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Vehicular Homicide A Team Who Will Tenaciously Defend You Every Step of the Way

Nashville Vehicular Homicide Attorneys

What is Vehicular Homicide?

Vehicular homicide is one of those crimes that non-criminals are often accused of. That is, normal, law-abiding people with no intention to harm anyone are charged because of the results of a breath, urine, or blood test after a fatal car accident. The amount of alcohol involved may have been modest, and yet the allegedly at-fault driver may face serious criminal charges.

The person who was killed may have even caused the accident by committing a traffic violation. The person who died may have been a jaywalking pedestrian โ€” who may also have been drinking before the accident. However, when the evidence of the blood alcohol content test of one of the drivers turns up a BAC of .08% or higher โ€” even the less responsible one โ€” that person is typically charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Have you been arrested for vehicular homicide? Call May & McKinney, PLLC, today at (615) 265-6383 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our vehicular homicide lawyers in Nashville.

Tennessee Vehicular Homicide Charges

When a death occurs, vehicular homicide charges are often brought against a driver with a blood alcohol content above a certain level, even a driver who did not disobey any rules of the road.

According to Tennessee Code ยง 39-13-213, however, vehicular homicide charges should only apply if a driver recklessly causes a fatal traffic accident as a result of:

  • Engaging in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death;
  • Under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; or
  • Engaging in drag racing.

These charges may also apply if a driver acts recklessly in a construction zone and kills a Department of Transportation or highway construction worker.

Vehicular Homicide By Intoxication in Tennessee

Many drivers are well aware of Tennessee's strict laws pertaining to drunk driving, but not everyone realizes how complex the trial and sentencing process can be.

For example, there is an aspect of Tennessee law that provides judges with wide discretion in sentencing individuals convicted of vehicular homicide involving alcohol. In some cases, a person found guilty of vehicular homicide may face a lighter sentence than a person convicted of drunk driving multiple times.

Perhaps the main factors affecting a judge's decision in such a case are what sort of sentence the family of the deceased wants for the driver and whether the driver has any previous convictions. There have been some cases in which people convicted of vehicular homicide have avoided jail time and been sentenced to eight to 12 years of probation instead. Such cases are very rare, though.

If you have been accused of vehicular homicide involving alcohol, one thing to remember is that the prosecution must prove that the proximate cause of the death and the accident was alcohol. Depending on the facts of a particular case, it may be possible to have the charge reduced or even dismissed.

Contact Our Vehicular Homicide Lawyers Today

As with any other criminal case, every element should be examined carefully. Simply being involved in or even causing a fatal accident does not necessarily warrant a vehicular homicide charge. Our Nashville vehicular homicide lawyers at May & McKinney, PLLC, will look to every possible defense to challenge such charges. We also offer additional insight on this important topic on our page: Defending a Vehicular Homicide Case.

Contact May & McKinney, PLLC, today to get started on your defense with our Nashville vehicular homicide attorneys.

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Read Our Client Testimonials

At May McKinney, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

    "Simply Awesome"

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    In the darkest and most ashamed moment of my life, Mr. McKinney with all of his kindness, encouragement, and unsurpassed knowledge for the Tennessee law was by my side. I am nearly 60 years old and never had a conflict in my life, let alone one that involved an uncontrollable emotional reaction, that resulted in a physical altercation. Yet under the influence of prescribed drugs for insomnia, anxiety management, and alcohol, I made a grave mistake which resulted in Class C Aggravated Assault Felony Charge. To complicate matters, I am not a resident of Tennessee. It goes without saying that Mr. McKinney has earned the utmost respect as a top tier lawyer from the Tennessee court system. He was able to professionally articulate my case to the court, emphasizing that I risk losing employment, showed that I voluntarily turned myself in, and that I was a first-time offender. The court listened to him and as a result he was able to negotiate terms that far exceeded my expectations. I spent a lot of time between my arrest and court appearance researching the standard outcomes for an aggravated assault charge in the State of Tennessee, and based on what I read, I expected the worst judgement to be passed down. Mr. McKinney however worked with the court system to not impose jailtime and an opportunity to have the charges expunged from my record. I know that I will forever be ashamed and grieve over the event, but he was able to provide me with the opportunity to work the rest of my life making this right to the victim, my family, and others that were emotionally impacted. Mr. McKinney is worth his weight in gold. He knows the law. He is respected. He is highly skilled as a lawyer. He is the very best. I only wish I met and got to know of him under better circumstances.
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    Savannah was absolutely amazing! She made me feel at ease during a very stressful time, reassuring me every step of the way that my case was in good hands. Her confidence in achieving the best outcome was completely justified. I reached out frequently with questions and she or the team always responded promptly and thoroughly. On top of their exceptional service, their pricing was better than any other law firm I contacted. I would recommend May McKinney a thousand times over!
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    "Rob McKinney in an amazing attorney he will always be my first choice!"
    I seriously can’t give this guy enough credit! I’ve made a few bad choices in my lifetime before I got it together and I’ve had rob mckinney represent me for most of it. No doubt at all that he’s the best man for the job. He’s got me the best possible outcome and always went above and beyond for me every step of the way. Rob is such a genuine person and truly cares! If you’re looking for a great lawyer look no further mr. McKinney is your guy!
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    "You Made a Difficult Situation Endurable"

    Thank you so very much for all you have done and are still doing. Thank you for being such a great attorney in our time of need. You made a difficult situation endurable.

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    Thanks once more for your ability to get it reduced and if I ever need legal assistance in the future, you have proven yourself to me.
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    There are precious times in our lives when we are blessed with people who make a difference.
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