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Involuntary Manslaughter Laws in Missouri
Missouri law defines involuntary manslaughter as "recklessly causing" or "acting with criminal negligence to cause" the death of another person. The most common cause of involuntary manslaughter is when a fatality occurs as a result of a car accident. Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear "vehicular manslaughter" used interchangeably with "involuntary manslaughter" in many reports.
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The Missouri statutes related to involuntary manslaughter can be found here and here. First-degree involuntary manslaughter, where someone "recklessly causes" a fatality, is viewed as a class C felony, punishable by anywhere from three to ten years in prison. Second-degree involuntary manslaughter is when a death is caused due to "criminal negligence" and is a class E felony, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. It should be noted that if a driver was impaired and causes an accident resulting in a fatality, they will automatically face first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges.
These legal distinctions emphasize the critical need for a skilled St. Louis involuntary manslaughter attorney to navigate the complexities of the law and advocate for the best possible outcome.
