Serious Vehicular Crimes Defense

The Dominy Law Firm represents clients for serious vehicular crimes like Vehicular Assault and Vehicular Homicide in Columbus, Ohio and the central Ohio area.  By ‘serious vehicular crimes’, we mean vehicular offenses which result in serious physical harm or death to another person.  Although other traffic offenses may also be considered serious, those are discussed in the OVI Defense and Traffic Ticket Defense sections of this website.

Being charged with a crime which involves serious physical harm or death is a dreadful situation.  Pressure from victims, their families, special interest groups, and the media can create an emotionally charged atmosphere.  That is on top of the emotional impact of feeling like you are possibly responsible for the death of or physical harm to another person.

First Step When Accused Of A Serious Vehicular Crime
If you are being charged with Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Assault in Columbus or central Ohio, the first step is to learn about your situation.  You should understand what the prosecution must prove to establish guilt, as well as the possible consequences of a guilty finding.  That information can be found on the page for Vehicular Assault Offenses and Penalties and the page for Vehicular Homicide Offenses and Penalties.

You should become familiar with the defenses to these charges, as well as the court process.  You may also benefit from researching the evidence used in these cases, including accident reconstruction and alcohol/drug testing.  Those topics are discussed in separate pages of this website.  

Other valuable sources of information are the Ohio Vehicular Homicide Guide and the Ohio Vehicular Assault Guide.  Those guides are available for sale on Amazon, and the PDF versions can be downloaded for free from this website.

Attorneys For Ohio Vehicular Homicide And Vehicular Assault Cases
These cases are challenging for attorneys because the laws are complex, and the evidence frequently includes expert testimony in disciplines such as medicine, pharmacology, accident reconstruction, chemical testing, and sobriety testing.  For charges of Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault in Columbus and central Ohio, you need experienced attorneys who know the law, understand the various types of evidence, and have experience litigating these types of cases.

The lawyers at the Dominy Law Firm have expertise and experience in Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault litigation.  Our attorneys have completed specialized training specific to these types of cases and have experience working with experts in the areas of accident reconstruction, sobriety testing, and pharmacology.  Our attorneys wrote and edited the Ohio Vehicular Homicide Guide and the Ohio Vehicular Assault Guide published by Rivers Edge Publishing.  Founding attorney Shawn Dominy also co-authored Defending D.U.I. Vehicular Homicide Cases published by Aspatore Publishing.

Strategies For Vehicular Homicide And Vehicular Assault Defense In Ohio
The defense for these crimes must be swift and effective.  Swift action is important because the defense should begin while evidence is still available and memories are still fresh.  Effective action is required because the litigation is complex and the consequences are serious.

A good defense begins with a comprehensive investigation.  The investigation should include photographs and measurements of the accident scene, witness interviews, and gathering medical records.  It should also include obtaining videos, contacting the insurance company, and requesting discovery from the prosecution.

A good defense continues with litigation in court.  Your attorney may file motions to suppress evidence which was obtained unlawfully or is inadmissible under the Ohio Rules of Evidence.  Your attorney should prepare defenses tailored to the specific case.  Some of those are defenses to the allegation your driving caused the accident, some are defenses to the allegation your driving was reckless or negligent, and others are defenses to the allegation you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  

DUI / OVI Allegations in Serious Vehicular Crimes
Many cases of Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Aggravated Vehicular Homicide are based on the allegation you were operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI).  The prosecution will attempt to prove alcohol or drugs impaired your ability to operate the vehicle, and that impaired driving caused the accident.  To do so, the prosecution will introduce evidence of intoxication and may introduce evidence indicating the level of alcohol or drugs in your blood/breath/urine was ‘over the limit’.  In these types of cases, it is critical to hire a lawyer with expertise in sobriety testing and alcohol/drug testing.

Representation For Vehicular Homicide And Vehicular Assault In Columbus And Central Ohio
Since 1997, the Dominy Law Firm has helped many clients charged with serious vehicular crimes like Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault in courts throughout central Ohio.  Our attorneys have the expertise and experience to effectively represent clients charged with these offenses.  The firm maintains a limited caseload in order to work each case thoroughly and give clients personal service.  We investigate and litigate each case in preparation for trial.  Although most cases ultimately do not go to trial, negotiations with a defense attorney who is well-prepared are very different than negotiations with a defense attorney who begs for a good deal because their client is a “nice person”.  

Defense for serious vehicular crimes can be a lengthy and complicated legal matter with substantial legal fees.  The Dominy Law Firm charges flat fees for representation in these cases, so you will know the total fee before you make the hiring decision.  If you would like to discuss your case and how we can help, please submit a CONTACT FORM or call us at 614-717-1177 to arrange a free phone consultation.