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Criminal vehicular operation and homicide are potential criminal charges for car accidents resulting in injuries or death. To be convicted of criminal vehicular operation or homicide, the prosecutor must prove that you:

• drove in a grossly negligent manner;
• drove in a negligent manner while under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, another controlled substance, or any combination of alcohol, cannabis, or a controlled substance;
• drove while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more;
• left the scene of the crime; or
• previously received a citation or warning that the car was defectively maintained and the injury or death was caused by the defective maintenance.

If you have been charged with or are under investigation for criminal vehicular operation or homicide, the attorneys at Valentini law are here to help. Contact us at (612) 341-0900 to secure experienced and professional representation for your case.

Criminal Vehicular Operation

Criminal vehicular operation is either a felony or gross misdemeanor offense depending on the severity of the other person’s injuries. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation, you may be charged under any of the following subdivisions:

• Death to Unborn Child: This charge is a felony and occurs if another person involved in the car accident was pregnant at the time, and the accident resulted in the death of their unborn child. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in the death of an unborn child, the penalties include up to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
  • If you were previously convicted of criminal vehicular operation resulting in the death of an unborn child within the past 10 years, and the conviction was based on either driving in a negligent manner or driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, the penalties include up to 15 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

• Injury to Unborn Child: This charge is a felony and occurs if another person involved in the car accident was pregnant at the time, and the accident resulted in an injury to their unborn child. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in injury to an unborn child, the penalties include up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

• Great Bodily Harm: This charge is a felony and occurs if another person involved in the car accident suffered great bodily harm. “Great bodily harm” means an injury which creates a high probability of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or causes a permanent or long loss/impairment of the function of any part of the body. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm, the penalties include up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

• Substantial Bodily Harm: This charge is a felony and occurs if another person involved in the car accident suffered substantial bodily harm. “Substantial bodily harm” means an injury which involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, causes temporary but substantial loss/impairment of the function of any part of the body, or a facture to any part of the body. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm, the penalties include up to 3 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

• Bodily Harm: This charge is a gross misdemeanor and occurs if another person involved in the car accident suffered bodily harm. “Bodily harm” means physical pain or injury, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. If you are charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm, the penalties include up to 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.

Criminal vehicular homicide is a felony offense. This charge occurs if the car accident resulted in the death of another person. If you are charged with criminal vehicular homicide, the penalties include up to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

• If you were previously convicted of criminal vehicular homicide within the past 10 years, the penalties include up to 15 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.