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When it comes to car accidents, weight is what determines each driver’s survival rate. The physics are simple: The heavier a vehicle is, the more damage it will cause to smaller vehicles. Of course, this idea is most easily seen in crashes between tractor trailers and small cars. A truck with a full load is 20 times heavier than the average passenger car. However, even small differences in weight can increase the risk of a fatality. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a study on the relationship between vehicle weight and fatality risk. The agency surveyed thousands of accidents between cars and small pickup trucks. Researchers determined that 80 percent of people who died in the accidents were occupants in the smaller vehicle. Given that information, a group of school children are fortunate to be alive after a tractor trailer struck their bus. 

Most full-sized school buses weigh approximately 28,000 pounds, whereas any given tractor-trailer will weigh 80,000 pounds. Last week, a truck rear-ended a school bus. The bus was carrying more than a dozen children at the time. 

Witnesses Say the Circumstances Surrounding the Accident Were Bizarre

According to FOX News, witnesses suspect the truck driver of being distracted. They say that the male driver was carrying a female passenger in his cab, and she was not wearing any clothes during the accident. Furthermore, investigators determined that the truck driver did not even press his brakes before colliding with the bus, possibly indicating that he did not see the vehicle. Paramedics took 10 of the children to the hospital with varying degrees of injury. Officers say that the accident would have been much worse had the bus driver not seen the truck and sped up at the last moment before the impact. 

If you’ve been involved in a car accident with a distracted driver, you are likely looking for justice. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC in Cedar Rapids, we are proud to help our clients as they seek compensation through personal-injury lawsuits. To speak with a truck-accident lawyer about your crash, please call 319-393-1020. 

Another Bus-Truck Accident Ended in Tragedy

The NY Post reports that the occupants of another bus were not as lucky as the children. Police say that a tractor trailer veered into oncoming traffic and struck a bus carrying a college softball team. The collision sent more than a dozen people to the hospital, and four members of the softball team died from their injuries. Police are not sure what caused the truck driver to leave his lane, but they have drawn his blood to test for intoxication. 

Negligent driving takes many forms. If you have been injured by a driver who was distracted, impaired or reckless, we can help. Our personal-injury lawyers have a combined 75 years of experience with injury accident lawsuits. To arrange a consultation with a truck-accident lawyer from our firm, please call 319-393-1020. 

Like other types of personal-injury claims, wrongful-death lawsuits can arise out of many different situations. Specifically, there are three circumstances that cause lawsuits more than any others: car accidents, medical malpractice and defective consumer products. These are the most common sources of wrongful-death lawsuits. 

Successful wrongful-death lawsuits generally have at least one factor in common: They involve negligent or reckless behavior that leads to a fatality. Of course, there are many deaths that follow less common situations. 

For instance, not many lawsuits include a plane crashing into a home. That’s what happened in 2009 when a plane flying a connecting flight crashed into a house, killing many of the passengers on the flight, as well as one of the residents in the home. 

An investigation revealed that pilot error was the primary cause of the accident, and most of the families of those who died in the accident filed wrongful-death lawsuits during the past five years. Over time, the airline settled all but one of the lawsuits out of court, which is common. In fact, more than 90 percent of all personal-injury lawsuits end in a settlement.

Douglas Wielinski’s Family Decided to Take Their Lawsuit to Trial

The Star Tribune reports that Wielinski was in the home when the crash occurred, and he died at the scene. Meanwhile, his wife and daughter, who were also home, were able to escape before the home burned down. 

Both women suffered serious injuries in the incident and continue to suffer from the trauma they survived. In the years since the event, they’ve tried to settle with the insurance company responsible for the airline, but the insurer may have attempted to settle for a low amount. 

If you are looking for a personal-injury lawyer to help you find justice after the death of your loved one, let us help. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, you can rely on our 75 years of experience as you seek fair compensation for a negligent accident. We will guide you through the process with compassion and professionalism. To learn more about our services, please call 319-393-1020. 

The Insurance Company Refuses to Compensate the Family for Certain Valuables

Wielinski spent his life building an impressive baseball card collection. Several years ago, he sold a small portion of the collection for $325,000. Even so, the insurance company refused to pay the family for the value of the remaining cards. WIVB News reports that this was one of the major reasons why the family chose not to settle. Other reasons include the fact that the insurance company maintains Wielenski didn’t suffer, despite the fact that the evidence proves otherwise. 

If you believe that another party’s negligence was the primary cause of your loved one’s death, we can help you seek the compensation you need to pay for medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids, please call 319-393-1020. 

Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Follows Fatal Car Accident

There are many types of lawsuits that tend to be emotional for those involved. However, none are quite as difficult as the wrongful-death lawsuit. 

Family members are usually still grieving and working through the shock of losing a loved one, but there is a time limit for filing a claim, meaning they must seek justice while still working through the grief and anger from the accident. In this situation, it is especially important for families to find accident attorneys who can provide sound legal advice throughout the ordeal. 

If you believe that another party’s negligence played a role in your loved one’s death, call us. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC in Cedar Rapids, we specialize in difficult cases that other firms may turn down. After 75 years of combined experience, we’ve learned not to be afraid of a challenge. If you are looking for a compassionate, professional personal-injury lawyer, please call us at 319-393-1020. 

Family Files Lawsuit After Tractor-Trailer Accident

A series of high-profile, tractor-trailer accidents have exposed a glaring fact: There are significant safety problems in the trucking industry. Most often, these accidents involve drowsy drivers who forged their logbook in order to continue driving despite not getting enough rest. Last week, a fatal truck accident showed that fatigue is not the only problem for truckers. 

KTVU News reports that a truck experienced a brake failure while descending a hill. The driver wasn’t able to take evasive action and lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle continued to accelerate and struck 10 cars before coming to a stop. Daniel McGuire was a passenger in one of the vehicles, and he died instantly when the truck rear-ended the vehicle he was in. 

His family was shocked when they learned some specifics about the accident that killed McGuire. First, the driver had only been working for three months before his employer gave him the route. Second, the route is much too difficult for a novice truck driver. Third, he was hauling double trailers at the time of the wreck. His family decided to file a wrongful-death lawsuit against the trucking company and the driver. 

The Family Is Seeking Reform for the Industry

The family also hopes to affect change to honor their son. ABC News reports that they propose the industry institutes a graduate licensing system to ensure drivers don’t receive routes they are not ready to drive. Surprisingly, the American Trucking Association has been pushing for a similar system for more than five years, but legislators are hesitant to make the necessary changes. 

If you are looking for a reliable personal-injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids, we can help. At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, we are committed to helping the families of negligent driving victims find justice and compensation through wrongful-death lawsuits. To learn more about our services, please call 319-393-1020.

Cyclist Outraged Driver Won’t Face Charges in Fatal Crash

Bicyclists are among of the most vulnerable groups of people on our roadways. Like pedestrians, they have little protection against passenger vehicles and often suffer very serious injuries during minor car accidents. 

Unlike pedestrians, cyclists spend a majority of their time in the road, making them even more vulnerable to reckless drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 49,000 of cyclists are hurt during car accidents every year; of those, more than 700 die. 

This year, Milton Everett Olin Jr. was one of those that lost their lives in bike accidents. Olin was a prominent entertainment lawyer who was best known as an executive with Napster. The 65-year-old was riding in the bike lane when the accident occurred, and he died at the scene. The public was outraged to hear a police officer was the one who struck and killed Olin. 

An Investigation Revealed the Officer Was Using His Phone at the Time

New York Daily News reports the officer was texting and lost control of his patrol car. In fact, his phone records show he sent a total of six messages just before the crash. 

He swerved into the bike lane and rear-ended Olin. Witnesses told investigators the officer didn’t even brake. The local community’s concern quickly turned to anger recently when a county attorney decided not to file charges against the officer. 

He said he wouldn’t prosecute because the text messages were work related. The biking community is protesting the decision by riding along the highway. Meanwhile, Olin’s family decided to seek justice on their own and filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the officer. 

At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC in Cedar Rapids, we believe there is no excuse for distracted driving, and we’re proud to help the victims of reckless drivers file personal injury lawsuits. You can rely on our experience and knowledge throughout your case, and we’ll fight to secure the maximum compensation possible. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer, please call 319-393-1020. 

Another Family Is Planning to File Suit Against the City

In June, a teen driver lost control of his vehicle after striking a dip in the road and colliding with a power pole. Both the driver, Hayden Soyk, and his girlfriend, Maddi Higgins, died in the wreck. The Oregonian reports Soyk’s family plans to sue the city because they believe poor road design led to the crash. They cite the fact that at least 45 accidents have occurred on that road in the past four years, many of which were single-vehicle crashes. 

If you are planning a wrongful-death lawsuit, you can rely on us to give you excellent legal advice and to aggressively negotiate with insurance companies. Whether you’re suing a city or a reckless driver, we are here to help. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer, please call 319-393-1020. 

Statistics on elder abuse are difficult to come by for many reasons, one of the most important being that many cases aren’t reported to police. This is because the victims are cut off from the outside world and unable to defend themselves and report their abusers. 

In fact, a study from Cornell University estimates that for every one case that is reported, 24 go unnoticed and unpunished. Everyone seems to agree on one point: The problem is greater than is apparent. The National Center on Elder Abuse surveyed thousands of residents and found that 44 percent had experienced abuse and 95 percent had witnessed neglect. 

For the families of those who have been mistreated, it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of so much injustice. Even those nursing homes that are caught usually only face low fines. However, the loved ones of abuse victims have the ability to file a personal-injury lawsuit to seek justice and compensation. 

At Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, we are committed to assisting families as they look for closure on these issues. We are an experienced law firm that specializes in personal-injury cases, and you can rely on our experience throughout the process of filing your lawsuit. To arrange a consultation with a personal-injury lawyer in Cedar Rapids, call us at 319-393-1020. 

Husband Files Lawsuit After Wife Dies in Nursing Home

Neglect is one of the most dangerous forms of nursing-home abuse because it so often goes unnoticed. Dehydration, malnutrition and a lack of supervision can be deadly to the elderly, but it’s easy for staff to explain the problems away as just part of the aging process. Families often believe this explanation, choosing to believe that declining health and fall accidents happen to all aging adults. 

WV Gazette reports that one man refused to believe these types of explanations. He alleges that the neglect of his wife accelerated the decline of her mental and physical health, directly leading to her death. He claims that the nursing home did not retain enough staff or supplies to properly care for residents, which caused her to fall and suffer injuries several times. Furthermore, he says the facility neglected to inform him of her declining health. 

Judge Sentences Caregiver for Abuse

Sometimes, the problems in nursing homes are more than just neglect. When outright abuse occurs, it’s much easier to spot the signs. 

KOCO News reports that family members noticed bruises on their loved one’s arms and mouth. They also noticed a change in behavior. Specifically, she was scared most of the time. After setting up a camera, they found that a caregiver was physically beating and verbally abusing the elderly woman. The caregiver will now face four years behind bars. 

If you are interested in speaking to a personal-injury lawyer about filing a lawsuit against a caregiver or a nursing home, let us help. To arrange a consultation, just call 319-393-1020. 

Civil actions cover a wide range of situations and are very complex. They can involve individuals, businesses and nonprofit companies. 

An individual can even file a civil case against the state in many circumstances. Generally, claimants rely on attorneys who specialize in the field of law concerning their claim. For instance, car-accident victims hire personal-injury lawyers who are experts on claims based on negligence. 

At Eells and Tronvold Law Offices, PLC, we offer our clients the benefit of our 75 combined years handling civil cases. We specialize in several areas including personal injury, wrongful death and legal malpractice. Regardless of the reason behind your lawsuit, you can count on us to fight to protect your interests both during negotiations and in court. If you would like to speak with a Cedar Rapids personal-injury attorney, call us at 319-393-1020. 

1. Car-Accident Lawsuits

The number of car accidents in the United States is astounding, and every day, hundreds of people are injured in crashes. Many of these incidents are caused by negligent driving behaviors such as texting, drinking and speeding. When one driver chooses to operate a vehicle in an unsafe manner and hurts another motorist, the victim has the right to file a claim. 

For instance, KUSI News reports that police recently arrested a driver who struck several bicyclists. Authorities say that Theresa Owens was driving in the wrong lane when she collided with a group of at least 20 cyclists. Eight of the bikers were injured in the accidents, and police determined that Owens was drunk at the time. 

2. Wrongful-Death Lawsuits

If a drunk driver or other negligent party causes the death of another person, that victim’s family has the right to file a wrongful-death lawsuit to find justice and compensation. KWWL News reports that one family is exercising that right after their loved one died during football practice. Ted Agu, a college player, died after experiencing extreme fatigue. The family was outraged when they discovered that his trainer had another player die earlier in his career under similar circumstances. 

3. Legal Malpractice

Most people are aware of medical malpractice cases that arise after doctors fail to properly treat their patients and cause injuries in the process. This same idea applies to attorneys who negligently harm their clients’ cases by failing to properly prepare for a case or by choosing a very poor strategy. The Des Moines Register reports that an Iowa couple is suing their lawyer after he failed to obtain a signature from the birth mother of the couple’s adopted son. This caused the couple to lose the child, who died in the birth mother’s care. 

If you are planning to file a civil lawsuit, it can be very helpful to get expert advice by retaining a personal-injury attorney. If you would like to arrange a free initial consultation with an attorney in Cedar Rapids, call us at 319-393-1020.