To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 7. Please go here and download it.
To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 9. Please go to here and download it.
5001 SW 9th St
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Tractor-trailer Accidents in Iowa and Beyond – What to Do
Our Iowa tractor-trailer accidents lawyer offers some helpful tips in the event you or a family member is ever involved in a collision. Accidents involving large commercial vehicles can be complex cases. The more you can prepare for the aftermath, the better your chances of success may be if you must pursue compensation from the parties responsible. We encourage you to review these tips for protecting yourself from tractor-trailer accidents. Please contact our Iowa office to schedule a consultation with Fredd J. Haas, attorney at law.
Avoiding Tractor-trailer Accidents
What to Do at the Scene of an Accident
Avoiding Tractor-trailer Accidents
Before traveling the roadways, there are several things you can do to lessen the risk of a collision with a large truck in order to safeguard your vehicle and your life, such as:
- Maintain a safe distance between your car and a commercial vehicle, allowing ample time to brake.
- Use turn signals whenever passing or turning.
- Try to stay visible to the truck driver. Avoid the truck's blind spots and keep within view of his/her side mirrors.
- Don't make any sudden moves or swerves. Always use extreme caution when navigating around, in front of, or behind a large truck.
For more tips on how you can avoid a collision with a large truck, please contact our Iowa tractor-trailer accidents lawyer.
What to Do at the Scene of an Accident
While collisions between passenger cars can be deadly, accidents with large trucks are particularly dangerous; the physical impact can be so substantial and damaging that serious injury is almost inevitable. However, if you are well enough to assess what is happening immediately after a crash, our Iowa tractor-trailer accidents lawyer recommends that you adhere to the following instructions:
Call for Assistance
After any kind of collision, immediately call for medical and police assistance. An injury may be present even if you don't feel it. A visit to the emergency room is necessary to ensure there has been no internal damage, and to treat wounds that may seem superficial but could possibly be more serious.
Do Not Leave or Alter the Accident Scene
You should not leave the scene of an accident – or move any vehicles involved – before the area has been assessed by authorities. The positions of the vehicles will be important factors for the officials investigating the crash.
Find Witnesses to the Accident
Locate any witnesses in the area who may have seen the collision. Try to get their contact information, including names, telephone numbers, and addresses.
Exchange Information with Others Involved
Do your best to record the makes, models, license plate numbers, and colors of any other vehicles involved in the accident. Also, talk to the other drivers involved and exchange insurance, driver's license, and contact information.
Take Photos of the Scene and Vehicles
If you have a camera and are physically able to do so, take photographs of the crash scene, including all of the vehicles affected and their positions following the accident.
Know the Police Department Handling the Crash
When requesting a police report of the crash, you'll need to know which department is investigating it. This could be the State Highway Patrol, City Police, or County Sheriff.
Fredd J. Haas is a personal injury attorney with a large amount of experience handling cases involving tractor-trailer accidents. Schedule an appointment with our Iowa firm to discuss your case with our experienced attorney.
Seeking Legal Counsel after Tractor-trailer Accidents
After taking all necessary steps to handle the immediate aftermath of a tractor-trailer accident, as noted above, you should contact our tractor-trailer accidents lawyer as quickly as possible. Crucial evidence must be obtained soon after the accident, otherwise it can be lost. Trucking companies are only required to keep important documents, such as the driver's log, for a limited time. If evidence like the driver's logs and other pertinent documents are lost, proving negligence can become extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Insurance Questions
Because the extent of injury and damage can be catastrophic, insurance agencies representing trucking companies are in danger of losing significant amounts of money as a result of large truck accidents. Victims of these accidents will often be contacted by insurance representatives soon after a crash. It is important to contact an attorney before speaking with a trucking company's insurance representatives. Remember, a trucking company's insurance agents are trying to protect their interests and those of the company they represent. Our Iowa tractor-trailer accidents lawyer is familiar with insurance laws and has experience taking on large insurance companies in the pursuit of compensation for victims.
Contact Our Iowa Tractor-trailer Accidents Lawyer
For victims of tractor-trailer accidents in Iowa and surrounding states, Haas Law Offices, P.C. can help pursue compensation in a number of areas, including lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of benefits, and more. Please contact our Iowa tractor-trailer accidents lawyer to schedule a case review.