Filing a Claim against a Negligent Trucking Company in Iowa
Updated on April, 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Originally Posted on June 16, 2020 at 3:01 PM by The Biker Lawyers
Accidents involving big trucks can lead to serious injuries, especially for motorcyclists.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash caused by a trucking company’s mistake, you might be able to get compensation for your injuries, your lost wages, and more.
What Is Trucking Company Negligence?
A trucking company can be held responsible for the negligent driving of its employees, and if they fail to keep their trucks or drivers safe. Common ways they might be negligent include:
- Negligent driving of the employee-driver. Employers are responsible for the negligent driving of their employees as long as the employees were acting within the scope of their employment.
- Hiring unqualified drivers with poor records
- Not training drivers properly or failing to check if they follow safety rules
- Skipping maintenance or not fixing known problems with the truck
- Letting drivers work too many hours, which can lead to fatigue and mistakes
When these things happen, it puts everyone on the road at risk—including bikers.
Learn more about our services and how we protect injured riders.
Iowa’s Law on Truck Accident Claims
According to The Des Moines Register, In 2023, Iowa passed a new law that affects some truck crash cases. Here’s what you should know:
- Limited Claims for Hiring Mistakes: You can’t always sue a trucking company just for hiring someone with a bad record. However, you can still file a claim if the company failed to train or supervise the driver properly.
- Cap on Non-Economic Damages: There’s now a $5 million limit on non-economic damages like pain and suffering in some commercial vehicle crash cases. That number may change over time with inflation.
Despite these changes, you can still get help paying for your medical bills, missed work, and other damages caused by the crash.
What To Do After a Crash with a Truck
If you’ve been in a wreck with a semi-truck or commercial vehicle:- Get medical attention right away—even if injuries seem small
- Take photos of the scene, the truck, and your motorcycle
- Write down what happened while it’s fresh in your mind
- Keep all records—bills, reports, letters from insurance
- Call an experienced lawyer who knows how to handle trucking claims
How The Biker Lawyers Can Help
At The Biker Lawyers, we know how devastating truck crashes can be for bikers. We’ve handled cases where companies cut corners and riders paid the price. We’ll investigate the accident, find out who’s responsible, and fight to get you what you deserve. Get to know our team of attorneys or explore other truck accident cases we handle.FAQ About Truck Accident Claims in Iowa
Click the (+) on any of the questions below.Can I sue the trucking company or just the driver?
In many cases, you can sue both. The company is responsible for the negligence of its employee-drivers. They may also be responsible if they hired an unqualified driver, didn’t train them properly, or failed to keep their truck in safe working condition.
What if the law limits what I can claim?
Iowa law has a damage cap for pain and suffering in some truck crash cases. But you can still get money for medical bills, lost income, and more. We’ll help you understand what your case may be worth.
What if I was partly at fault?
Iowa follows a comparative fault system. If you're less than 50.1% at fault, you may still get compensation—just a reduced amount.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In most cases, you have 2 years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim in Iowa.
How The Biker Lawyers Can Help
At The Biker Lawyers, we know how devastating truck crashes can be for bikers. We’ve handled cases where companies cut corners and riders paid the price. We’ll investigate the accident, find out who’s responsible, and fight to get you what you deserve.