Automobile Accidents

• Driver Safety: Tennessee's Governor Phil Bredesen has a good message for teen drivers

  Steve Lombardi | February 03, 2009 1:37 PM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la2bO7Xseyg Let's start off this month with a simple message - think. Yes, simply think before acting. Lawyer deal in the facts about car, truck, ATV, boat, truck,...

• Client Toolbox - If it's an accident is it still considered negligence?

  Steve Lombardi | September 21, 2008 10:11 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  There is a recent news item that illustrates the concept of negligence. The driver of a Chrysler van is backing up. At 80 years of age he’s considered elderly. At the same time he’s backing up a 64...

• Assessment of Fault in Auto Accidents - Tires and Other Evidence Destroyed

  Steve Lombardi | February 29, 2008 6:50 PM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  Clients make a crucial mistake when they listen to insurance companies' propaganda about how trial lawyers can't be trusted. If the insurance industry can get you to take the bait and delay getting a lawyer, they can then settle with you for the wrecked car, take possession of the wreck and destroy the evidence.A car accident was reported on by the Newton Daily News, out of North Monroe...

• A frosty windshield leads to a cold hard lesson.

  Steve Lombardi | January 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  The frosty excuse goes cold in a court of law...It's early, cold, you'd rather stay under the warm covers but duty calls. You do all that needs to be done to get ready for work, head out the door and notice upon entering the car that it's damn cold. For whatever reason you didn't turn the car on to warm up, you're sitting there shivering and figure I'm going to start driving so the engine will...

• Rear-ender pushes vehicle into path of oncoming semi-truck.

  Steve Lombardi | December 15, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  This is an example of why we all need to slow down, leave more room between us and the car in front and to avoid distractions. The Buena Vista County sheriff's report says it all. We have a car slowing down on US Highway 71 to check her mail; the van behind her slows and is struck from behind by a pickup truck. The van is then pushed into an oncoming semi-truck and three occupants of the van are...

• Iowa School Bus Collision

  Steve Lombardi | December 07, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  It was reportedthat the poor Vunk girl who collided with a school bus ended up in the hospital. Police were speculating about what may have contributed to the collision. They speculated the sun may have been a factor. I just recently handled a similar collision between a Bremer County dump truck and a Waverly School District bus full of children. That driver alleged the sun was also a factor. A...

• Concerned about being arrested for OWI?

  Steve Lombardi | November 30, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  Criminal Law Problem - Are you concerned about driving after having a couple of drinks? Concerned about the embarrassment and hassles associated with being arrested for OWI? Just don't want to deal with the hassle of an OWI stop or worse yet an arrest? The State of Iowa estimates costs to be around $5,000.00 for a first OWI stop.Civil Law Problem - How about the costs associated with driving...

• Iowa Collision - Hit and Run - Bicyclist v Car

  Steve Lombardi | November 21, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  When a bicycle rider is struck and killed by a hit-n-run driver is there a possibility for the family to recover reasonable compensation? The answer is yes. It depends on whether the bicycle rider had auto insurance and did the auto insurance provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. I see reports from time-to-time of such collisions and I often wonder if the families realize they...

• Why does a person cross the center line?

  Steve Lombardi | November 17, 2007 12:00 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  On Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Jason Pillard, just 38 years of age died when his pickup truck crossed the center line and struck a 1991 Honda Civic traveling north. The occupants of that car, Bradley Deshaw of Oxford Junction and Tammy Deshaw, a passenger were taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. This is the type of car or truck accident that will raise causation questions for years to...

• Riding bicycle on the highway leads to death.

  Steve Lombardi | November 16, 2007 9:30 AM | 0 CommentsDes Moines, IA

  A young man who moved from Michigan to southeast Iowa died after being struck by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle to work. The young man is Douglas Kenney who was just 21 years old. He had moved in with his grandparents to work and save money so he could attend college. He was struck from behind by a pickup truck being driven by a 61 year old man.It's being alleged that the sun had...