Commercial truck accidents are devastating events– while less common than other types of motor vehicle accidents, they are more likely to lead to serious injuries or fatalities. In the event of a collision, the people in a passenger car are more vulnerable than the truck driver, due to the size of the truck.
After a semi-truck accident, you will likely be left with injuries, vehicle damage, and bills piling up around you. You may be wondering how you will take care of your medical expenses or make up for wages you’ve lost. If you’ve decided to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim, you may not be sure what to do next.
The Advocates personal injury attorneys can help with all of these questions and more. Our legal team has decades of experience in negotiating with insurance companies and obtaining fair compensation for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Iowa, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. A personal injury lawyer with The Advocates can evaluate your case and help you determine the best course of action. Call us today for a free consultation.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Get any property damage assessed and repaired
Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have been helping victims navigate their truck accident cases, and we are ready to do the same for you. We are a capable, compassionate legal team who make it our mission to help our clients with all aspects of their recovery, not just negotiation and litigation.
In addition to providing legal representation, The Advocates are prepared to help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
Common truck accident injuries include:
Truck drivers must be at least 18 years old to hold a Commercial Driver’s License and operate a commercial vehicle in Iowa.
To obtain an Iowa CDL, a potential truck driver must prove residency within the state, speak and read English, and hold a commercial learner’s permit for at least 14 days before applying for a CDL. They must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training and take a knowledge and/or skills test.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the driver of a tractor-trailer must make sure that his or her truck is in good working order at all times.
“Good working order” means the truck must have properly functioning:
If any of these components of the truck are not working correctly or are in poor condition, the truck may not be driven until the issue has been fixed. A failure of any one of these pieces of equipment can cause a major safety hazard for the trucker and others on the road.
Legal trucking loads in Iowa are as follows:
The maximum weight for a truck load depends on the roads the truck will be traveling on. On interstate highways, maximum gross weight is 80,000 pounds.
Transporting anything over these sizes requires the trucker to obtain certain endorsements and permits, and may require one or more escorts.
Any Iowa driver moving slower than the normal speed of traffic must use the right lane, unless passing or turning left.
In most cases, semi-trucks are moving at slower speeds than other motorists on a highway, and therefore will not have as great a need for the left lane. In some places, the highway is three lanes or more, and it is unlikely the trucker will need to use the leftmost lane to pass.
If a truck (or any other vehicle) is traveling in the left lane without passing, they may be cited and required to pay a $100 fine.
Most highways in Iowa have speed limits of either 65 or 70 miles per hour. While there is no truck-specific limit, a commercial truck may not travel faster than the posted speed limit.
Truckers are subject to a federal law known as the hours of service rule. This rule states that a truck driver may only operate their vehicle for a maximum of 11 consecutive hours after 10 hours off-duty. The longest amount of time a trucker may be on-duty (driving or not) is 14 hours.
The only exception to this rule is in the case of adverse driving conditions, when traffic may be going slower than usual. Additionally, truck drivers are required to take a 30-minute break every 8 hours.
These laws are in place to prevent driver fatigue, which can be a major safety hazard. It is common in the trucking industry for drivers to be paid by the mile, which means they are motivated to keep driving, even if they may be feeling tired. If the driver of a big rig falls asleep behind the wheel, it could mean disaster for everyone around them on the road.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it is best to call an attorney sooner rather than later. All states have a statute of limitations on both criminal and civil matters.
The statute of limitations refers to the length of time a plaintiff has to file a claim before they lose their right of action. In Iowa, the statute of limitations for auto accidents is typically two years.
The longer you wait to begin your case, the harder it may be to receive damages. As time goes on, evidence may be lost or forgotten. An eyewitness may forget what they saw, or video footage from a nearby business may be erased. The more quickly you are able to compile evidence, get treated for your injuries, and speak with an attorney, the easier it will be to file a claim.
If you were injured in a truck accident, one of the last things you want to do is spend time and energy fighting insurance companies. These multi-million dollar companies will often go out of their way to avoid offering you fair compensation for your truck accident claim. An experienced semi-truck accident attorney can go up against insurance providers for you and fight for your legal rights.
The Advocates are a law firm of competent, caring truck accident lawyers who can help you navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. We will have your back every step of the way, answering your questions and providing regular updates on your case.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, The Advocates are here to help. Contact our law office today for a free initial consultation. You deserve an attorney who puts your best interests first. You deserve an Advocate.
