Manslaughter is a crime that has stiff penalties. The crime can apply to situations in which a person caused someone’s death intentionally or unintentionally. Voluntary manslaughter usually includes an element of rage, whereas involuntary manslaughter does not. Involuntary manslaughter happens when the individual does not premeditate murder or intend to kill a person, but his or her actions still resulted in another person’s death. Some of the most common examples of involuntary manslaughter are:
- Fist fights that end in death
- Heat-of-passion incidents
- Intoxicated driver auto accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Reckless driving
- Defective product cases
Penalties for Manslaughter
Manslaughter penalties vary from state to state. Judges consider several factors, such as the brutality of the case, whether the person has a prior record, and whether the person committed the crime while he or she was actively involved in another crime. Florida has a maximum sentence of 15 years for manslaughter convictions. South Carolina locks people away for up to five years for involuntary manslaughter. New Jersey penalizes people with up to 30 years in prison.
How Manslaughter Turns Into Wrongful Death
The element of neglect can easily convert a manslaughter case into a wrongful death case. A reckless driving incident or a medical malpractice incident can quickly become a case in which an injured party seeks compensation for losses. The defendant can end up serving jail time and paying the deceased person’s family hundreds of thousands of dollars for causing such a devastating incident. You may be eligible for compensation if your relative was tragically killed in a manslaughter incident. A Memphis TN personal injury attorney may help you discover the truth about what is owed to you.
Compensation That You Can Receive
There are two main types of compensation that you and your family may receive if an experienced attorney represents you. The first type of compensation is called compensatory damages. Such damages cover costs like funeral expenses, lost work wages for the family, therapy bills and the like. Punitive damages are an extra set of damages that a judge may impose because the crime that the offender committed was so heinous. Punitive damages are meant to punish the offender and compensate your family’s pain and suffering.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
Start your recovery process starts with a phone call to a reliable personal injury attorney. You may schedule a consultation, which is a meeting during which the injured party discusses the incident with an attorney. The attorney may then let you know of the case’s potential, and may offer to represent you. The attorney may start preparing negotiations for an out-of-court settlement the moment the prospective client agrees to the representation. If the offender refuses the out-of-court settlement, the case may proceed to court.
There is no risk involved if you want to speak to an attorney about your situation. The attorney may be able to provide special financing to you if your case has a high win potential. He or she may be able to defer your payment until the case is settled. Speak to someone today about your case. You may be pleasantly surprised to hear that the lawyer can help you and your family to restore your lives.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Patterson Bray for their insight into personal injury practice.
