Trial Lawyers For Vehicular Manslaughter Defense In Gwinnett County

Last updated on November 19, 2025

When a death results from a crash, a tragic car accident can quickly turn into a criminal case. One that can threaten a person’s freedom and future. If you are facing vehicular homicide charges, you need clear answers from a legal team that will fight for you.

At Elbaz & Elbaz, LLC, our Gwinnett County defense attorneys understand what is at stake. We defend different™ by moving fast and preparing your vehicular manslaughter or other violent crime case for trial from day one. Our lawyers will investigate every detail of the accident, find the leverage we need, and work to dismantle the prosecution’s case to protect your future.

Defining Vehicular Manslaughter Under Georgia Law

In Georgia, prosecutors charge vehicular manslaughter under the state’s “homicide by vehicle” law. It is defined as causing another person’s death while committing a traffic violation. This offense can fall under two distinct categories:

• First-degree (felony): This applies if the death is the result of a major traffic offense, such as driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, fleeing an officer or hit and run.
• Second-degree (misdemeanor): This is when a death is allegedly caused by any other moving violation, such as speeding, failure to yield or running a red light.

A car accident often has many causes. The prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant’s specific traffic violation was the direct and primary cause of the death.

We will fight to show the full story. Our attorneys use detailed accident reconstruction and all available evidence to find other factors that may have caused the death. This could be anything from poor road design to another driver’s mistake. We challenge the state’s claims to show that your actions were not the criminal cause of the outcome.

Penalties For A Vehicular Homicide Conviction In Georgia

When deciding a vehicular homicide sentence, a Gwinnett County Superior Court judge will weigh many factors. This includes the specific charge, the defendant’s driving history, the facts of the crash, any evidence of intoxication and victim-impact statements.

The potential penalties can be severe:

• For a first-degree vehicular manslaughter conviction: This carries a prison sentence of three to 15 years per death. If the case involves DUI, it can carry a sentence of five to 20 years if the driver was a habitual violator who had a revoked license at the time of the offense.
• For a second-degree vehicular manslaughter conviction: This is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and significant fines.

Any conviction for either degree of vehicular homicide also triggers a mandatory, long-term driver’s license suspension.

Our Trial-Ready Defense Strategies

Our trial-first approach starts on day one. Every case has unique facts. That’s why our attorneys build a custom trial strategy, not a generic plea script. Our criminal defense lawyers use a range of defense strategies, such as:

• Challenging causation by showing how weather, road design or another driver caused the crash
• Countering claims that a simple error equals felony reckless driving
• Inspecting brakes, tires and vehicle data modules for mechanical failures
• Attacking unlawful police stops, bad implied-consent warnings or flawed DUI blood and breath tests
• Using accident reconstruction experts to challenge the state’s speed, visibility and timing estimates
• Collecting camera footage, 911 audio and witness statements before they disappear

Our lawyers use these strategies to create reasonable doubt and challenge the charges against you. This tenacious preparation puts you in a stronger position to negotiate. If the state refuses to offer a fair outcome, our lawyers are ready to take your case to trial.

Take Action To Protect Your Future: Call Us Today

This can be a frightening and confusing time. Before you give a statement to police, talk to investigators or post about the accident, contact Elbaz & Elbaz, LLC. Your consultation is free and confidential and the most important step you can take to protect your rights. Our lawyers will immediately review your charges, discuss your bond and explain your next steps. Call 678-573-4444 or send us an email today.