Vehicular Manslaughter Defense Lawyer

Motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania can be devastating and leave victims emotionally scarred for years to come. Traffic accidents are scary enough, but the stakes are significantly higher when they result in loss of life. If you have been charged with vehicular manslaughter , it is critical to retain the services of an experienced Pennsylvania vehicular manslaughter defense attorney. The Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. team has helped numerous clients like you overcome vehicular homicide charges. These severe charges can result in the loss of your freedom and your driving privileges. For this reason, it is essential to work with a legal team that you can trust to help you successfully fight to prove your innocence.

Chances are, following the accident in question, you already feel remorseful. However, your guilt mustn’t lead you to make decisions regarding your case that are not in your best interest. Our team can provide sound legal guidance to help avoid a case outcome as tragic as the situation that spurred it.

What Is Vehicular Manslaughter ?

There are two types of vehicular homicide in Pennsylvania: taking another life due to driving under the influence and homicide by vehicle with no impairment involved. Both can be significantly consequential to your freedom and continued ability to enjoy driving privileges in Pennsylvania. Homicide by vehicle with no impairment can occur due to any number of moving vehicle violations, including: 

• Running a red light
• Failing to stop at a stop sign
• Texting while driving
• Driving while impaired by a prescription that specifically cautioned against operating a moving vehicle
• Excessive speeding
• Engaging in street racing
• Displaying road rage towards other drivers or pedestrians

There are many ways that you can break traffic laws that result in the fatality of another. When this happens, you may find yourself facing stiff penalties that require the help of a Pennsylvania vehicular manslaughter defense lawyer.

What Are the Penalties for Vehicular Manslaughter in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, vehicular manslaughter is considered a third-degree felony. A conviction could mean a three-year license suspension, fines ranging as high as $15,000 and up to seven years in prison. However, the circumstances of your case will dictate sentencing, as more severe accidents may cause the prosecution to ask for stiffer sentencing. 

Ultimately, the consequences of this crime depend on your criminal history and driving record, whether you are on probation or have any history of breaking traffic laws egregious enough to cause injury or fatality and where the accident in question took place (for example, in a construction zone). The inclusion of any emergency vehicles in the accident is also a consideration in sentencing. Moreover, it’s important to note that the penalties leveled in a Pennsylvania vehicular homicide accident are stringent, even if the crash was unintentional. 

Vehicular homicide due to a DUI requires a different type of defense entirely, as it is considered a more serious crime in Pennsylvania. This type of vehicular homicide is classified as a second-degree felony in Pennsylvania. This is punishable by a minimum of three years in prison. If there are multiple victims involved, the requirement is three consecutive years for each victim. The prosecution in these cases must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the death occurred due to the accident in question, that you were the one behind the wheel and that you were impaired by drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the accident. 

How a Pennsylvania Vehicular Manslaughter Defense Attorney Can Help

A Pennsylvania vehicular homicide defense lawyer is essential to a successful defense. We will work to prove your innocence through an aggressive defensive strategy. At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C., we have a reputation for being tough and thorough. This has resulted in desirable outcomes for our clients charged with vehicular homicide in Pennsylvania. We can also push for a suspended or deferred sentence to at least help to avoid jail time. There are many types of special conditions that we can pursue instead of incarceration, from paying the victims’ medical expenses to community service. 

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation on Your Pennsylvania Vehicular Manslaughter Case

If you have been accused of a Pennsylvania vehicular homicide, you need legal representation right away. Waiting could cost valuable time in crafting a successful defense for your case. Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. has a reputation for aggressive defensive tactics that have resulted in optimal case outcomes for our clients. We leave no stone unturned in cultivating defense strategies to prove your innocence or mitigate sentencing. 

We are an award-winning law firm with accolades such as U.S. News—Best Law Firms 2021 and AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®. Learn more about how we may be able to help through a free consultation with one of our qualified Pennsylvania vehicular homicide defense lawyers today. Call 215-822-7575 or contact us online. We are located right off Route 309, in Colmar, Hatfield Township, and offer free and convenient parking. We also maintain a Newtown, PA location.