Misdemeanor Vehicular Manslaughter

What is Misdemeanor Vehicular Manslaughter?

Motorists who unintentionally cause accidents that happen in the deaths of passengers, occupants of other vehicles, or pedestrians may end up being charged using the crime of vehicular manslaughter (also known as vehicular homicide). Vehicular manslaughter charges are pursued as soon as the motorist had been under the influence of medications or alcohol, or driving recklessly (or merely carelessly), or otherwise driving in an illegal manner—each state specifies the circumstances that will support charging this criminal activity.

The crime of vehicular manslaughter is a relative newcomer to the list of homicide offenses. Before, these drivers were charged with manslaughter (unintentionally killing someone as a result of criminal negligence or recklessness). But juries were frequently hesitant to attach the onus of "manslaughter" to a traffic accident. "Vehicular manslaughter" addressed this reluctance by typically offering for lesser penalties than manslaughter itself.

misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter | san diego criminal defense attorney