On April 3, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a $26.1 million verdict in a catastrophic truck accident case, originally secured by Rodriguez & Associates on behalf of a young woman who sustained permanent injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, in a devastating underride collision.
The Rodriguez & Associates trial team, comprised of Daniel Rodriguez, Joel Andreesen, Chantal Trujillo, Jessica Alcala, and David Sherrill, along with local Iowa Counsel, represented the young woman and her family throughout the case and the appeal.
The crash occurred on March 19, 2020, near Anamosa, Iowa, when the driver of a semitruck attempted an unprotected left turn across oncoming traffic in dense fog. The resulting underride truck accident caused the firm’s client catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
After a two-week trial in June 2024, the jury assigned 73 percent fault to the defendants and awarded more than $35 million in damages, resulting in a $26.1 million judgment after comparative fault, a record verdict for a motor vehicle accident in Iowa. Despite the defendants’ challenge to the verdict on various grounds, including issues related to the plaintiffs’ counsel’s closing arguments and evidentiary rulings, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the verdict, unanimously rejecting the defendants’ appeal.
“This decision affirms the judgment obtained for our client after a devastating crash changed their lives forever. We remain grateful for the opportunity to help present this case and to stand with the family through trial and appeal.”
-Joel Andreesen, Senior Partner at Rodriguez & Associates
This case reflects the risks tied to unsafe trucking practices and the complexity of truck accident litigation involving large trucking companies and multiple parties. Rodriguez & Associates continues to hold negligent trucking companies accountable while advocating for individuals and families recovering from catastrophic accidents.
Congratulations to all involved in making this case a success!