If you or someone you love is facing a homicide by vehicle charge in Pennsylvania (PA), the days after the crash can feel like a blur. Most fatal accidents happen in seconds, yet the legal and emotional impact can last for years. It is common to feel guilt, confusion, and fear about what lies ahead, especially with penalties that can alter your future.
But even when the situation feels impossible, you should not plead guilty before speaking with a homicide by vehicle lawyer in Bucks County or a homicide by vehicle lawyer in Montgomery County. The right counsel can change the direction of your case.
Our firm includes homicide by vehicle attorneys with backgrounds as prosecutors and legal educators in Bucks and Montgomery County. That experience gives us clear insight into how investigations and courtroom decisions unfold in the local Courts of Common Pleas. We understand how these cases are charged, how evidence is tested, and how to pursue the strongest possible outcome for you.
When you are charged with homicide by vehicle, it means the Commonwealth claims you violated a Vehicle Code provision, such as:
From the state’s perspective, these violations create the foundation of a criminal case: that your actions behind the wheel directly caused a fatal crash and that another person’s death resulted from it.
When you are charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence (DUI), it means the Commonwealth believes you were impaired, and that the impairment caused a crash resulting in someone’s death. This charge carries the harshest penalties of any vehicle accident death criminal charge in PA.
If you were involved in a crash that did not cause a death but left someone seriously injured, Bucks County or Montgomery County prosecutors may file aggravated assault by vehicle charges. This offense is considered less severe than homicide by vehicle or homicide by vehicle while DUI, yet it still carries serious penalties that can affect your license, employment, and freedom.
The Commonwealth builds these cases around allegations that you violated a Vehicle Code provision, such as:
Judges evaluate several factors unique to your case, your driving history, and the circumstances of the crash. The combination of these elements influences both the severity of the sentence and the options available for defense.
The main factors include:
Sentencing depends not only on what happened but also on how each element is proven. A homicide by vehicle attorney in Pennsylvania can identify where the evidence is weak, question whether the alleged conduct meets the legal definition of criminal negligence, and present mitigation to reduce exposure.
Homicide by vehicle (§ 3732)
Third-degree felony, up to 7 years; potential long-term license suspension (homicide by vehicle in PA)
Multiple traffic violations, excessive speed, leaving the scene, and a prior reckless driving record
Proven mechanical failure, minimal negligence, strong accident reconstruction evidence showing independent cause
Homicide by vehicle while DUI (§ 3735)
Second-degree felony, up to 10 years per death; mandatory minimum 3 years per victim
High Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), prior DUI history, refusal of testing, multiple fatalities
Successful breath/blood test defense in DUI homicide, treatment participation, cooperation, remorse
Aggravated assault by vehicle (§ 3732.1)
Third-degree felony, up to 7 years
Reckless conduct, serious permanent injuries
Evidence showing ordinary negligence or driver distraction without recklessness
Involuntary manslaughter (§ 2504)
First-degree misdemeanor (max 5 years) or third-degree felony if the victim was under 12 and in the defendant’s care
Multiple victims, gross recklessness
Demonstrated remorse, restitution, and plea negotiation to a non-incarceration option
Arraignment: This is the formal court appearance in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas or Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, where charges are read and you enter a plea.
If you or your loved one is facing homicide by vehicle charges in PA, our attorneys at Penglase & Benson Inc. bring both courtroom skill and local insight to your defense. Each case is personal, and our team works closely with you to understand what happened, what’s at stake, and what can be done to protect your future.
Here’s how we can help:
Once you contact our firm, we act immediately to manage communication with investigators and prosecutors. This helps prevent statements that could be used against you and helps keep important evidence available early in the process.
Our attorneys are former prosecutors and legal educators who have worked within the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas and the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. We’ll walk you through every stage, from the preliminary hearing for homicide by vehicle in Bucks County to trial in Norristown, so you understand each step before it happens.
We conduct an independent investigation using accident reconstruction experts and mechanical specialists to test the Commonwealth’s claims. Our review of crash data, witness accounts, and vehicle diagnostics often reveals alternative causes that reduce or dismiss liability.
We examine how the evidence was handled, looking for mishandled blood samples, flawed BAC results, or procedural errors. A successful breath/blood test defense in DUI homicide cases can significantly change sentencing exposure.
As experienced litigators and negotiators, we seek to reduce a homicide by vehicle charge in PA to a lesser count, such as involuntary manslaughter, or negotiate terms that avoid mandatory minimums and preserve your record.
Beyond the courtroom, our team works to safeguard your driver’s license, employment, and long-term reputation. Every decision we make aims to minimize both the legal and personal impact of these charges.
A vehicular homicide charge in Pennsylvania can leave you feeling like your life has been turned upside down. Our homicide by vehicle lawyers have represented clients in the Magisterial District Courts of Bucks County and in Montgomery County for years.
We understand how local courts handle these cases and what strategies are most effective in protecting your rights. Contact Penglase & Benson Inc. today for a confidential consultation. Our team is ready to listen, act quickly, and fight for the best possible outcome in your case.
Do not give statements to police, investigators, or insurance companies before speaking with a homicide by vehicle lawyer in Bucks County or Montgomery County. Anything you say can later be used against you. An attorney can step in quickly to protect your rights, manage communication, and begin collecting evidence that supports your defense.
These cases rarely move fast. A homicide by vehicle charge in PA can take several months to more than a year, depending on the evidence, court scheduling, and whether the case goes to trial. Our team keeps clients informed through every stage and works to move the process forward without compromising the defense strategy.
Penalties depend on the type of charge, the presence of DUI, and the number of victims. Homicide by vehicle under §3732 is a third-degree felony carrying up to seven years in prison, while homicide by vehicle while DUI under Pennsylvania §3735 is a second-degree felony with a mandatory minimum of three years per victim. Prior driving record, negligence level, and local court practices can all affect the outcome.
Yes, in some cases. A vehicular homicide attorney in Pennsylvania can challenge how the crash was investigated, expose testing or procedural errors, and use expert testimony to weaken the prosecution’s theory. This work can lead to a reduction to involuntary manslaughter or another lesser offense through negotiation or pretrial motions.
If there is evidence that the vehicle malfunctioned or another driver caused the collision, our lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts to document it. Independent analysis can show that the death was not the result of criminal negligence. When causation is disputed, the Commonwealth’s case for vehicular homicide becomes significantly weaker.
