Fatal Car Accident St. Louis, MO

Our firm understands that no amount of compensation can make up for your loss. However, replacing lost wages, being able to afford medical bills and a proper funeral are vital to moving forward.

A car accident fatality occurs every 16 minutes. Of the dozens of traffic deaths that occur each day, only a few lead to criminal charges. When a motorist is at fault for causing death through reckless or negligent behavior, the motorist may be charged with vehicular manslaughter. However, most traffic deaths are an accident and are categorized as involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

Liability for a Fatal Car Accident

When a driver operates a vehicle under the influence of drugs and causes a car accident that kills someone, the driver can be charged with first-degree involuntary vehicular manslaughter. Depending on the circumstances that led up to the accident, it may be considered a class B or class C felony and may be punishable by up to 5-20 years or 7 years in prison respectively and a fine of up to $5,000. If the person is charged with involuntary vehicular manslaughter to the second degree, which is a class D felony, the penalties include up to 4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. For a person to be charged with voluntary vehicular manslaughter, it must be proved that:

• he/she was driving in either a severely negligent or reckless manner, and
• the reckless or negligent driving behavior caused a fatality

The Cause of Fatal Car Accidents

Many fatal car accidents are a result of driver negligence. Common driving behaviors that can lead to a fatal car accident include:

• Intoxicated driving: Driving under the influence is among the most common causes of fatal crashes. An intoxicated driver can be prosecuted even if the driver was below the legal limit for blood alcohol content.
• Distracted driving: Cell phone usage and texting can cause fatal car accidents. In addition, talking to passengers, eating or driving while driving, and engaging in any activity that requires the driver to take their eyes off the road can cause a fatal accident.
• Driver Fatigue: While drowsy driving is as dangerous as intoxicated driving, a drowsy driver may not be charged with manslaughter unless it is proved that he or she voluntary slept behind the wheel.

Other causes of fatal car accidents include reckless driving and violating traffic safety regulations. Whether or not it warrants an involuntary manslaughter charge depends on the specific circumstances of the case.

Auto Accidents Resulting in Death

No one expects to be involved in a serious car accident, and even fewer expect to tragically lose a family member on the road. The reality, however, is that car accident are very common, especially on the busy roads of St. Louis and its surrounding areas. Common auto accidents that result in death are:

• Side-impact or T-bone car accident
• Read-end collision
• Rollover accident
• Drunk driving accident
• Distracted driving or texting while driving accident
• Head-on car accident
• Truck accident
• Bicycle or pedestrian accident

Our firm understands that no amount of compensation can make up for your loss. However, replacing lost wages, being able to afford medical bills and a proper funeral are vital to moving forward. Chris Hoffmann is a compassionate, yet aggressive lawyer who will see your rights are protected and that you receive the full and fair compensation you deserve.