If you are arrested for intoxication manslaughter in Colleyville, consider retaining a criminal defense attorney to fight your charges and protect your rights immediately. Barring certain circumstances, Texas law classifies intoxication manslaughter as a second-degree felony. Those convicted risk facing steep penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, significant fines, and life-altering societal repercussions that can jeopardize every facet of their life.

The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg have provided aggressive defense for many accused of DWI-related charges, including DWI manslaughter. Our Colleyville, TX intoxication manslaughter lawyer can conduct an independent investigation and build a case based on strong evidence and a compelling defense strategy. 

Intoxication Manslaughter Lawyer Can Explain Your Charges

According to Texas Penal Code Section 49.08, a person commits the offense of intoxication manslaughter if operating a motor vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or amusement ride in a public place while intoxicated and, due to the reason of intoxication, causes an intentional or unintentional, fatal accident. 

You could be arrested for intoxication manslaughter even if you weren’t at fault for the accident or if the substance you had in your system alleged to cause intoxication was medically prescribed to you. 

What is considered intoxication? 

In Texas, you are legally intoxicated if your blood concentration level is 0.08 or higher or your mental or physical abilities are impaired after consuming alcohol or another substance. Intoxication manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter share similarities in that both offenses involve the death of someone through a vehicle. But in intoxication manslaughter, the accused is also under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which clearly must contribute to the fatality. 

Other than alcohol, prescription, illegal, and over-the-counter drugs also qualify as substances under this offense. These may include marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD, mushrooms, methamphetamine, asthma medication, pain relievers, and OTC medications. Some of these medications can have alcohol content and may push your BAC level above the permitted level, which could result in a false positive in the breathalyzer. 

Penalties for Intoxication Manslaughter in Texas 

The consequences of intoxication manslaughter in Texas are far more detrimental than those reserved for a simple DWI. Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.08 (2), intoxication manslaughter is an offense classified as a second-degree felony, penalties for which are detailed in Penal Code Sec. 12.33: 

• Jail time between 2-20 years 
• Up to $10,000 in fine
• Other possible penalties include license suspension and community service hours for a pre-defined time.

Understand that the penalties can compound if multiple people are killed in the accident. The charges related to each victim will stack up, resulting in stiffer punishment and even escalation of charges.  

Other conditions could upgrade your second-degree felony to a more serious, first-degree classification. These include:

• If the victim was a peace officer, emergency medical service personnel, or a firefighter
• If your BAC level was 0.15 or higher 
• If you had a prior DWI charge 
• If you had a prior intoxication assault or manslaughter conviction 
• If there was a minor present in your vehicle at the time of the fatal accident 
• If there was an open container present in your vehicle 

A conviction may also come with various social repercussions that could follow you even after you complete your incarceration and pay your fine. These may include 

being denied certain jobs and having difficulty securing a mortgage or loan. It can also strain your personal and social life and instigate reputational damage. 

An Intoxication Manslaughter Attorney Can Devise a Strategic Defense Plan to Fight Your Charges

To successfully convict a person of intoxication manslaughter, the state prosecutors must prove all of the following elements:

• The person was operating a vehicle, aircraft, motor craft, or amusement ride in a public place.
• Caused the death of another because of intoxication.

Our intoxication manslaughter lawyer in Colleyville, Texas, can fight your charge by using the most effective defense strategy suitable to your case’s circumstances. We may utilize sources such as eyewitness testimony, video footage, accident reconstruction experts, or forensic toxicologists to challenge or defeat the charges. Here are some examples of defense arguments that may be used to reduce or dismiss your intoxication manslaughter charges:

• Faulty sobriety tests: One of the most effective ways to beat your intoxication manslaughter charges is to instill reasonable doubt by calling into question the validity of the test’s administration and results. For example, failing to recalibrate the breathalyzer device could present skewed results. 
• A different cause of death: The State has the burden to prove that your intoxication was responsible for the victim’s death. We may be able to prove that the deceased or another party’s reckless driving caused the death. This could include demonstrating that the victim ran a red light or swerved between lanes. Hence, the accident could have happened regardless of the measured BAC level. 
• No criminal offense: Depending on the circumstance, we may be able to prove that the death occurred due to factors outside your control—for example, bad weather conditions or damaged roads that increased the risk of an accident.

Know that intoxication manslaughter is defensible, and the charges can be challenged in court. Our attorney can thoroughly investigate and examine the facts of your case and carefully assess the state’s evidence, explicitly looking for weaknesses that we can use to have your charges reduced or dismissed. 

Contact Our Intoxication Manslaughter Attorney in Colleyville, Texas

If you have been arrested for intoxication manslaughter in Texas, don’t lose hope. The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg has a dedicated team and attorney who understands that your future and freedom are at stake. Trust us to build a strong defense strategy to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. 

Don’t waste any more time — contact us to schedule a free consultation with our team so we can review the arrest and accident to determine the best strategy to get your charges dropped or reduced.

Call or text or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

(214) 696-9253

Law enforcement officials in Colleyville can arrest you for driving while intoxicated (DWI) if they suspect you are under the influence of marijuana while driving a motor vehicle. The legal penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana can be life-changing, as you may face incarceration, significant fines, and license suspension.

The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg will provide a Colleyville DWI marijuana lawyer to seek a dismissal or reduction of your charges. Do not assume that the state of Texas views marijuana in the same light as other jurisdictions in the United States—you face the same legal sanctions as if you were drunk driving, and you must take your case seriously.

The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Relies on Unique Legal Experience to Resolve DWI Marijuana Cases

Our firm has unique legal experience, as attorney Isenberg is a former Senior Chief Felony Prosecutor and State District Trial Judge with more than 30 years of legal experience. Whether attorney Isenberg or another attorney from our firm leads your case, our lawyers work as a team to fight for our clients’ interests.

As our firm’s client, you should expect:

• The support of a firm with extensive case results: We are constantly fighting for clients facing DWI and drug-specific charges in Texas. Our attorneys can often have charges dismissed, secure probation, reduce felonies to misdemeanors, and get other positive outcomes for our clients. 
• A personal relationship with your attorney: Though we have the resources to handle a high volume of different case types, we ensure each client receives a personalized defense. Your attorney will know you, know the intricate details of your case, and fight for the best possible outcome based on your unique circumstances.
• Honest legal advice: There is no benefit to a lawyer misleading their client. Our attorneys will be honest with you at every turn of your case, and we encourage you to speak honestly with us. 
• A team that lives up to its reputation: The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg has earned a reputation for legal knowledge, tenacity, and a deep familiarity with the criminal justice system in Texas. This reputation is on the line with each case we handle, so we work hard to ensure every client receives our best effort.

Though we are familiar with marijuana DWI cases, we will develop our legal strategy based on the unique facts of your case. We’ll consider why a law enforcement officer pulled you over, what probable cause they had (or did not have) for suspecting marijuana use, and other critical facts of your case.

Once we have gathered all relevant facts and evidence, we’ll seek the most viable legal outcome, whether that is a dismissal, reduction of charges, or not-guilty verdict.

Client Testimonials for the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg

The wife of a former client explains the type of representation you can expect when you hire a DWI marijuana lawyer from our team to lead your defense in Colleyville:

• “My husband was taken to jail after a field sobriety test, and I had to get an Uber with threats of being arrested myself. After I bailed him out, we asked around about the best DWI attorneys in Dallas, and Randall’s name kept coming up. So we went with him. He committed the arresting officer to giving his version of the arrest, and it didn’t match the evidence and couldn’t stand up in court. We were so relieved to have the case thrown out and to put it all behind us. And we’re happy to leave a good review.” – Sarah

You can review more client testimonials, and you’ll find that these reviews contain a common theme: Our firm fighting for our clients’ reputations, futures, and freedom.

Legal and Non-Legal Consequences of a DWI Marijuana Conviction in Colleyville

If a law enforcement officer determines you were impaired by marijuana while driving a motor vehicle, they can charge you with driving while intoxicated.

Texas Penal Code Title 10 § 49.01 allows for a DWI charge resulting from alleged marijuana use, as the statute defines “intoxicated” as “not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body.” 

The Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) explains that should a prosecutor succeed in convicting you of DWI, you face:

• For a first DWI offense: A fine of up to $2,000, between 3 and 180 days in jail, and license suspension for up to one year.
• For a second DWI offense: A fine of up to $4,000, between 1 month and 1 year in jail, and license suspension for up to 2 years.
• For a third DWI offense: A fine of up to $10,000, between 2 and 10 years in prison, and license suspension for up to 2 years.

You may face additional penalties if you had marijuana in your possession at the time of arrest or stand accused of other aggravating factors. In addition to the legal penalties you face, a DWI conviction can:

• Get you fired
• Cause custody issues
• Make you a lesser candidate for housing and employment
• Diminish your quality of life

There is no way of telling exactly how costly a DWI conviction will be, as its impact can reach far and wide throughout your life. It is in your interests to get the strongest defense you possibly can.

How the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Will Lead Your DWI Marijuana Defense in Colleyville

Our legal team will seek to protect you from the full weight of a DWI conviction. We will assist you by:

• Gathering and using in your defense any evidence indicating officer misconduct, lack of probable cause, tainted test results, or your innocence
• Advising you on the best outcome for your case
• Negotiating a plea bargain (if appropriate in your case)
• Defending you at trial (again, if appropriate in your case)
• Taking any other steps necessary to secure a positive outcome for your case

Our goal is to help clients move past allegations of marijuana-related DWI with minimal harm to their reputation, personal life, and future ambitions. 

Call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Today to Discuss Your Colleyville DWI Marijuana Case

A Colleyville DWI marijuana lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg will make your defense their mission. Do not wait to call us about your case in Colleyville, as a prosecutor may be actively working to convict you. 

Call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg today to discuss your Tarrant County case. 

Call or text or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

(214) 696-9253