Iowa residents have many reasons to be on the roadways, often on a daily basis. You may need to commute to work most days of the week, and even when you do not have work, you may need to run errands, like going to the grocery store or the bank. Unfortunately, every time you hit the road in your vehicle, you face the risk of suffering injuries in a car accident.
In many cases, these accidents result from negligence on the part of at least one driver. It is not unusual for accident victims to not even know the exact type of negligence that resulted in the crash immediately after it occurs, but officers have a responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation to determine causes and contributing factors. It is possible for various issues to be involved.
Though it is troubling to think about, numerous types of negligent driving exist. In fact, many people drive in a negligent way more often than they think and may not consider the possible repercussions of their actions until they are involved in a serious accident. Some common types of negligent driving that you may see on the roadways often include the following:
Aggressive driving, such as tailgating, speeding, cutting in and out of traffic, and more
Breaking traffic laws, such as not fully stopping at a stop sign, running a red light, passing in a no-passing zone and others
Driving under the influence, such as after consuming alcohol or after using various controlled substances, both prescription and non-prescription
Failing to maintain vehicle upkeep, such as driving on bald tires, using worn-out windshield wipers, having headlights or brake lights out, and more
Driving while distracted, such as by using a cellphone, setting an address in a GPS, eating, changing the radio station or anything that takes one’s mind off the task of driving
These few examples do not represent every factor that could point to negligent driving, but you may notice many drivers on the road carrying out such activities. In the event that a negligent driver causes an accident that leaves you seriously injured, you may have reason to file a personal injury claim in hopes of receiving compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and other permitted damages.
Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is prohibited in Iowa. On suspicion of impaired or drunk driving, the police can stop your vehicle and ask you to take a field sobriety test, among other DUI tests. Understanding your rights with a field sobriety test is imperative to know what to do when pulled over for DUI and ensure that you do not implicate yourself inadvertently.
Most of us have seen police shows on TV where an officer informs someone in custody that they have a right to remain silent and be represented by an attorney during questioning. This statement, required by a 1966 U.S. Supreme Court decision, is known as your Miranda Rights.
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was enacted to protect citizens from any unlawful search and seizure by government authorities, including law enforcement officers. Unless under certain exceptions, it is illegal for a police officer to search a person's home, vehicle, or property without obtaining a valid search warrant or following the guidelines for conducting searches.
