Florida DUI Manslaughter Attorney :: Tampa Bay Area Man Receives 26 Years for Fatal DUI Crash

November 1, 2012

Largo, FL – A Tampa Bay area man was sentenced to 26 years in prison Tuesday for a fatal drunken driving crash that seriously injured the other car’s driver and killed its two passengers.

The 31-year-old man was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of DUI-manslaughter and one count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

Authorities claim the man was traveling at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour in June 2011 when he slammed into another driver’s car. His blood alcohol content was recorded as 0.13 percent.

A drunk driving accident that results in a fatality is usually charged as manslaughter in the state of Florida. In these cases, the State must prove that the driver was impaired by drugs, alcohol or any other substance, and that his or her actions while behind the wheel of the vehicle caused or contributed to the death of another person. A DUI manslaughter charge is a second-degree felony in Florida punishable by a mandatory term of at least four years behind bars. Sentences can vary, but you could be facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted. These cases can be very complex and generally require experts to recreate the scene of the crash. Because of the seriousness of charges, it is important to enlist the help of a Florida DUI Manslaughter Attorney right away who is experienced in handling these charges.

In order to successfully defend a DUI manslaughter case, it is vital to know what evidence to look for. At Whittel & Melton, our Florida DUI Lawyers carefully examine the investigation of the accident and explore any careless or reckless actions of the other driver which could have caused or contributed to the crash. With careful scrutiny, it may be determined that a drunk driver did not actually cause an accident that resulted in a death or serious bodily injury. Our firm exhausts every viable defense so that you can avoid the overwhelming consequences of a DUI manslaughter conviction. Often, we employ our own experts to recreate the crash site to best challenge the State’s version of events leading up to the collision.

If you or someone you love is facing serious criminal charges such as DUI Manslaughter or DUI Serious Bodily Injury in the Tampa Bay area or anywhere throughout the state of Florida, it is important to act quickly so that an effective defense can be mounted while evidence is still fresh. Contact a Florida DUI Lawyer at Whittel & Melton online or call our Pinellas County office at 727-847-2299. Reach us anytime statewide and toll-free by dialing 866-608-5529.