Vehicular Manslaughter Lawyer in Toronto

Helping Our Clients Fight Vehicular Manslaughter Charges

Traffic accidents are always a stressful event. Unfortunately, these incidents can sometimes turn tragic. In some situations, even the survivors of these crashes can have their lives ruined. Oftentimes, this is due to vehicular manslaughter charges.

While traffic deaths may be rising, this doesn’t mean that every fatality constitutes a crime. It’s important to understand Canadian law and how it treats these deaths when they occur. If you have further questions or need experienced legal representation, contact our law firm for a free consultation today.

What Is Vehicular Manslaughter Under Canadian Law?

Vehicular manslaughter is when an individual loses their life due to the negligent, dangerous, or illegal driving behaviours of others. Such behaviours can include anything from driving under the influence to running a stop sign. The penalties for this charge could vary significantly based on the circumstances of the case.
For instance, a charge of dangerous driving causing death can land someone in prison for more than a decade. However, a person charged with drunk driving leading to death could face life in prison. Clearly, there are many potential outcomes to these tragedies — and they’re all life-altering for those facing the charges.

What Underlying Offences Can Lead to Vehicular Manslaughter Charges?

It’s important to remember that a traffic death does not immediately constitute a vehicular manslaughter charge in Canada. There must be some underlying wrongful act. For instance, you should not be convicted of a crime if it was the other driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or motorcyclist who caused the accident through their own negligence.

The following offences most commonly result in vehicular manslaughter charges when they lead to death:

•  Failure to stop for police
• Street racing
• Dangerous driving
• Criminal negligence
• Driving under the influence
• Hit and run

This list may seem short, but it actually covers a wide variety of potential offences. For instance, dangerous driving could include speeding, ignoring traffic signals, improper lane changes, and more. Of course, these cases can sometimes be nuanced and involve complex issues. That’s why anyone charged with vehicular manslaughter in Canada should seek legal counsel.

Is It Possible to Avoid Jail Time?

When wrongful acts lead to someone’s death, the Crown wants to ensure that someone is held accountable. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the accused will have to spend time in prison. Maximum penalties in these cases are certainly serious, but it’s possible that a defendant could be convicted and face nothing more than probation or loss of driving privileges.

As always, this will depend entirely upon the circumstances of the case. The Crown understands that defendants in these cases did not set out to kill someone. However, that doesn’t change the fact that someone died. In cases involving lesser crimes (e.g., negligence), plea negotiations may result in no jail time.

However, there will be instances where the Crown Attorney is “out for blood.” They may offer a plea arrangement that’s unfair — or even no plea deal at all. This is why it’s so important to have a lawyer representing the best interests of those charged with vehicular manslaughter in Canada. They can help defendants understand their rights and options under the law.

What Are Possible Defences for Vehicular Manslaughter Charges?

Being charged with a crime does not mean you’re guilty. Every individual is considered innocent until proven guilty, and it’s the Crown Attorney’s job to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt. Fortunately for those facing these charges, it’s possible to mount a defence that proves your innocence or shows that the Crown doesn’t have enough evidence to support a charge. Every case is different, though, so it’s important to speak with a legal professional. Contact AR Law today at 647-503-5251 for assistance.