lawyer in columbus ohio

In the state of Ohio, the safety of all drivers and their passengers is of the utmost concern. Unfortunately, auto accidents remain one of the leading causes of death for Americans, especially young children and young adults. Because of the sobering statistics, the state legislature has sought to deter unsafe driving habits by stiffening the penalties for traffic-related offenses.

Vehicle homicide is the criminal offense of causing the death of another human being or unborn child while operating a motor vehicle. There are varying degrees of such a crime, with aggravated vehicular homicide being the most serious offense, followed by vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter. With aggravated vehicular homicide, certain aggravating factors were present at the time of the accident. These factors can elevate a standard homicide or vehicular manslaughter case into aggravated vehicular homicide.

Lawyer In Columbus Ohio

The most common aggravating factor is alcohol. When an individual kills another person in a drunk driving accident, they will most likely be charged with aggravated homicide. Furthermore, Ohio's impaired driving laws not only encompass alcohol intoxication, but they include driving while under the influence of illegal drugs and controlled substances as well.

Such homicide is not limited to drug or alcohol use. A person can be found guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide if they were found to be driving in a reckless manner which displayed a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of other people or property. A good example would be drag racing, if a person was racing at 65 mph in a 25 mph zone and struck and killed a pedestrian, they could be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.

In addition to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or reckless driving, a person can be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide if they cause the death of another person while driving recklessly in a construction zone. Ohio legislature added this new aggravating factor in 2004, in order to combat unsafe and hazardous driving in the state's construction zones.

It's tragic that anyone can accidentally cause the death of another human being if they are involved in an auto accident, but it happens every day. In Ohio, a person can be criminally charged for accidentally killing another person in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of whom they are or if they don't have a prior criminal record. What this means is that even if you are a young college student with a promising career ahead of you, even if you are a medical doctor or a lawyer, or if you are a stay at home mom with kids at home, you could still be criminally convicted if you kill another person with your motor vehicle. For this reason, it is absolutely critical that you enlist the services of an experienced attorney. You don't want your future and your fate to be solely in the hands of the criminal justice system.

In Ohio, aggravated vehicular homicide when impaired is a second degree felony. Penalties for a second degree felony can include up to 8 years in prison and up to ,000 in fines. If the driver was under suspension at the time of the offense, then the offense is charged as a first degree felony which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and ,000 in fines. If you or someone you love has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, it is extremely important that you enlist the services of a skilled and knowledgeable Columbus criminal defense attorney immediately. A conviction can destroy your life; therefore, you will need an aggressive and meticulous lawyer to fight on your behalf.

Explaining Aggravated Vehicular Homicide