Involuntary Manslaughter Attorney in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Involuntary Manslaughter Defense Lawyers

Unwittingly causing the death of another human being is often a devastating experience that leads to a lifetime of psychological concerns. It’s easy to see how the potential life-changing consequences of a homicide conviction can greatly compound the situation.

At DRK Lawyers in Pittsburgh, we compassionately represent individuals throughout western Pennsylvania who is facing involuntary manslaughter charges. With more than 45 years of combined legal experience, our Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyers know how to aggressively attack criminal charges in court while treating you with the care, kindness and respect you deserve at all times.

Cases of Involuntary Manslaughter In Pittsburgh

According to state statute, involuntary manslaughter occurs when a person causes the death of someone else “as a direct result of the doing of an unlawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, or the doing of a lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner…” This definition, therefore, requires the prosecution to prove the following elements:

• • The person charged with the death directly caused the death at issue

• • The person acted in a way that was reckless or grossly negligent

We Know How to Attack the Prosecution’s Case

We are former prosecutors. This means we know what tactics the prosecution will use in seeking a guilty verdict, and we know what the prosecution cannot do in order to reach that verdict. We are also intimately aware of the evidence needed to prove both elements listed above. We will take whatever steps possible to show that no causal link exists between your actions and the victim’s death or to show that your actions were not reckless or grossly negligent.

Grading of Involuntary Manslaughter Charges

Pennsylvania law identifies two separate grading categories for involuntary manslaughter charges:

• • Second-degree felony charges result in cases involving the deaths of children under 12 who were in the care, custody or control of the people who caused the deaths

• • First-degree misdemeanor charges occur in all other cases

The grading of your offense matters greatly, as a felony conviction results in larger, more life-changing consequences than a misdemeanor does. For instance, a second-degree felony conviction can lead to up to 10 years in prison, versus up to five years in prison for individuals convicted of first-degree misdemeanors.

If we find we cannot get the court to drop the charges against you, we will do what we can to lower your charges to a lesser level offense.