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What is the legal term for when you accidentally kill someone, unintentionally?

I want to say "involuntary manslaughter"? Is this right? Does anyone know what sentence is usually given for this charge?

17 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Yes. Involuntary manslaughter is accidental homicide, 3rd degree homicide.

    The category is further broken down into 'Constructive manslaughter', which means the person was killed, unintentionally, as the result of some other unlawful act, and 'Non-constructive' or 'criminally negligent' manslaughter where no other criminal act was involved, only negligence. Two other categories we deal with today are 'vehicular or intoxication manslaughter', and even assisted suicide.

    Sentences depend on degree of guilt. You could get parole or a suspended sentence, or you could get 20 years or more.

  • Dash
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Yes, involuntary manslaughter is the correct term. The sentence depends on the case. Some cases may warrant no prison time at all.

    There are many different types of manslaughter and the definition is different from state to state. For example if it results from drunk driving then it is intoxication manslaughter and is not considered accidental.

  • Meghan
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Involuntary manslaughter is correct. But the sentence depends on the situation. Killing someone by driving drunk is going to carry a much longer prison term than killing someone really truly by accident.

    If it was truly unintentional and the person was not reckless in their actions, then it's possible they could just get probation or no punishment at all. Every situation is different.

  • 1 decade ago

    Your term is valid. Also used is negligent homicide. The sentence depends on the facts and on the state where the death occurred.

    In PA, if you drive drunk, cause an auto accident and someone dies, you will get a minimum of 10 years.

    If you are driving a truck, you snag a low hanging overhead wire, a utility pole gets pulled over, falls on a building that collapses because most of the structure is rotten, a gas line gets ruptured, which causes an explosion and an old man walking a dog two blocks away gets killed, you probably will get probation.

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  • 6 years ago

    This Site Might Help You.

    RE:

    What is the legal term for when you accidentally kill someone, unintentionally?

    I want to say "involuntary manslaughter"? Is this right? Does anyone know what sentence is usually given for this charge?

    Source(s): legal term accidentally kill unintentionally: https://tr.im/5yYXn
  • 1 decade ago

    Involuntary manslaughter. The sentnce would depend on too many circumstances to pin point.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Accidental Manslaughter. You can get prison time,not sure how much,or with clean record you can get probation.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Depends on the situation.....Between 3 to 15 years I would say. It also depends on the state too.

  • 1 decade ago

    That sounds about right. The sentence depends on the case.

  • 1 decade ago

    It is manslaughter, sounds worse than murder but that's the way the "justice system" works :)

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