Criminal Negligence

If you are facing charges of criminal negligence, you’re likely feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, perhaps you are angry and defensive (I didn’t do it) or regretful (I should have been paying better attention) about what allegedly led to another person’s suffering or death. On the other hand, you feel trepidation and anxiety about how these charges could impact your future. What happens now? An experienced local attorney can help.

What is Criminal Negligence? 

The thing that distinguishes criminal negligence from a lot of other criminal charges is that it usually involves defendants who allegedly caused egregious harm without intent. Generally speaking, a horrific, yet completely preventable accident has occurred, and prosecutors are looking to hold someone accountable for it. When charging criminal negligence, prosecutors must prove that a person’s actions were so reckless that they led to serious injury or death.  The defendant must have shown a serious indifference for others’ well-being, and any reasonable person in the same situation would have known better and behaved differently, avoiding the injuries or deaths that occurred. Criminal negligence could lead to charges many areas, including:

• Any driver who texts while behind the wheel and subsequently causes a collision could be charged with criminal negligence if the accident resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. The same goes for a driver who drives while impaired or who speeds through a school zone.
• When medical professionals or caregivers are suspected of administering a lethal dose of medication to a patient, or they neglect to appropriately diagnose and treat a patient’s complaints, they could face charges. So too could a physician who over-prescribe opiates, who makes surgical errors, or who is connected to any number of medical mistakes that have serious outcomes.
• When an adult’s negligence leads to the harm or death of a child it could result in such charges. An adult who leaves a loaded gun accessible to children could face charges if that weapon is later tied to injuries or fatalities, for example. Similarly, a parent who leaves a child in a hot car could be charged with criminal negligence.
• When companies knowingly ignore OSHA safety guidelines, particularly if a previous warning has been issued, criminal negligence charges may ensue.
• If someone brings an aggressive dog with a history of biting to an off-leash park, they risk facing charges if that dog attacks someone.

Penalties 

It’s obvious that criminal negligence can be charged in a wide variety of situations, which means that a guilty verdict can result in quite a scope of penalties including hefty court fines and restitution to the victim, or a prison sentence and probation.  Some offenders might lose privileges (such as the right to own a firearm or the ability to drive),or be sentenced to community service. The domino effects could include consequences such as the loss of professional licenses or a job; estrangement from family, friends, or neighbors; depression, anxiety, and subsequent upheaval to the future you may have been planning on.

Defending Charges of Criminal Negligence 

Criminal negligence is a serious charge.  The aggressive and experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law are prepared to fight for the best possible outcomes for you.  Schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.