Death by Careless Driving Solicitors
Specialist solicitors and barristers for cases involving Causing Death by Careless Driving
The offence of Causing Death by Careless Driving is a very serious matter. It will be investigated and considered in great depth by the Police, the Prosecution and the Defence.
The majority of clients we represent for Causing Death by Careless Driving are ordinary law-abiding citizens. They have never been involved in the Criminal Justice System before and understandably are stressed and anxious at the thought that they might be responsible for the death of another person. This is usually a very difficult time for the family of the deceased, the person being investigated/prosecuted and for the family of the person being investigated/prosecuted.
If you would like free initial advice about a Causing Death by Careless Driving case, contact our Driving Offence legal team on 0330 818 9825 or alternatively send a message via our Enquiry Form.
Chambers Top Ranked Law Firm
Our law firm is ranked amongst the top tier of law firms in the United Kingdom with a Band A ranking in the category of Crime (this includes Driving Offences), the highest ranking that can achieved in the Chambers Guide.
Legal 500 Leading Firm
The Legal 500 guide describes Kang & Co Solicitors as being “well adept at tailoring its resources to an individual case and investing heavily for the client. Legal advice is honest and the team always takes into consideration the views of the client.”
The Law on Death By Careless Driving?
The offence of Causing Death by Careless Driving is contained within Section 2B, Road Traffic Act 1988.
Venue – Where the trial will take place?
The offence of Causing Death by Careless Driving is triable either way offence, which means that the matter can be tried in the Magistrates’ Court (provided the Magistrates’ deem the case suitable). If the case is unsuitable for the Magistrates’ Court or if the Defendant elects, the case can be heard in the Crown Court.
Sentencing Powers
Causing Death by Careless Driving is a very serious charge. If a person is convicted or pleads guilty, the Court has the power to impose a custodial sentence (prison sentence) of up to 5 years imprisonment. The sentence imposed by the Court will be based on the evidence, whether the matter progressed to trial and after considering all aggravating and mitigating factors specific to the case.
Late 2018 I was involved in an accident which resulted in a fatality.
The pending police investigation and subsequent CPS referral lasted for over a year.
It was a frightening, anxious and lonely time.
Having never been in trouble with the Police I was ignorant of what lay ahead.
Mr Kang walked me through the process explaining each landmark and potential legal consequences, which sometimes wasn’t easy to hear.
In addition to legal advice he managed my emotional wellbeing with the utmost care and empathy.
I would highly recommend Kang & Co for their specialist knowledge and multi facetted application to each case.
What Defines Death by Careless Driving
You’re likely to be charged when a road traffic collision has resulted in a fatality (i.e death). The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must prove 2 different things. Firstly, that a death has occurred. Secondly, they must prove that the death was a result of driver acting carelessly. Careless Driving is driving which falls below the required standard of a careful and competent motorist.
In cases of Death by Careless Driving, it is rarely an issue to establish that a death has occurred because of the road traffic collision. In such cases, the focus of the police investigation/prosecution case will be on the ‘standard of driving’.
It is crucial to remember that not all fatal collisions are due to driver negligence. Just because there is a fatality, it does not necessarily mean that it occurred because of ‘Careless Driving’. An example being, a person could be driving a motor vehicle in a careful manner, at the appropriate speed limit whilst concentring on the road and nearby surroundings. Then another person or vehicle might cut across their path, resulting in a fatal collision. This would not automatically place the surviving person at fault.
The Police Investigation
When a fatal collision occurs, the police will seek to gather and preserve as much evidence as possible. This will assist them in establishing whether the fatality occurred as a result of careless driving. It is not uncommon for the police to take several months to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
It is important to remember that a person lost their life as a result of a road traffic collision. The police are under an obligation to properly investigate the full set of circumstances leading up to and during the collision.
As part of the police investigation, evidence will be gathered from witnesses, video footage, the vehicles involved, toxicology and evidence from the suspect via a police interview under caution. The police are also likely to produce a collision reconstruction report from specialist road traffic experts.
If you are called to attend a police interview under caution for Causing Death by Careless Driving, you should contact and appoint a solicitor to represent you.
Funding a Case via Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI)
Decision to Prosecute
If there is evidence to suggest that the standard of driving at the time of the collision was below the required standard of a careful and competent driver, the likelihood is that a criminal prosecution will be issued against the suspect.
Our specialist team of motoring lawyers have significant experience representing suspects and defendants. We can help represent you at the police station, at the Magistrates’ Court, and at the Crown Court. Causing Death by Careless Driving is a serious offence which can result in a custodial sentence (prison). In order to ensure that the case is properly analysed and presented before the Court, it is crucial to have a team of experienced motoring lawyers to protect and safeguard your interests.
Our solicitors and barristers will guarantee that your case is properly considered, and every aspect of the prosecution case is scrutinised in immense detail. In such cases we also instruct our own collision reconstruction experts say that we have a second opinion on the evidence and circumstances which resulted in the fatal collision.
The Impact of a Conviction
A conviction for Causing Death by Careless Driving can be life changing for both the victim’s and the Defendant’s family. There is a high risk that a Defendant convicted of Causing Death by Careless Driving will be given a custodial sentence. This will certainly have an impact upon the Defendant’s family and dependants. It is therefore important to have an experienced and skilled lawyer that has previous experience of such cases. Our lawyers have represented clients where criminal proceedings have been discontinued against suspects and have avoided custodial sentences being imposed on our clients.
Standard of Driving – Causing Death by Careless Driving
When assessing whether to prosecute, the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will carefully consider the evidence surrounding the standard of driving involved.
If the matter is prosecuted, the Court will consider the degree of danger the driver created. They will also take into consideration the following factors:
- Effect of alcohol/drugs
- Speed – Whether the Defendant was driving above the speed limit at the time of the of the collision
- Speed – Whether the Defendant was driving at a speed which was inappropriate for the road or weather conditions
- Whether the driver was distracted
- Whether the driver was driving whilst knowingly suffering from a medical or physical condition that significantly impaired their driving skill and ability
- Whether a person was driving when knowingly deprived of adequate sleep or rest or driving in a poorly maintained or dangerous loaded vehicle.
Vulnerable Road Users
Drivers encountering vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorbike riders, horse riders, pedestrians and those working in the road are considered as vulnerable road users.
A driver is expected to take extra care when driving near all passing any vulnerable road users. Driving too close to a motorbike, allowing the vehicle to mount the pavement, driving into a cycle lane and driving without the care needed near a pedestrian crossing are all examples of factors that the Court will take into account when deciding whether the standard of driving fell below the required standard of a careful and competent motorist.
“I was involved in a fatal road traffic accident on the M6 Motorway on the outskirts of Birmingham in 2017. This was a very difficult time for me and my family because I felt awful that I might have been the cause for the death of another person because of careless driving, I felt awful for potentially being responsible for the death of a son, husband and father. At the same time, I was concerned about my own family and receiving a prison sentence. A prison sentence would have been life changing for me and my family because my wife did not work, and we had recently had a new addition to our family. I was also worried and stressed about how my family would survive financially if I were to be given a prison sentence, I had sleepless nights for many months.
I was initially given a solicitor through my legal expenses insurance and within a few weeks of them being appointed as my lawyers, I got the impression that they didn’t understand how this case would impact upon my life. I found that the panel law firm didn’t return my calls or e-mails either. As the consequences of a conviction and prison sentence would be life changing, I instructed a law firm in London privately.
The London criminal law firm was no better than the firm I had through my insurance company, even though I was paying privately. I got the impression that they were very unsure about their advice and didn’t know much about causing death by careless or dangerous driving.
A family member suggested that I contact Kang & Co Solicitors in Birmingham as they have a very good reputation for these types of cases. I met with Mr Kang and immediately found him to have passion for representing clients and within moments I could tell that he had a wealth of experience and had dealt with many fatal road traffic accidents. He explained everything in simple terms and made sure I knew about every aspect of my case. When he looked through the papers in the case he contacted me and raised some very good points which the other two solicitors had overlooked. Mr Kang spoke with the police and within several weeks the case was discontinued due to the issues he had raised.
The fact that Mr Kang was able to identify weaknesses within the prosecution case that the lawyers at two other firms hadn’t speaks volumes of his attention to detail and skill.
I am grateful for the skill, support and advice provided by Mr Kang and I honestly believe that if I had stayed with my previous solicitors, I would not be seeing my daughter grow up.”
Why Choose Kang & Co
No Obligation Initial Telephone Assessment
We offer our potential clients an initial no obligation assessment over the telephone no matter where in London your offence commited.
Specialist Lawyers
Our legal team of solicitors, paralegal's, legal advisor's and barristers are specialists in the area of Driving Offence law.
Clear Legal Costs
At Kang & Co Solicitors we are clear with our legal costs, offering fixed fee services so that our clients know exactly what they are paying for and how much it will cost.
Comprehensive Phone Meetings
In some cases it may not be possible for clients to be able to make it to our offices. In this scenario we offer a comprehensive phone meeting, that will cover everything in just as much detail as a face to face meeting. Face to face meetings are also available at request.
First Class Service
We will give you our expert advice and first rate representation at trials and interviews. We will endeavour to leave no stone unturned so that you have the best possible chance at achieving the best result. Rated as a Top Tier law firm by the prestigious legal guides The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Causing Death by Careless Driving Solicitors
Anyone being investigated or prosecuted for Causing Death by Careless Driving will need a solicitor to represent them during the police station interview and at Court. This offence attracts a prison sentence and therefore your liberty and livelihood are at risk. Care should be taken to ensure that you instruct an experienced specialist solicitor that has significant knowledge of this offence and has represented ordinary law-abiding citizens facing this prosecution.
At Kang & Co Solicitors, we are a specialist law firm established to represent professionals and ordinary people that have not been involved with the Criminal Justice system previously. We are not a Legal Aid law firm and understand this may be your first encounter with the Criminal Justice System. We understand this is a challenging time for you and your family and we are at hand to assist, advise and represent as appropriate.
If you would like to speak to one of our lawyers about your case, please call 0330 818 9825 or use our enquiry form below and we can either call you for initial advice or email you back.
What Our Clients Say
Feedback from our clients is helpful and appreciated at Kang & Co to help our team to continually improve our services.
Request A Callback or Email from a Kang & Co Solicitor
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