Criminal negligence occurs when a person engages in conduct that is so serious that it creates or contributes to a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a death will occur. Criminal negligence also requires that a person fail to perceive a risk, and when that failure to perceive the risk is a gross deviation from how a reasonable person would act in a situation.
It is important to work closely with your criminal defense attorney about the facts and circumstances of your case. Criminal negligence is not the same as civil negligence. It is a more severe, more culpable mental state, and understanding those differences is critical to your case.
