Dallas Intoxication Manslaughter Defense Lawyer

Intoxication Manslaughter

Some states have one term, “vehicular manslaughter,” to refer to any death that a person accidentally causes while operating a motor vehicle recklessly. Under Texas law, “intoxication manslaughter” is a distinct crime carrying different charges and sentences than other forms of vehicular manslaughter. This charge is closely related to the charge of intoxication assault. The difference is that assault leads to serious bodily injury, while manslaughter leads to death.

A person has committed intoxication manslaughter if they directly caused the death of another person because they were intoxicated while:

• Operating aircraft or watercraft
• Driving a motor vehicle in a public place
• Assembling or operating an amusement park ride

A person involved in an accident that ended in someone’s death will be subjected to a mandatory blood test as a matter of course to determine if they were intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Penalties for Intoxication Manslaughter

Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony. It is punishable by:

• A fine of up to $10,000
• No less than 2 and no more than 20 years in a state penitentiary
• Between 240 and 800 hours of community service

For most people convicted of this crime, the penalties are social as well as legal. Having a charge like manslaughter on your record can severely damage your reputation and hurt your career. If you have been accused of this crime, you will need an excellent Dallas DWI lawyer to assist in your defense.

It can be very frightening to face charges as drastic as intoxication manslaughter. However, there is hope. An experienced defense lawyer will know many different ways to get charges lowered, to minimize your sentence, and perhaps even get the charges dropped.

Contact

Mark Lassiter is a Dallas intoxication manslaughter defense lawyer with years of experience. Contact his offices today by calling 214-457-1668.