Motor Vehicular Manslaughter Defense
When you have been involved in an accident in which someone was killed, it is critical to talk to a reputable criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. In Maryland, you could face charges for vehicular manslaughter if you were accused of:
- Reckless driving
- Speeding or other traffic infractions
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Sleeping behind the wheel
Although you did not intend to harm anyone, motor vehicle manslaughter is a felony offense that carries 10 years in prison. In this way, it is no different than manslaughter charges that do not involve car accidents. We urge you to contact us at the Law Offices of Thomas C. Mooney in Upper Marlboro as soon as possible for a free and confidential legal consultation: 301-579-3429.
We Win Tough Cases
Not all drunk driving attorneys or criminal law attorneys are equipped to handle vehicular manslaughter cases. Experienced trial attorney Thomas C. Mooney leads our law office, and he has a long history of winning tough cases, including manslaughter and murder cases.
“I think the defense tore the prosecution apart,” The Washington Post quotes a juror in one of our firm’s first-degree murder cases.
With our law firm in your corner, you can have confidence that every avenue will be pursued to protect your freedom. We take our commitment to our clients very seriously, and we have what it takes to fight for you.
Common Defense Strategies In Vehicular Manslaughter Cases
While every case is different, we often are able to use two strategies to counter the prosecution’s claims. First, Maryland law states that a driver has committed “manslaughter by vehicle” (one form of vehicular manslaughter) if they caused the death of another person while operating their vehicle in a “grossly negligent manner.” Proving gross negligence is a fairly high burden on the prosecutor, who must show that your actions substantially deviated from what a reasonable driver would have done under the same or similar circumstances. This generally goes beyond relatively low-level negligence like driving 10 miles per hour over the limit. We can often find weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case that show they cannot prove gross negligence.
Another crime, called criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle, also carries a challenging level of proof. This law requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant should have known, but failed to perceive, that they were acting in a way that created a substantial and unjustifiable danger to others, and that their actions were a gross deviation from the reasonable standard of care for drivers. Once again, our defense lawyers will build a defense strategy to counter claims that you acted with such extreme disregard and inattention.
Real life is often not black and white. Traffic fatalities are not always 100% one person’s fault. If the victim or the person driving their vehicle contributed to the tragedy, such as by speeding or driving under the influence, we will bring that evidence to light and work to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced.
Vehicular Manslaughter Defense: A Focus On Tearing Apart The Prosecution’s Case
Our job, as your law firm, is not to prove you innocent. The government bears the burden of proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and we will do everything in our power to keep that from happening.
We are successful criminal defense attorneys, in part, because we are highly skilled in legal analysis. We know how to find gaps and inconsistencies, tugging on the threads that hold the state’s case together until it all falls apart.
In order to build a strong defense for you, our early involvement in your case is critical. Contact us as soon as possible after your arrest. We offer free, no-obligation case reviews. Call 301-579-3429 or send us an email to schedule a meeting with an attorney.