Vehicular Assault Attorney in Tallahassee

Former Prosecutor. 2,500+ Cases. Fighting Aggravated Assault & Battery Charges in Tallahassee.

What most people call “vehicular assault” is prosecuted in Florida as aggravated assault or aggravated battery involving a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon. These are serious felony charges with significant prison exposure, and how the state builds its case determines how the defense should respond. At Law Office of Nathan Prince, Attorney Nathan Prince brings former prosecutorial experience to every client facing these charges in Tallahassee, giving him direct insight into how the state argues its case and where that argument can be challenged.

We’ve handled over 2,500 cases and are authorized to practice in both state and federal courts. That range of experience matters when charges overlap jurisdictions or escalate in severity.

Facing aggravated assault or battery charges involving a vehicle? Call Law Office of Nathan Prince at (850) 601-5690 to speak with a vehicular assault lawyer in Tallahassee as soon as possible.

How Florida Charges “Vehicular Assault”

Florida doesn’t have a criminal statute titled vehicular assault. When a motor vehicle is used to threaten or harm another person, prosecutors charge the conduct under one of two statutes, depending on what happened and the extent of injury involved.

Aggravated Assault (Fla. Stat. 784.021)
This statute covers an assault committed with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, or with intent to commit a felony. No physical contact is required. If a driver directed a vehicle at another person in a threatening manner, the state can charge aggravated assault. It is a third-degree felony, carrying a maximum of five years in prison.

Aggravated Battery (Fla. Stat. 784.045)
This charge applies when a battery causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, or when a deadly weapon is used in committing the battery. When a vehicle makes contact and causes serious injury, prosecutors pursue aggravated battery. It is a second-degree felony, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

In both scenarios, the state must establish that the motor vehicle qualifies as a deadly weapon. Florida courts have recognized that a vehicle can meet that standard when used in a manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm. That classification isn’t automatic, and it’s one of the core issues a defense attorney needs to confront early.

The Former-Prosecutor Advantage in These Cases

Attorney Prince worked as a prosecutor before entering criminal defense practice. That background is directly relevant to aggravated assault and battery charges involving a vehicle, because the state’s theory of the case often turns on a single legal classification: whether the vehicle was used as a deadly weapon.

Having argued that classification from the other side, Attorney Prince understands which evidence prosecutors rely on to support it, how they frame witness accounts, and where the state’s narrative is most vulnerable. That perspective shapes how we investigate, how we challenge charging decisions, and how we approach negotiation or trial strategy for clients in Tallahassee.

Related Florida Charges to Know

Not every incident involving a vehicle and bodily harm results in an aggravated assault or battery charge. Two related offenses come up frequently and carry their own distinct elements.

• Vehicular homicide (Fla. Stat. 782.071): Charged when a person’s death results from the reckless operation of a motor vehicle. This statute requires a fatality, which distinguishes it from aggravated assault or battery charges where no death occurs.
• DUI causing serious bodily injury (Fla. Stat. 316.193(3)(c)2): A separate third-degree felony that applies when impairment is a factor in causing injury. If alcohol or drugs are alleged alongside a vehicle-related assault, prosecutors may pursue this charge alongside or instead of aggravated battery.

Our criminal defense practice includes DUI and drug offense representation, so clients facing overlapping charges have access to coordinated defense across those areas.

Where These Cases Are Prosecuted in Tallahassee

Felony charges for aggravated assault and aggravated battery arising in Tallahassee are heard in the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, located at the Leon County Courthouse. Knowing the local court, its procedures, and the prosecutors who try these cases is part of what we bring to your defense.

Speak with a Vehicular Assault Attorney in Tallahassee Today

Aggravated assault and battery charges involving a motor vehicle move quickly once the state files. The earlier you have a defense attorney reviewing the facts, the more options remain available. We’re available around the clock because we know these situations don’t follow business hours.

Call Law Office of Nathan Prince at (850) 601-5690 to discuss your case with a vehicular assault attorney in Tallahassee.