Don’t let a DUI manslaughter charge ruin your future - contact our offices today!
Although you may have driven home safely from the bar many times before while under the influence of alcohol, just one accident can change everything. If you hit and kill someone while driving drunk, you can receive a DUI manslaughter charge or even one for DUI murder. DUI lawyers can help you fight your case to prevent these charges from wreaking havoc elsewhere in your life.
At the Law Offices of Denise Kirby, we are open to defending those facing DUI manslaughter charges. With an excellent success rate of around 90% with DUI cases, DUI attorney Denise Kirby has the dedication and drive to represent you effectively in court. When a DUI manslaughter case threatens to destroy your career or personal life, we can aid you.
There is always a level of negligence in DUI manslaughter cases. The severity of the driver’s penalties depends on the type of manslaughter in the case. There are two types of DUI manslaughter:
In the case of ordinary negligence, or second-degree DUI manslaughter, the driver fails to be aware that what they are or are not doing is putting others at risk while driving. This includes inattention and distraction while driving, which involuntarily can lead to an accident resulting in the death of a victim. In this situation, the driver is usually not driving at the level of recklessness found with gross negligence. The driver may still have some level of control over their vehicle, resulting in only ordinary negligence when manslaughter occurs.
Gross negligence, or first-degree DUI manslaughter, occurs when the driver is aware that what they are doing is criminally negligent but does not care about the risk they pose to themselves or others. If a driver kills a pedestrian while acting with extreme recklessness and knowingly does or does not do something that results in a person’s death, this is first-degree manslaughter. Committing vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is a serious offense that requires a skilled attorney to negotiate your case. Whether you have committed DUI manslaughter with ordinary or gross negligence, the Law Offices of Denise Kirby can assist you. We understand the accidental nature of manslaughter and can aid you in negotiating charges to avoid the potentially life-changing adverse effects of committing such offenses.
In Missouri, the penalties for DUI manslaughter charges vary depending on the type of manslaughter and the other conditions of your driving incident. As DUI manslaughter is a felony, total penalties can result in up to 15 years in prison depending on your BAC level and other factors.
The following are penalties for DUI manslaughter:
As with most drunk driving cases, the DMV may also suspend or revoke your license for a time. At the Law Offices of Denise Kirby, we will fight hard to help prevent your license revocation.
Second-degree DUI manslaughter falls under a Class E or Class D felony. It carries a lighter punishment for the offense as the driver is typically unaware of the dangerous actions that lead to this crime.
DUI manslaughter with severe criminal negligence that results in an accidental death may be a Class C or Class B felony, depending on your history of past offenses and current conditions.
First-degree DUI manslaughter may be a Class A felony in cases where you have previously caused the death of multiple victims while drunk, including those who aren’t passengers, or if you test for a BAC of .18% or higher. Those who commit Class A felonies may face imprisonment for 10-30 years or even life.
When you are accused of a DUI manslaughter charge, protecting your future is vital. You don’t have to put your life on hold when an accident occurs. Instead, the services of the Law Offices of Denise Kirby can be of assistance in protecting you against these types of accidents when you are the driver.
We are skilled in dealing with DUI manslaughter cases. Contact the Law Offices of Denise Kirby at 816-221-3691.