Vehicular homicide has been in the news a lot lately. It's possibly the most serious motor vehicle offense that a person can commit in Georgia.
Generally, a person who causes the death of another person while committing another driving offense can be charged with vehicular homicide. Below, we've included the circumstances under which a vehicular homicide charge can arise.
DUI
DUI is probably the most common reason for a vehicular homicide charge. If you kill another person while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you can be charged with vehicular homicide in Georgia.
School Bus
Under Georgia law, drivers must stop as soon as a school bus stops to let children out. If you fail to stop and end up killing someone in the process, you can be charged with vehicular homicide.
Failure to Stop
Drivers who are involved in an accident that causes death, injury, or damage to another vehicle must stop immediately and remain at the scene until police arrive. If you kill someone in an accident and then flee the scene, you can be charged with vehicular homicide.
Reckless Driving
Killing someone while driving recklessly will get you a vehicular homicide charge as well. Driving recklessly means that the driver should've known his or her actions were likely to cause injury to another person.
Fleeing Police
If police officers try to pull you over, you should pull over. If you kill someone while fleeing from the police, you can be charged with vehicular homicide in Georgia.
Vehicular homicide is a serious charge that's punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison. If you or someone close to you has been charged with vehicular homicide, it's important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Related Resources:
- Find an Atlanta DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Father accused of driving drunk: Daughters 'crushed' in car (CBS News)
- DUI Offense Basics (FindLaw)
- Man Charged With Vehicular Homicide for DUI Crash (FindLaw's Atlanta DUI Law Blog)
ShareThis
