A Colorado man is currently facing charges in connection with an accident that occurred earlier this month in Aurora. The accident, which involved three vehicles in a chain reaction crash, left a man and a woman dead. The man who is responsible for the crash apparently turned himself in to police, who say he had just left a bar and was speeding immediately prior to the accident. He has since been charged with vehicular homicide and drunken driving.
Cases involving charges of vehicular homicide are obviously serious, and the consequences of conviction can seriously impact an offender’s future. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the sentencing range for vehicular homicide goes up to 12 years, and in cases involving aggravating factors, up to 24 years.
Those who are unfortunate enough to become involved in an accident like this should understand that they still have legal rights that need to be protected and that working with an experienced attorney can ensure they received the advocacy they need to minimize the consequences of charges. At a basic level, criminal defense has the purpose of ensuring that prosecutors are held to their full burden of proof in establishing evidence in support of each element of each offense for which they seek conviction.
It is especially important in vehicular homicide cases based on alleged drunk driving that prosecutors are held to their full burden of proving intoxication. Some of the same issues that come into play in DUI defense can come into play in these cases as well, and working with an experienced attorney can help ensure that one’s rights receive the advocacy they deserve.