We all know parking can be such a pain. You’ve probably dealt with it – driving up to the Castle Rock Outlets on a sunny Saturday afternoon and spending at least 30 minutes driving around looking for a parking spot. Frustration begins to mount and you consider just going home. One man was having a less than awesome parking lot experience, so he took matters into his own hands. According to the news report, the man was late for an appointment, when he saw a person standing in a parking spot, blocking it off. Instead of looking for a new spot, or even asking the other person to move, the man pulled into the spot – hitting the person. The person was injured, but the man who hit him did not seem to care. He got out of his, told the injured person he was late for an appointment and walked away. If this had occurred in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, or Parker, the man would likely be charged with Vehicular Assault.

Douglas County Vehicular Assault Attorney: What is the Definition of Vehicular Assault in a Parking Lot?

The Douglas County, Colorado law definition of Vehicular Assault – C.R.S. 18-3-205(1)(a) – is:

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If a person operates or drives a motor vehicle in a reckless manner, and this conduct is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury to another, such person commits vehicular assault.”

A vital term necessary to understanding the Vehicular Assault statute is “reckless.” According to the law:

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A person acts “recklessly” when he consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a result will occur or that a circumstance exists.”

The District Attorney’s office would argue that the man disregarded the risk that hitting the person with his car could cause serious damage when he decided to pull into the parking spot.

Sentence for Vehicular Assault in Highlands Ranch: A Criminal Lawyer’s Opinion

As a class 5 felony in Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock, Vehicular Assault for driving in a reckless manner is punishable by 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. I’m not sure that spending a year in jail is worth the tradeoff for being on time for an appointment. I think I would have preferred to walk in just a little bit late. 

If you or a loved one has been charged with Vehicular Assault in Douglas County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the affordable criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 303-265-1950 to schedule a free consultation.  Together, we can protect your future.

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