There are few crimes that are worse than murder; thus, facing an accusation of such a crime can significantly impact the life of the accused. Whether it stemmed from an automobile accident or any other type of incident, the unintentional death of a person could cause an individual to face criminal penalties if it is proven that the accused was negligent or reckless.
What are the elements of involuntary manslaughter? To begin, involuntary manslaughter is defined as an unintentional killing that stems from reckless acts, criminal negligence or from an unlawful act that is considered a misdemeanor or lower level felony. The basis of this crime when compared to voluntary manslaughter is that the victim's death was unintentional.
The first element of this crime is that someone was killed as a result of the actions of the accused. The second element is that the act was either inherently dangerous to others or was done with reckless disregard for human life. The third and final element is that the defendant knew or should have known that his or her conduct was a threat to the loves of others.
Because involuntary manslaughter or any other murder charge is serious, it should be treated seriously. Taking steps to initiate a criminal defense could help a defendant poke holes in the case, disprove elements and take steps to reduce or even dismiss that charges against them. Seeking the assistance of an experienced attorney can allow for a strong plan of legal action in such situations.