When a death arises from a Riverside County DUI-related accident, the driver could find himself facing an involuntary manslaughter conviction and a series of penalties and fines including prison time and loss of license. When this possibility is added to the stress and trauma of a deadly accident, it can be overwhelming and traumatic in and of itself. Here’s what you need to know about involuntary manslaughter and DUI:

What is manslaughter, anyway? According to the law, manslaughter is homicide without malice; that is, unjustified homicide that is committed without the intention to kill. Manslaughter is further divided into two categories: voluntary and involuntary. In voluntary manslaughter, an intentional killing results without prior intent, such as a “heat of passion” crime or a killing in self-defense. Involuntary manslaughter is unintentional killing that results from a misdemeanor or mild felony such as driving under the influence. The victim’s death in an involuntary manslaughter is generally unintended.

Though you may not intend for a death to occur when you drink and drive, the consequences for just that can be incredibly serious and go above and beyond normal DUI penalties. These cases are more complex to defend than normal Riverside County DUI cases because they involve an accident component, which required extra investigation and has numerous pitfalls for the accused person. Since police reports are prepared so quickly, they often have a strong bias against the intoxicated driver. What’s more, DUI manslaughter can be charged even if the accident was unavoidable.

Depending on whether the case is tried as a misdemeanor or a felony, potential penalties for vehicular manslaughter can vary from one to ten years in jail or state prison. Due to the severity of these potential penalties – and the damage an involuntary manslaughter DUI conviction can do to your personal and professional reputation – it is highly recommended that anyone facing these charges do so with the help of an experienced, competent and effective Riverside County DUI defense attorney.

The Law Offices of Steven R. Brodsky specialize in DUI cases, including involuntary manslaughter DUI. Call today for more information and a free, confidential case consultation. Your freedom could be on the line.