The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that there were 42,514 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2022. This is a tragic statistic, but it is important to know that the law does not treat all of these wrongful deaths the same.
If you experience the wrongful death of a loved one in a car crash, you need to know the difference between vehicular homicide vs. manslaughter. This will help you understand the best way to hold the at-fault party accountable and secure the compensation your family deserves.
What Is Vehicular Homicide?
The difference between homicide and manslaughter is intent. Vehicular homicide is a much more serious crime between the two because it means the person who caused the wrongful death did it on purpose. There was an intent to harm someone, or possibly even premeditation.
In some cases, road rage can lead to vehicular homicide. If a driver loses their temper and retaliates against another driver, they can face criminal charges if someone gets hurt. This behavior goes beyond recklessness or carelessness—it is a targeted action.
What Is Vehicular Manslaughter?
Vehicular manslaughter refers to an accidental death resulting from a car accident. When comparing vehicular homicide vs. vehicular manslaughter, the latter is less severe because the at-fault driver did not intend to hurt anyone through their actions.
Even so, manslaughter is an extremely serious offense. Depending on the circumstances, the at-fault driver may still face felony charges. A lack of intent does not excuse someone for violating their duty of care toward everyone else on the road.
How Can You Get Justice for a Wrongful Death?
Whether the other driver committed vehicular homicide or manslaughter, the police will likely charge them with a criminal offense. They may face significant fines, jail time and other penalties for their wrongful actions.
To fully get justice for your family’s loss, you should also consider pressing civil charges so you can recover financial damages as well. Keep in mind that only a surviving spouse, child or parent of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim. Siblings of the deceased usually cannot file for wrongful death unless the deceased named them as a personal representative.
A wrongful death claim can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The timeline for a wrongful death case depends on the complexity of the case. When the liability is clear and you have strong evidence of your family’s economic losses, your case may resolve quickly. If the insurance company makes it difficult to secure a suitable settlement, it can take much longer for your attorney to negotiate for the outcome you deserve.
Call Sargon Law Group for Your Wrongful Death Case
At Sargon Law Group, we strongly believe that families deserve as much time as they need to grieve for the loss of a loved one. Rather than letting you worry about the specific differences between vehicular homicide vs. manslaughter, our wrongful death attorneys can simply handle every aspect of the legal burden on your behalf.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We are here to help families throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California.