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Vehicular Manslaughter

If you have caused the death of a person as a result of a car accident, call a skilled criminal defense attorney in Georgia immediately

Being in a car accident is an upsetting and stressful experience. Much worse than being in a car accident itself, though, is being responsible for a car accident that leads to the death of another person. If you cause a car accident that results in fatal injuries to another, you may face both civil and criminal charges as a result. At the law offices of Ghanayem & Rayasam, our Georgia criminal defense lawyers can provide you with representation if you are facing charges for vehicular manslaughter. To learn more, call our law firm today.

Defining Vehicular Manslaughter in Georgia

In Georgia, there are four different criminal actions that constitute “homicide by vehicle” or vehicular manslaughter. In summary, these include:

Based on the statutes, the way in which a person is killed in a motor vehicle accident and the surrounding circumstances, such as whether the defendant is a habitual traffic offender or leaves the scene of the accident, has an impact on whether the crime is a first- or second-degree offense. Note that second-degree vehicular homicide is considered a misdemeanor offense, whereas first-degree vehicular homicide is a felony.

Penalties for Vehicular Homicide

The penalties that a person may face if they are convicted of vehicular homicide vary depending on the circumstances of the case. For example, a habitual offender who is convicted of vehicular homicide will be sentenced to a prison sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years. For a convicted person who unlawfully left the scene of the accident, the prison sentence will be no fewer than three years but not more than 15 years.

It is important that you consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney who has worked on vehicular manslaughter cases in the past. An attorney can review your case and provide you with information about your defense options and the potential sentence you may face.

Call Our Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Today

At the law office of Ghanayem & Rayasam, our Georgia criminal defense lawyers know how much is on the line and how serious the charges you are facing are. For the attentive and dedicated defense that you deserve, call our Georgia criminal defense lawyers today.

  1. Article - Georgia Jury Trials to Resume - How Is Your Case Affected?

https://www.gratlantalaw.com/georgia-jury-trials-to-resume-how-is-your-case-affected-?.html

Georgia Jury Trials to Resume | Cases Affected?

If you are a defendant in a criminal case awaiting trial, here is what you should know about how your case might be impacted by the decision to allow jury trials to resume.

Georgia Jury Trials to Resume: How Is Your Case Affected?

COVID-19 has severely disrupted the criminal law process. As cases resume in-person, will you be impacted?

For a while in Georgia, criminal cases were put on hold. The courts closed down, and any necessary actions were undertaken online - a process that was critiqued. But when the backlog of cases started building up, and when civil rights activists and lawyers began to raise questions about due process and defendants’ rights to a speedy trial, a continued delay seemed impossible. Now, even though the pandemic rages on, Chief Justice Harold Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia has lifted the seven-month suspension of jury trials in the state. If you are a defendant in a criminal case awaiting trial, here is what you should know about how your case might be impacted by the decision to allow jury trials to resume.

Why is it So Important That Jury Trials Resume?

Most people agree that it is important that jury trials resume. Not only are defendants who are awaiting trial experiencing unreasonable delays--something that may constitute a breach of their Constitutional rights--but lawyers agree that in-person trials are critical for a sound process. In-person, unlike online using applications such as Zoom, jurors and attorneys both need to be able to see body language, emotions, etc. That being said, there is also concern about not being to see jurors’ faces unencumbered by masks during an in-person trial.

Will It Be Safe?

Of course, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether or not resuming in-person jury trials will actually be safe (and feasible). There are concerns about whether or not jurors will want to comply with an order to turn up for a trial, as they may be fearful about contracting the disease. Additionally, it is important that there is a fair cross-section of jurors, a need that is complicated by the fact that the virus has had the biggest impact on low-income communities, communities of color, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions. Before anyone is brought back in-person, safety precautions will need to be implemented.

What Happens if a Juror Gets COVID-19?

Criminal cases are serious, and the outcome of a criminal trial will certainly have a lasting impact on a defendant’s life. One concern that has been brought up is in regards to what will happen if, mid-trial, a juror tests positive for COVID-19. Would the trial cease?

Some, at least, say that it is better to have juror alternates lined up ready to step in if such a circumstance were to occur. What will actually happen in practice, though, is difficult to predict.

Talk to a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

If you are awaiting trial for criminal charges and you do not have a criminal defense lawyer, do not hesitate to consult with one. At the law offices of Ghanayem & Rayasam, our Georgia criminal defense attorneys can help you to understand your rights and your options, will build your defense and work hard to improve the outcome of your case, and will make sure you understand how returning to in-person trials in the midst of a pandemic may impact you. For a consultation, please call our Georgia lawyers today.