» Cars, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents

Because car accidents in Eastern Iowa and throughout this nation are the number one reason for traumatic brain injuries, it may seem like auto manufacturers are not doing anything to prevent brain injuries. However, some of them are taking steps in the right direction.

Many companies have looked at ways to reduce injuries to the head and brain in auto accidents. This is one of the reasons why seatbelts and airbags were designed over the years; however, auto makers are still conducting research on head trauma and studying ways they can help reduce brain injuries in crashes in Iowa and around this nation.
Toyota Motor Corp. was recently honored by the Brain Trauma Foundation for the research they and their research partners are conducting on head injuries that occur in motor vehicle accidents. They are hoping that this research will help them develop better safety restraint systems and more safety technologies to help reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries in automobile accidents.

Although this research is taking place, there have been safety mechanisms in cars that have proven to be defective, causing injuries to occupants. If you feel like your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in an Eastern Iowa car accident due to a defect in the car or due to another driver’s negligence, please call a skilled Cedar Rapids accident attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation today at (319) 866-9277.

Although SUVs are being made safer than they ever have been in the past, they still have a narrower track width and a higher center of gravity than other passenger cars on the roads, making them easier to flip over and be involved in a Cedar Rapids rollover accident.

Owners of SUVs need to understand that there are higher chances of rollover crashes in these vehicles. However, the vehicle should still be safe upon impact, especially the roof. SUV manufacturers should design and build an SUV with the necessary roof support so that in the event of a rollover, a roof failure won't occur.

When a roof caves in on occupants of a vehicle, the roof was most likely not built or designed well, and victims of these accidents can pursue damages from the vehicle manufacturer.

If you have been injured in a rollover accident and roof failure in Iowa, call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our Cedar Rapids law firm, we can travel to come visit you.

To understand the answer to this question, we must first define "dramshop." A dramshop could be a restaurant, sports bar, or other business or social host that gives or sells alcoholic drinks to an already intoxicated person.

The liability occurs when that intoxicated person leaves the establishment, drives drunk, and gets into a car accident in Iowa. The restaurant or person responsible could be held liable for serving too much alcohol to an intoxicated person.

Some states like Nevada do not have this law and will not hold the establishment liable; however, others like Illinois have even stricter liability rules regarding dramshop cases.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 and speak with experienced Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers for a free legal evaluation.

There are dram shop laws in place in Iowa to help protect innocent people from intoxicated drivers on the road. Typically, dram shop cases involve a bar, tavern, or restaurant that serves a customer too much alcohol. These businesses have a duty to provide a level of care and should know or should have known that the person was drunk or would become intoxicated if they continued to serve him alcohol.

The businesses that are generally not liable in dram shop cases are grocery stores, gas stations or liquor stores that sell alcohol but do not serve it on their premises. The Iowa dram shop laws are intended to regulate alcoholic beverages served on a seller’s property for immediate consumption, and therefore do not apply to places that merely sell alcohol.

The liability occurs when that customer leaves a bar or establishment and drives drunk. If a Cedar Rapids car accident happens, that establishment could be liable for damages and injuries the intoxicated person caused.

To learn more about dram shop laws, or if you were injured by a drunk driver and do not know if you have an Iowa dram shop case, please call the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277. You can speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer in a free legal consultation at your convenience.

Distracted driving is a big buzzword in today's society. It is really defined as anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road, mind off the activity at hand, and hands off the steering wheel. If even one of these three activities is entered into, distracted driving has taken place.

Texting while driving is considered to be the worst distraction for drivers, as their minds are not paying attention to the road, their eyes are off the road, and their hands are not on the wheel. There are many other distractions that a driver can enter into while driving, including:

• Texting while driving
• Talking on handheld cell phones
• Emailing or using the Internet
• Using navigation systems
• Changing radio stations, Mp3 players or iPods
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to friends and passengers in the vehicle
• Grooming

If you have been injured in an Iowa car accident due to a distracted driver, contact the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today and speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids auto accident attorney today. Call (319) 866-9277 for your free consultation today, or fill out this page online to send us an email.

As experienced Cedar Rapids accident attorneys, we know firsthand how much pain truck accident victims suffer. Additionally, we know you will be concerned about the expenses of medical bills and your damaged vehicle.

There is not a set amount of money that truck accident victims collect, because no two truck accidents in Iowa are exactly alike. However, damages you can seek include compensatory damages and punitive damages.

The compensatory damages are your actual damages you have incurred in medical bills, lost wages due to time off work, and your property damage for your wrecked car. Punitive damages are compensation a trucking company should pay you if a court decides to punish the trucker for reckless driving.

In order for us to give you more accurate information on your case, please call us to discuss your accident details. Our knowledgeable Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers will provide you with a free, no-obligation discussion of your case. Call the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund at (319) 866-9277 to schedule a free legal consultation today.

The drunk driving laws and penalties that affect Iowa motorists are similar to other states. It is considered a crime when a driver age 21 or over tests at a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) level. Drivers who are under 21 are considered drunk if their BAC is 0.02 or more, and commercial truck drivers are considered legally drunk if their BAC is 0.04 or higher.

There are different penalties for drunk drivers in Iowa depending on if it is the driver's first offense or if the driver is a second- or third-time offender. Some Iowa drunk driving penalties include:

First Offense:

• Fines of up to $1,250
• Prison term between 48 hours and one year
• Driver's license revocation from 180 days up to one year

Second Offense:

• Fines of $1,875 to $6,250
• Prison term between seven days and two years
• Driver's license revocation for up to two years

Third Offense or More:

• Fines can be between $3,225 to $9,375 for repeat offenders.
• Prison term can be up to five years.
• Driver's license can be revoked for up to six years.

If you or a family member has been injured in a Cedar Rapids car accident caused by a drunk driver, you need to have a lawyer on your side who can hold that negligent driver accountable for their actions. Call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today to schedule a free legal evaluation at (319) 866-9277.

There are serious risks of winter driving for not just truckers, but all motorists alike. Truck drivers cannot stop driving during the winter months; however, they can be smart about safe winter driving. When truck drivers find themselves in icy and snowy conditions, it can be dangerous and deadly for them as well as innocent motorists sharing the roads with them.

When wintery conditions affect Iowa roads, there are many car and truck accidents in Eastern Iowa because people do not prepare ahead of time for the winter driving period. Truck drivers are included in this, and need to prepare accordingly for harsh driving conditions.

Things that truckers could do to minimize their risks for an Iowa truck crash include:

• Winterize their rigs.
• Put extra distance between themselves and vehicles traveling ahead of them.
• Slow down during harsh conditions.
• Drive according to the road conditions.
• Know where the closest truck stop is in case the weather gets ugly.
• Know when to stop and pull off the road.

Even experienced truckers need to take preventative measures to protect themselves, their rigs and others traveling around them during bad weather conditions.

If you or anyone you love has been injured in a Cedar Rapids truck accident due to the negligence of a truck driver, you may have legal rights to compensation. Contact an experienced Cedar Rapids truck accident attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation today at (319) 866-9277.