Forest City Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Sideswipe Car Accidents in Forest City: Causes, Fault, and Iowa Law

A sideswipe accident occurs when two or more vehicles traveling in the same direction make contact with each other. These crashes most commonly happen when one driver enters another vehicle's lane, or when two drivers simultaneously attempt to merge into the same lane. Sideswipe collisions often occur on multi-lane highways and interstates at highway speeds, which means the consequences can be severe. What starts as a brief contact between two vehicles can quickly become a rollover accident if a driver loses control after the initial impact. Rollover crashes cause more deaths and serious injuries than almost any other type of car accident, and the risk of catastrophic injury increases dramatically for anyone not wearing a seat belt, since without restraint the head can strike the roof or the occupant can be ejected from the vehicle entirely. For a full breakdown of your rights following this type of crash, read our guide to fault in Iowa sideswipe car accidents.

How Sideswipe Accidents Can Be Prevented

Many sideswipe accidents happen because a driver begins to merge without adequately checking their surroundings. There are three practical steps that can significantly reduce the risk of this type of crash:

1. Check mirrors and blind spots before every lane change. Looking over your shoulder to verify your blind spot is clear takes only a moment and can prevent a devastating collision. Every driver has experienced nearly merging into another vehicle and catching it just in time. The ones who get into trouble are those who rely on mirrors alone without confirming the blind spot is clear.
2. Pass on the left whenever possible. In many states, passing on the right is illegal precisely because of the safety hazards it creates. Iowa Code Section 321.299 and the applicable uniform jury instruction make clear that a driver overtaking another vehicle traveling in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance and shall not move right until safely clear of the other vehicle. Violating this rule is considered negligence under Iowa law. While an exception exists for multi-lane highways, passing on the left is always the safer and legally safer choice.
3. Use lane change warning technology when available. Many newer vehicles come equipped with radar-based lane change warning systems that detect vehicles in adjacent lanes and alert the driver through a warning light on the mirror or an audible signal when a turn signal is activated near a detected vehicle. This technology has prevented countless serious accidents and should be used actively rather than ignored.

Iowa's Comparative Fault Rule and What It Means for Sideswipe Claims

Determining who is at fault in a sideswipe accident is one of the more challenging questions in Iowa car accident law. Because both drivers are usually moving at highway speeds and the contact may happen in an instant, witness testimony from other drivers behind the crash often plays a central role in reconstructing what happened. Under Iowa's comparative fault rule, a judge or jury determines the percentage of fault attributable to each driver involved.

To recover any compensation at all, you must be able to demonstrate that the other driver was at least 50 percent responsible for the collision. If you cannot meet that threshold, you will receive nothing. And if you are found to bear some portion of the fault, your compensation is reduced proportionally. If your damages are valued at $10,000 and you are found to be 20 percent at fault, you would recover $8,000 rather than the full amount.

Iowa Code Section 321.306 and the corresponding uniform jury instruction state that on roads divided into lanes, a vehicle must be driven as nearly as possible entirely within a single lane and must not be moved from that lane until the driver has confirmed the movement can be made safely. A violation of this rule is negligence. This statute is central to most sideswipe accident claims, and the facts surrounding which driver crossed a lane boundary are what the entire fault determination often hinges on.

Cervical Fusion Surgery After a Car Accident Neck Injury in Forest City

Neck injuries are among the most common consequences of car accidents, and while whiplash is the most frequently discussed neck injury, the damage a crash can inflict on the vertebrae of the cervical spine can be far more serious. In some cases, the only appropriate treatment is cervical fusion surgery, a major procedure with significant recovery demands and long-term implications that must be fully accounted for in any car accident claim. Read more about cervical fusion for neck injuries from car accidents in Iowa.

What Cervical Fusion Surgery Involves

Cervical fusion is a surgical procedure that joins two or more bones in the neck in order to increase stability and reduce pain. The fusion is achieved by taking bone from another part of the body, such as the hip, using a bone graft, or using metal plates to create a permanent connection between adjacent vertebrae. In some cases, a damaged disc must be removed entirely before the surrounding vertebrae are fused. In more serious situations, an entire vertebra may need to be removed and replaced with a fusion.

This procedure may be recommended when car accident injuries have destabilized the vertebrae, created a risk of spinal cord damage, or caused a misalignment that requires surgical correction. It is also commonly performed as part of the treatment plan for herniated discs, spinal fractures, and other serious cervical spine injuries caused by the force of a collision.

Recovery and What to Expect After Cervical Fusion

Cervical fusion is an inpatient procedure that typically takes around three hours to perform. Patients generally remain in the hospital for a couple of days following surgery to begin recovery. The healing process involves significant restrictions and careful medical management:

• A collar-type neck brace must be worn for several weeks following the procedure, and in some cases a halo brace may be required
• No driving is permitted while any neck brace is in place
• Return to work and strenuous physical activity are not permitted until the treating physician specifically authorizes them
• If bone was harvested from another area of the body for the fusion, that donor site may be sore for several weeks
• Physical therapy typically begins shortly after surgery and continues through much of the recovery period
• Short walks are encouraged, but excessive exertion should be avoided during recovery
• Most patients can return to a normal diet after several days once bowel function has recovered

Risks, Complications, and Long-Term Considerations

As with any major surgery, cervical fusion carries real risks that can affect both the recovery process and any ongoing personal injury claim. Potential complications include:

• Blood clots
• Stiffness in the neck
• Pain at the bone donor site
• Injury to the spinal cord or surrounding nerves
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Rejection of the bone graft
• Problems at the surgical site, including failure of implants
• Complications related to anesthesia, including aspiration, coughing, gagging, elevated heart rate, and increased blood pressure

Cervical fusion can relieve pain and other symptoms associated with the original neck injury, but it is not always a permanent or complete solution. Additional treatment or further procedures may become necessary over time. This matters significantly in the context of a car accident claim, because the compensation you pursue should account for not only your current medical expenses and losses but also the future costs and complications that may realistically arise from the injury and its treatment. Because neck injuries from car accidents can cause long-term and sometimes lifelong mobility issues, it is essential to work with a personal injury attorney who will ensure that the full scope of your past and future damages are properly valued and pursued. Explore more at the Iowa car accident guide for protecting your legal claim.

Calcaneus Fractures from Car Accidents in Forest City

While neck and back injuries tend to receive the most attention in car accident cases, the feet and ankles are also highly vulnerable to serious trauma in a collision. A calcaneus fracture is a fracture of the heel bone, and it is one of the more significant foot injuries that can result from the force generated in a car accident. Trauma to the feet during a crash, whether from striking the floorboard, the brake pedal, or other interior surfaces, can result in these fractures along with other sprains, strains, and foot and ankle injuries. For a complete overview, read our article on calcaneus fractures from car accidents in Iowa.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Calcaneus Fracture

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the most common symptoms of a calcaneus fracture include the following:

• Heel deformity
• Significant pain
• Bruising around the heel and foot
• Swelling in the affected area
• Inability to put any weight on the heel

Calcaneus fractures vary in severity. Stable fractures and closed fractures are generally considered less serious, while comminuted fractures are among the most severe. A comminuted fracture is one in which the bone has shattered into three or more pieces. These fractures are highly unstable and often require surgical intervention to address properly.

Treatment Options for a Broken Heel Bone

When the fracture is not severe, nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate. This can include casting or other forms of immobilization, physical therapy, and pain medication management. However, when the fracture is severe, surgery becomes necessary. The two primary surgical approaches used to correct a calcaneus fracture are open reduction and internal fixation, and percutaneous screw fixation surgery. Both types of surgery require a course of rehabilitation therapy following the procedure.

Complications That Can Follow a Calcaneus Fracture

Calcaneus fractures do not always heal cleanly, and in some cases further complications develop during or after recovery. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, complications associated with surgery to correct a calcaneus fracture may include:

• Infection
• Damage to nerves and blood vessels
• Bleeding or blood clots
• Complications in skin healing around the surgical site
• Nerve stretch
• Chronic pain
• Joint stiffness
• Tendon irritation
• Nerve irritation

The potential for chronic pain, joint stiffness, and ongoing nerve irritation following a calcaneus fracture makes it especially important to pursue a car accident claim that fully accounts for long-term consequences rather than simply the immediate cost of initial treatment. Most car accidents are caused by preventable driver errors, and when another driver's negligence is responsible for a calcaneus fracture and the painful recovery that follows, that driver and their insurance company should be held accountable for the full extent of the resulting harm.

What Forest City Car Accident Victims Can Recover

Whether your car accident injuries involved a sideswipe collision at highway speed, a cervical spine injury requiring fusion surgery, a shattered heel bone, or any combination of serious trauma, Iowa law allows injured victims to pursue compensation for a broad range of losses. These include:

• Current and future medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up treatment
• Lost wages from time missed at work during recovery
• Reduced earning capacity if injuries prevent a return to prior employment
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Property damage to your vehicle

Seeking Legal Assistance in Forest City

Seeking legal counsel from experienced Forest City Iowa car accident attorneys such as those at Walker, Billingsley & Bair can provide invaluable support in filing insurance claims or pursuing personal injury lawsuits. With a comprehensive understanding of Iowa law, their team can help gather evidence, establish liability, and secure the compensation deserved by accident victims.

Suffering from the aftermath of a car accident shouldn't impede your pursuit of justice and fair compensation. The Iowa injury lawyers at Walker, Billingsley & Bair work hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies.

That's why we provide this FREE book; The Legal Insider's Guide to Iowa Car Accidents: 7 Secrets to Not Wreck Your Case. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation. Call 641-792-3595 to order your free accident book today.

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