How Texting and Driving Can Lead to a Manslaughter Conviction

Hundreds of thousands of accidents occur annually because a motorist is texting while driving. You may not think about it while you are traveling down the highway, but looking down at your phone for only a few seconds while surpassing 50 mph means you are traveling up to 40 or 50 yards without looking at the road in front of you. This is clearly dangerous.

Texting and driving results in over 20 percent of teenage fatalities on the roadways and many state legislatures are in the process of implementing bans. With smartphone technology established in our culture, we need to consider whether or not responding to that text is really worth it when we are driving. If we don’t think before we text, we may need a manslaughter defense lawyer in Tampa.

Could Texting Lead to Manslaughter?

You may not think that a simple text could lead to a manslaughter conviction, but a manslaughter defense attorney in Tampa will tell you otherwise. Let’s review the crime of involuntary manslaughter. This type of transgression is the result of criminal negligence. This does not have to be a crime of malice. In fact, involuntary manslaughter is reckless conduct that results in the death of an innocent bystander.

Do the Elements Meet the Criteria?

There are a few major elements at play in determining involuntary manslaughter. Were the defendant’s actions that led to a person’s death highly dangerous? Did the defendant use reckless disregard for human life? Should the defendant have been aware that their actions were putting other lives at risk? If these elements are met, a defendant could be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. In fact, many recent cases across the country have resulted in a guilty verdict for a motorist that was texting and driving, resulting in the death of another person.

Common Involuntary Manslaughter Charges While Driving

If you are grossly negligent on the roadways, you will require a manslaughter defense lawyer in Tampa. Although texting and driving may not be the most common form of involuntary manslaughter, when things go terribly wrong, it can be classified as a criminal act.

Other forms of involuntary manslaughter while driving include:

• Drinking and driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Violating significant traffic laws (excessive speeding or running a red light)
• Driving with a medical condition that prohibits your ability to drive safely

For a free consultation with an experienced manslaughter defense attorney in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.