Savannah GA Vehicular Homicide Lawyer

Vehicular Homicide in Georgia

 

Driving a motor vehicle seems like a very mundane and routine part of our day to day lives, but the fact is that a single event that can happen within a split instant can have devastating impact. Nobody goes out on the road intending to commit the crime of vehicular homicide, but it happens, and it is sobering to consider the enormity of the responsibility that we all undertake when we get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

 

In Georgia, the crime that is generally known as vehicular homicide is referred to formally as "homicide by vehicle," and depending on the circumstances, the charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. Circumstances that would warrant a felony charge of first degree homicide by vehicle include improper passing of a school bus resulting in death; hit and run or leaving the scene of a fatal accident; reckless driving that caused a fatality; causing death while driving while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance or substances; and fatalities resulting from an attempt to elude a law enforcement officer or officers. Someone who had a history of repeat offenses may also be charged with first degree homicide by vehicle in Georgia.

 

The penalty for first degree homicide by vehicle in the state of Georgia includes five to fifteen years of incarceration, and of course that is just one aspect of the penalty which includes fines, loss of license, etc. The misdemeanor or second degree charge of homicide by vehicle carries with it a fine of as much as $1,000 and up to a year in jail, or both, and this is at the discretion of the judge assigned to the case. This charge is leveled against drivers who had no intent to kill or endanger anyone and who simply committed a traffic infraction that resulted in the death of another.

 

Clearly, homicide by vehicle is a charge that can take away one's freedom for a significant length of time. Anyone facing such a case would be advised to consult with a competent Georgia criminal attorney who specializes in vehicular homicide cases and understands how to prepare a proper defense.

 

If you are accused of vehicular homicide in Georgia, then call a Savannah defense attorney.