A motorist who drives recklessly and kills another person will likely face negligent homicide charges.
In West Virginia, causing the death of another person while driving can lead to serious criminal charges. This article covers West Virginia's negligent vehicular homicide laws and the penalties you'll face for a conviction.
How Does West Virginia Define Vehicular Homicide?
In West Virginia, a motorist can be charged with "negligent homicide" (also called "vehicular homicide") for causing the death of another person while driving in reckless disregard for the safety of others.
How West Virginia Law Defines "Reckless Disregard"
Generally, a person acts with negligence by failing to use the care that a reasonable person would under like circumstances. Reckless disregard, on the other hand, involves more egregious conduct. Basically, a person acts with reckless disregard for the safety of others by knowingly doing something that poses a danger to other people; in other words, the person is aware the act is dangerous but opts to do it anyway.
West Virginia Law Requires Proof of Causation for a Vehicular Homicide Conviction
A West Virginia driver can be convicted of negligent homicide only if there's proof that the reckless driving was a legal cause of the death. It's not enough to merely show the defendant drove recklessly and someone died—there needs to be a direct link between the defendant's driving and the death.
West Virginia's Negligent Vehicular Homicide Penalties
Negligent homicide is a misdemeanor in West Virginia. Convicted motorists face up to a year in jail and/or a maximum of $1,000 in fines. A negligent homicide conviction also results in license revocation for up to a year.
Talk to a Criminal Defense Attorney
A negligent homicide conviction comes with serious consequences. If you've been arrested for negligent homicide—or any other crime—get in contact with a criminal defense attorney right away. The facts of every case are different. An experienced defense attorney can explain how the law applies to the facts of your case and help you decide on the best plan of action.
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