Reckless Driving

Iowa Reckless Driving Laws

“Recklessness” is ordinarily one of the underlying requirements for the state to prove before a defendant can be held criminally liable for the death of another person resulting from a car accident.

According to the Iowa Model Criminal Jury Instructions:

A person is “reckless” or acts “recklessly” when he willfully disregards the safety of persons or property.  It is more than a lack of reasonable care which may cause unintentional injury.  Recklessness is conduct which is consciously done with willful disregard of the consequences.  For recklessness to exist, the act must be highly dangerous.  In addition, the danger must be so obvious that the actor knows or should reasonably foresee that harm will more likely than not result from the act.  Though recklessness is willful, it is not intentional in the sense that harm is intended to result.

Drunk Driving & Reckless conduct

Operating while intoxicated is considered in and of itself, reckless conduct, which is why it forms the basis of the most severe vehicular death offense of vehicular homicide.  The State still must prove the individual was intoxicated or was over the legal limit, but if they do so, reckless conduct has also been proven.

Reckless driving that does not result in injury or death is a simple misdemeanor.  It is often used as a “compromise” charge in plea negotiations on operating while intoxicated cases that the State believes it will have difficulty proving.

Iowa OWI Defenders
contact us at 1-888-278-1027

Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm
IOWA DRUNK DRIVING DEFENSE LAWYERS
303 Locust Street, Suite 200
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Phone: (515) 226-0500
Toll free: 1-888-278-1027

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You can also get directions and see an enlarged map of the area surrounding the attorneys' offices at 303 Locust Street by clicking on the links above or the words in this paragraph.

free initial consultation

If you or someone you care about has been arrested for drunk driving or an intoxication related offense, remember that an arrest is not a conviction; there are many, many reasons why an OWI charge may be wrong. If the driver doesn't believe that he or she was drunk, that very well may be the case; breathalyzers can malfunction. There are also many other reasons for improper drunk driving accusations. We know, we find them all the time.

call Iowa OWI Defenders at 1-888-278-1027

For a free initial consultation, please call the law offices of Attorney Robert Rehkemper and Attorney Matthew Thomas Lindholm at (515) 226-0500, or if you are located outside the local Des Moines, West Des Moines, Iowa area, use our toll free number, (1-888-278-1027).

Send your OWI Arrest Information To An Attorney

You can also send details about your OWI arrest to the attorneys with the CASE SUBMISSION FORM. That form is very handy for after-hours communications, to give the attorneys a head's-up that you will be calling, or to leave a message for one of them to call you back. While arrest and charge information is public, be sure to exclude any confidential information.

prepare for consultation

The attorneys at Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm are extremely detail-orientated; they want information from you pertaining to every aspect of your case including your and police actions prior to the police stop, peliminary to your arrest, during arrest and after arrest.

An OWI DUI Questionnaire Form is ready for you to print and complete to prepare for your consultation with an attorney.

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Don't leave home without it! Get your Driver's Rights Card now, and keep it with you just in case you ever need it.

Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm founded the Driver's Rights Card to protect people's rights if ever they're stopped in Iowa by police for suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Protect your freedom - get the free card.