Source: https://criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/driving-traffic-offenses/vehicular-manslaughter/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:20:01+00:00

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Not every fatality that occurs on the roadway, as tragic as it may be, should result in an arrest or prosecution for vehicular manslaughter.
In many of these cases, conduct that would normally warrant only a traffic infraction suddenly results in vehicular manslaughter arrest only because a death resulted from the accident. In these cases, the harm that comes from these offenses is always unintentional.
Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you on these charges as soon after the accident as possible is critical. Never make a statement to law enforcement once a criminal investigation begins until after you have spoken with an attorney.
The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm in downtown Tampa, FL, are familiar with the policies and procedures used during traffic homicide investigations in Florida.
If you were arrested for Vehicular Homicide (often called “Vehicular Manslaughter” or “Involuntary Manslaughter”) in the greater Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, or Polk County, then contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case.
Under Florida Statute § 782.071, vehicular homicide (often called “vehicular manslaughter”) is an accusation that a driver killed another human being by operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another.
Vehicular homicide is a felony of the second degree punishable by up to fifteen years in Florida State Prison. The offense can be enhanced to a first-degree felony if it is also alleged that the person failed to give information and render aid as required by s. 316.062.
Many vehicular manslaughter cases involve allegations that the driver was intoxicated.
Vehicular homicide is a lesser included offense of manslaughter, created to cover the hiatus between manslaughter by culpable negligence and the non-criminal traffic offense of reckless driving created by section 316.029, Fla. Stat. (1975). McCreary v. State, 371 So.2d 1024, 1026 (Fla.1979).
The culpable conduct necessary to sustain proof of manslaughter under section 782.07 is conduct of “a gross and flagrant character, evincing reckless disregard of human life, or of the safety of persons exposed to its dangerous effects, or there is that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of a conscious indifference to consequences, or which shows wantonness or recklessness, or a grossly careless disregard of the safety and welfare of the public, or that reckless indifference to the rights of others which is equivalent to an intentional violation of them.” Id.
Neither carelessness nor ordinary negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle are sufficient to sustain a conviction for vehicular homicide. By definition, the crime of vehicular homicide requires proof of the elements of reckless driving. See State v. Lebron, 954 So.2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007).
(1) Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
The term “willful” is defined as “intentional, knowing and purposeful” and “wanton” means “with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and with the knowledge that damage is likely to be done to persons or property.” See W.E.B. v. State, 553 So.2d 323 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).
It is important to note that speeding is not itself a necessary component of vehicular homicide, as evidenced by multiple cases upholding convictions for vehicular homicide, despite an absence of any proof of speeding.
The determination of a prima facie case of recklessness in a vehicular homicide case is a fact intensive, ad hoc inquiry. The focus is on the actions of the defendant and, considering the circumstances, whether it was reasonably foreseeable that death or great bodily harm could result. D.E. v. State, 904 So.2d 558, 562 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).
Savoia v. State, 389 So.2d 294 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (finding sufficient evidence to support a vehicular homicide conviction where defendant, driving on a wet road, drove at 90 mph while intoxicated and crashed into a parked truck without attempting to apply brakes).
To prosecute a vehicular homicide charge, the state does not need to prove that the driver had the intent to harm anyone, but instead, that the operation of the vehicle was in a manner likely to cause the death or great bodily injury of another.
At the Sammis Law Firm, we understand the importance of hiring the most qualified expert witnesses, including an accident reconstruction expert in Florida who will play a critical role in the defense. Florida law enforcement officers will conduct their own investigation to support the vehicular manslaughter charges.
The defense should also quickly retain an expert to conduct an independent accident investigation and reconstruction to show defenses that exist in the case.
Our criminal defense lawyers take a scholarly approach to fighting vehicular manslaughter cases including filing motions to suppress evidence, motions to dismiss criminal charges, and motions in limine to exclude prejudicial evidence at trial. The key to obtaining the best result is fighting each aspect of the state’s case and gradual and systematically dismantling the prosecutor’s case piece by piece.
Obtaining hospital medical records of anyone who is injured or dies after the accident because of those injuries.
proof of completion of advanced driver improvement school, or if alcohol or drug-related proof of completion of an approved DUI school.
See §322.28(4)(a) & Bulletin 014-01.
Under Florida Statute § 316.193(3)(c)(3), DUI manslaughter under is an accusation that the accused drove while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and as a result of the DUI, the accused caused or contributed to the cause of the death of victim.
Keep in mind that convictions for both DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide based upon a single death cannot stand because they violate her constitutional right to be free from double jeopardy. See Houser v. State, 474 So.2d 1193 (Fla. 1985) and State v. Chapman, 625 So.2d 838 (Fla. 1993).
Under § 316.027(2)(c), leaving the scene of a crash with death does not require that the vehicle be operated in any particular manner. To establish the crime of leaving the scene of a crash with death, the State need only prove that the defendant left the scene of a crash which resulted in death—not that the defendant caused the death. § 316.027(2)(c) (requiring only that the crash “results in the death of a person”).
causes serious bodily injury or death to another person.
Overview of Vehicular Homicide Laws Across the United States – Visit the MADD website to find an overview of the vehicular homicide laws across all 50 states that summarizes the criminal penalties, the name of the charge, the statute number, and the maximum fine. The article explains why the penalties actually imposed can vary from a few days in jail followed by probation to a life sentence.
If you have been arrested for vehicular manslaughter in Florida, including Hillsborough, Polk, Pinellas, Pasco, or Hernando County, then contact the Sammis Law Firm to discuss ways to aggressively fight the serious charges that have been made against you.
Your freedom and liberty depend on the actions that your attorney takes early in the case, as well as the strategy your criminal defense attorney uses throughout the investigation and prosecution.
Under § 782.071(1)(a), the crime of vehicular homicide requires proof that the defendant (1) kill a human being, (2) by the operation of a motor vehicle, (3) in a reckless manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another.
Our criminal defense attorneys represent both men and women charged with serious driving offenses such as DUI, DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide throughout the Tampa Bay area including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, Dade City, Brooksville, Bartow, Bradenton, and Sarasota, Florida.
This article was last updated on Friday, July 27, 2018.

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