An Iowa truck driver could face up to five years in prison after he caused a trucking accident as a result of being intoxicated. The Globe identified the truck driver as Steven Spaan, 36, of Rock Valley, Iowa. A driver, who had been traveling behind Spaans, watched the entire incident unfold. That driver said the trucker was swerving all over the road for at least four miles.
At some point, Spaan pulled out in front of 25-year-old Dylan Fullerton’s truck, causing him to collide into the back of Spaan. Fullerton said that while he attempted to stop to avoid crashing into the truck, he was unable to do so in time. Officials say there were skid marks on the road which corroborated his statement. As a result of the crash, Fullerton suffered a large cut above his eye and he fractured his left eye socket and nasal cavity.
Approximately 30 firefighters arrived at the accident scene along with emergency medical personnel. Law enforcement and even local volunteers arrived to help clear the roadway of the debris. Both men had been transporting cattle, all of which needed to be extracted from the trucks. Some did not survive while others required euthanizing says the news source.
Upon speaking with Spaan, officers determined that he may have been under the influence. The trucker submitted to several field sobriety tests, all of which he failed. The source reported that Spaan “lost his balance before the officer could finish demonstrating the Walk and Turn test.” The trucker later consented to a Preliminary Breath Test which determined he had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.299%. In the state of Minnesota, which is where the accident transpired, it is illegal for a driver to operate a vehicle while intoxicated or when their BAC level is 0.08% or higher. The limit reduces to 0.04% when operating a commercial vehicle. Those are also the legal limits for drivers in the state of Iowa.
Officers Charge Spaan with DWI and Criminal Vehicular Operation.
After officers conducted a search of the trucker’s vehicle, they recovered multiple containers of alcohol inside the cab. While Spaan has been charged with multiple crimes, he has not yet been convicted. However, if he were to be found guilty on the charges that were filed against him, he could be looking at spending up to five years in prison and having to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
What should I do if I suffered injuries in an accident that was caused by a negligent truck driver in Iowa?
Commercial truck drivers are held to a higher standard than the average driver. Most are carrying heavy loads or hazardous materials, both of which have the capability of causing a serious or fatal accident. It is for this reason and others that truckers should be taking all levels of precaution to prevent a collision from transpiring. While most truck collisions end with someone suffering injuries, it typically isn’t the trucker. Instead, it is the driver who was occupying the passenger vehicle.
If you or even someone you love suffered serious or catastrophic injuries in a commercial truck accident in Iowa and you are looking for answers to some of the legal questions you have, the IA truck accident lawyers at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C are here to address them for you.
One of the first things a truck accident victim should do following the occurrence of a crash is contact a truck accident attorney in Iowa. These cases are much more complex than those involving passenger vehicles as there is typically more than one party involved. For instance, let’s say a careless truck driver crashed into your vehicle in Iowa and it was later revealed that his employer hired him despite him having multiple accidents listed on his driving record. In cases like this, you might not only have a case against the trucker, but also his employer.
Let our experienced IA personal injury attorneys help you recognize a truck driver for their negligence.
Because most truck collisions end with a person suffering severe or catastrophic injuries, it is customary for them to seek compensation from the at-fault party(ies) to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, etc. Most people recover this compensation after they have filed a personal injury lawsuit and won their case. If you are looking to find out if you have a viable case against a trucker and/or their employer as well as what your case might be worth, contact our truck accident law firm in Iowa now.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Website: www.eellsandtronvold.com
