Des Moines Truck Accident Lawyer

Trusted truck accident lawyers with over 17 years of experience.

If you have been hurt in a collision with a commercial truck, you may be facing a long medical recovery, mounting bills, and a trucking company whose insurer is already working to limit what it pays. That pressure can build while you are still trying to heal.

A skilled truck accident lawyer in Des Moines, IA can manage the legal side of your recovery and work to hold the responsible parties accountable. At Law Group of Iowa, our attorneys have represented injured Iowans for more than 17 years, and our founding attorneys have practiced law in this state since 2001. Contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your options.

Truck Accident Lawyer Des Moines, IA 

A truck accident attorney investigates how the crash happened, identifies every party that may share fault, and pursues compensation for the people who were injured. A truck accident claim is one kind of personal injury claim, though it carries added layers that an ordinary collision does not.

A truck accident also differs from a car accident in more than scale. A loaded tractor-trailer can weigh many times what a passenger vehicle weighs, so the injuries that result are frequently severe. Commercial carriers are governed by federal safety regulations, and many of them send insurers and investigators to a crash scene within hours. Our Des Moines truck accident lawyers respond with prompt and thorough investigation of their own.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Des Moines

Commercial vehicle crashes take many forms, and each type tends to leave its own pattern of evidence. Our firm handles the full range of truck accident claims for clients in Des Moines, and the cases below are among the most common.

• Jackknife accidents. When a truck’s trailer swings out of line with the cab, it can sweep across several lanes of traffic. We examine braking, speed, and road conditions to determine why the trailer lost its line.
• Rollover accidents. A high center of gravity makes large trucks prone to tipping on curves and ramps. We review the load, the speed, and the driver’s handling to establish what caused the rollover.
• Rear-end and underride accidents. A truck that cannot stop in time may strike the vehicle ahead, and a smaller car can slide beneath the trailer. These crashes often produce especially severe injuries.
• Tire blowout accidents. A failed tire can cause a driver to lose control of the truck. We investigate whether poor maintenance or a defective tire was behind the failure.
• Wide-turn accidents. A truck making a wide right turn can trap a vehicle beside it. We work to show how the driver failed to account for the space the maneuver required.
• Head-on collisions. A truck that drifts across the centerline into oncoming traffic can cause catastrophic harm. Fatigue, distraction, and impairment are common factors in these crashes.
• Cargo and load-shift accidents. Freight that is loaded or secured improperly can shift, spill, or unbalance a trailer. Responsibility may rest with the party that loaded the truck.
• Blind-spot accidents. Large trucks have wide blind spots on every side. We examine mirror use, lane changes, and signaling to show how the collision occurred.
• Sideswipe accidents. An unsafe lane change by a truck can force a smaller vehicle off the road. We gather roadway and vehicle evidence to reconstruct the contact.
• Brake failure accidents. Commercial braking systems demand regular inspection and repair. When a brake system fails, we examine the carrier’s maintenance and inspection records closely.

Why Choose Law Group of Iowa for Truck Accidents in Des Moines, IA?

Experience With Commercial Truck Cases

Our truck accident work is led by attorney Jason Yates, who has practiced law since 2009 and concentrates on serious personal injury litigation involving commercial carriers. Christopher Johnston, who helped found Law Group of Iowa and has practiced since 2001, handles semi-truck collisions along with car and motorcycle crashes and wrongful death claims, and he is a member of the American Association for Justice. Christopher Martineau, who has practiced since 2003, focuses on automobile and semi-truck collisions and construction accidents, and he has been recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Yates earned his law degree from Drake University Law School with Honors and has been named to the Top 100 by the National Trial Lawyers.

Results-Focused Representation

Our personal injury lawyers in Des Moines, IA have recovered millions of dollars for injured Iowans through settlements and verdicts. We handle truck accident claims on a contingency basis, which means there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and the first consultation is free. That arrangement allows an injured person to obtain strong representation without paying anything up front while out of work.

Understanding Truck Accident Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases

Fault in a truck accident case turns on negligence, which is the failure to use reasonable care. A driver who speeds, follows too closely, or ignores a safety rule may be negligent, and what negligence means in practice is central to proving liability. Truck cases differ from ordinary collisions because more than one party often shares fault. Responsibility can extend to the driver, the motor carrier that employed the driver, a freight broker, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance contractor, or the manufacturer of a defective truck part.

Once fault is established, the question turns to compensation. Iowa law allows an injured person to recover for several categories of harm, and the main types of compensation include:

• Medical expenses, both past and future
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and physical suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Truck crashes frequently cause catastrophic harm, including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries that can require lifelong care. CDC injury data identifies motor vehicle crashes as one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury. When a truck crash is fatal, a wrongful death claim allows the surviving family to seek accountability and compensation for their loss.

What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?

Truck cases depend on categories of evidence that an ordinary car crash does not involve, and much of that evidence is held by the trucking company. Acting promptly matters, because some records can be overwritten or lost if no one formally requests that they be preserved. The aspects below often shape a truck accident claim:

• Electronic logging device data and hours-of-service logs that record driving time and rest
• The driver qualification file, including training history and prior violations
• Maintenance and inspection records for the truck and the trailer

Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long a commercial driver may operate before resting, and a violation of those rules can serve as evidence of negligence. The trucking company’s insurer often begins its own investigation within hours of a crash, so speaking with an insurance adjuster before you have legal counsel can weaken your position.

What Is The Truck Accident Case Timeline?

Every truck accident claim moves at its own pace, and clients often want to know how long claims take before they begin. The duration depends on the injuries and on whether the carrier negotiates fairly, but the general path is consistent. A typical case moves through these stages:

• Medical treatment until the injured person reaches maximum recovery
• Preservation of evidence and a full investigation of the crash
• A demand presented to the carrier and its insurer
• Negotiation toward a settlement
• A lawsuit and trial, if a fair settlement offer never comes

Many cases resolve before the final stage, though preparing each case for trial from the beginning helps keep pressure on the insurer.

What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?

Bringing a few key items to your first meeting helps our attorneys assess your case efficiently. A consultation is most productive when you arrive with the basics already gathered. Helpful items include:

• Any police or crash report
• Photographs of the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries
• Insurance information for everyone involved in the crash
• Your medical records and related bills

The first consultation is free and usually takes less than an hour. During that meeting, we will explain whether you have a claim and what the next steps would involve.

What Are Important Iowa Legal Resources for Truck Accident Cases?

Knowing where to find the law helps injured people understand their rights after a truck crash. The resources below give Des Moines residents a starting point for reviewing the rules that apply to a personal injury claim.

• The Iowa Legislature publishes the full state code online, including the Iowa limitation statutes that set the deadline for filing an injury lawsuit.
• Iowa’s comparative fault law explains how shared blame can reduce the amount an injured person recovers.
• General negligence principles, shaped over time by Iowa’s courts, govern how fault is proven in an injury case.

These resources are useful for general background. They are not a substitute for advice about the specific facts of your situation.

Reach Out to Law Group of Iowa to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in a truck crash in Des Moines, you do not have to handle the aftermath alone. Our truck accident attorneys offer a free consultation, and we work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We will review what happened, answer your questions, and explain your options. Most people hear back from our office within one business day.

Truck Accident Statistics in Des Moines

Large commercial trucks make up a small share of the vehicles on Iowa roads, yet they account for a disproportionate share of severe crashes. The Iowa DOT crash statistics published each year track collisions by county, severity, and vehicle type, and they record crashes involving large trucks across the state every year. Polk County, which includes Des Moines, sits where two major interstate freight routes cross, so heavy truck traffic is a constant on local roads. National figures show a similar pattern of risk, as CDC transportation safety data reports that motor vehicle crashes kill more than 100 people every day in the United States. The size and weight of a commercial truck make those crashes especially dangerous for people in smaller vehicles.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Des Moines

Truck crashes rarely happen without an identifiable cause. Behind most claims is a specific failure by a driver or by the trucking company that put the vehicle on the road. Recognizing the common causes helps Des Moines residents understand how these crashes occur and how fault is established.

1. Driver fatigue. Federal rules limit how long a commercial driver may stay behind the wheel, yet fatigued driving remains a frequent cause of truck crashes. Pressure to meet delivery schedules pushes some drivers past safe limits. A tired driver reacts slowly, misjudges distance, and may drift out of a lane.
2. Distracted driving. A truck driver who looks at a phone, a navigation screen, or other devices takes attention away from the road. At highway speed, a few seconds is enough to close the distance on stopped or slowing traffic, and the weight of the truck makes the resulting collision severe.
3. Speeding and unsafe speed. A loaded truck needs far more room to stop than a passenger car. A driver who travels too fast for traffic, weather, or a curve cannot slow in time, and the force involved in a crash rises sharply as speed increases.
4. Improper loading. Freight that is overloaded, unbalanced, or poorly secured can shift during transport. A shifting load can cause a trailer to roll or jackknife, and responsibility may rest with the company that loaded the truck rather than the driver.
5. Inadequate maintenance. Brakes, tires, and steering components on a commercial truck require regular inspection and repair. When a carrier defers maintenance to keep a truck in service, a worn or defective part can fail while the vehicle is on the road.
6. Impaired driving. Alcohol, drugs, and certain medications slow a driver’s reaction time and impair judgment. Some impaired drivers leave the scene, and a hit-and-run adds the further difficulty of identifying both the driver and the carrier responsible.
7. Inexperienced drivers. Operating a large commercial vehicle safely takes training and supervised practice. A carrier that places an undertrained driver behind the wheel, or that fails to screen a driver’s record, creates a danger for everyone sharing the road.
8. Blind spots and unsafe lane changes. Large trucks have wide blind spots on all four sides. A motorcycle traveling beside a trailer, or a pedestrian crossing near the cab, can be impossible for the driver to see, and an unchecked lane change can force a smaller road user out of the way.

Taking the right steps after a crash also protects your health and your claim. Seek medical care, document the scene if you are able, and avoid giving recorded statements until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Des Moines Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs

How is a truck accident claim different from a car accident claim?

Truck claims involve federal safety regulations, far larger insurance policies, and frequently several responsible parties rather than a single driver. They also depend heavily on evidence the trucking company controls, such as electronic logs and maintenance files. Those differences make a truck accident case more involved than a typical car accident claim and a reason to involve a lawyer early.

Who can be held liable for a truck accident?

Liability is not limited to the person behind the wheel. Depending on the facts, the motor carrier that employed the driver, a freight broker, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance contractor, or the manufacturer of a defective part may share fault. Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important parts of a truck accident case.

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

In most situations, Iowa allows two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit, under Iowa Code section 614.1. Certain circumstances can shorten or extend that period. Because the deadline for filing can be easy to miss, it is sensible to speak with a lawyer well before the two years run out.

What evidence matters most in a truck accident case?

Electronic logging device data, hours-of-service logs, the driver qualification file, and maintenance records often decide a truck accident case. Much of this evidence sits with the trucking company and can be lost if it is not formally preserved soon after the crash. Prompt legal action helps protect that evidence from being lost.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

An injured person who was partly at fault can often still recover. Iowa follows a modified comparative fault rule under Iowa Code section 668.3. An injured person can recover as long as they were not more than 50 percent at fault, though the recovery is reduced by their share of the blame. Carriers and their insurers sometimes overstate a victim’s fault.

What is my truck accident case worth?

The value of a case depends on the severity of the injuries, the medical costs, lost income, and the lasting effect on the injured person’s life. No honest lawyer can promise a specific figure at a first meeting, because the facts have to be developed and the long-term effects understood before a claim can be valued accurately.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurer?

You can report the crash, but you should be cautious with recorded statements and early settlement offers. The carrier’s insurer works to limit what the company pays, and an early offer is often lower than the claim is worth. Speaking with an attorney before you give a statement helps protect your claim.

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost?

Our firm handles truck accident claims on a contingency basis, so there is no fee to begin and no fee unless we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free. This arrangement means an injured person can get legal advice and representation without worrying about an upfront cost.

What if the truck driver was from out of state?

Out-of-state drivers and carriers are common in truck cases, because freight crosses state lines every day. A claim for a crash that happened in Iowa is generally handled under Iowa law and in Iowa courts. Our attorneys are prepared to pursue an out-of-state carrier and its insurer.

How long will my truck accident case take?

The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries and on whether the carrier negotiates in good faith. A straightforward claim may resolve in a matter of months, while a case involving serious injuries or a lawsuit can take a year or more. We work as efficiently as the facts allow.

Local Information for Des Moines Truck Accident Cases

Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in Des Moines

Heavy truck traffic in the Des Moines area concentrates on a handful of major routes, and serious crashes tend to follow that traffic. Drivers should use extra caution in these locations:

• Interstate 80, the main east-west freight route along the northern edge of the metro
• Interstate 35, the major north-south corridor that carries heavy truck volume
• Interstate 235, the busy connector that runs through the center of Des Moines
• The interchanges where these interstates meet, where merging trucks and traffic mix

What Are Important Local Resources for Des Moines and Truck Accidents?

The local resources below may help after a truck crash in the Des Moines area. This list is provided for general information only, and its inclusion is not an endorsement of any agency or organization.

• The Des Moines Police Department, reachable for non-emergency matters at (515) 283-4811, handles crash reports within the city.
• MercyOne Des Moines, with an information line at (515) 247-3121, is one of the area’s hospitals equipped for serious injury care.

About the Attorney

Jason Yates leads the firm’s truck accident work and joined Law Group of Iowa in 2021. Along with his law degree, he holds a Certificate in Food and Agricultural Law, a useful background in a state where farm equipment and freight share the highways. He lives in West Des Moines, and his approach to each case is built on careful preparation and a strong sense of responsibility to the people he represents.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“After being in a car accident several years ago (no fault of our own), my wife and I had long ago wrote off getting any kind of fair settlement. 6 years later and a surprise call from Chris Johnston, he took over our case and got things handled very fairly. I highly recommend Chris.” – Trevor E

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Contact Law Group of Iowa

If you were hurt in a crash with a commercial truck in Des Moines, the truck accident attorneys at Law Group of Iowa are ready to help. We handle these claims on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and your first consultation is free. We will listen to what happened, explain your options in plain terms, and answer your questions. Most clients hear back from our office within one business day. Contact us to schedule your free case review.