Experienced Lawyers For Truck And Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Iowa sits at the intersection between two of the nation’s major interstate highways, Interstate 80 and Interstate 35. Every single day, thousands of semi trucks and other large commercial vehicles crisscross the state on these Interstate highways and other roadways. When the professional driver of a semi truck is negligent or careless and causes a collision, catastrophic injuries or death to innocent motorists are often the result. Negligent truck drivers put everyone on the road at risk.
The attorneys at Galligan Law in the Des Moines area have the knowledge and resources to ensure full justice is achieved for our clients when they’ve been injured or have had a loved one killed as a result of trucker negligence. Our personal injury attorneys are intimately familiar with and keep up to date on Iowa state and federal laws and regulations relating to the trucking industry.
Understanding The Causes Of Trucking Accidents
Operating a large truck or commercial vehicle involves different mechanisms and regulations to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Whether your accident involved a package-carrying delivery truck or a large tractor-trailer, you need an attorney who understands the state and federal laws and guidelines that truck drivers must adhere to.
Truck accidents can have many causes, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inattention or distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Improper vehicle maintenance
Federal trucking regulations limit the number of hours a driver can work in a single shift, as well as provides guidelines for drug and alcohol testing. When a truck driver violates these rules and causes an accident, our attorneys can help investigate, gather evidence and file a claim against them.
Truck Crashes Have Unique Characteristics
The legal weight for a semi truck and trailer is 80,000 pounds (without a special overweight permit), while the average weight of a car is 5,000 pounds. A semi truck requires a 40% greater distance than a car to stop. Drivers of semis are professionals and require special training and skill to safely operate these massive trucks on our roadways because the consequences of a 40-ton truck colliding with a car or passenger vehicle can be devastating.
How companies screen, hire and train drivers is critical to safety. cases involving semi-truck collisions apart from other motor vehicle collisions, as well as factors such as the following:
- The dynamics of semi-truck crashes
- The specific state and federal laws and regulations governing the operation of trucks on highways
- The unique crash data and electronic recording devices built into trucks
- Industry standards for loads, inspections and other aspects of the safe operation of trucks
- The complex legal relationships between drivers, trucking companies and other shipping entities
We have access to the best experts in crash investigation and reconstruction, as well as top experts on trucking industry standards and training requirements. We will quickly deploy all necessary resources to properly investigate your case and preserve crucial evidence necessary to win at trial.
Our investigation of your trucking collision case is free. If we don’t take your case or obtain a successful recovery for you, we don’t charge you a fee for our professional services or ask you to pay back the costs we’ve incurred. You will only be charged if there is a successful outcome in your case and a financial recovery on your behalf.
Our Experience And Knowledge Matters
If you’ve been injured or have had a loved one killed by a negligent or careless truck driver, contact 515-316-6179 today and schedule your free initial consultation with one of our experienced Iowa personal injury attorneys.
