Two semi-truck drivers and a passenger in one of the rigs were injured in Iowa this week when one 18-wheeler slowed down and was rear-ended by the other, the Iowa State Patrol said. Interstate 80 near Avoca, Iowa, was the scene of the accident. The report identified one semi driver a 29-year-old man from Fort Morgan, Colorado. He was eastbound on I-80 when he slowed down to deal with his truck door, which had opened. A Volvo semi-truck driven by a 26-year-old man from Omaha hit the other semi and the two drivers were taken to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan for treatment. Also hospitalized in this Iowa semi-truck accident was passenger Javier A. Pacheco, 48, of El Paso, Texas, the State Patrol said.
One of the most important things you can do when involved in an accident involving a federally regulated motor carrier is to obtain legal representation — a truck accident lawyer who will independently investigate the accident and advocate for you. A good truck lawyer will maximize any recovery you are eligible to receive, including medical expenses, lost wages from being out of work, pain and suffering, emotional suffering and other damages. In some instances, a person injured in a truck accident will suffer a disability that keeps them out of work or impairs their quality of life on a day-to-day basis. Those cases are important to litigate in order to obtain a full measure of justice.
Over-the-road trucking is a complex business and the chain of liability is unique. Negotiations with the trucking company at fault are often required, in addition to understanding commercial insurance policies. We highly recommend that you do not discuss your trucking accident with anyone unless you have an attorney with you or closely advising you. That’s because anything you say can be used against you later.
