Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Bail Review & Reduction
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
• Conspiracy
• Criminal Threats
• Domestic Violence
• Driving with A Suspended License
• Drug Possession
• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
• Elder Abuse
• Embezzlement
• Expungements
• Hit and Run
• Housing Violations
• Juvenile Defense
• License Defense
• Nursing License Defense
• Murder
• Police Misconduct Litigation
• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
• Prostitution
• Public Intoxication
• Sex Crimes
• Indecent Exposure
• Solicitation of Prostitution
• Rape
• Theft Charges
• Robbery
• Purse Snatching
• Burglary
• Petty Theft
• Embezzlement
• Identity Theft
• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

When an Accident Leads to Vehicular Manslaughter in California

Car accidents happen on a daily basis in California. There are small “fender benders” and serious accidents that lead to death. While the possibility of an accident is not something you tend to focus on regularly, things can quickly change. If you were at fault in a car crash that led to someone’s death, you could be facing some severe charges. In fact, you might be accused of vehicular manslaughter.

Vehicular manslaughter can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony offense. The prosecution will look at whether you were engaging in negligent actions at the time of the deadly crash. If you were drunk when the accident took place, you could be charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, which falls under California Penal Code 191.5(b).

If You Were Drunk When the Fatal Crash Occurred

For the prosecution to successfully convict you of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, they will have to prove that you were in fact driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They will also need to show that you were driving in a negligent manner, which led to the other person’s death.

What you need to understand is that if you were drunk when the accident happened, the prosecution will likely charge you with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, even if you believe the crash was unavoidable or you were not at fault. The assumption is that since you were drunk, you are the one to blame.

If You Were Not Drunk When the Fatal Crash Occurred

Even if you were not drunk when the accident took place, you could still be charged with vehicular manslaughter. The prosecution will need to show that you committed an unlawful act while driving and were grossly negligent. For example, if you were speeding or driving recklessly, it could be considered an unlawful act. Gross negligence could come into play too, which basically means you disregarded the safety of others.

When to Call a South Bay Criminal Attorney

If you have been accused of vehicular manslaughter in the South Bay area of California, contact the Law Offices of McGregor & Ernenwein right away. We may be able to get your charges reduced or even dismissed. Our South Bay criminal attorneys will aggressively defend you.
For more information, call us today at 310-782-0552 or 877-338-4489.