Are There Criminal Penalties Related to Motor Vehicle Collisions?
You ran a red light or a stop sign and caused an automobile accident. As a consequence of the accident, another person suffered a serious injury or may have died. Can you face criminal charges in Maryland because of a car wreck?
The Potential Criminal Consequences of a Motor Vehicle Accident
If you violated traffic laws and caused an accident, you can face prosecution for those traffic offenses.
In addition, if you wrongfully leave the scene of an accident, you can face criminal charges. Under Maryland statute, a person who leaves the scene of an accident after causing serious bodily injury can be charged with a felony, subject to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. If the accident caused a fatality, the penalties may potentially be doubled.
Maryland also identifies four kinds of vehicular homicide:
- Manslaughter by a vehicle for causing the death of another person while driving with gross negligence
- Negligent manslaughter, for causing a fatal traffic accident through conduct that posed a substantial and unjustifiable risk to human life
- Vehicular homicide for killing someone in a motor vehicle accident while driving with a blood alcohol content in excess of .08 (8 percent)
- Impaired vehicular homicide for killing someone on a car accident because your coordination was compromised by drugs, alcohol or a controlled substance
Proven Maryland Drunk Driving Defense Attorney
Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years, including people charged with misdemeanors or felonies. SuperLawyers has named him one of the top 100 lawyers in Maryland and The American Lawyer Magazine has also cited him as a Top-Rated Lawyer.
Attorney Smith has been AV-rated (the highest possible) by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System for more than three decades. He has also received Martindale-Hubbell’s prized Client Distinction Award, an accolade earned by less than 4% of all attorneys nationwide. He carries a 10.0 (Superb rating) as a trial lawyer from AVVO and has also earned AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with an average client review of 5 stars.
A highly-regarded trial attorney, Jonathan has an extensive knowledge and understanding of Maryland criminal law and procedure. He knows how to effectively gather and preserve evidence and will take all necessary measures to ensure that law enforcement officers did not violate your constitutional rights.
Contact a Proven Maryland DUI/DWI Defense Lawyer
At the law offices of Jonathan Scott Smith, we aggressively advocate for criminal defendants throughout the greater Baltimore area and across the state of Maryland. Contact us online or call 410-740-0101 to arrange a meeting. We handle cases throughout Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
