When an 80,000-pound grain hauler loses control on a rural Crawford County highway, there are no second chances. Iowa’s agricultural heartland sees some of the heaviest commercial truck traffic in the nation, with Crawford County sitting at the crossroads of America’s breadbasket. If you’re reading this because an 18-wheeler changed your life forever near Denison, Schleswig, or along I-80, you need to know something critical: the trucking company already called their lawyers. They’re already preserving evidence—their way. You need someone fighting for you right now.
At Attorney911, we’ve spent over 25 years standing up to trucking companies and winning. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. He’s admitted to federal court in the Southern District of Texas, handled complex litigation against Fortune 500 corporations like BP after the Texas City explosion, and recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families devastated by catastrophic crashes. Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, brings something rare to Crawford County cases: he used to work for national insurance defense firms. He knows exactly how trucking insurers evaluate claims, minimize payouts, and pressure victims—because he sat on their side of the table for years. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.
We don’t handle cases like yours part-time. We’re truck accident specialists with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we serve victims across Iowa and beyond. When we say we know the trucking industry, we mean it. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with Walmart, Amazon, FedEx, Coca-Cola, and countless interstate carriers. Our client Chad Harris put it best: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” That’s how we treat every Crawford County family who calls us at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Why Crawford County 18-Wheeler Accidents Are Different
Crawford County isn’t just another rural Iowa jurisdiction. This is corn and soybean country, where harvest season transforms quiet county roads into trucking superhighways. Between September and November, grain haulers rush from field to elevator, often driving fatigued, overloaded, or with poorly maintained brakes. The physics don’t change—80,000 pounds versus your 4,000-pound vehicle means you lose every time—but the stakes here are uniquely agricultural.
Iowa sees approximately 1,200 commercial vehicle crashes annually, with many occurring in rural counties like Crawford where state highways meet farm-to-market roads. Interstate 80, the primary east-west transcontinental freight corridor, cuts through the southern portion of the county, carrying everything from Amazon packages to hazardous materials. Interstate 29 runs north-south just west of the county line, feeding into the I-80 corridor. These aren’t just roads—they’re profit pipelines for trucking companies that often prioritize delivery schedules over your safety.
The weather here creates deadly conditions. A winter blizzard can roll across the plains without warning, turning I-80 into an ice rink. Spring brings tornado season and flash flooding along the Boyer River and its tributaries. Summer harvest creates dust clouds that reduce visibility to near zero. When you combine these conditions with a truck driver pushing past federal hours-of-service limits or an owner-operator skimping on brake maintenance, you get catastrophic results.
Donald Wilcox, one of our clients, experienced this firsthand. “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” We don’t turn away difficult cases. We fight for them.
Federal Regulations That Protect Crawford County Drivers
Every 18-wheeler rolling through Crawford County must follow strict federal safety regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules exist because trucking companies won’t police themselves. When they violate these regulations—and they often do—we use those violations to prove negligence and maximize your recovery.
Driver Qualification Standards (49 CFR Part 391)
Federal law requires every commercial driver to hold a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and pass strict medical examinations. Under § 391.11, drivers must be at least 21 years old for interstate commerce, physically qualified to operate the vehicle, and able to read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with law enforcement. Companies must maintain complete Driver Qualification Files containing employment history, driving records, and medical certifications.
We see violations constantly in Crawford County—unqualified drivers handling complex agricultural loads,Expired medical certificates, or companies that failed to verify driving histories before handing over the keys to an 80,000-pound weapon. When a trucking company skips these steps, they’re liable for negligent hiring.
Hours of Service Rules (49 CFR Part 395)
This is where Iowa’s agricultural pressure meets federal law. Truck drivers cannot legally operate beyond 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They can’t drive past the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and they must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
Since the ELD (Electronic Logging Device) mandate took effect in 2017, these hours are tracked automatically. But enforcement is spotty in rural areas, and pressure during harvest season pushes drivers to falsify logs. When we subpoena ELD data—which we do immediately upon taking your case—we often find Crawford County drivers exceeded these limits, creating dangerous fatigue that turns a routine haul into a deadly weapon.
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)
Federal law requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance of all commercial vehicles. Under § 396.3, motor carriers must maintain records of all maintenance work for one year. Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections covering brakes, tires, lighting, and steering. Post-trip reports must document any defects found.
In the grain hauling business, maintenance often gets deferred. Brake systems fail under the weight of overloaded trailers. Tire blowouts send trucks careening across center lines. When we investigate Crawford County crashes, we immediately demand these maintenance records. If the trucking company destroyed them or failed to keep them, we file spoliation letters that create liability for evidence destruction.
Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393)
Iowa’s grain and agricultural products require specific securement under § 393.100-136. Cargo must be contained, immobilized, or secured to prevent shifting that affects vehicle stability. For agricultural commodities, this means proper tarping, balanced loading, and weight distribution that prevents rollovers on Crawford County’s winding rural roads.
When a grain truck tips over on County Road L36 or spills its load across Highway 59, we investigate whether the loading company—or the farmer who filled the trailer—violated these securement standards. Overloading is epidemic in agricultural areas, and federal law mandates that no carrier can exceed weight ratings or distribute loads unsafely.
Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents We Handle in Crawford County
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, often blocking all lanes of traffic. On I-80 near the Missouri Valley interchange, a jackknifed grain hauler can shut down the interstate for hours and cause devastating multi-car pileups. These typically happen when drivers brake improperly on wet or icy surfaces—common during Iowa’s brutal winters—or when improperly loaded trailers swing out of control.
The evidence we gather includes ECM data showing brake application timing, weight distribution records from the loading facility, and weather reports from the Denison regional airport. Under 49 CFR § 392.6, drivers must adjust speed for conditions. When they don’t, we hold them accountable.
Rollover Accidents
Crawford County’s rural highways feature tight curves, soft shoulders, and steep approaches to farm fields. When a driver takes a curve too fast—often rushing to get to the grain elevator before closing—or carries a top-heavy load of soybeans, the result is a rollover that crushes anything in its path.
The physics are brutal. A loaded grain trailer has a high center of gravity. Combined with uneven farm roads and driver fatigue from 14-hour shifts during harvest, rollovers become inevitable. We investigate the cargo manifest, the driver’s hours-of-service logs, and the trucking company’s scheduling practices. Glenda Walker told us after her settlement: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s exactly what we do when a rollover steals your health.
Underride Collisions
These are among the deadliest accidents on Iowa highways. When a passenger vehicle strikes the rear or side of a trailer and slides underneath, the top of the car gets sheared off. Rear underride guards are required under 49 CFR § 393.86 for trailers manufactured after 1998, but many older agricultural trailers lack adequate protection. Side underride guards aren’t federally mandated at all, despite being proven life-savers.
If you lost a loved one in an underride accident on Highway 30 or near the I-80 interchange, we investigate whether the trailer had proper impact guards, whether lighting was adequate, and whether the driver stopped suddenly without warning.
Rear-End Collisions
An 80,000-pound truck traveling at 65 mph needs 525 feet to stop—nearly two football fields. Iowa’s I-80 corridor sees constant rear-end crashes when distracted or fatigued drivers fail to stop in time, especially approaching the weigh stations near Dexter or the construction zones that plague summer months.
Under 49 CFR § 392.11, commercial drivers must maintain safe following distances. We prove violations using ECM data that records following distance, speed, and brake timing. When a trucker texts while driving—violating § 392.82—or simply falls asleep at the wheel after violating hours-of-service rules, we find that evidence.
Wide Turn Accidents
In Crawford County’s small towns—Denison, Schleswig, Manilla—18-wheelers making deliveries to grain elevators or processing facilities must swing wide to navigate narrow streets. When they fail to check blind spots or signal properly, they crush passenger vehicles in the “squeeze play” gap.
These accidents often involve driver inexperience or inadequate training on rural road navigation. We examine the driver’s training records and the trucking company’s safety protocols under 49 CFR Part 391.
Tire Blowouts
Summer heat on Iowa’s interstates—often exceeding 90 degrees with high humidity—creates dangerous conditions for underinflated or worn tires. When a steer tire blows at highway speed, the driver loses control instantly. “Road gators”—shredded tire treads—litter I-80 and cause secondary crashes when drivers swerve to avoid them.
Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 393.75 mandate minimum tread depths and proper inflation. We subpoena maintenance records to prove the trucking company knew about tire problems but kept the truck on the road anyway.
Cargo Spills and Hazmat Accidents
Crawford County sees massive agricultural traffic, but also chemical transport for farming operations. When a tanker rolls over spilling fertilizer or when a grain trailer spills its load across the roadway, the resulting crashes cause chain-reaction pileups. Federal cargo securement rules under Part 393 require specific tiedown standards that agricultural carriers often ignore.
We investigate whether the cargo owner, the loading company, or the driver failed to secure the load properly. In Iowa’s farming communities, multiple parties often share liability—from the farm operation that overloaded the trailer to the trucking company that pressured the driver to hurry.
Every Party Who Might Owe You Money
Most law firms only sue the driver and the trucking company. We dig deeper. In Crawford County’s interconnected agricultural economy, multiple parties often share blame for your injuries:
The Truck Driver
Direct negligence includes speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impairment, or failure to inspect the vehicle. We subpoena cell phone records, drug test results, and driving histories to prove individual liability.
The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
Employers are vicariously liable under respondeat superior for their drivers’ negligence. They’re also directly liable for negligent hiring, training, supervision, and maintenance. We examine their Driver Qualification Files, safety training programs, and CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores. A company with a pattern of hours-of-service violations or poorly maintained trucks faces punitive damages.
The Cargo Owner/Shipper
In agricultural cases, the farm or cooperative that loaded the grain may have demanded an overloaded trailer or pressured the driver to exceed safe speeds to meet market prices. We examine shipping contracts and loading instructions.
The Loading Company
Third-party grain elevators or loading facilities often fail to distribute weight properly or use inadequate tiedowns. We investigate their loading procedures and training protocols.
Truck and Parts Manufacturers
Defective brakes, defective tires, or faulty steering systems cause crashes even when the driver does everything right. We work with engineers to identify product defects and hold manufacturers accountable.
Maintenance Companies
Third-party repair shops that cut corners on brake adjustments or tire replacements may share liability for accidents caused by mechanical failures.
Freight Brokers
Brokers who arrange transportation but don’t own the trucks may be liable for negligent carrier selection under federal law. If they hired a carrier with a terrible safety record to save money, we go after them too.
The Truck Owner
In owner-operator arrangements where the driver owns the truck but contracts with a larger carrier, the owner may face liability for negligent entrustment or maintenance failures.
Government Entities
When Iowa’s Department of Transportation fails to maintain Highway 59, or when inadequate signage on County Road F60 contributes to a crash, government liability may apply. These claims have strict notice requirements, so immediate action is essential.
The 48-Hour Evidence Emergency
Here’s what the trucking companies don’t want you to know: critical evidence disappears fast. The electronic control module (ECM)—the truck’s “black box”—records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes. This data can be overwritten within 30 days, sometimes sooner. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) track hours of service, but motor carriers only have to keep these records for six months. Dashcam footage often gets deleted within days.
When you call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911, we immediately send spoliation letters to every potentially liable party. These legal notices put them on notice that destroying evidence will result in serious legal consequences, including sanctions and adverse inference instructions at trial.
We also dispatch investigators to Crawford County immediately to photograph the scene, document skid marks, interview witnesses while memories are fresh, and inspect the truck before it’s repaired or scrapped. We subpoena the driver’s cell phone records to prove distraction, request drug and alcohol test results mandated under 49 CFR Part 382, and obtain dispatch communications that may show the company pressured the driver to violate hours-of-service rules.
Kiimarii Yup, another client we helped, explains our approach: “I lost everything… my car was at a total loss, and because of Attorney Manginello and my case worker Leonor, 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.” We rebuild what the trucking industry destroyed.
Catastrophic Injuries and Your Future
The injuries from 18-wheeler accidents in Crawford County aren’t minor sprains. We’re talking about life-altering trauma:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
When your head strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or side window, the brain impacts the inside of your skull. Mild TBIs—concussions—can cause months of headaches, confusion, and memory problems. Moderate to severe TBIs may require lifelong care, costing between $1.5 million and $9.8 million over a lifetime. We’ve handled these cases. We know the neurological experts, the life care planners, and the economists who can prove these costs to a jury.
Spinal Cord Injury
Paralysis—whether paraplegia or quadriplegia—changes everything. The lifetime cost of care ranges from $1.1 million to over $5 million, and that’s without counting lost wages or pain and suffering. We work with rehabilitation specialists to ensure your settlement accounts for home modifications, wheelchairs, and ongoing medical needs.
Amputations
Crushing injuries from truck accidents often require surgical amputation. The cost of prosthetics, replacement limbs every few years, and rehabilitation runs into millions. We recently secured over $3.8 million for a client who lost a limb after a car accident—trucking cases often command even higher amounts due to the severity of impact.
Severe Burns
Fuel tank ruptures and hazmat spills create fire hazards that cause third and fourth-degree burns. These require skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and psychological therapy for the disfigurement that follows.
Wrongful Death
If you lost a loved one on Iowa’s highways, Crawford County law allows recovery for lost income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. While no amount brings them back, we fight to ensure the trucking company pays for the devastation they caused. Our wrongful death settlements have ranged from $1.9 million to $9.5 million depending on the circumstances.
Insurance and Damages: What You’re Owed
Federal law requires minimum liability coverage for commercial vehicles based on cargo type:
- Non-hazardous freight: $750,000 minimum
- Oil and hazardous materials: $1,000,000 to $5,000,000
Most reputable carriers carry $1 million to $5 million in coverage, with excess policies for catastrophic claims. This matters because Crawford County medical bills add up fast. A single helicopter transport to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines or MercyOne in Sioux City can cost $50,000. A week in the ICU runs $100,000 or more.
We pursue three categories of damages:
Economic Damages
Past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket costs for modifications to your home or vehicle.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Iowa has no caps on these damages for trucking accidents, meaning juries can award full and fair compensation.
Punitive Damages
When trucking companies act with gross negligence—knowingly hiring unqualified drivers, falsifying maintenance records, or destroying evidence—we pursue punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct.
Iowa Law: What Crawford County Victims Need to Know
Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Iowa. For wrongful death, the clock starts running at the date of death. Wait longer than two years, and you lose your right to sue—no matter how severe your injuries or how clear the trucking company’s fault.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Iowa follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. This means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If the trucking company claims you were speeding or failed to yield, we fight those allegations with black box data and accident reconstruction to minimize any fault assigned to you.
No Punitive Damages Cap
Unlike some states, Iowa places no limits on punitive damages in trucking cases. When we prove the carrier acted with willful and wanton disregard for safety—say, by keeping a driver on the road after multiple failed drug tests or hours-of-service violations—we can seek unlimited punitive damages.
Frequently Asked Questions for Crawford County Truck Accident Victims
How much is my Crawford County 18-wheeler accident case worth?
It depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, and available insurance. A traumatic brain injury case might settle for $1.5 million to $9.8 million. An amputation case could range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million. We evaluate every factor during your free consultation.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
We sue both the driver and the company they contracted with. Federal regulations often treat owner-operators as employees for liability purposes, and the contracting company may face negligent hiring or supervision claims.
How long will my case take?
Simple cases with clear liability might resolve in 6-12 months. Complex cases involving multiple defendants, catastrophic injuries, or disputed liability can take 18-36 months. We move as fast as possible while maximizing your recovery.
Will I have to go to trial?
Most cases settle, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies offer better settlements to firms with a reputation for courtroom success—and Ralph Manginello has been trying cases since 1998.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
We work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. We advance all costs. You only pay us if we win your case. No recovery means no fee. Plus, we offer Spanish-language services through Lupe Peña—Hablamos Español.
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
Never. They record everything you say and use it against you. Let us handle all communications. Our associate attorney used to work in insurance defense—he knows exactly how they operate.
What if the accident happened on a rural Crawford County road, not the interstate?
Federal regulations apply to all commercial vehicles, regardless of whether they’re on I-80 or a county road hauling grain. We handle accidents on County Road L36, Highway 59, and every rural route in between.
How quickly should I call a lawyer?
Immediately. Evidence disappears within days. Black box data overwrites in 30 days. Witnesses forget details. The trucking company sends rapid-response teams to the scene within hours. You need us fighting just as fast.
Your Fight Starts Now
The trucking company has teams of lawyers, investigators, and insurance adjusters working to minimize your claim. You need a fighter in your corner. Someone who knows the federal regulations they violated. Someone who understands the agricultural pressures that push drivers to cut corners in Crawford County. Someone who treats you like family, not a case number.
Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 have recovered over $50 million for injured victims. We’ve handled cases other firms rejected. We’ve secured multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and wrongful death. We know how to preserve evidence, how to prove FMCSA violations, and how to make trucking companies pay.
If you or a loved one were hurt in an 18-wheeler accident anywhere in Crawford County—Denison, Schleswig, Manilla, or along I-80—call us now. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win. And we speak your language—literally.
Angel Walle told us: “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” Don’t wait. Don’t let evidence disappear. Don’t let the trucking company win.
Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 (that’s 1-888-288-9911). We’re available 24/7. We fight for Crawford County families.
