Every twenty minutes, somewhere in Iowa, a truck changes someone’s life forever. If you’re reading this from a hospital bed in Des Moines, or from your kitchen table in Adel, or from the side of the road near Waukee after an 18-wheeler turned your world upside down—you’re not alone. At Attorney911, we’ve spent over 25 years fighting for trucking accident victims across Iowa and beyond, and we know the specific dangers lurking on Dallas County’s highways. From the frozen stretches of I-80 during Iowa winters to the agricultural trucking corridors near De Soto, from the commuter traffic on US-6 to the distribution centers feeding the Des Moines metro, Dallas County’s roads carry 80,000-pound monsters that leave devastation in their wake. When a semi-truck hits a family sedan, the physics aren’t fair—and neither is the fight that follows. But with the right team in your corner, you don’t have to fight alone.
Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in Dallas County Aren’t Just “Big Car Wrecks”
We hear it all the time: “It’s just like a car accident, right?” Wrong. An 18-wheeler accident in Dallas County isn’t simply a larger version of a fender-bender. It’s an entirely different species of catastrophe.
The math alone tells the story. Your car weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. A fully loaded semi-truck? 80,000 pounds. That’s not double the danger—it’s twenty times the crushing force. In Dallas County, where agricultural trucks haul heavy loads of corn and soybeans from farm to elevator, and where interstate traffic barrels through at 70 miles per hour on I-80, the stopping distances become matters of life and death. A truck traveling at highway speed needs nearly two football fields to stop. In winter, when black ice coats the highways near Woodward and Grimes, that distance stretches even longer.
But the differences go beyond physics. When a Dallas County resident is hit by an 18-wheeler, they’re not just facing a driver—they’re facing a corporation. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams. Their insurance adjusters arrive while the wreckage is still smoking. They have lawyers on retainer, accident reconstruction experts on standby, and a playbook designed to minimize what they pay you. As our associate attorney Lupe Peña likes to say, “I used to work for insurance companies—I know exactly how they train their adjusters to lowball victims.” Lupe spent years defending trucking insurers before joining Attorney911. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for Dallas County families, and he speaks fluent Spanish for our Hispanic community members who need direct representation without interpreters.
The Federal Laws That Protect Dallas County Drivers
Every 18-wheeler operating in Dallas County—even those just passing through on I-80—is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 390-399). These aren’t suggestions. They’re federal laws, and when trucking companies break them, they create the dangerous conditions that cause catastrophic accidents.
Driver Qualification Standards (49 CFR Part 391) require trucking companies to verify that every driver is medically fit, properly trained, and legally licensed to operate a commercial vehicle. When we investigate Dallas County accidents, we subpoena the Driver Qualification File. If the trucking company hired a driver with a history of DUIs, or if they skipped the required background check, or if they allowed someone to drive without a valid CDL—that’s negligent hiring, and it makes them directly liable for your injuries.
Hours of Service Rules (49 CFR Part 395) exist because exhausted truckers kill people. Federal law limits property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They can’t drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty. They must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. And they face weekly limits—60 hours in 7 days or 70 in 8. These Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records prove whether a driver was fatigued. In Dallas County, where drowsy driving on late-night hauls is tragically common, these ELD records are often the smoking gun that proves the trucking company prioritized delivery schedules over human lives.
Vehicle Maintenance Requirements (49 CFR Part 396) mandate systematic inspection and repair. Every driver must conduct pre-trip inspections covering brakes, tires, lighting, and steering. Post-trip reports must document defects. Annual inspections are required. When brake failures cause accidents on the hills near Dallas Center, or when tire blowouts occur on the heat-baked asphalt of August afternoons, these maintenance records tell the tale of corporate negligence.
Cargo Securement Standards (49 CFR Part 393) require that loads be properly tied down and balanced. In agricultural Dallas County, where trucks haul everything from grain to livestock to equipment, shifting cargo causes rollovers and jackknifes. The regulations specify working load limits for tiedowns—requirements that too many companies ignore to save time and money.
The Types of Truck Accidents We See in Dallas County
Not all trucking accidents are the same. In Dallas County, we see distinct patterns based on our geography, our agriculture, and our weather.
Jackknife Accidents occur when the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, creating a deadly scythe that sweeps across multiple lanes. Icy conditions on I-80 through Dallas County make these terrifyingly common from November through March. When a trucker hits brakes on black ice near the Waukee exit, physics takes over. Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 393.48 require proper brake maintenance, and § 392.6 demands speed appropriate for conditions. When truckers ignore winter warnings and drive too fast for the slick pavement, they jackknife—and innocent Dallas County families pay the price.
Rollover Accidents happen when a truck’s center of gravity shifts. In Dallas County, this often involves agricultural trucks making tight turns on rural roads or tankers navigating the curves near the Des Moines River. Sometimes it’s caused by improperly secured grain loads shifting during transport. Other times, it’s a speeding driver taking a ramp too fast. These accidents often spill cargo across the roadway, creating secondary hazards for other drivers.
Underride Collisions are among the most horrific. When a smaller vehicle slides under the trailer—either from the rear or the side—the roof of the car gets sheared off. Rear underride guards are required by 49 CFR § 393.86, but side guards remain optional in the United States. On Dallas County’s busy corridors like US-69, where traffic merges and stops unpredictably, these accidents are often fatal. We’ve handled cases where drivers were decapitated because a trucking company failed to install proper underride protection.
Rear-End Collisions involving trucks are devastating because of the weight differential. When an 80,000-pound truck hits a 4,000-pound sedan, the car becomes a crushed can. These accidents often occur on I-80 during sudden slowdowns near construction zones or when distracted truckers—perhaps on their phones despite 49 CFR § 392.82’s prohibition—fail to brake in time.
Wide Turn Accidents (“squeeze play”) happen when trucks swing left before turning right, trapping passenger vehicles in the gap. In downtown Adel or along the commercial strips in Clive and Waukee, these accidents crush cars between the truck and curb, causing catastrophic injuries.
Brake Failure Accidents are particularly common in Dallas County due to our terrain and weather. Long descents toward the Des Moines River valley, combined with heavy agricultural loads, can overheat brakes. When trucking companies defer maintenance—violating 49 CFR § 396.3’s requirement for systematic inspection—the result is a runaway truck that can’t stop before an intersection.
Cargo Spills and Shifts create chaos on Dallas County roads. When grain trucks overturn on US-6, or when livestock trailers jackknife on rural routes, the spilled cargo creates secondary accidents. Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 393.100-136 mandate proper securement, but corners cut in loading yards cost lives on the highway.
Who Can Be Held Responsible? More Than Just the Driver
Most Dallas County residents we speak with are surprised to learn that multiple parties can be liable in a trucking accident. It’s not just the driver—though the driver certainly bears responsibility for speeding, distracted driving, or fatigue violations.
The trucking company (motor carrier) is often our primary target. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, companies are liable for their employees’ negligence. But they can also be directly negligent—for hiring drivers with bad records (violating 49 CFR § 391.51), for failing to train them properly, for pressuring them to violate hours-of-service rules, or for skipping maintenance to save money. When we investigate Dallas County accidents, we obtain the company’s CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores from FMCSA. A pattern of violations proves the company knew it was putting dangerous trucks on Iowa roads.
The cargo owner or shipper may be liable if they overloaded the truck or demanded delivery schedules that forced drivers to break speed limits or rest rules. In Dallas County’s agricultural economy, grain elevators and livestock operations sometimes pressure truckers to hurry during harvest season.
The loading company can be responsible when cargo isn’t secured properly. If a third party loaded the trailer in a Des Moines distribution center before the truck entered Dallas County, and that load shifted causing a rollover, the loader shares the blame.
Truck and parts manufacturers face liability when defective brakes, tires, or steering systems fail. Product liability claims against manufacturers like Freightliner, Peterbilt, or component makers can provide additional insurance coverage beyond the trucking company’s policy.
Maintenance companies that service the tractors and trailers can be liable for negligent repairs. If a Dallas County truck’s brakes failed because a mechanic in Des Moines adjusted them incorrectly, both the mechanic and the trucking company may owe you compensation.
Freight brokers who arrange transportation can be liable for negligent selection—hiring a carrier with a terrible safety record just because they’re cheap or available.
Even government entities can bear responsibility if dangerous road design contributed to the accident—though sovereign immunity laws in Iowa create special challenges for these claims.
Evidence Disappears Fast—The 48-Hour Rule
Here’s what the trucking company doesn’t want you to know: critical evidence can vanish within days or even hours of a Dallas County accident.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)—the truck’s “black box”—records speed, brake application, throttle position, and fault codes. This data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days, or sometimes sooner depending on the vehicle’s usage.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) track hours of service and location history. While FMCSA requires retention for 6 months, once a trucking company anticipates litigation, they have a duty to preserve everything. But if you wait too long to hire an attorney, that evidence might “accidentally” get deleted.
Dashcam footage often gets recorded over within a week. Surveillance video from nearby businesses—like the gas stations along I-80 near Van Meter—typically rewrites every 7-30 days. Witness memories fade. Skid marks wash away.
That’s why we act immediately. When you call Attorney911 after a Dallas County trucking accident, we send spoliation letters within 24 hours—sometimes within hours—demanding preservation of:
- ECM and ELD data
- Driver Qualification Files
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Dispatch communications
- Cell phone records
- The physical truck itself (before it’s repaired or sold)
We’ve seen cases where trucking companies “lost” critical black box data. Once we send a preservation letter, destroying evidence becomes spoliation—a serious legal violation that can result in court sanctions or adverse inference instructions (the jury is told to assume the destroyed evidence would have hurt the trucking company’s case).
Catastrophic Injuries Require Catastrophic Compensation
The injuries from an 18-wheeler accident in Dallas County aren’t broken arms and bruised ribs. They’re life-altering, soul-crushing catastrophes.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull during impact. Symptoms might include headaches, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, and inability to concentrate. Moderate to severe TBIs can require lifetime care costing millions. Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims—because the care they need is expensive, but the life they lost is priceless.
Spinal Cord Injuries can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. The lifetime care costs for a Dallas County resident rendered quadriplegic can exceed $5 million in medical expenses alone—not counting lost wages, home modifications, or wheelchairs that need replacing every few years. We’ve secured settlements between $4.7 million and $25.8 million for these devastating injuries.
Amputations—whether traumatic (occurred at the scene) or surgical (required later due to crush injuries)—change everything. Prosthetics cost $5,000 to $50,000 each and need replacement every few years. Phantom limb pain, body image trauma, and career limitations last a lifetime. Our amputation case results range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million.
Wrongful Death claims arise when the accident takes a loved one. Under Iowa law, surviving spouses, children, and parents can recover for lost income, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium. No amount of money replaces a parent, a spouse, or a child—but it can ensure the family isn’t bankrupted by medical bills and can maintain financial stability. Our wrongful death recoveries have ranged from $1.9 million to $9.5 million.
Severe Burns from fuel fires or hazmat spills require skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and years of painful rehabilitation. Internal organ damage from crushing forces may not show immediate symptoms but can be fatal if untreated.
These aren’t “get well soon” injuries. They’re “learn to live differently forever” injuries. And they require compensation that accounts for not just today’s medical bills, but tomorrow’s nursing care, next year’s prosthetic, and the decade of lost earnings ahead.
Insurance Coverage: The Numbers That Matter
Federal law requires trucking companies to carry substantial insurance—far more than the average car driver in Dallas County.
- $750,000 minimum for non-hazardous freight
- $1,000,000 for oil, large equipment, and certain other cargoes
- $5,000,000 for hazardous materials
Many carriers carry $1 million to $5 million in coverage, or even excess policies beyond that. Compare that to Iowa’s minimum auto insurance requirement of just $20,000 per person for bodily injury.
But here’s the catch: the trucking company isn’t going to hand over that policy limits check without a fight. Their adjusters are trained to minimize claims. Their lawyers are skilled at blaming the victim. And they know that in Iowa, the comparative fault rules can reduce or eliminate their exposure.
Iowa Law: What Dallas County Accident Victims Must Know
Iowa’s legal framework creates both opportunities and traps for trucking accident victims in Dallas County.
Statute of Limitations: You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Iowa. For wrongful death claims, the clock starts running from the date of death. Miss this deadline, and you lose your right to sue forever—regardless of how strong your case is or how severe your injuries.
Modified Comparative Fault: Iowa follows a “51% bar rule” (Iowa Code § 668.3). If you’re found 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. But if you’re found 51% or more responsible, you recover nothing. Trucking companies and their insurers love to blame the victim—claiming you were speeding, or following too closely, or failed to avoid the collision. We fight these allegations with hard evidence: ECM data, ELD logs, and accident reconstruction that proves exactly what happened on that Dallas County roadway.
Dallas County Courts: Cases arising from accidents in Dallas County are typically filed in the Iowa District Court for the Fifth Judicial District, with the courthouse located in Adel. Having an attorney who understands local court procedures, local judges, and local jury tendencies matters. While we’re based in Texas with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, our federal court admission to the Southern District of Texas and our experience litigating against major carriers nationwide means we can effectively represent Dallas County clients—and we do, regularly.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Dallas County
If you’re reading this immediately after an accident, follow these steps:
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Call 911 and get medical attention immediately—even if you feel “fine.” Adrenaline masks pain. Internal bleeding and brain injuries aren’t always immediately apparent.
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Document everything. Use your phone to photograph all vehicles, damage, the truck’s DOT number, the driver’s license and insurance card, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries.
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Get witness information. Names, phone numbers, emails. Independent witnesses win cases.
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Don’t talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. They record conversations and use your words against you. “I’m sorry” becomes an admission of fault. “I feel okay” becomes proof you weren’t injured.
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Call Attorney911 immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911. We answer 24/7. The sooner we can send a spoliation letter and secure the black box data, the stronger your case will be.
Why Dallas County Chooses Attorney911
When you hire Attorney911 after a Dallas County trucking accident, you’re not getting a general practice lawyer who handles the occasional car wreck. You’re getting a team that focuses on catastrophic commercial vehicle litigation.
Ralph Manginello has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. He’s admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, giving him authority to handle interstate trucking cases in federal court when necessary. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 corporations in the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation—a case involving 15 deaths and over 170 injuries that resulted in $2.1 billion in total industry settlements. He’s currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston, demonstrating our capacity for complex, high-stakes litigation.
Our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who knows the industry’s playbook from the inside. As Lupe told ABC13 Houston during our recent hazing litigation coverage, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.” That same tenacity applies to his work defending Dallas County trucking accident victims against insurance company tactics.
We’ve recovered over $50 million for clients across all practice areas. Our track record includes:
- $5+ million for a traumatic brain injury victim struck by a falling log
- $3.8+ million for a client who suffered an amputation after a car accident and subsequent medical complications
- $2.5+ million in truck crash recoveries
- $2+ million for a maritime worker with a back injury
But beyond the numbers, it’s how we treat people. As our client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” Donald Wilcox told us how other firms rejected his case before we took it and secured what he called a “handsome check.” Glenda Walker noted that we fought for her to get “every dime” she deserved.
We offer fluent Spanish-language representation through Lupe Peña and our bilingual staff. Hablamos Español. No interpreters needed—direct communication with your attorney.
We work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. We advance all case costs. Our fee is 33.33% if the case settles pre-trial, and 40% if we have to take it to trial. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a trucking accident in Dallas County?
Two years from the accident date under Iowa law. But waiting is dangerous—evidence disappears and witnesses forget. Contact us immediately.
What if the trucking company offers me a settlement quickly?
Don’t sign anything. Early offers are “go away” money designed to protect the trucking company before you know the full extent of your injuries or the value of your case. As Kiimarii Yup told us after we maximized his recovery, taking the time to do it right meant he “gained so much in return plus a brand new truck” after initially losing everything.
Can I still recover if I was partially at fault?
Yes, under Iowa’s modified comparative fault rules, as long as you’re not more than 50% responsible. But the trucking company will try to blame you. We’ll prove what really happened using ECM data and expert reconstruction.
What does ” Hours of Service” mean for my case?
If the driver violated the 11-hour driving limit or 14-hour on-duty window, they’ve violated federal law. These violations prove negligence and often lead to punitive damages.
How much is my case worth?
It depends on your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and available insurance. We’ve recovered anywhere from hundreds of thousands to multi-million dollar settlements for Dallas County and Iowa clients. Call us for a free case evaluation.
Do you handle cases for Spanish-speaking clients in Dallas County?
Absolutely. Lupe Peña provides direct Spanish-language representation. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratuita.
Will my case go to trial?
Most settle, but we prepare every case for trial. Insurance companies offer better settlements when they know your attorney will go to court. Angel Walle can attest to that—she said we “solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”
What makes Attorney911 different from other firms?
We have former insurance defense attorneys who know the industry’s tactics. We have 25+ years of federal court experience. We have a track record of multi-million dollar results against Fortune 500 companies like Walmart, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and Coca-Cola. And we treat you like family, not a case number.
The Call That Changes Everything
The trucking company has lawyers. They have investigators. They have insurance adjusters working right now to minimize what they pay you. What do you have?
You have Attorney911. One call to 1-888-ATTY-911 puts a team of experienced, aggressive, compassionate attorneys on your side. We’ll send spoliation letters to preserve evidence immediately. We’ll investigate every liable party. We’ll fight for every dollar you deserve—because as Glenda Walker told us, you deserve “every dime.”
Ralph Manginello has spent 25 years making trucking companies pay. He’s admitted to federal court. He’s litigated against BP and other Fortune 500 giants. He’s recovered multi-million dollar settlements for brain injury victims, amputation survivors, and families who’ve lost loved ones.
Don’t let the trucking company push you around. Don’t accept a lowball settlement that won’t cover your future medical care. Don’t wait until the black box data is gone and the witnesses have forgotten what they saw.
If you’ve been hurt in an 18-wheeler accident in Dallas County—whether on I-80 near De Soto, on US-69 near Van Meter, or on the rural roads near Woodward—call us now. The consultation is free. The advice is priceless. And you don’t pay unless we win.
1-888-ATTY-911
We’re available 24/7.
Hablamos Español.
Your road to recovery starts with one call. Make it today.
