CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles Involuntary Manslaughter

Facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in Los Angeles is a serious legal matter. While this might not carry as harsh a sentence as other murder charges, it still has the ability to ruin someone’s life. California criminal law defines involuntary manslaughter as unintentionally killing someone during the commission of a non-felony crime, acting recklessly or negligently, and causing someone’s death. This charge is commonly referred to as criminally negligent homicide because the person accused of the crime did not intend to kill the alleged victim.

An involuntary manslaughter charge is a lot easier for prosecutors to bring to trial as compared to murder charges since intent to kill is not needed. A conviction of this crime might result in a prison sentence of up to four years. It is also essential to understand that the prosecution only needs to prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction. These include proving that someone died as a result of something the accused did, what the accused did was reckless or dangerous, and that they knew that their actions could have put the deceased person’s life in danger.

The aftermath of a fatal accident is often chaotic and confusing, and most people are unaware that their actions could have such severe consequences. One example is the prevalence of texting while driving. If an individual was glancing at their cell phone while driving and accidentally hit another vehicle, resulting in a traffic fatality, they could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. During that moment of distraction, there likely was no conscious decision to violate traffic safety rules or act recklessly. The accused might not have thought about the potential consequences of their actions at that moment.

It is vital to contact a criminal defense attorney with experience defending individuals charged with involuntary manslaughter. Before making statements to law enforcement officials, the accused must know their legal rights to avoid unintentionally incriminating themselves. Any unguarded comments made in the immediate aftermath of the incident could affect the outcome of the trial.

If a driver was texting while driving and hit another vehicle, the prosecution must prove that the accused was looking at their cellphone at the time of the accident. Commonly, there might not be evidence proving that the accused was texting while driving, but an admittance of such facts can drastically affect the case.

In the -case scenario, the accused’s criminal defense lawyer will argue that they are not guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Common defenses include that it was an accident, that prosecutors don’t have sufficient evidence to prove their case, or that the accused was acting in self-defense.

If you or someone you know is accused of involuntary manslaughter, it is advised to contact a Los Angeles involuntary manslaughter defense lawyer to provide legal advice and representation. The criminal defense firm can advise the accused of their legal rights and help to get the charges dismissed, talk the prosecution into a lesser charge that will protect them from a criminal conviction, or defend their case at trial if needed.