Fighting Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated Charges in L.A.

Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys know it can be stressful and scary to be arrested for drunk driving in California. This stress increases considerably when the pending charges including gross vehicular manslaughter.

Under California Penal Code Section 191.5, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the killing of another without malice aforethought. If you or someone you love has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney who has had a successful track record of fighting these types of charges.

Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is always charged as a felony in California. The severity of the penalties for a conviction depends on the circumstances of the case. Defendants could face up to four, six, or even 10 years in prison. If you have been previously convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter or if you have two or more prior DUI convictions, you can face 15 years in prison. If there are any surviving victims who sustained great bodily injury, you could face an additional three- to six-year prison sentence.

To obtain a conviction in such cases, the prosecution must prove that you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. They will also have to show that you negligently committed an unlawful act or a lawful act that was dangerous in addition to the DUI and that your negligence resulted in the death of another individual.

A skilled drunk driving defense lawyer will conduct a thorough and independent investigation and ensure that your legal rights are protected every step of the way.