Careful If You Run Someone Over And They Died As You Could Be Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter is the term given when a driver kills a person whilst driving which results in the death of the passenger, pedestrian or any other individual. There are many other circumstances where vehicular manslaughter may be used to file a case against someone who has contributed to the death of someone. If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle and is put in hospital, the driver may be charged with reckless driving but if the injured person dies the charge can be changed to vehicular manslaughter.

Other instances that may mean you can be charged with vehicular manslaughter are driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, hit and run, driving while disqualified and driving without the permission of the vehicle's owner. You can be charged with vehicular manslaughter if the police can prove you were driving recklessly and without due care. Unless the person you injures die, then you have a chance the court will give you a lenient sentence or you can even appeal for a lesser charge.

Sentences for being charged with vehicular manslaughter

Depending on the severity of the case, you may be handed out a short sentence or the maximum sentence the judge has power to pass. If it was a case of hit and run, then the sentence is usually high due to the fact that no remorse was shown when the pedestrian was run over. Other factors that are taken into consideration are any previous convictions relating to driving and personal life. Unfortunately there are some cases where drivers manage to escape the prison sentence with only a small fine or community service to do. The chances of this happening are very rare these days but sometimes the judge and jury can take pity on an individual making the sentence less and thus having no impact on loss of income or driving licence suspension.