Grundy County van crash, 13 injured or killed, personal injury is serious business.
When I practiced law in Black Hawk County it wasn’t unusual for Amish people to pay someone to drive them to and from appointments. I deposed an Amish construction worker who detailed the arrangements.
A Grundy County crash involving a van with 13 people inside lost control on an icy highway, rolled and injured or killed all thirteen. The Iowa State Patrol lists all of the passengers, and the driver Sara Werner from Hopkinton, Iowa.
PROBLEM ONE
One problem that can creep into the personal injury and insurance coverage has to do with whether insurance will actually cover the damages. If this is a paid rider situation, and the insurance was not applied for disclosing that this was going to be a shuttle service, then the insurance copany may deny coverage.
PROBLEM TWO
A second problem has to do with the amount of coverage versus the amount of damage accidents like this cause.
The Lombardi Law Firm practices personal injury law and we represent people across the State of Iowa. If we can lend a hand to protect your rights and to assist in recovery, then please give us a call in West Des Moines, Iowa. Contact the Lombardi Law Firm.
Here we have ISP reporting two died and more than five were injured. If the owner of this van did not have at least a half-million dollars in liability coverage, I’m not sure how this amount of insurance will cover all the claims. That can be a challenge, especially with passengers who do not drive, own a car or carry automobile insurance coverage.
The smarter way to use these services is to carry your own insurance so that you know what level of insurance coverage you have, in the event of a serious accident. Getting legal advice before rather than after an accident is preferrable. Consequences are unforgiving and can be devastating economically.
Report lists as being killed: Ervin Borntreger (age 22), Marlin Borntreger (age 1), Emma Borntreger (age 4), Rebecca Borntreger (age 2).
Reported as injured included: Edna Borntreger (age 21), Jacob Borntreger (age 1), Mary Herschberger (age 29), Jacob “Jake” Herschberger (age 26), Mahlon Borntreger (age 27), Fannie Borntreger (age 25), Ervin Borntreger (age 3), Joseph Borntreger (age 1)
Our condolences to those and their families.
PROBLEM THREE
No matter how little or how much the coverage, how does one divide up what little coverage there is? There are at least four estates that need to be opened, which is a separate issue from settling the personal injury case. A district court judge will have to approve the settlement for each along with who else is getting what as compared to the total amount of insurance available. Medical bills need to be taken into consideration along with funeral and burial expense. There’s at least six months of work here and no insurance company can settle this case without have letters of appointment for each estate and the district court approval.
The Iowa State Patrol Report is included below.
Minimal Crash Report:
Case Number:
2023002563A
Type:
Fatality
County:
38
Crash Date:
01272023
Time:
0635
Location:
US HWY 20 MM 189
Vehicle 1 Year:
2002
Make:
CHEV
Type:
EXPRESS
Towed By:
DAVE’S TOWING
Driver Name:
SARA E WERNER
Age:
33
City & State of Residence:
HOPKINTON,IA
Injury 1 Type:
Fatality
Name:
ERVIN J BORNTREGER
Age:
22
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
ABELS FUNERAL HOME
Transported By:
Injury 2 Type:
Injured
Name:
EDNA BORNTREGER
Age:
21
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Transported By:
Injury 3 Type:
Injured
Name:
JACOB BORNTREGER
Age:
1
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Injury 4 Type:
Fatality
Name:
MARLIN BORNTREGER
Age:
1
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
ABELS FUNERAL HOME
Transported By:
Injury 5 Type:
Injured
Name:
MARY HERSCHBERGER
Age:
29
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
MERCY ONE WATERLOO
Transported By:
Injury 6 Type:
Injured
Name:
JACOB “JAKE” HERSCHBERGER
Age:
26
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Summary:
VEH #1 WAS WESTBOUND ON HWY 20 AT THE 189 MM; VEH #1 LOST CONTROL ON THE 100% SNOW/ICE COVERED ROADS; VEH #1 ENTERED THE MEDIAN, ROLLED, EJECTING 4 OCCUPANTS; VEH #1 CAME TO REST IN THE EASTBOUND LANES; CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE IOWA STATE PATROL; ASSISTED BY NUMEROUS AREA AGENCIES
OFFICER NAME: TROOPER PAYNE #278 . POST: 10
Officer Name:
TROOPER PAYNE #278
Post:
10
Assisted By:
NUMEROUS AGENCIES
SECOND ISP REPORT
Minimal Crash Report:
Case Number:
2023002563
Type:
Fatality
County:
38
Crash Date:
01272023
Time:
0635
Location:
US HWY 20 MM 189
Vehicle 1 Year:
2002
Make:
CHEV
Type:
EXPRESS
Towed By:
DAVE’S TOWING
Driver Name:
SARA E WERNER
Age:
33
City & State of Residence:
HOPKINTON,IA
Injury 1 Type:
Injured
Name:
MAHLON BORNTREGER
Age:
27
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Injury 2 Type:
Injured
Name:
FANNIE BORNTREGER
Age:
25
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Injury 3 Type:
Fatality
Name:
EMMA BORNTREGER
Age:
4
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Injury 4 Type:
Injured
Name:
ERVIN BORNTREGER
Age:
3
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
GRUNDY CO MEMORIAL
Transported By:
Injury 5 Type:
Injured
Name:
JOSEPH BORNTREGER
Age:
1
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Transported By:
Injury 6 Type:
Fatality
Name:
REBECCA BORNTREGER
Age:
2
City & State of Residence:
DELHI,IA
Seatbelt Use:
No
Life saved by Seatbelt:
Transported To:
ABELS FUNERAL HOME
Transported By:
Summary:
VEH #1 WAS WESTBOUND ON HWY 20 AT THE 189 MM; VEH #1 LOST CONTROL ON THE 100% SNOW/ICE COVERED ROADS; VEH #1 ENTERED THE MEDIAN, ROLLED, EJECTING 4 OCCUPANTS; VEH #1 CAME TO REST IN THE EASTBOUND LANES; CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE IOWA STATE PATROL; ASSISTED BY NUMEROUS AREA AGENCIES
OFFICER NAME: TROOPER PAYNE #278 . POST: 10
Officer Name:
TROOPER PAYNE #278
Post:
10
Assisted By:
NUMEROUS AGENCIES
The Lombardi Law Firm follows the motor vehicle accidents all across Iowa. We have represented over a thousand accident victims in almost every county in Iowa. If you have a question about your personal injury accident, call Steve at 515-222-1110 or email him at sdlombardi@aol.com. Contact form
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