Des Moines Truck Accident Attorney

Des Moines Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck accidents are some of the most dramatic, life-changing collisions on the road. Passengers in smaller, lighter vehicles often end up with painful injuries after a collision and need an ambulance to whisk them away to the hospital. Please call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. today to speak with one of our Des Moines truck accident attorneys after a wreck. We have offices in Waterloo and Iowa City and can travel to meet you if circumstances allow.

Give us a call at (319) 220-0416 or submit an online contact form to request a free, no-obligation consultation.

A Word from Our Clients

We Help with All Types of Truck Accidents

Our Des Moines truck accident attorneys have tackled all types of truck accidents:

• Rollovers—A truck can roll onto its side due to a dramatic shift in the center of gravity, crushing someone nearby.
• Underride—A small vehicle can slide under a truck that sits up high off the ground, such as a tractor-trailer. Motorists can suffer horrifying head and facial injuries.
• Override—A truck can plow over a smaller vehicle in front of it. Many trucks have large blind spots in front, which makes these accidents a real possibility.
• Jackknife—A tractor-trailer can jackknife unexpectedly and slam into nearby motorists.
• Flying debris accidents—Material or debris can come flying out of a dump truck and hit other cars on the road, causing accidents.
• Backing-up accidents—Trucks which back up are increasingly hitting pedestrians or warehouse workers.

Delivery Vehicle Accidents Are Unique

Des Moines sees many delivery vehicles racing along I-80 at all hours of the day. Many of our clients are injured in a collision with a FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and DHL vehicle. These large companies will aggressively defend themselves from any truck accident claim.

You might also get struck by a United States Postal Service vehicle. The process for suing the government is different. Hire an experienced Des Moines truck accident lawyer who knows how to make a claim against the Postal Service.

You Deserve Compensation for Painful Injuries

Any collision with a truck can lead to:

• Crush injuries
• Nerve damage
• Abrasions, contusions, and lacerations
• Fractures
• Facial injuries
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash
• Chest injuries
• Spinal column damage
• Paralysis
• Amputation

Injuries also have common side effects, such as an increased risk of infection, pneumonia, or organ failure. Please go to the hospital immediately after a truck accident so you can begin receiving necessary treatment.

Who is Responsible for Your Truck Accident?

At Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., we excel at investigations. Our goal is to find as much relevant evidence and piece together what happened. Under Iowa law, you can sue anyone who is liable for your accident.

Typically, we have sought compensation from:

• Truckers. A negligent or impaired trucker is responsible for crashing into you because they did not use reasonable care. Truckers cause accidents by tailgating, speeding, or performing illegal lane changes. Distraction and fatigue also cause many wrecks.
• Trucking companies. The trucker’s employer is usually liable when their employee hurts someone on the job. A trucking company might also have independent liability for negligent hiring or for putting a dangerous truck on the road.
• Mechanics and body shops. A truck might crash because of negligent repairs. A mechanic could fail to identify a problem with the brakes, for example, which leads to a crash.
• Freight owners. Often, the company that owns the freight will load and secure it in the truck. They might do a careless job, which leads to a crash.
• Truck manufacturers. The manufacturer of the truck or any component could be responsible for defects which cause accidents. For example, a design defect could render a truck unstable when making a turn.

We Fight for Compensation

Anyone injured in a truck accident will be shocked at their expenses. Suddenly, you might be spending weeks in the hospital and be unable to work. No money is coming through the door.

Our Des Moines truck accident lawyers can seek financial compensation for:

• Past and future lost income. You should receive compensation to cover all lost wages or income.
• Past and future medical care. Medical expenses include doctor appointments, surgery, pain medication, and rehabilitation, among others. The person responsible for the truck accident should pay.
• Property damage. Your car was probably damaged in a collision, and the defendant should cover the cost of repairing it.
• Past and future pain and suffering. Truck accidents cause painful injuries. Back and head injuries prevent people from enjoying their normal life. Accident victims deserve compensation for difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and other bodily or emotional anguish.

Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents

One misconception is that truck and car accidents are the same. You might have negotiated your own settlement for a minor fender bender and think you can tackle your truck accident case. We highly recommend reaching out to our firm, instead.

Truck and car accidents are more different than alike:

• Different evidence—Truck accident cases involve electronic data recorded on the truck, freight manifests, and truck employee records. You need a lawyer to help find this evidence.
• More potential defendants—As mentioned above, we might sue multiple people and entities.
• Rules and regulations—Both federal and state regulations could come into play in your case, including rules limiting the number of hours a trucker works in a day and week.
• More aggressive defense—Trucking companies employ their own investigators to dig for evidence to use against you. They rarely settle with enthusiasm.

FAQs about Des Moines Truck Accidents

Will my own negligence impact my case?

Yes. Your own contributory negligence will reduce your compensation in proportion to your share of fault. So if you are 45% at fault, you will receive 45% less in money damages. Also, if your fault is greater than all defendants, the law prevents you from receiving anything.

How much time do I have to sue?

Iowa’s statute of limitations gives you two years to file a lawsuit in most cases. Go over, and you lose the right to sue.

We Get Results

Call Ball, Kirk & Holm today if you were hurt in a truck accident. Our firm has obtained multiple settlements for accident victims, including a $2.5 million settlement for a collision with a semi truck and more than $300,000 for a collision with a garbage truck. Contact us to speak with our Des Moines truck accident lawyers about your accident. We are available 24/7 for our clients.

Contact us today for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling (319) 220-0416.