When a person accused with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) is also accused of unintentionally killing someone due to that action, the result is a DUI manslaughter charge. This is considered a felony of the first degree and can crush those convicted with harsh punishments ranging from:
- Three to 15 years in prison
- Three years driver’s license suspension
- Mark on a criminal record
- Restitution to the victim’s family
If you have been charged with a DUI manslaughter charge in Savannah, Georgia, you need to know what to expect, and what to do to defend yourself against this serious accusation.
Time is of the Essence – Act Quickly
In so many criminal defense cases, the major factor in proving one’s innocence, or at least reducing their charges to something less severe, is time. When you have been pinned as the responsible party in a DUI manslaughter case, you can expect that the prosecution is already gathering evidence and constructing a case to use against you. In fact, the moment you were arrested, everything you said and did was being carefully monitored by the arresting officer; the entire purpose of the Miranda warning is to make you aware of this fact.
The wise choice is to start developing a case of your own, one that defends your rights and treats you fairly in the eyes of the law, with the help of a professional Savannah DUI attorney. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that things will start to fall out of your favor.
Evidence is Not a Bad Thing
A lot of the time when someone is accused of a crime they did not commit, or facing accusations that are inaccurate or exaggerated, they are instinctively afraid of any evidence that could be found. The idea that many people have is that the more evidence there is, the worse their odds in course. That is simply not the case when you protect yourself with an experienced DUI lawyer.
You should be expecting the prosecution to bring forth some form of evidence, and therefore you need someone who can analyze and deconstruct it on your behalf. It might be a breathalyzer result that shows you blew a 0.12%, but was the device even accurate? It could be an eyewitness testimony from someone who says you sped down the highway, but were they actually even there?
The inverse is that evidence, or a lack thereof, can be used to your advantage. Maybe there are no tire tracks at the scene, indicating you were not speeding? Perhaps a sales receipt actually gives you a solid alibi? Whatever you think might be helpful to your case, share it with your DUI lawyer to see if it can prove useful.
Litigation is Deceptively Tricky – Get Legal Counsel
Even if you honestly feel it should be a clear cut case and that you are totally innocent of your DUI manslaughter charges, things can quickly spin out of your control if you go to court unprepared. Call (912) 385-0854 to speak the professionals at Schneider Lerch, LLC today. Our Savannah DUI attorneys can study your case and present your legal options through a confidential consultation.