Source: https://www.mdlfirm.com/vehicular-manslaughter/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:22:17+00:00

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Have You Been Arrested or Charged With California Vehicular Manslaughter?
You Need The Best Los Angeles Vehicular Manslaughter Lawyer!
If the conduct doesn’t rise to the level of gross negligence, the offense will be charged as misdemeanor (or ordinary) vehicular manslaughter under Penal Code § 192(c)(2).
Ordinary negligence is simply “the failure to use reasonable care to prevent reasonably foreseeable harm to oneself or someone else.”  A defendant is negligent if he or she does something a reasonably careful person would not do in that situation, or fails to do something a reasonably careful person would do.
If the defendant was intoxicated while driving, the offense will be charged as vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under Penal Code § 191.5. Like vehicular manslaughter, there are separate offenses for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with ordinary negligence. These offenses have the same elements as their Penal Code § 192(c) counterparts, with the additional element that the defendant be intoxicated while driving.
Vehicular manslaughter is a “lesser included offense” of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. If the prosecutor cannot prove the defendant was intoxicated but can prove the elements of vehicular manslaughter, the defendant can be convicted of the lesser included offense.
You Need The Best Vehicular Manslaughter Defense Lawyer!
Vehicular manslaughter as a result of ordinary negligence is a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
However, vehicular manslaughter as a result of gross negligence is a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The prosecutor will look at the circumstances of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history, if any, to determine whether to charge the offense as a misdemeanor or felony. If charged as a misdemeanor, the maximum sentence is one year in jail.
If charged as a felony, the punishment is two, four, or six years in state prison. This offense is a strike. Under federal immigration law, it is a crime involving moral turpitude, and may be an aggravated felony based on the sentence imposed.
This offense also carries a fine. For misdemeanors, the fine can be up to $1,000. For felonies, the fine can be up to $10,000.
Vehicular manslaughter for financial gain is always a felony. A defendant faces four, six, or ten years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The offense is a strike. Under federal immigration law, it is a crime involving moral turpitude, and may be an aggravated felony based on the sentence imposed.
Under Vehicle Code § 13351, the DMV is required to revoke your driver’s license for three years if you are convicted of gross negligence vehicular manslaughter under Penal Code § 192(c)(1) or vehicular manslaughter for financial gain under Penal Code § 193(c)(3).
Vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with gross negligence is a felony, and is punishable by four, six, or ten years in state prison. This offense is a strike. Under federal immigration law, this offense is a crime involving moral turpitude and may be an aggravated felony.
What Are The Best or Most Common Vehicular Manslaughter Defenses?
Emergency: If your driving was a response to an accident or emergency, such as swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle, you did not act negligently, and you cannot be guilty of vehicular manslaughter.
Causation: Even if you drove negligently, you cannot be convicted of vehicular manslaughter if your actions were not a substantial factor in the victim’s death.
Intoxication: Just like any other driving under the influence case, if the prosecutor cannot prove you were intoxicated, by either BAC level or subjective symptoms, you cannot be guilty of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. You can, however, still be guilty of vehicular manslaughter.
Vehicular manslaughter charges carry serious penalties, including immigration consequences and the suspension of a driver’s license. An attorney with experience in vehicular manslaughter defense can use the defenses above, as well as others, to keep a vehicular manslaughter conviction off your record. Call our office at 877-375-8188 for a free consultation with the best vehicular manslaughter defense attorneys, who can evaluate the details of your case for potential defenses.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter?
Do not speak to the police. If police try to question you, politely but firmly tell them that you do not wish to speak to them and that you are invoking your constitutional rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present during any questioning.
Do not speak to the victim’s family or witnesses. You may be feeling guilt about the victim’s death and want to apologize; however, you may not be legally at fault for their death. Do not make any admissions of guilt before speaking to an attorney.
Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you in your California vehicular manslaughter case. Call Moaddel Law Firm today at 877-375-8188 for a FREE case evaluation.
California Penal Code § 192(c) defines vehicular manslaughter as causing the death of another person by negligently driving a vehicle.

References: § 192
 § 191
 § 192
 § 13351
 § 192
 § 193
 § 192