Jacob Buman Killed in Shelby Motorcycle Accident on County Road M16
The 19-year-old collided with a farm tractor turning into a driveway on County Road M16
Jacob Buman, 19, of Harlan, was killed in a motorcycle accident on County Road M16 near Shelby, Iowa, on Wednesday, according to the State Patrol.
Around 7:25 p.m., Buman was driving northbound when he approached a 2010 Apache 715 Sprayer tractor going in the same direction. The tractor turned left into a driveway, and the motorcycle hit it and went into a ditch.
The condition of the tractor driver was not immediately reported.
The crash remains under investigation.
While the cause and liability of a crash are being investigated, it is important that a competent attorney handles investigations into cases such as this to ensure the rights of the victim and their family are protected. In motorcycle accidents such as this, investigators look closely at right-of-way rules, turning maneuvers, and following distances.
Candice Bond, a national legal analyst for Accident News and managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Left-turning motor vehicles pose an extreme danger to approaching motorcycle riders, who unfortunately lack any physical protection to shield them from catastrophic injuries when a driver suddenly violates their right-of-way."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,228 motorcyclists were killed in 2024, accounting for 15% of all traffic death in the United States and marking one of the highest numbers since at least 1975.
Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of Bond Legal. "Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all possible contributing factors that must be fully considered."
Iowa follows a modified comparative fault (51% bar) system. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Damages include economic and non-economic losses.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a crash often leaves a victim's family facing immense emotional pain and unanticipated financial distress. "A wrongful death claim allows a family to seek justice and hold responsible parties accountable while securing resources to help navigate the difficult path forward," Bond noted.