{"id":3881,"date":"2026-10-16T02:13:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T02:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/vehicular-homicide-defense-attorney-south-florida\/kendall\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:48:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:48:31","slug":"kendall","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickwilsonlaw.com\/resources\/vehicular-homicide-defense-attorney-south-florida\/kendall\/","title":{"rendered":"Vehicular Homicide Defense Miami | Patrick Wilson Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vehicular Homicide Defense Attorney<\/p>

Charged with vehicular homicide? Get a clear plan from the start.<\/h1>

Patrick Wilson Law focuses on criminal defense across South Florida, from Broward County to the Florida Keys. Call 786-761-1719 for a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

Schedule Your Free Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Schedule Your Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By Patrick David Wilson \u00b7 Published October 15, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A vehicular homicide charge in Florida involves a death caused by someone driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner. If you need a vehicular homicide defense attorney<\/a> Kendall residents can reach, this page explains how these cases may be built and what a defense lawyer may examine. Patrick David Wilson practices in Miami and handles cases across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, including Kendall. Every outcome depends on the facts of the case and applicable law.<\/p>\n

What a Vehicular Homicide Charge Means in Florida<\/h2>\n

Vehicular homicide is a charge for killing a person through the reckless operation of a motor vehicle. The vehicular homicide statute<\/a> describes the offense this way. The base offense is a second-degree felony.<\/p>\n

The statute makes the offense a first-degree felony in some situations. One is when the driver knew or should have known the crash occurred and did not give information and render aid. Another is when the person has a prior conviction under specified crash or boating homicide laws. Whether either applies depends on the facts and your record.<\/p>\n

A charge is not the same as a crash. A driver may believe a collision could not be avoided. Investigators may still review speed, attention, and road conditions. Whether a charge fits depends on the evidence and applicable law.<\/p>\n

This page covers vehicular homicide only. Leaving the scene of a crash is a separate offense under the crash involving death statute<\/a>. Patrick David Wilson is the responsible lawyer. Patrick Wilson Law, PLLC is based in Miami and serves Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.<\/p>\n\n

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Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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How These Cases Are Built: Crash Reports, Witnesses, and Digital Evidence<\/h2>\n

Investigators may use several kinds of evidence in a fatal crash case. Each source has its own strengths and limits. Common sources include the crash report, scene measurements, vehicle data, witness statements, camera footage, and phone records.<\/p>\n

The crash report statute<\/a> requires a long-form report for crashes involving death or injury. It must be submitted within 10 days after the investigation is completed.<\/p>\n

The weight of each item depends on how it was collected and whether it is reliable. A measurement taken after a scene changed may read differently than one taken right away. Speed, signal timing, visibility, and road conditions can change how the same facts look.<\/p>\n

Blood testing has its own rules. Under the blood test statute<\/a>, if an officer has probable cause that an impaired driver caused a death or serious bodily injury, the officer shall require a blood test. Whether that applies depends on the facts.<\/p>\n

Protect your own evidence. Keep copies of anything you receive. Do not delete texts, call logs, or app data. Avoid posting about the crash online, since posts may be used as evidence.<\/p>\n

Questions a Defense Lawyer Examines in a Vehicular Homicide Case<\/h2>\n

A defense lawyer looks first at whether the evidence supports each part of the charge. Each question depends on the facts and the record.<\/p>\n

Procedure comes first. Was evidence gathered lawfully and recorded accurately? The answers depend on the facts, and they can change the case.<\/p>\n

Causation asks whether the driving the state describes is what caused the death. Other factors, such as another vehicle or a road hazard, may bear on that question.<\/p>\n

Timelines matter. A lawyer compares reports, video, and witness accounts side by side. Conflicting accounts can point to gaps that need more work.<\/p>\n

Medical and toxicology records are reviewed as well. Patrick David Wilson will not predict what those records will show before reviewing them.<\/p>\n

Statements need care. At first appearance, the judge must advise that you are not required to say anything. Anything you say may be used against you. The duty to render aid statute<\/a> also addresses the duty to give information after a crash, and how it applies depends on the facts and applicable law.<\/p>\n

Early Deadlines After an Arrest in Miami-Dade County<\/h2>\n

Early steps can move quickly after an arrest, and court rules set time limits. Those limits depend on custody, the charge, and what happens next.<\/p>\n

Under the first appearance rule<\/a>, an arrested person must be taken before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. This applies unless the person was previously released in a lawful manner.<\/p>\n

The charging rule<\/a> sets separate timing. For a person in custody, the state must file formal charges within 30 days. The timing that applies to a person not in custody depends on the facts and applicable law. What happens if no charge is filed depends on the rule’s conditions.<\/p>\n

Release decisions begin with a presumption in favor of pretrial release, under the pretrial release rule<\/a>. The court weighs factors in the bail statute<\/a>, such as the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence.<\/p>\n

Kendall is part of Miami-Dade County. Kendall matters may be handled from the Miami office, depending on the case. Check any court paperwork you have received. The dates and deadlines printed on it control your next steps.<\/p>\n

Information to Gather Before a Free Consultation<\/h2>\n

Gather your paperwork before you call. This helps the consultation focus on your facts. Bring these items if you have them:<\/p>\n