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Vehicular Homicide

Vehicular Homicide occurs when a death is caused and when a vehicle is involved in the incident causing that death. The vehicle may be involved in an accident in which a person is killed and the driver of the vehicle causing that death may be charged with Wisconsin's equivalent of Vehicular Homicide, First-Degree Reckless Homicide, First-Degree Intentional Homicide, or Criminal Negligent Homicide-Hit and Run, whether the incident was intentional and whether the person killed was a spouse, a son or daughter, or a friend in the same car, or a stranger in another car.

Vehicular Homicide is a very serious charge; it is a criminal felony charge of murder. The penalties for those found guilty of a Vehicular Homicide charge may be the same as those found guilty of murder. When the possible outcome is this serious, one's choice of lawyers is critical and narrow.

Van Wagner & Wood Wins Acquittal - Vehicular Homicide

Attorney Chris Van Wagner's client had been charged with two counts of criminal negligent homicide and two counts of hit-and-run causing death by use of a dangerous weapon. The jury deliberated for nearly three hours before turning in not guilty verdicts on all counts. The defendant's brother was acquitted on two counts of being a party to hit-and-run.

Accidents Do Happen

From the first experience of spilling milk at dinner, we all know that accidents can and do happen. It must then come as a great comfort to know that criminal defense lawyers of such nationally recognized acclaim reside here in Wisconsin. The lawyers of Van Wagner & Wood are well-seasoned and highly experienced criminal defense attorneys. They aren't a new face in town... colelctively, they've been around for more three decade. Your case won't be one of their many stepping blocks to the top of the heap of criminal defense attorneys in Madison, Wisconsin... they are already at the top. And your circumstances won't be mere case facts to try in their quest for more experience to qualify to represent the really big cases... they already do.

Attorney Chris Van Wagner's skills were born in a hectic and overly-zealous prosecution office in Trenton, New Jersey where he prosecuted serious crimes. His move to private practice was into a Chicago firm where he laid his claim to excellence on the defense's side of the courtroom. Today, he brings the acumen and skills of a highly experienced big city attorney to the southwestern and central regions of Wisconsin.

Attorney Tracey Wood's national recognition has gained her the solid and respected stature of an advisor to attorneys across the United States. Sought by many high profile personalities seeking to win in a low profile defense, Attorney Wood has represented literally thousands of people against misdemeanors and felonies ranging from petty thefts and first offense drunken driving to sexual assault and immense conspiracy theft cases. Every day, lawyers from across the US call upon Tracey for advice in preparing a successful defense for their clients.

Attorney Chris Van Wagner and Attorney Tracey Wood are passionate in their life-long commitments to defending people against criminal charges and to helping those suspecting they may be charged. If you have been, or anticipate being charged with a serious crime, you owe it to you and your loved ones to consult with Madison's Best. Contact Van Wagner & Wood today, call 608-284-1200 or submit your case for a free first-impression analysis right away.

A Year Plus A Day Rule

The 'Year and A Day Rule' is a common law principle that has existed in Wisconsin since its formation as a state, but which was overruled by the Supreme Court.

According to the Year and a Day Rule, no homicide was committed unless the victim died within one year plus one day after the injury was inflicted, concluding that if the victim died more than a year and a day after the incident, it was conclusive that the injury did not cause the death.

The 'Year and A Day Rule' was common law, rather than a part of Wisconsin's criminal statutes. According to Wisconsin's Supreme Court, common law is meant to evolve with society and be created by society's advancements; it should fit to present day conditions. Because the rule was established in the thirteenth century when medical technology was primitive, a person who lived beyond a year could reasonably be presumed of dying of other causes, rather than the injury inflicted by the accident in question, which injury was presumed would cause death much quicker.

Today, medical technology has far surpassed what even the most creative medical minds could have imagined in the thirteenth century. As a result of medical science's ability to determine the precise cause of death and our court's ability to hear expert witnesses, which also did not exist in common law, such a rule is unnecessary. Consequently, 'A Year and A Day Rule' was abolished in 2003.

Contact Madison's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you are under investigation for a crime or drunk driving offense, if you have already been charged with a crime or drunk driving violation, or if you have already been convicted but believe your conviction or your sentence were wrong, please call (608-284-1200) or contact the attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood via e-mail right away. The criminal defense attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood will give you a free brief but professional "first-impression" analysis of your case and your situation, which will allow you to take an important first step in defending the case against you.

Van Wagner & Wood can help.

Contact Van Wagner & Wood.

Van Wagner & Wood, S.C.
608-284-1200

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Offices of Van Wagner & Wood

Van Wagner & Wood's office is located at Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Doty Street. 10 East Doty is located on the outside of the first circle surrounding the capitol building. You can park under the building by entering the parking lot from Doty Street. If you park under 10 East Doty, the offices of Van Wagner & Wood will validate your parking ticket so that you do not have to pay to park. If the parking ramp is full, there are numerous parking places surrounding 10 East Doty, as well as a public parking ramp on State street.

Appeals & Serious Crimes - Homicide - Murder

Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense lawyers handle appeals to both the Appellate Court and the Supreme Court, as well as both state and Federal court systems for people convicted of a crime who believe their conviction or sentence were wrong. Most often, the appeals that they handle are to federal court because very few attorneys handle these types of appeals; Attorney Chris Van Wagner was a US Attorney in Wisconsin before entering private practice. Often times, people from across the United States hire Attorney Van Wagner for a Federal or a state appeal for serious crimes including homicide, RICO (Racketeering), felony murder, negligent homicide, vehicular homicide, or sexual assault. Attorney Tracey Wood handles appeals to Wisconsin State Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court for charges or convictions stemming from a Wisconsin trial.

Federal Crimes

Drug Crimes

Adams (Adams, Wisconsin Dells), Ashland (Ashland), Barron (Barron), Bayfield (Washburn, Bayfield), Buffalo (Buffalo City, Mondovi), Burnett (Siren), Chippewa (Chippewa Falls), Clark (Abbotsford), Columbia (Columbus), Crawford (Prairie du Chien), Dane (Belleville, Black Earth, Blue Mounds, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Dane, Deerfield, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Madison, Maple Bluff, Marshall, Mazomanie, Middleton, Monona, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Rockdale, Shorewood Hills, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee, Windsor), Douglas (Superior), Dunn (Menomonie), Eau Claire (Abbotsford, Eau Claire), Grant (Mount Hope, Lancaster, Fennimore), Green (Monroe), Iowa (Mineral Point, Dodgeville), Jackson (Black River Falls), Jefferson (Jefferson), Juneau (Mauston), La Crosse (LaCrosse, Lafayette, Darlington), Marathon (Wausau), Monroe (Sparta), Pepin (Durand), Pierce (River Falls), Polk (St Croix Falls), Portage (Stevens Point), Price (Park Falls), Richland (Richland Center), Rock (Janesville), Rusk (Ladysmith), St Croix (Hudson), Sauk (Sauk City), Taylor (Medford), Trempealeau (Whitehall), Washburn (Spooner), and Wood (Wisconsin Dells) counties.

Drunk Driving (OWI, DUI, DWI)

Sexual Assault & Sex Crimes