Legal Definitions - Vehicular manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter

Vehicular manslaughter, also known as vehicular homicide, is a crime where a person causes the death of another person while unlawfully or negligently operating a motor vehicle. The law may differ depending on the jurisdiction, but generally, vehicular manslaughter is easier to prove than manslaughter because it requires a less culpable mens rea.

Example 1: A driver who is texting while driving hits and kills a pedestrian crossing the street.

Example 2: A driver who is under the influence of alcohol hits and kills another driver in a head-on collision.

These examples illustrate vehicular manslaughter because in both cases, the driver's unlawful or negligent operation of a motor vehicle resulted in the death of another person. The drivers did not intend to kill anyone, but their actions were reckless and caused the death of another person.