Altoona Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents in Altoona are devastating events. Crashes involving commercial trucks are not as common in the city as collisions between passenger vehicles, but they are far more likely to cause serious injuries, or even death. Transport trucks can measure up to 53 feet in length and when fully loaded, they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Given that passenger vehicles are just over 14 feet in length and that they weigh, on average, 4,000 pounds, it is easy to see how occupants in smaller vehicles suffer the most serious injuries in a crash.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. These accidents are extremely complex, however. Our Altoona truck accident lawyer can help you through the process so you obtain the full damages you deserve.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Altoona?

Truck accidents are largely preventable and they mostly occur due to another party’s negligence. There are many different acts of negligence that can cause truck accidents, but the most common of these are as follows:

Fatigued driving: Despite the fact that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has outlined how long truck drivers can remain on the road with the hours of service rule, truck drivers still suffer from fatigue. They are on the road for long hours at a time and are under immense pressure to deliver their cargo on time. When truck drivers are fatigued, they cannot focus on the road and operate their vehicle properly.
Distracted driver: Truck drivers do more in their vehicles than just drive. They eat, drink, operate multiple systems, and more. All of these distractions take a trucker’s hands off of the wheel, and their attention from the road.
Impaired driving: Impaired driving is always very dangerous. Truck drivers often believe that using alcohol or drugs will help them stay awake but that is not true. Instead, these substances only slow a trucker’s reaction time, and cause them to exhibit poor judgment.
Speeding: Even when truck drivers comply with the posted speed limits, it takes them much longer to slow down and stop. When truck drivers speed, it takes even longer. Speeding can result in truck drivers not stopping in time, causing them to crash into a vehicle in front of them. Not only does speeding cause truck accidents, but the force also increases the severity of these crashes.
Improper hiring and training practices: Trucking companies often engage in negligent hiring and training practices in order to save money and protect their bottom line. When inexperienced and improperly trained drivers operate a transport truck, it can easily cause a crash.
Defective truck parts: Trucks are made up of many different moving parts. When any of these contains flaws and is defective, it can result in a crash.

Common Injuries After a Truck Accident

Due to their immense size and weight, a truck will cause some of the most serious injuries when they crash into other vehicles. Some of the most common of these include:

Traumatic brain injuries
Fractured bones
Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
Back injuries
Neck injuries
Burns
Internal injuries
Amputations
Soft tissue injuries
Whiplash
Emotional trauma

It is important to include all of your injuries in your truck accident claim. You can include your physical injuries, as well as those that are not visible, such as mental distress and emotional trauma.

Damages Available After a Truck Accident

Again, a truck accident will cause some of the most serious injuries. You can include all of the losses associated with these injuries in your claim. Some of the most common types of damages available after a truck accident are as follows:

Current and future medical expenses
Lost income and employment benefits
Loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to the same line of work and have to accept a lower-paying job
Cost of rehabilitation and physical therapy
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of consortium
Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability

What to Do After a Truck Accident

While you can recover damages after a truck accident, the steps you take in the days and weeks afterward can greatly help with the success of your claim. The most important steps to take after any truck accident are as follows:

Obtain evidence from the scene: Many of the strongest pieces of evidence are located at the scene of the crash. Take photos of any damage to the vehicles involved, your injuries, the overall scene, and other relevant information, such as skid marks on the road.
Locate witnesses: Eyewitness statements are given a great deal of weight in truck accident claims. Locate any witnesses at the scene and ask them for their name and contact information.
Report the crash: Under Iowa law, you are required to report any accident that results in injury, death, or significant property damage. There is little chance that you will leave a truck accident without incurring one of these and so, it is important to report the crash. Reporting the crash will also call law enforcement to the scene and an officer will write and file a report. This can document the accident and potentially indicate fault.
Seek medical treatment: Seeking medical treatment is important to protect your safety and well-being. Additionally, seeing a doctor will document your injuries and prove the nature and severity of them. If you do not see a doctor, the insurance company will argue that you could not have been hurt because you did not seek medical attention.
Contact an Altoona truck accident lawyer: Although you are not required to work with an Altoona truck accident lawyer, having legal representation can help you recover more compensation and let you focus on your recovery while your lawyer handles the legal details of your case.

Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Altoona Can Advise On Your Case

If you have been hurt by a tractor-trailer, you need sound legal advice. At Baer Law Office, our Altoona truck accident lawyer can provide it so you obtain the maximum damages you deserve. The Baer Law Firm has won many awards for its legal expertise and has been rated as the ” #1 law firm in Des Moines” for nine years in a row. Call us now at (515) 279-2000 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about how we can help you.