If an 80,000-pound grain truck slammed into your vehicle on US-30 outside Ames, or if a fatigued driver jackknifed across I-35 during an Iowa blizzard, your life changed in an instant. At Attorney911, we’ve spent over 25 years fighting for families across Story County who never asked to be thrust into the terrifying aftermath of an 18-wheeler accident—and we’ll fight for you too.
Ralph Manginello has been holding negligent trucking companies accountable since 1998. Our firm has recovered over $50 million for injured families, including multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injuries and amputations. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 corporations, and our team includes associate attorney Lupe Peña, who spent years working for insurance companies before joining us. Now he fights against them, using his insider knowledge to maximize your recovery.
Story County’s position at the crossroads of Iowa’s agricultural heartland creates unique trucking dangers. From grain haulers navigating narrow rural routes to livestock transports barreling down I-35 toward Des Moines, the risks here aren’t theoretical—they’re everyday realities. When a truck driver violates federal safety regulations on Story County highways, the consequences are catastrophic.
Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in Story County Are Different
An 18-wheeler isn’t just a bigger car. When a fully loaded commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle in Story County, the physics are brutal. Your car weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. That truck? Up to 80,000 pounds of steel and cargo. That’s twenty times the mass, carrying twenty times the destructive force.
The average truck needs nearly two football fields—525 feet—to stop from 65 mph. On icy Iowa roads during a December blizzard, that distance doubles or triples. When a trucker falls asleep at the wheel near the junction of I-35 and US-30, or when faulty brakes fail on a grain hauler approaching Ames, nearby drivers don’t stand a chance.
But here’s what makes Story County trucking cases legally complex: multiple parties may be liable, and federal regulations govern every aspect of commercial trucking. Unlike a simple fender-bender between two cars where one driver is clearly at fault, 18-wheeler accidents often involve:
- The truck driver who may have violated hours-of-service regulations
- The trucking company that pressured him to meet impossible deadlines
- The cargo loader who improperly secured 50,000 pounds of grain
- The maintenance company that skipped brake inspections
- The freight broker who hired an unsafe carrier to cut costs
Our job is to investigate every potentially liable party—because more defendants means more insurance coverage means higher compensation for you.
Federal Regulations That Protect Story County Families
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) creates strict rules governing commercial vehicles. When truckers and companies violate these regulations on Story County roads, they endanger everyone—and they create legal liability.
Hours of Service Violations (49 CFR Part 395)
Federal law limits how long truck drivers can operate without rest:
- Maximum 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- Cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
- Mandatory 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
- 60/70 hour weekly limits before required rest
These rules exist because fatigue causes approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes. When an exhausted trucker drifts across the centerline on I-35 near Story City, or when a driver who’s been awake for 18 hours misses a stop sign on County Road E18, he’s violating federal law. We subpoena Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data to prove these violations.
Driver Qualification Requirements (49 CFR Part 391)
Trucking companies must verify their drivers are qualified to operate 80,000-pound vehicles. The Driver Qualification File must include:
- Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- Current medical certification (maximum 2 years)
- Background checks and driving history
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Training documentation
If a trucking company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or failed to verify his medical fitness to handle Iowa’s winter conditions, they’re liable for negligent hiring.
Vehicle Maintenance Standards (49 CFR Part 396)
Brake failures cause 29% of truck accidents. Federal law requires:
- Systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance programs
- Pre-trip inspections before every drive
- Annual comprehensive inspections
- Brake system checks and adjustments
When a truck’s brakes fail on the descent toward the Skunk River, or when bald tires blow out on the heat-baked asphalt of US-69 in July, poor maintenance is usually to blame.
Cargo Securement Rules (49 CFR Part 393)
Iowa’s agricultural economy means thousands of grain trucks traverse Story County daily. Federal rules require cargo securement systems to withstand:
- Forward deceleration of 0.8 g (sudden stop)
- Rearward acceleration of 0.5 g
- Lateral force of 0.5 g (side-to-side)
When improperly secured grain shifts during transport, the center of gravity changes—causing rollovers on curves or jackknifes during emergency braking.
The Most Common 18-Wheeler Accidents in Story County
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, often sweeping across multiple lanes. On icy I-35 near Ames, when a trucker hits his brakes too hard on black ice, the trailer slides out of control. These accidents often involve multiple vehicles and catastrophic injuries.
Why they happen in Story County: Iowa’s harsh winters create perfect conditions for jackknifes. When temps drop below freezing and roads glaze over, even experienced drivers lose control.
Rollover Accidents
Grain trucks and tankers are particularly prone to rollovers. A fully loaded grain truck has a high center of gravity. Taking a curve too fast on County Road S27, or swerving to avoid a deer on US-30, can cause the trailer to tip.
Common causes: Speeding on curves, improperly distributed cargo (liquid “slosh” in tankers), overcorrection, and driver fatigue.
Underride Collisions
Among the deadliest accidents, underrides occur when a passenger vehicle slides under the truck’s trailer. The trailer height often shears off the car’s roof, causing decapitation or catastrophic head injuries.
Federal requirements: Rear impact guards are required on trailers manufactured after 1998 (49 CFR § 393.86). However, these guards sometimes fail, and side underride guards aren’t federally mandated despite being equally deadly.
Rear-End Collisions
An 80,000-pound truck needs 40% more stopping distance than your car. When a distracted trucker fails to notice traffic stopped for an Iowa State University game near Jack Trice Stadium, or when brake failure occurs on the approach to Ames, devastating rear-end crashes result.
Evidence we gather: ECM data showing speed and brake application, ELD records proving distraction or fatigue, and cell phone records.
Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)
18-wheelers need significant space to turn. When a truck swings left before making a right turn onto Main Street in Nevada, Iowa, unsuspecting drivers may enter the gap—only to be crushed when the trailer completes its turn.
Tire Blowouts
Iowa’s temperature extremes stress truck tires. Summer heat on US-69 causes blowouts, sending debris across lanes and causing loss of control. Federal law requires minimum tread depth of 4/32″ on steer tires (49 CFR § 393.75).
Who Can Be Held Liable in Your Story County Trucking Accident?
We investigate every potentially liable party—most firms only look at the driver and trucking company, but we dig deeper.
The Truck Driver: For speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impairment, or traffic violations on Story County roads.
The Trucking Company: Under respondeat superior, employers are liable for employees’ negligent acts. Plus, they may be directly liable for negligent hiring, training, or maintenance. We examine their Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores and safety history.
The Cargo Owner/Shipper: When Iowa grain elevators overload trucks or pressure drivers to skip safety checks to meet delivery schedules.
The Loading Company: For improperly secured grain loads that shift during transport, or uneven weight distribution that causes rollovers.
The Truck/Parts Manufacturer: For defective brakes, steering systems, or tires that fail on Iowa highways.
The Maintenance Company: For negligent repairs or skipped inspections that allow dangerous trucks on the road.
The Freight Broker: For negligently hiring carriers with poor safety records to haul Iowa agricultural products.
Government Entities: For dangerous road design, inadequate signage, or failure to maintain highways (potholes, icy conditions, etc.)—though sovereign immunity limits apply.
Catastrophic Injuries: When Life Changes Forever
The force of an 18-wheeler collision causes devastating injuries that alter every aspect of your life. Ralph Manginello has secured multi-million dollar settlements for clients suffering:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
From concussions to severe brain damage, TBIs affect cognitive function, memory, personality, and independence. Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims. These funds cover lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia) requires millions in lifetime care. We’ve secured settlements between $4.7 million and $25.8 million for spinal cord injury clients, ensuring they receive the best possible medical treatment and adaptive equipment.
Amputations
Whether traumatic (occuring at the scene) or surgical (due to crushed limbs), amputations require prosthetics, rehabilitation, and career retraining. Our settlements for amputation cases range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million.
Wrongful Death
When an Iowa family loses a loved one to a negligent trucker, compensation includes lost future income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Our wrongful death settlements range from $1.9 million to $9.5 million.
The 48-Hour Evidence Crisis
Critical timeline: Evidence in trucking accidents disappears fast. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Dashcam footage may delete automatically within 14 days. The trucking company is already building their defense while you’re still in the hospital.
When you call Attorney911, we send spoliation letters within 24 hours demanding preservation of:
- ECM/Black Box data (speed, braking, throttle position)
- ELD logs (hours of service violations)
- Driver Qualification Files
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Cell phone records
- Dashcam footage
- GPS tracking data
We also deploy accident reconstruction experts to Story County crash sites immediately, photographing evidence before weather or traffic destroys it.
Iowa Law and Your Story County Case
Statute of Limitations: Iowa gives you 2 years from the date of your trucking accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death, it’s 2 years from the date of death. Miss this deadline, and you lose your right to compensation forever—even if the trucker was 100% at fault.
Comparative Negligence: Iowa follows modified comparative fault with a 51% bar. You can recover damages if you’re 50% or less at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 20% responsible for an accident on I-35, you recover 80% of your damages. But if you’re 51% at fault, you recover nothing. This makes clear liability documentation crucial.
Damage Caps: Iowa does not cap economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. However, punitive damages are rare and require proving willful and wanton disregard for safety.
Insurance Coverage in Trucking Accidents
Federal law requires minimum liability coverage:
- $750,000 for non-hazardous freight
- $1 million for oil/livestock/vehicles
- $5 million for hazardous materials
Many commercial carriers carry $1-5 million in coverage. Unlike a regular car accident where the at-fault driver might have only $20,000 in coverage, trucking accidents typically have substantial insurance available—but you need an attorney who knows how to access it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Story County Trucking Accidents
What should I do immediately after a truck accident in Story County?
Call 911 immediately. Seek medical attention even if you feel okay—adrenaline masks injuries. Photograph the scene, the truck’s DOT number, and your injuries. Get witness information. Do not give statements to the trucking company’s insurance. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911.
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
Never. They record conversations and will use your words against you. As client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We handle all communications to protect you.
What if the truck driver was from out of state?
Trucking accidents often involve interstate commerce. Our federal court admission to the Southern District of Texas (and Iowa state practice) allows us to pursue these cases regardless of where the trucking company is headquartered. Ralph Manginello’s dual Texas-New York licensure provides broad jurisdictional capability.
How much is my case worth?
It depends on injury severity, liability clarity, and available insurance. We’ve recovered millions for Story County-area clients. As Donald Wilcox can attest—after another firm rejected his case, we secured a “handsome check” through aggressive representation.
Can I afford an attorney?
Absolutely. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. Your fee comes from the settlement, not your pocket. Hablamos Español—Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish representation without interpreters.
Call Attorney911 Before Evidence Disappears
The trucking company already has lawyers working to minimize your claim. You deserve the same level of aggressive representation fighting for maximum compensation.
We serve truck accident victims throughout Story County, including Ames, Nevada, Story City, Gilbert, and rural communities across the agricultural heartland. Whether your accident occurred on I-35, US-30, US-69, or a county blacktop road near the grain elevators, we have the experience to handle your case.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now for a free consultation. We’ll answer 24/7, send immediate spoliation letters to preserve evidence, and fight to get you every dime you deserve—as Glenda Walker said we did for her family.
Ralph Manginello has spent 25 years making trucking companies pay for their negligence. With our former insurance defense attorney on your side, you gain insider knowledge of every tactic the trucking company will use. Don’t let them push Iowa families around.
1-888-ATTY-911
Se habla español—llame a Lupe Peña
Your fight for justice starts with one call. We’re ready when you are.
