Involuntary manslaughter is when a person accidentally kills someone as a result of an unlawful act, negligence or a lack of care that a reasonable person is obligated to provide in similar circumstances.
Involuntary manslaughter is different from voluntary manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter is when a person intentionally kills another person.
Although involuntary manslaughter does not involve the intent to kill, it is still a criminal offense and can carry severe punishments.
Many cases of involuntary manslaughter involve drunk driving. In these cases, a person driving under the influence of alcohol accidentally kills a pedestrian while operating the vehicle. Even though the drunk driver may not have intended to kill the pedestrian, he or she was still operating the vehicle with gross negligence, and is responsible for the death.