For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com.
Steve Lombardi, Attorney

Blog Category:

2/5/2012
Steve Lombardi
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What’s the likely cause of this interstate 80 driver drifting from one lane to another?

Distracted driving or falling asleep is the likely reason. Either one of those reasons will lead to failing to properly check mirrors before switching lanes. If you have a similar accident let us help you so you can get back to work earning a living while we litigate your case. We know truckers are all over the country and need to keep driving or if seriously injured rehabilitate; we take over your law suit while you do just that.
The ISP has three vehicles and three drivers. Jamie Collins from Urbandale, Iowa, then Jacob Middleton from Iowa City and last Donald Cook from Des Moines.
ALL THREE UNITS WERE EASTBOUND ON I-80 AT THE 135.5 MM OF I-80. UNIT ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, UNIT TWO WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE, UNIT THREE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. UNIT ONE FOR A UNKNOWN REASON FAIL TO STAYED IN ITS LANE AND DRIFTED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF UNIT TWO. THIS CAUSED UNIT TWO TO LOSE CONTROL AND GO LEFT AND CROSS INTO THE LEFT LANE. UNIT TWO THEN COLLIDED WITH UNIT THREE. UNIT ONE LEFT THE SCENE. UNIT TWO FOLLOWED UNIT ONE AND WAS ABLE TO GETS IT’S LICENSE PLATE.

Crash Information

L O C A T I O N	Date of Accident 1/30/2012	Time of Accident 05:32 PM	County Polk - 77	Accident occurred within corporate limits of (city)	Law Enforcement Case Number: 2012006363
	Literal Description 135.5MM I-80 EB				Legal Intervention? No	Private Property? No
					X-Coordinate: 447982.6
					Y-Coordinate 4611048.

U N I T 1	Driver's Name - Last COLLINS			First JAMIE			Middle SUE		Suffix
	City URBANDALE			State IA - Iowa, US				Zip 503230000
	Driver's Age 29					Citation Charge Code 1		Citation Charge 1
	Gender Female	State IA - Iowa, US	Class C - Non-commercial vehicle or commercial Veh w/26000 GVWR or less & either 16 Pass Design or Hazmat	Endorsements None	Restrictions None	Citation Charge Code 2		Citation Charge 2
	Alcohol Test Given? 1 - None			Drug Test Given? 1 - None		Citation Charge Code 3		Citation Charge 3
						Citation Charge Code 4		Citation Charge 4
	Seating Position 01 - Front: Left Side / Motorcycle Driver	Injury Status 5 - Uninjured	Occupant Protection 2 - Shoulder and lap belt used		Airbag Deployment 5 - Not deployed	Airbag Switch Status 3 - No ON/OFF switch present		Ejection 1 - Not ejected	Ejection Path	Trapped 1 - Not trapped
	Transported to:					Transported by:
	Insurance Co. Name
	Year 2006		Make Chevrolet - CHEV		Model IMP		Style 4D		Approximate Cost to Repair or Replace 5500
	Initial Travel Direction 2 - East	Vehicle Action 01 - Movement essentially straight	Speed Limit 65	Point of Initial Impact 03 - Right Side	Most Damaged Area 03 - Right Side	Extent of Damage 2 - Minor damage	Underride/Override 1 - None
	Total Occupants 01	Traffic Controls 01 - No controls present	Vehicle Config. 01 - Passenger car	Cargo Body Type 01 - Not applicable	Vehicle Defect 01 - None	Driver Condition 1 - Apparently normal	Vision Obscured 01 - Not obscured	Contributing Circumstances, Driver (up to 2)
	SEQUENCE OF EVENTS			First Event 21 - Vehicle in traffic	Second Event	Third Event	Fourth Event	Most Harmful Event (by vehicle) 21 - Vehicle in traffic
	Emergency Vehicle Type 1 - Not applicable					Emergency Status 3 - Not Applicable
	Carrier Name			City		State			Zip
	Number of Axles			Gross Vehicle Weight Rating		Placard #			Hazardous Materials Released?

U N I T 2	Driver's Name - Last MIDDLETON			First JACOB			Middle POLZIN		Suffix
	City IOWA CITY			State IA - Iowa, US				Zip 522400000
	Driver's Age 29					Citation Charge Code 1		Citation Charge 1
	Gender Male	State IA - Iowa, US	Class D - Chauffeur	Endorsements 3 - Pass Veh less than 16 Pass Design	Restrictions None	Citation Charge Code 2		Citation Charge 2
	Alcohol Test Given? 1 - None			Drug Test Given? 1 - None		Citation Charge Code 3		Citation Charge 3
						Citation Charge Code 4		Citation Charge 4
	Seating Position 01 - Front: Left Side / Motorcycle Driver	Injury Status 5 - Uninjured	Occupant Protection 2 - Shoulder and lap belt used		Airbag Deployment 5 - Not deployed	Airbag Switch Status 3 - No ON/OFF switch present		Ejection 1 - Not ejected	Ejection Path	Trapped 1 - Not trapped
	Transported to:					Transported by:
	Insurance Co. Name
	Year 1999		Make Chevrolet - CHEV		Model LUM		Style 4D		Approximate Cost to Repair or Replace 1200
	Initial Travel Direction 2 - East	Vehicle Action 01 - Movement essentially straight	Speed Limit 65	Point of Initial Impact 03 - Right Side	Most Damaged Area 03 - Right Side	Extent of Damage 2 - Minor damage	Underride/Override 1 - None
	Total Occupants 01	Traffic Controls 01 - No controls present	Vehicle Config. 01 - Passenger car	Cargo Body Type 01 - Not applicable	Vehicle Defect 01 - None	Driver Condition 1 - Apparently normal	Vision Obscured 01 - Not obscured	Contributing Circumstances, Driver (up to 2)
	SEQUENCE OF EVENTS			First Event 21 - Vehicle in traffic	Second Event 06 - Evasive action (swerve, panic braking, etc.)	Third Event	Fourth Event 21 - Vehicle in traffic	Most Harmful Event (by vehicle) 21 - Vehicle in traffic
	Emergency Vehicle Type 1 - Not applicable					Emergency Status 3 - Not Applicable
	Carrier Name			City		State			Zip
	Number of Axles			Gross Vehicle Weight Rating		Placard #			Hazardous Materials Released?

U N I T 3	Driver's Name - Last COOK			First DONALD			Middle CHARLES		Suffix
	City DES MOINES			State IA - Iowa, US				Zip 50316
	Driver's Age 64					Citation Charge Code 1 321.306		Citation Charge 1 IMPROPER USE OF LANES
	Gender Male	State IA - Iowa, US	Class D - Chauffeur	Endorsements	Restrictions None	Citation Charge Code 2		Citation Charge 2
	Alcohol Test Given? 1 - None			Drug Test Given? 1 - None		Citation Charge Code 3		Citation Charge 3
						Citation Charge Code 4		Citation Charge 4
	Seating Position 01 - Front: Left Side / Motorcycle Driver	Injury Status 5 - Uninjured	Occupant Protection 9 - Unknown		Airbag Deployment 6 - Not applicable	Airbag Switch Status 3 - No ON/OFF switch present		Ejection 1 - Not ejected	Ejection Path	Trapped 1 - Not trapped
	Transported to:					Transported by:
	Insurance Co. Name
	Year 1997		Make Dodge - DODG		Model RAM		Style VAN		Approximate Cost to Repair or Replace 0
	Initial Travel Direction 2 - East	Vehicle Action 01 - Movement essentially straight	Speed Limit 65	Point of Initial Impact 07 - Left Side	Most Damaged Area 07 - Left Side	Extent of Damage 1 - None	Underride/Override 1 - None
	Total Occupants 01	Traffic Controls 01 - No controls present	Vehicle Config. 03 - Van or mini-van	Cargo Body Type 01 - Not applicable	Vehicle Defect 01 - None	Driver Condition 9 - Unknown	Vision Obscured 01 - Not obscured	Contributing Circumstances, Driver (up to 2)
	SEQUENCE OF EVENTS			First Event 04 - Crossed centerline/median	Second Event 21 - Vehicle in traffic	Third Event	Fourth Event	Most Harmful Event (by vehicle) 21 - Vehicle in traffic
	Emergency Vehicle Type 1 - Not applicable					Emergency Status 3 - Not Applicable
	Carrier Name			City		State			Zip
	Number of Axles			Gross Vehicle Weight Rating		Placard #			Hazardous Materials Released?

ACCIDENT ENVIRONMENT		ROADWAY CHARACTERISTICS Major Contributing Circumstances:	WORKZONE RELATED?	SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Location of First Harmful Event 1 - On Roadway	Weather Conditions (up to two) 01 - Clear	Environment 1 - None apparent	Location	First Harmful Event of Crash (use codes 11-42 only) 21 - Vehicle in traffic
Manner of Crash/Collision 6 - Sideswipe, same direction	Weather Conditions (up to two) 01 - Clear	Roadway 01 - None apparent	Type
Light Conditions 2 - Dusk	Surface Conditions 1	Type of Roadway Junction/Feature 01 - No special feature	Workers Present?

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NARRATIVE

ALL THREE UNITS WERE EASTBOUND ON I-80 AT THE 135.5 MM OF I-80. UNIT ONE WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, UNIT TWO WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE, UNIT THREE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE. UNIT ONE FOR A UNKNOWN REASON FAIL TO STAYED IN ITS LANE AND DRIFTED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF UNIT TWO. THIS CAUSED UNIT TWO TO LOSE CONTROL AND GO LEFT AND CROSS INTO THE LEFT LANE. UNIT TWO THEN COLLIDED WITH UNIT THREE. UNIT ONE LEFT THE SCENE. UNIT TWO FOLLOWED UNIT ONE AND WAS ABLE TO GETS ITS LICENSE PLATE.

Officer GRIGGS	Badge No. 339	Time Officer Notified of Accident 17:32	Time Officer Arrived At Scene 17:38
Name of Agency P01	Date of Report 1/30/2012	Investigation made at scene? Yes	T.I. #

Category: I-35 I-80 I-235 I-380 Collisions/Accidents

That’s enough for today, but come back tomorrow to read The Verdict blog/blawg at Lombardi Law Firm or posts on the The Iowa Edict, where I will discuss other personal injury accidents in Iowa. And as always if you are in an accident and need legal services we encourage you to call us sooner, rather than later. We aren't very good at putting toothpaste back into the tube. So let's work together to make your case prep work for you.

I work with lawyers from across the country who handle accidents on either Interstate 35 or 80. These cases may require more than one lawyer because of the multi-state jurisidiction issues. We worked out details ahead of time so your case can move ahead without delay. So call us if we can help you. 515-222-1110 or 800-383-0331 or sdlombardi@aol.com. We cooperate with lawyers who have clients injured in Iowa. So call us.

Steve Lombardi