Mason City Truck Accident Attorney

Even in the most rural areas of Iowa, you still regularly see large trucks and commercial delivery vehicles charging down the major highways like I-80, I-90, and I-35. Whether we are talking about semi-trucks hauling cargo or a UPS van carrying packages, these vehicles pose a significant safety risk when not properly operated and maintained. That is why commercial truck drivers require special licenses and must follow strict regulations that do not apply to individuals operating regular passenger cars and trucks.

Indeed, a collision between a commercial or “heavy” truck and a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or pedestrian is often a recipe for disaster. In the worst cases, we have seen an overturned tractor-trailer create a multi-car pileup that can injure–or kill–dozens of innocent people. But even at a smaller scale, such as a reckless Amazon delivery driver hitting a child while rushing to complete their route, we are still talking about a wholly preventable tragedy.

There are many individuals and companies that may be held legally responsible for a truck accident. And if you, or someone that you care deeply about, is one of the victims, then it is critical that you take the time to consult with a knowledgeable Mason City truck accident attorney who can review your case and advise you of your options for seeking compensation. Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., has been handling personal injury cases for people across Iowa for over 60 years. We have a proven record of obtaining substantial settlements and jury verdicts for our clients. And we understand that even one injury or fatality in a commercial trucking accident is still one too many. That is why we fight for people like you who have been harmed through the reckless acts of truck drivers and trucking companies.

What Types of Truck Accidents Occur in Iowa?

Truckers operate their vehicles in all parts of the country and at all hours of the day and night. This means that a truck accident can happen anywhere at any time, even on a rural stretch of I-35 late in the evening. And while truck accidents are less common than collisions involving only passenger vehicles, the sheer mismatch in size and weight between a semi-trailer and a car place the occupants of the latter at a severe disadvantage when a crash does happen.

To put this in perspective, figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported there were 4,714 deaths in accidents involving large trucks in 2021. (Here in Iowa, there are approximately 60 truck accident fatalities reported each year.) This represented 11 percent of all traffic-accident related deaths for that year. But tellingly, 84 percent of those deaths were passenger vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Just 16 percent of the fatalities were the driver or other occupant of the truck.

While not all truck accidents prove fatal, they almost always involve some amount of serious injury to one or more people. Here is a brief rundown of the most common types of truck accidents that we see in our practice:

• Rollovers: This is probably the most destructive type of truck accident. The typical tractor-trailer has a significantly higher center of gravity than a regular car. This makes commercial trucks much more difficult to maneuver, especially around curves. If a truck driver is careless and attempts to navigate a curve too quickly, it can cause the trailer to flip and the truck will roll over onto its side, which then creates a collision hazard for any traffic that was behind the truck.
• Jackknife Accidents: A similar risk when it comes to commercial trucks is “jackknifing.” This usually occurs when a truck driver fails to brake properly. The truck cab slows down faster than the trailer. As a result, the back of the trailer can skid out to one side and create a shape similar to a jackknife, which again creates the potential for a multi-car pileup.
• Rear-End Collisions: Getting rear ended is a common experience for many Iowa drivers. Unfortunately, when the rear vehicle is an 80,000-pound truck, the people in the front car are likely to experience more than whiplash. In many rear-end collisions, the truck will simply crush the other vehicle and its occupants.
• Head-On Collisions: A head-on collision is almost always the result of driver negligence. If a trucker is fatigued or driving under the influence they can steer their vehicle into the wrong lane or into an intersection and collide with another vehicle.
• Sideswipe and T-Bone Accidents: These terms refer to collisions between a truck and the side of another vehicle. Sideswipe accidents are a particular hazard in that they often result from a truck driver failing to check their multiple blind spots before executing a lane change.
• Delivery Truck Accidents: While most commercial trucking accidents occur on highways, the growing presence of delivery vehicles from companies like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx create potential accident hazards even in rural residential neighborhoods, particularly as delivery drivers are often under enormous pressure to maintain unrealistic schedules.

Common Injuries in Iowa Truck Accidents

Even when victims survive a truck accident, they are often left with severe, life-threatening injuries that require emergency medical treatment. Some injuries may cause permanent damage and never fully heal. Here are just a few types of injuries that we often see with clients who have been hurt in truck accidents:

• Brain Injuries: The force of a collision with a truck frequently causes head and brain injuries. This can range from a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) to severe brain damage. In the worst cases, such brain damage leads to permanent cognitive impairment and possibly coma or death.
• Spinal Cord Damage: Any blunt impact to a person’s spinal cord creates a risk of temporary or permanent paralysis. And even in less-extreme cases, spinal cord injuries can leave a victim with a lifetime of back pain, nerve damage, and mobility issues.
• Bone Fractures: A simple bone fracture can occur in any motor vehicle accident. But truck accidents often cause complex fractures where a bone is shattered or even pierces the victim’s skin. This often requires surgical intervention and in some cases may even lead to a permanent disability.
• Burn Damage: Many commercial semi-trucks carry hazardous chemicals that are highly flammable. So if there is a collision, the entire accident scene may suddenly go up in flames, causing potentially life-threatening burn injuries.
• Internal Injuries: We have often seen cases where a person gets up and “walks away” from a truck accident thinking they are okay, only to later discover they sustained serious internal injuries, such as internal bleeding or organ damage.

How Victims Can Seek Compensation for a Truck Accident

Truck accident victims often incur substantial financial and emotional losses. This includes the costs of their medical care, the loss of income while they are unable to work, and their overall pain and suffering. Under Iowa law, such victims can seek compensation for their losses through a personal injury claim.

Seeking compensation for a truck accident is often far more complicated than a regular car crash. There are several reasons. First, there may be multiple potential defendants, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the truck’s cargo, and even the companies that built and maintained the truck. Second, interstate truck drivers are subject to certain federal regulations–and many accidents happen because those rules are ignored. Third, there are often multiple victims seeking compensation for the same accident.

The most important thing you can do following a truck accident is to work with a skilled personal injury attorney who understands the law in this area. The trucking company and their insurer will often try to make a quick settlement offer in the hopes that a victim will waive their right to sue. Such offers are almost always below the full value of compensation the victim could seek in a lawsuit. By working with an attorney, the victim can put themselves in a much stronger legal position to negotiate a fair settlement.

FAQs About Iowa Truck Accidents

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?

In most personal injury cases, Iowa has a 2-year statute of limitations. This means you have 2 years from the date of your truck accident to file a lawsuit.

Can I sue a third party for my truck accident?

Possibly. Depending on the specific facts of your case there may be a number of third parties who can be held liable. For example, if a truck accident was the result of improperly secured cargo, the person or company that loaded that cargo could be a defendant.

How much compensation can I seek for pain and suffering?

There is no state-imposed cap in Iowa on non-economic damages like pain and suffering (except in medical malpractice cases). But it is common practice to estimate non-economic damages by applying a multiplier to the total amount of economic (out of pocket) damages.

Contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. Today

The Mason City truck accident attorneys at Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. are here to help if you need legal advice or representation. Call us today at 319-220-0416 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in Waterloo and Iowa City, and we can make arrangements to travel to your location if circumstances warrant. We are available to our clients 24/7 and we handle all of our personal injury cases on a contingency basis. This means you will not owe us any fees until we recover a settlement or judgment in your favor.