Need Help With Your Car Accident?

Get your FREE attorney consultation from Rosenblum Law.
888-883-5529
Call now for a free consultation
Home » New York » Suspended New York Driver’s License » Fault in a Fatal Car Accident

Fault in a Fatal Car Accident

Trusted Content

Editorial Standards

Rosenblum Law is committed to delivering informative content of the highest quality. All content is subject to our rigorous editorial standards for relevance, accuracy, sourcing, and objectivity. Everything is fact-checked by an editor and reviewed for legal soundness by one of our practicing attorneys prior to being published.

Read our full editorial policy here

Written By 
Last updated 
July 20, 2021

You immediately slam on your breaks, but to no avail. You hear the screeching of tires and you think to yourself in the split-second before it all goes down, “I hope I make it out of this alive.”

Once you recover, collect your thoughts, and realize that you are unharmed, you exit your vehicle. Unfortunately, as you do, you notice that the driver of the car you violently careened into is not as lucky as you are.

Suspended License for Fault in a Fatal Car Accident.

If you caused a fatal car accident, whether purposefully, negligently, or recklessly, you will need legal representation.

Aside from the potential criminal penalties you will face (vehicular homicide, involuntary manslaughter, etc.), there will be serious driving-related consequences.

Make sure you understand what they are and be sure to contact a NY traffic ticket attorney who can help you avoid having your license suspended (or help you reinstate it if you already had it suspended).

What are the Consequences?

If you ever find yourself in this horrible situation, you will not likely be in the right frame of mind and will be understandably nervous and downright scared.

That is why we are providing you with this information ahead of time in order for you to better understand how to conduct yourself and what you might be facing.

In New York, before you do anything else, if you are involved in an accident of any kind, make sure you report it. Otherwise, you can receive a ticket for failing to report an accident. Next, you must understand that your driving privileges might be suspended if the accident you caused was fatal.

New York does this in order to ensure that dangerous motorists are not endangering the welfare of other drivers. Additionally, the suspension is designed to have you cool off and truly realize the gravity of the situation so that you never again will be so careless.

Depending on the surrounding circumstances, your license can be suspended for 1 year and you can face a severe fine. Moreover, as noted above, you will likely face criminal charges and could even find yourself being sued in civil court for wrongful death arising out of a personal injury case.

Notably, there is a difference between offenses that you might be charged with in court and administrative action that might be taken by DMV.  You might be charged with Reckless Driving (VTL 1212) which is a criminal matter to be handled in court.  In addition, DMV may call you to a fatality hearing or a hearing because they allege you failed to file an accident report within 10 days (VTL 605-a1). Even if your court case is pled down or dismissed, DMV can still take administrative action against you and suspend your license.

Finally, if you are ticketed and plead guilty to that ticket, that plea might be used against you if you are sued for damages in civil court. Hence, due to potential for criminal, civil, and administrative consequences, it is critical that you contact an attorney immediately.

Who Should I Contact?

If you were involved in a car accident involving a fatality or other serious injury, contact Adam H. Rosenblum of Rosenblum Law. Mr. Rosenblum and his team of experienced traffic ticket attorneys will do what they can to have your license reinstated while vigorously defending and protecting your legal rights. In a sticky situation, e-mail or call Rosenblum Law at 888-883-5529.

Author Bio

Adam H. Rosenblum

Founding Attorney Of Rosenblum Law

Adam H. Rosenblum is an experienced and skilled traffic violations and criminal defense attorney. Mr. Rosenblum provides expert and aggressive representation to those facing points on their drivers’ licenses and the associated fines and surcharges.

Read Full Bio

Free Consultation

Call us now for a quick, free, and no obligation consultation.
888-883-5529

Featured Experts

Kent Ng

NYPD (Ret.)
Read More

Mike Gheller

NYPD Officer
Read More

Travis Hall

NY State Police
Read More

News & Updates

Learn more about traffic tickets and criminal matters in New York and New Jersey.
When I Let a Driver Off With a Warning and Why

Every driver who gets pulled over hopes to avoid getting a traffic ticket. As police officers, we understand there is...

Learn More
NY DWI Crackdown in Effect Through Labor Day Weekend

Drivers looking to kick back and enjoy some beers this Labor Day weekend should be careful before getting behind the...

Learn More
What NOT to Do When Pulled Over by Police

Nearly everyone is pulled over by police at some point in their life. The flashing red-and-blue lights are hardwired into...

Learn More

We've Fought Over 50,000 Traffic Ticket Cases

Call us now for a quick, free, and no-obligation consultation.
888-883-5529
crosschevron-down Call Now ButtonFree Consult Call Now linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram