Broward DUI Lawyer Blog

A 39-year-old Boca Raton man faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted recently of DUI manslaughter stemming from a crash in 2006, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyers have seen many times how one drink too many leads to a crash that claims a life and changes another forever.

While the charge of DUI manslaughter in West Palm Beach is a terrifying one to face, there are defenses and the charge can be beaten. An experienced lawyer will guide a defendant through the complex and intimidating criminal justice system in an effort to reduce or outright beat the charges they face. No one should experience it alone. In fact, everyone has a right to an adequate criminal defense attorney to stand by their side.

In this case, according to the newspaper report, the man had been drinking at a local sports grill one October night in 2006. He admitted to drinking four Crown Royal and Cokes over several hours at the establishment.

After leaving the bar, he decided to drive home. Prosecutors say it was on the ride home that he was involved in an accident. He was driving above the 45 mph speed limit on Yamato Road when he struck a vehicle driven by a woman. She was making a U-turn in the 2200 block when her vehicle was struck by the defendant's. The article doesn't provide additional details, but goes on to state the woman died from her injuries sustained in the accident.

According to investigators, the man's blood alcohol level was 0.12, above the 0.08 legal limit. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. The defendant now faces up to 15 years in prison.

In any DUI manslaughter case, the state must prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the accident was the fault of the defendant. This means that jurors can't have any doubt that the driver was not only driving while intoxicated, but also their driving caused the accident and the fatal injuries.

While this may seem somewhat simple to those without experience in the criminal justice system, it is far from it. As many may have experienced, proving who caused an accident, even when alcohol is not a factor, is difficult.

If one driver was speeding, but another pulled out in front, who's at fault? If someone makes a turn in a place he or she is not supposed to turn and gets into an accident, police must be diligent in determining who is at fault.

The same goes for accidents where alcohol or drugs are alleged to be a factor. And this is where we get DUI manslaughter charges. If someone dies as a result of an intoxicated driver who causes an accident, that driver can face up to 15 years in prison.

It is a life-changing charge and requires the skills of an aggressive DUI defense lawyer. This can't be taken lightly. As with any felony, the charges can not only result in loss of liberty, but loss of career and reputation as well.