more serious traffic offense, such as DUI or reckless driving.
In many situations, the government doesn’t have solid evidence you did anything wrong. All they know is an accident happened in which someone tragically died. However, each case rests on its own facts. One reason to reach out to our firm is so we have sufficient time to review the evidence against you.
Some defense strategies include:
- Talking with witnesses who can testify you were driving carefully. These witnesses can include someone in your car or in a car nearby.
- Searching for dashcam or surveillance video of the accident. Many businesses like gas stations have a camera pointed at the road, which might show you were driving carefully.
- Reviewing the circumstances of your arrest or interrogation. The police might have used questionable or even unconstitutional tactics when searching for evidence or questioning you.
- Inspecting the vehicles involved for defects. If faulty brakes are to blame, then you should not face criminal charges because you could not control your vehicle.
As always, the government has the burden of proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and they can sometimes fall short of that hurdle.
Request a Private Consultation with Our Law Firm
Any incident which results in death receives close scrutiny from the police. You need a dedicated legal team behind you.
Call a Gwinnett County vehicular homicide lawyer today. The Spizman Firm has handled all types of crimes for clients from all walks of life. Everyone has a story, and we offer non-judgmental private consultations so you can learn more about the charges you are facing. We also will provide a preliminary analysis of the strength of the case against you.
