Fort Worth Manslaughter Defense Attorney

Defending Against Manslaughter Charges in Fort Worth

A defendant in Fort Worth, Texas, may face manslaughter charges if he or she is accused of recklessly causing the death of another person. If this is the case, he or she needs the help of a Fort Worth manslaughter attorney. As opposed to murder, which involves intent and may involve malice aforethought or premeditation, manslaughter may involve an accidental death. An example may be a driver who is racing through the streets and causes the death of a pedestrian.

When these cases arise in Tarrant County courts, prosecutors will often move quickly to gather witness statements, forensic evidence, and crash or incident reports to support a serious felony charge. Law enforcement and the district attorney may portray the situation as straightforward, but the reality is that questions about your mental state, the conditions leading up to the event, and possible contributing factors can all create room for reasonable doubt. Having a knowledgeable manslaughter attorney Fort Worth defendants can rely on means having someone who can scrutinize how the investigation was conducted and whether your rights were respected at every stage.

Have you been accused of manslaughter? Take this opportunity to talk to an experienced attorney who can help you challenge these charges. Our skilled attorney at The Alband Law Firm can offer you unique experience as a former prosecutor in order to present a stronger and more effective case on your behalf.

From the moment you are arrested or learn that you are under investigation, we can guide you on what to say and what not to say, how to respond to contact from detectives, and what to expect in your first appearance at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth. We can examine whether the evidence truly supports a finding of recklessness under Texas law, whether there were any constitutional violations, and whether alternative explanations for the incident have been ignored. 

By getting us involved early, you give us more time to gather favorable evidence, consult with experts when appropriate, and build a defense that addresses the specific facts of your situation rather than treating your case like every other serious felony.

Contact us online or call us at (817) 997-4366 to schedule an initial consultation with our Fort Worth manslaughter attorney.

Understanding Texas Manslaughter Laws With Our Fort Worth Manslaughter Attorneys

Manslaughter is a type of criminal homicide that is defined as recklessly causing the death of an individual. For a person to be or act recklessly, they are aware of but consciously disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist, or the result will occur. The risk must be such that its disregard is a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under the same circumstances.

Unlike many states, Texas does not differentiate between involuntary and voluntary manslaughter. The crime is committed if a person ignores the risks associated with their actions and acts recklessly anyway. Examples of manslaughter in Texas include:

• Someone kills another “in the heat of the moment” after several racist and insensitive remarks about their family were spoken.
• All but one person in a group of teens have trespassed into another person’s property. They peer pressure the last remaining friend into doing the same, and when the friend decides to jump the fence, they fall and die from neck injuries.
• A person knows they have a broken transmission but delays fixing it because of their busy work schedule. Later, their friend borrows their car and gets into a serious car accident on the freeway because the transmission failed. As a result, the friend dies.
• A person sees his girlfriend at a bar dancing with another man and beats the man to death as a result of his anger.
• Two friends drink a little too much and get into a physical fight at a restaurant. One punches the other in the head before getting restrained by security guards. The victim later dies from head injuries.

All of these examples demonstrate that intent, premeditation and malice aforethought does not need to exist for manslaughter to occur. Manslaughter can result in death due to recklessness and recklessness alone.

In real-world prosecutions in and around Fort Worth, the line between murder and manslaughter often becomes a central issue because the state may initially file the most serious charge possible and then negotiate or adjust based on how the evidence develops. Our manslaughter attorneys in Fort Worth can evaluate whether the facts truly support a manslaughter allegation, whether a lesser offense may be more appropriate, and how factors such as self-defense claims, provocation, or lack of prior criminal history may affect the outcome. Our goal is to ensure the law is applied fairly to the specific circumstances you faced, not just to the story presented by the police report.

What are the Penalties for Manslaughter in Texas?

Manslaughter is classified as a felony of the second degree under Penal Code Section 19.04. The maximum penalty for this type of felony offense is up to 20 years in state prison and a fine of $10,000. The specific penalties that a defendant faces may vary depending on the unique circumstances of the case.

Judges and juries in Tarrant County may also consider collateral issues such as your prior record, whether drugs or alcohol were involved, and the impact on the victim’s family when determining punishment within the statutory range. In some situations, probation may be a possibility, while in others, the state may aggressively seek a lengthy prison sentence. As a Fort Worth manslaughter attorney that residents turn to during some of the hardest moments of their lives, we carefully analyze all potential punishment outcomes, explain them in clear terms, and work to present mitigating evidence that shows you as a complete person rather than just the facts of the alleged offense.

It is important to remember, no matter what the police may have told you, that you have the right to an attorney and the right to remain silent. Take advantage of these rights and request to contact an attorney. Make sure your attorney is present during any and all questioning. You cannot afford to allow law enforcement to violate your constitutional rights in any way whatsoever.

Common Defenses in Fort Worth Manslaughter Cases

When you are facing a manslaughter charge, one of your biggest questions is often whether there is any way to defend the case and reduce the impact on your future. The defenses that may apply depend heavily on the facts, the forensic evidence, and your own account of what happened. In Fort Worth courts, we regularly see disputes over whether the conduct was truly reckless, whether an act was accidental, or whether another person or outside factor played a significant role in the tragedy. The job of our manslaughter attorneys in Fort Worth is to examine every angle and determine which defense strategies are realistically available in your situation.

In some cases, we may be able to argue that your actions did not rise to the legal level of recklessness because the risks were not as clear or substantial as the prosecution claims. In others, self-defense or defense of another person may play a role if there was an immediate threat that caused you to react. We can also investigate whether law enforcement at the Fort Worth Police Department or other agencies properly preserved and analyzed physical evidence, such as vehicle data in a crash case or surveillance footage in an altercation. By challenging weak assumptions and highlighting gaps in the state’s proof, we work to protect your rights and pursue the most favorable outcome allowed by the facts and Texas law.

With more than 100 jury trials under his belt, our founding attorney has the experience you should look for in your legal representation. Our firm stands ready to fight on your behalf to help you avoid spending the next years of your life behind bars. Contact us today.