Sadly, fatal accidents happen all the time on Missouri roadways. One second a driver is going down the road, the next second there is a crash. From a legal standpoint though, in some cases, police may have reason to believe the driver who caused or contributed to the accident was criminally negligent and the driver could end up facing an involuntary manslaughter charge.
The thing with this charge is, just because the word “involuntary” is in the name, one should not take this to mean the consequences are any less severe. In fact, an involuntary manslaughter charge in Missouri is one of the most serious felony charges a person could face, as a conviction could lead to a 15-year prison sentence.
A recent fatal accident shows just how a person could end up in this situation. In this case, a 21-year-old is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge after the passenger in the car he was driving died from the injuries sustained in a crash on Interstate 70. It is suspected the 21-year-old driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
In the crash, both the driver and passenger were ejected from the car. While the passenger ended up passing away from his injuries, the driver lived and is now facing criminal charges.
In looking at a case like this, while no one knows for sure what happened or what will happen, anyone who finds himself or herself in a similar situation will want to retain the services of an attorney. Facing such serious consequences should not be taken lightly.
