Criminal Defense · Jeff T. Gorman Law Offices

Criminal Traffic Defense
DUI Manslaughter. Vehicular Homicide.
Felony Reckless. We Fight All of Them.

Criminal traffic charges in Florida carry prison sentences measured in years — not license suspensions and fines. DUI Manslaughter carries a mandatory minimum 4-year sentence and permanent license revocation. Vehicular Homicide can result in 30 years. Jeff Gorman prosecuted these exact cases in the 19th Judicial Circuit, including DUI Manslaughter and serious traffic felonies across multiple Florida counties.

Free Consultation Call (772) 888-8888
Criminal Traffic Arrest — Accident Scene Evidence Must Be Preserved Immediately
Jeff T. Gorman
Jeff T. Gorman
Founding Attorney · FL Bar #538183
100+
Felony Jury Trials
19th
Circuit Former Prosecutor
4.9★
Google Rating · 260+ Reviews
“I prosecuted more felony jury trials than any other attorney in the 19th Circuit. I know exactly how the State builds its case — and exactly how to take it apart.”
What the State Investigates in Criminal Traffic Cases
●FDLE accident reconstruction experts dispatched to work the scene, document physical evidence, and testify as to speed, point of impact, and cause of the crash
●Breathalyzer or blood BAC results in all DUI-related cases — the foundation of impairment evidence
●Vehicle black box (EDR) data showing speed, braking inputs, and steering in the seconds immediately before impact
●Cell phone records showing potential distraction, texting, or active phone use at the time of the crash
●Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras capturing the moments leading up to impact

What the Evidence Shows —
and Where It Can Be Challenged

Criminal traffic cases move fast — and so does the evidence. Accident reconstruction teams are dispatched immediately. Vehicle black box data begins to degrade. Surveillance footage is overwritten on 24- to 72-hour loops. Witness memories fade within days. The first hours after a serious traffic incident are the most critical for evidence preservation — and that is exactly when you need an attorney retained, not a later decision to hire one.

Jeff Gorman prosecuted DUI Manslaughter and serious traffic felonies as an ASA in the 19th Judicial Circuit. He knows how accident reconstruction experts are prepared and presented, what the State’s theory of causation typically looks like, and where the evidence can be meaningfully challenged. We retain our own independent accident reconstruction experts, review all vehicle EDR data, and challenge every element of the prosecution’s case beginning at the first hearing.

⚖️ Florida Criminal Traffic Law — Key Statutes
DUI Manslaughter (Florida Statute §316.193(3)(c)3): second-degree felony with 4-year mandatory minimum; permanent license revocation. Vehicular Homicide (Florida Statute §782.071): second-degree felony (up to 15 years); upgraded to first-degree felony (up to 30 years) if the driver left the scene. Felony Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury (Florida Statute §316.192(3)(c)): third-degree felony (up to 5 years). Leaving the Scene with Death or Injury (Florida Statute §316.027): first-degree felony (up to 30 years) with death; third-degree felony with injury. Fleeing and Eluding (Florida Statute §316.1935): ranges from third-degree to first-degree felony depending on circumstances and endangerment.
Florida Statute §316.193 (DUI & DUI Manslaughter) · Florida Statute §782.071 (Vehicular Homicide) · Florida Statute §316.192 (Reckless Driving) · Florida Statute §316.027 (Leaving the Scene)

How We Fight This Charge

Independent Accident Reconstruction
We retain our own accident reconstruction experts to review the scene evidence, vehicle data, and the State’s reconstruction for errors, alternative causation theories, and disputed findings.
BAC Challenges
In DUI Manslaughter cases, breathalyzer and blood test challenges — rising BAC, improper testing protocol, chain of custody — are directly applicable and can eliminate the impairment element entirely.
Causation Defense
The State must prove the accident was caused by impairment or recklessness. Road conditions, other driver conduct, mechanical failure, and sudden medical emergency are all viable alternative causation arguments.
Black Box Data Scrutiny
Event Data Recorder (EDR) data is not always accurate and must be properly extracted and interpreted. We retain experts to challenge flawed methodology and erroneous analysis.
Cell Phone Evidence
Cell phone records can be subpoenaed by both sides. We analyze whether phone use actually occurred at the precise time of the crash and challenge imprecise location data.
Negotiated Resolution
When trial is not the right path, we negotiate from a position of complete trial preparation — with independent expert support — to seek reduced charges or alternative sentencing.
Notable Results
DISMISSED
DUI Manslaughter Charges · BAC Evidence Suppressed · Pre-Trial
REDUCED
Vehicular Homicide to Reckless Driving · No Prison Sentence
ACQUITTED
Felony Reckless Driving · Causation Successfully Disputed · Jury Trial

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Case details available upon request.

Common Questions

Criminal Traffic Defense Attorney FAQ

What is the difference between DUI Manslaughter and vehicular homicide in Florida? +
DUI Manslaughter (Florida Statute §316.193(3)) occurs when a person operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs causes the death of another. It is a second-degree felony with a 4-year mandatory minimum sentence. Vehicular Homicide (Florida Statute §782.071) does not require impairment — it is the killing of another caused by negligent operation of a vehicle. It is a second-degree felony (up to 15 years) or first-degree felony (up to 30 years) if the driver left the scene. These charges can be brought together, and the distinction significantly affects both defense strategy and sentencing exposure.
What is felony reckless driving in Florida? +
Reckless driving is driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property (Florida Statute §316.192). Simple reckless driving is a misdemeanor. However, reckless driving that causes serious bodily injury is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years). Reckless driving that causes death constitutes vehicular homicide — a second-degree felony. The distinction between reckless and merely negligent driving is a central element that skilled defense attorneys contest in these cases.
What happens to my license after a DUI Manslaughter conviction? +
A DUI Manslaughter conviction results in permanent revocation of the driver's license under Florida Statute §322.28. The DHSMV may grant hardship reinstatement after 5 years only under very limited circumstances. This is one of the most severe collateral consequences of a DUI Manslaughter conviction and is entirely separate from and in addition to the criminal sentence itself.
Can leaving the scene of an accident with death be defended in Florida? +
Yes. Florida Statute §316.027 requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in death to remain at the scene and comply with reporting requirements. Leaving the scene of a crash with death is a first-degree felony (up to 30 years). Defenses include: the driver did not know an accident had occurred; the driver did not know there was a death or serious injury; the person was not actually the driver; or the stop and investigation were unlawful. These cases require immediate preservation of accident scene evidence.
Related Practice Areas
DUI Defense
DUI Manslaughter arises from the same impairment evidence as a standard DUI charge.
Felony Defense
All serious criminal traffic charges are felonies with significant prison exposure.
Auto Accident
Civil personal injury claims from the same accident often run parallel to criminal proceedings.
Free Consultation · 24/7

Criminal Traffic Charges?
Evidence Disappears Fast.
Call Right Now.

Accident scene evidence, surveillance footage, and vehicle black box data degrade or disappear within days. Call (772) 888-8888 immediately. Jeff Gorman prosecuted these exact cases — now he builds the defense.

(772) 888-8888 PSL: (772) 236-5203 Free Online Consultation

Free initial consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Florida Bar Rules 4-7.1 through 4-7.20 apply.