Compensation After a Truck Accident in Iowa

In a normal car wreck, it’s usually safe to rely on law enforcement to investigate how and why a crash occurred. That’s not the case in big rig accidents.

Most police officers do not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and they are not familiar with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSA), which sets the minimum safety standards for commercial trucking in the United States.

Local law enforcement often fails to consider important information after a truck crash. Law enforcement can also miss crucial types of evidence..

Yes. Truck accident cases can be extremely complex, involving multiple parties, obscure regulations, and substantial damages. These crashes can’t be treated like a commuter collision.

The only way to properly secure the important information that law enforcement often misses is to consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer. An attorney can hire the trucking industry investigators and experts needed for your case.

Immediately after an 18-wheeler crash, you need to call 911, exchange information with the trucker and any witnesses, and document the accident site with photos and videos.

There are three important steps you need to take to protect your health and your legal rights in Iowa.

Talk to an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney: Lawyers know the unique challenges of cases involving 18-wheelers and commercial trucking companies. Your trucking accident attorney can secure and preserve important evidence and information related to the case. Your lawyer can guide you, shield you from insurance company tactics, and provide answers to any questions or concerns you may have.

Get Medical Attention for Your Accident-Related Injuries: Make sure to get checked out by a doctor after a crash even if you aren’t sure you’ve been seriously injured. Injury symptoms don’t always show up right away. It could be hours, days, or even a week before you realize how badly you were hurt. Under Iowa law, victims must prove their harms and losses, which is why it’s crucial to have complete and accurate medical records from the time of the crash.

Keep a Recovery Journal to Document Treatment: Your number one job after a serious truck crash is to attend all medical appointments and follow all advice they give you. As you’re healing, keep a journal about your pain levels, changes to your day-to-day life, and your doctor visits. This recovery journal combined with your medical records can be powerful evidence for your claim.

That depends. There may be multiple parties in the trucking accident who are legally responsible for your injuries.

The Cargo Loader: You may be able to sue the cargo loader if the load on the truck was not properly secured and this unsecured load was a cause of your wreck.

The Truck Driver: It’s likely that the tractor-trailer crash was due at least in part to the truck driver’s negligence. For example, the truck driver may have falsified their time entries to drive more hours than permitted under federal law, been speeding or driving erratically, or did not receive proper training to safely operate a semi-truck.

The Trucking Company: The trucking company that hired the negligent trucker may also be legally responsible for negligence if the company hired an unqualified driver, did not supervise the driver correctly, or failed to maintain the truck or the trailer appropriately.

A Truck Maintenance Company: If a maintenance company worked on the tractor or trailer, you may be able to hold them accountable for negligence if an attorney can prove that they did not perform the necessary repairs or did not perform those repairs correctly.

In Iowa, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases (which includes big rig crashes) is generally two years from the date of the crash. But the statute of limitations is not the whole story. So many things are in motion, and time is of the essence.

The trucking company can legally dispose of some accident-related evidence just six months after a crash. To prevent this, you need an experienced Iowa semi-truck accident lawyer to send a notice called a “letter of spoliation” to the trucking company and other potentially liable parties.

Acting promptly is crucial for protecting your rights after a truck accident in Iowa. Our lawyers can help you meet key deadlines and requirements, and give you a chance to focus on recovery.