OWI Causing Death Lawyers in Lansing, MI

OWI Causing Death Lawyers in Lansing, MI

Providing an Aggressive Defense from Felony Charges

When a driver causes a car accident while intoxicated, resulting in the death of another person, they could be charged with a felony that Michigan law calls an OWI Causing Death. If convicted, this offense can lead to collateral consequences that can affect their life for years. After all, the penalties for this type of drunk driving charge can include prison time, loss of driving privileges, fines, and more.

If you’re facing OWI Causing Death charges, you should reach out to Manley & Manley to learn about your legal defense options from an experienced OWI causing death defense attorney. Our trusted team is skilled at defending clients from serious OWI charges and can build a strong defense case for you. Call our Lansing, MI, criminal defense law firm to learn more.

What Do OWI Causing Death Charges Mean According to Michigan Law?

If you don’t understand the crime you’re being charged with, you should learn what OWI charges are and what the prosecutor must prove to get you convicted. In Michigan, if you’re visibly impaired behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, you could be arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), also called Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

In most cases, the police officer will ask you to complete a blood or breath test to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC). If the test results show your BAC is at or above 0.08%, you’ll be arrested for an OWI, which is usually a misdemeanor as long as it’s your first offense and there are no aggravating factors.

On the other hand, if you’re accused of causing a motor vehicle accident that resulted in serious injury or death to someone, you’re facing a felony OWI charge. For your case to end in an OWI Causing Death conviction, the prosecutor must prove that you were operating your vehicle with an unlawful bodily alcohol content of 0.08% or higher, resulting in a severe car accident causing death.

If it can be proven that the victim’s death was a direct and natural result of your decision to drive after you consumed alcohol or any other intoxicating substance, you could be convicted of DUI Causing Death. This can lead to severe penalties, including a long prison sentence and driver’s license revocation, so you should hire a DUI defense attorney to protect you from DUI Causing Death charges in Michigan. Contact our Lansing law office to start your felony DUI defense case.

What Criminal Penalties Can You Expect If Convicted of OWI Causing Death Charges in Michigan?

OWI Causing Death charges can lead to severe penalties, which is why it’s recommended that you hire an OWI causing death defense attorney in Lansing who will do everything possible to avoid this type of OWI conviction. After all, a DUI Causing Death in Michigan is a felony punishable by a prison sentence of up to 15 years, as well as fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

In addition, you can expect to face driver’s license revocation, community service, and restitution to the victim’s family. When you have a felony on your criminal record, you will lose certain rights, such as the right to own a firearm or vote. Felony charges also often make it difficult to get a job or be approved for housing once you’ve completed your jail time.

In some cases, your penalties could be more severe, assuming the prosecutor can prove certain elements. For example, if you were driving with a minor in your vehicle while impaired, your prison sentence could last up to 20 years. You could face the same enhanced punishment if you did not have a valid driver’s license or car insurance, or if you had a prior conviction for operating while intoxicated.

Serious impairment can also lead to harsher penalties, since you could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison if your blood alcohol content was 0.17% or higher at the time of the crash. This is also the case if the victim in the fatal accident was a firefighter, emergency response provider, police officer, or other emergency response personnel. A Lansing DUI causing death defense attorney can review your case to determine the possible penalties, so call our law office today.

What Are Some Effective Defense Strategies for Michigan OWI Causing Death Charges?

A skilled OWI causing death defense lawyer knows how to examine the circumstances of any case to determine the defense angle most likely to work. You can expect this when you contact our Lansing law firm for help with your DUI Causing Death case. Some of the most common legal options we use include:

  • Challenging the results of the blood test or breath test, ensuring the test was properly performed, and the results were correctly stored and analyzed
  • Disputing the cause of the crash to show that it occurred due to factors other than impairment
  • Examining whether proper procedures were followed during and after the arrest, ensuring the police officer had probable cause for the traffic stop, and reading you your Miranda rights
  • Finding a way to create a reasonable doubt regarding the prosecutor’s evidence against you
  • Negotiating a plea bargain that reduces the severity of the charges

We have years of experience defending clients from OWI Causing Death, OWI Causing Injury, and related offenses. If you’re worried about your charges, call our law firm for legal advice today.

Why Should You Call Lansing OWI Causing Death Attorneys?

If you’re ready to hire a DUI defense attorney with a proven track record of winning Michigan OWI cases for clients, call Manley & Manley today. We know how shocking it is to be accused of causing the serious injury or death of another person while driving, so we’ll work hard to defend you from this charge.

You can trust our team to minimize or avoid penalties like driver’s license suspension or revocation, installation of an ignition interlock device, costly fines, and more. Call 810-374-0240 today for help fighting serious charges.