If Bill Passes Drivers Could Face Homicide Charges In Fatal Bike Accidents
Aaron Wilmot
July 09, 2008
A bill in Oregon has been proposed for vehicular homicide in cases where drivers are involved in a bicycle accident that ends with a fatality.
One of the individuals who feel this is a necessary law is Mary O´Donnel, the wife of a bicycle rider who was killed approximately a year ago while riding his bike. O´Donnel reportedly explained her support for this bill due to the fact that the driver who struck and killed her husband was a driver from out of state driving a rental car with a suspended drivers license. This unlicensed driver received a fine as a punishment for the accident.
This law would hold drivers responsible when they drive under the influence, with a suspended drivers license or with no car insurance, by possibly facing vehicular homicide charges.
O´Donnel as well as biking clubs supports the new law and want to see the law go into effect holding drivers responsible. They believe this proposal needs to be put into effect enough that O´Donnel held a news conference to discuss the new bill and the fact that she is hoping to get a sponsor to introduce the bill in the 2009 session. She also has plans to bring a lawsuit against the unlicensed driver who was involved in the accident with her husband who would be celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.
Should this bill be introduced into law drivers who are involved in bicycle accidents that end in a fatality will need the services of a state attorney when it is time for their case to be hear to ensure that they have their case argued aggressively.
Additional state legal news can be obtained at the Legal News Blog All in all, Oregon has seen a major spotlight shone on legal issues as of late, especially measure 11. This particular measure revolves around having a mandatory sentence for each charge that it is tried under these sentencing guidelines. In other words, a defendant who is not properly represented may feel the full effect of the sentencing in their criminal trial and with more than one charge that qualifies to be tried. Therefore, if Measure 11 is implemented that individual could recieve even more than a life sentence. It would therefore be even more important than ever to be represented properly by a lawyer with extensive experience and knowledge of the applicable laws so that a substantial amount of time in jail might be avoided.
One of the individuals who feel this is a necessary law is Mary O´Donnel, the wife of a bicycle rider who was killed approximately a year ago while riding his bike. O´Donnel reportedly explained her support for this bill due to the fact that the driver who struck and killed her husband was a driver from out of state driving a rental car with a suspended drivers license. This unlicensed driver received a fine as a punishment for the accident.
This law would hold drivers responsible when they drive under the influence, with a suspended drivers license or with no car insurance, by possibly facing vehicular homicide charges.
O´Donnel as well as biking clubs supports the new law and want to see the law go into effect holding drivers responsible. They believe this proposal needs to be put into effect enough that O´Donnel held a news conference to discuss the new bill and the fact that she is hoping to get a sponsor to introduce the bill in the 2009 session. She also has plans to bring a lawsuit against the unlicensed driver who was involved in the accident with her husband who would be celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.
Should this bill be introduced into law drivers who are involved in bicycle accidents that end in a fatality will need the services of a state attorney when it is time for their case to be hear to ensure that they have their case argued aggressively.
Additional state legal news can be obtained at the Legal News Blog All in all, Oregon has seen a major spotlight shone on legal issues as of late, especially measure 11. This particular measure revolves around having a mandatory sentence for each charge that it is tried under these sentencing guidelines. In other words, a defendant who is not properly represented may feel the full effect of the sentencing in their criminal trial and with more than one charge that qualifies to be tried. Therefore, if Measure 11 is implemented that individual could recieve even more than a life sentence. It would therefore be even more important than ever to be represented properly by a lawyer with extensive experience and knowledge of the applicable laws so that a substantial amount of time in jail might be avoided.