In Weld County, if a person is injured by a car and the driver was Recklessly Driving, Carelessly Driving or was Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) they could face another criminal charge of Vehicular Assault. Recently, a man driving a stolen jeep in Lakewood, hit an ambulance causing it to flip and land on its side. The paramedic driving the ambulance states that the Jeep ran a stop sign and hit the ambulance while speeding. The paramedics were injured in the collision. If found guilty, the defendant could face a felony conviction. Below, our attorneys discuss Vehicular Assault and why you should hire experienced criminal defense attorneys to get the best outcome in your criminal case.
Legal Definition in Greeley, Colorado, for Vehicular Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-205
The definition of Colorado of Vehicular Assault, C.R.S. 18-3-205 in Greeley is,
(1)(a) If a person operates or drives a motor vehicle in a reckless manner, and this conduct is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another, such person commits vehicular assault.
(b)(I) If a person operates or drives a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or one or more drugs, or a combination of both alcohol and one or more drugs, and this conduct is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another, such person commits vehicular assault. This is a strict liability crime.
(I.5) If a person operates or drives a motor vehicle while the person’s ability is impaired by alcohol or one or more drugs, or a combination of both alcohol and one or more drugs, and such conduct is the proximate cause of the serious bodily injury of another, the person commits the crime of vehicular assault.
A DUI alone can have severe consequences. However, if you are driving Recklessly driving Carelessly and cause serious bodily injury to another, then the charge could increase to a Felony Vehicular Assault. With a lengthy prison sentence on the table, it is important to have attorneys who will fight for you and your future.
Definition of Serious Bodily Injury, C.R.S. 18-3-205, in Weld County, Colorado
When facing a felony criminal charge in Weld County, it is important to understand the definitions of terms which make up the crime. In Vehicular Assault, Serious Bodily Injury is defined as:
bodily injury which, either at the time of the actual injury or at a later time, involves a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, or breaks, fractures, or burns of the second or third degree.
An injury as small as a fractured nose from an airbag deployment can result in a felony Vehicular Assault charge.
Sentence and Penalties for Vehicular Assault in Ault, Severance, or Windsor, Colorado
In Ault, Severance, Windsor, and the rest of Colorado Vehicular Assault is a class 5 felony with penalties of 1 to 3 years in a Colorado State Prison, a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, and a mandatory 2-year parole. If the defendant is charged with DUI Vehicular Assault, the sentence is a class 4 felony with penalties of 2 to 6 years in prison, a fine of $2,000 to $500,000, and a mandatory 3-year parole.
Why Hire an Experienced Weld County Criminal Defense Attorney?
Are you facing a Vehicular Assault Charge in Weld County? When your future and freedom are at stake, it is important that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. At the O’Malley Law Office, we have over 30 years of knowledge and will use that knowledge to aggressively fight for our clients.