Dubuque County, IA — October 10, 2025, Garrett Miller was injured due to a truck accident sometime in the afternoon along U.S. Highway 151.

According to authorities, 25-year-old Garrett Lucas Miller was traveling in a northbound pickup truck on U.S. 151 with the accident took place, though the exact location has not been reported.

An 18-wheeler that had been traveling northbound ahead of the pickup allegedly slowed in preparation of making a right turn. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the pickup truck collided with the rear-end of the 18-wheeler.

Miller reportedly sustained injuries of unknown severity over the course of the accident. He was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a pickup truck rear-ends an 18-wheeler, many people assume the driver in back is automatically at fault. But in my experience, the reality isn’t always that simple—especially when the lead vehicle is a commercial truck making a turn on a highway. The real question is whether the truck driver gave adequate warning and executed the turn safely and legally.

Was the truck signaling properly? Did the driver slow gradually, or was there a sudden deceleration? Was the turn made from the correct lane, or did the driver swing wide unexpectedly? These are all critical issues that could shift liability, and none of them can be answered based on initial reports alone.

This is exactly the kind of case where engine control module (ECM) data and dash cam footage can fill in the gaps. The ECM will show whether the truck’s speed dropped abruptly and whether the brakes were applied in a way that might have caught the driver behind off guard. Dash cams, if available, can clarify the truck’s positioning, turn signal use, and how much time elapsed between slowing and turning.

Another angle that often gets overlooked is whether the truck was executing a legal and properly planned turn. I’ve handled cases where a truck was trying to make a right turn into a driveway or narrow entrance that required a wide swing—sometimes even from the left lane. When that happens without adequate signaling or space, it becomes a setup for exactly this kind of collision.

And then there’s the matter of visibility. Was the truck’s brake lighting working? Were there underride protections in place? At highway speeds, even a modest failure in visibility or warning can result in a serious rear-end collision.

In short, rear-end crashes involving commercial trucks aren’t always as open-and-shut as they seem. They often require a close look at how the truck was being operated and whether the company’s training or route planning played a part.

Key Takeaways:

• The core issue is whether the truck’s turn and deceleration were safe and properly signaled.
• ECM and dash cam data can confirm whether the truck slowed abruptly or maintained a predictable speed.
• Improper turning maneuvers—especially wide turns from the wrong lane—could shift liability.
• Visibility, lighting, and underride prevention should be evaluated.
• The trucking company’s training and routing practices may be relevant depending on how the turn was executed.