When a person is involved in a car accident in Florida and under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this can result in the death of another driver, passenger in either vehicle as well as a bicyclist or pedestrian.  DUI manslaughter in Florida is a very serious offense that can result in penalties including state prison, significant fines, suspension of driving privileges, probation and other sanctions.  However, the mere fact that someone is involved in a car accident when driving under the influence of alcohol, which results in death does not necessarily mean that a driver will be convicted of DUI manslaughter.  The prosecution must establish a causal link between the accused driving conduct and the death of the other driver.  Our experienced DUI defense attorneys may be able to prove that there is no causal connection between your driving and the death of the accident victim, which is a viable defense to a Florida charge of DUI manslaughter.

An example of the importance of this issue is provided by the case of Satterfield v State of Florida (1989) 553 So.2d 793.  Satterfield appealed her conviction and sentence for DUI manslaughter.  She contended that the trial court erred in granting the state’s requested instruction on causation.  She was initially sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of probation.  The trial court had provided an instruction to the jury at the request of the prosecutor that it was not necessary to prove a causal relationship between the manner of defendant’s driving and the death of the victim.  The court reversed Satterfield’s conviction and indicated that a causal relationship is necessary to obtain a conviction for DUI manslaughter in Florida.

Satterfield stands for a simple proposition of DUI manslaughter law in Florida that requires the state to provide a causal connection between the manner of operation of a vehicle by an intoxicated driver and the death of an accident victim. The prosecution’s jury instruction said, in essence, that causation between the manner of operation of the defendant’s motor vehicle and the death of the victim was irrelevant.  The prosecution’s “no causation” instruction was what is known as reversible error, and this is why the defendant was provided with the opportunity for a new trial by the appeals court in Florida.

There are two senses in which causation may be a defense to Florida DUI manslaughter charges.  First, the mere fact that a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .08 percent or even that the driver was operating a vehicle in such a way as to evidence that a driver is impaired is not sufficient to prove DUI manslaughter.  The impaired driver of the accused must be a substantial cause of the accident.  Even then, there may be superceding causes that override the negligent driving conduct of the accused and break the chain of causation including factors like a defective roadway, malfunctioning traffic signal, defective car parts or driving practices of the deceased or another party.

If you are facing Florida charges for DUI manslaughter, our experienced Florida DUI lawyers may be able to help.  We offer a free no obligation case evaluation so contact us today so that we can advise you regarding your legal rights and potential defenses.