Difference between Vehicular Homicide and DUI Manslaughter 

Typically, any DUI charge needs the help of a DUI attorney to protect the rights of the indicted. It becomes even more crucial to employ a professional DUI attorney if the DUI charge is combined with a vehicular homicide or manslaughter charge.  

These lawyers work hard to protect their customers to obtain the best possible result as they navigate the justice system. This might include dismissal (allowing the accused to freely walk) or lowering of charges.  

You should talk to Tampa DUI lawyers about your case’s details if you’re charged with DUI vehicular homicide or DUI manslaughter.  

What’s DUI 1st Degree Vehicular Homicide 

This is actually an extremely severe felony charge compared to a DUI 1st degree manslaughter. A DUI attorney might try to appeal this charge to the lower felony charge of 1st-degree manslaughter. If possible, an experienced lawyer can lower the charge to a misdemeanor, 2nd-degree manslaughter charge. This will greatly vary on your criminal record. For example, this appeal will have a better possibility of success if there are positive mitigating conditions. This includes: 

• Your car had a defective component that greatly contributed to your inability to handle the car and which led directly to the accident. 
• A medical condition was a huge factor for why you’re DUI. For example, you were under the care of a doctor and you weren’t informed of the dangers of taking prescribed medication when combined with alcohol. Because of drinking alcohol and taking your medication, you weren’t able to run your car safely.  

• You’ve never been accused of a DUI or other severe car violation. 
• This is your 1st DUI charge. 

What’s a DUI 1st Degree Manslaughter Charge? 

If a motorist is charged with this, the reason is that there’s a fair belief that the person consumed drugs and/or alcohol before using the car and causing an accident that killed a person. The driver might be charged first with DUI 1st-degree manslaughter. This is a felony. However, the charges will be elevated later to vehicular homicide. It is an even more severe felony. This is particularly true if the judge thinks this is needed due to the criminal driving history of the person or based on the evidence. Because of this, it is vital to hire a DUI attorney from the start. A DUI attorney can be involved in the process of negotiating with the judge as to how you’ll be charged. It can make a huge difference in the result of the case if you avoid getting charged with severe crimes.  

If you’re convicted for DUI 1st-degree manslaughter, you might have to experience these things: 

• Years of probation after prison release. 
• Frequent and regular alcohol and drug testing. 
• Mandatory participation in a substance abuse rehab program. 
• Expensive fines. Usually, around thousands of dollars.  
• Up to 15 years of jail time. However, this term might differ from one state to another. A DUI attorney can offer you with a precise term length based on your case’s condition. 

• Permanent, long term, or temporary loss of driver’s license privileges.