Information and Insight for Injured Iowans

     Closed Head Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) cases are different than your run of the mill personal injury case and require that you hire the right personal injury lawyer.  Our Iowa lawyers have worked on dozens of closed head injury negligence cases and have learned what to look for and perhaps more importantly, what to look out for.  In fact, many other lawyers refer us cases involving closed head injuries becuase of our experience. Whether caused in a tractor-trailer, motorcycle, construction, or car accident, a closed head injury case is automatically different than any other personal injury case even if it might have been caused in a similar matter.  This is because the medicine and science is different.  We have found, regardless of whether we are in trial in  Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines  - the jury needs to hear from the right experts.   There is a clear need for medical specialists when one suffers a closed head injury.  Likewise, there is a clear need to be working with a lawyer that understands the issues in a closed head injury case, has access to the best experts in the field, and knows how to advise you of the risks you face in your unique case.  You shouldn’t have to face the difficulties of a closed head injury claim without having a chance to know your rights and risks.       
 

Visit our website  www.riccololaw.com to learn what questions to ask your potential  attorney, depending on what caused the head injury.   We have downloadable, free guides on motorcycle, trucking and car accident cases or you can always call without charge or obligation and ask us questions  1-888- 546-6529.

     As Cedar Rapids, Iowa medical malpractice lawyers we receive calls and emails about all kinds of potential medical negligence claims.   Deaths from Medical Malpractice errors are responsible for thousands of deaths and serious injuries each year.  In fact, it is believed that medical errors account for more deaths than from all car accident deaths.   

One of the more common and devastating effects of medical malpractice is cerebral palsy, a chronic medical condition caused by damage to a developing brain.  It often arises from inappropriate methods of delivery that cause lack of oxygen, bleeding, head trauma, or other injury to a newborn child.  

            Many medical errors have been associated with the birthing process, and just one of the injuries that can result from these errors is cerebral palsy.    A competent Iowa medical negligence lawyer can review the medical records, consult with an expert and let you know if you have a claim or should at least proceed further in the investigation.  In the very least they can help you know what decisions need to be made and in what timeframe. You should not go through this difficult time of pain, suffering and financial hardships alone.  It is important for you to contact an experienced Iowa lawyer who will protect your rights.  By hiring a qualified and experienced cerebral palsy lawyer, you may decide to file a lawsuit against the hospital or other parties responsible for the errors, and receive fair compensation for the injuries that your child has suffered; you may discover that malpractice did not occur. In the very least you will become better informed and know that you have considered your options.
 

To learn what questions to ask your potential medical malpractice attorney, go to Iowa Malpractice Facts to download a free 35-page guide.
 

While searching for a qualified medical malpractice attorney in Iowa, you will no doubt notice the various distinctions and honors that some attorneys have listed. Before picking an attorney based on these credentials, you should find out how attorneys are given these honors and what it can tell you about the attorney’s experience. One such honor is being listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

     The Best Lawyers in America is a publication that is updated every two years and is one of the largest guides to attorneys in the United States. In order to be listed, you need to be nominated by someone who is already a member, and then go through a review process conducted by other attorneys around the country.

      The Best Lawyers in America book details which attorneys focus on certain areas like medical malpractice. A listing in The Best Lawyers in America does not guarantee that a lawyer is right for you, but it does demonstrate that this attorney is well-respected in the legal community.

To learn what other questions to ask your potential medical malpractice attorney, go to Iowa Malpractice Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

Protecting Yourself After an Iowa Truck Accident Means Taking Photographs

      You have heard the saying, ”A picture is worth a thousand words”?  After an Iowa tractor trailer crash, the right photograph might be the difference between fair compensation for your injuries and leaving the courthouse with nothing.  That is why competent Iowa truck accident lawyers advise their clients to start taking photographs as soon after a semi collision as possible.
      The injury victim or the victim’s family ultimately has the burden of proving how the crash occurred and what damage it caused.
     Even if you believe the investigating officer or an insurance company representative took photographs, you should still get photographs taken on your own. Have all photos taken both up close and from a distance. Have three times as many photographs taken as you think you will need. In particular, get the following types of photos taken:

• Photos of the accident location: Take photos of the scene both from the direction of your approach and from the direction of the other driver’s approach. Take photos of all skid marks and measure them. Take photos of any debris left by the crash before moving it.
• Photos of your vehicle: Do not have your vehicle repaired before it is photographed. Take photos from all angles- the outside, the interior, even the undercarriage
• Photos of your injury: Take photos of all visible injuries. Take photos of all bruises, scrapes, cuts, etc. while they are fresh.
• Photos of your medical treatment: Have photos taken of you in the hospital. Have photos taken of all casts, slings, and bandages. If you are prescribed the use of a wheelchair, walker, or crutches, get photos of those as well.

     When in doubt, take the photograph. If your case has to go to trial, a jury is more likely to award you fair compensation if it can actually see what you have been through.
To read about more ways to protect yourself after a truck accident, go to Iowa Truck Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

No car accident claim is the same. With different circumstances for every accident, car accident claims differ greatly. Not every claim requires hiring an attorney to advocate for you.

     Hiring an attorney is an investment. Serious car crashes usually warrant that investment. Minor fender-benders often do not. If a car wreck results in a severe injuries or a need for a significant amount of medical care, hiring an attorney is usually a good move. If a car accident results only in vehicle damage or only in minor and temporary bodily injury, the cost of the attorney’s fee may outweigh any benefit that an attorney’s service can proved. The attorneys in our office will tell you if we do not believe that hiring an attorney is in your best interest.

For more information about car accidents in Iowa and how to protect your claim, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

As a Cedar Rapids, Iowa nursing home negligence lawyer, I am asked fairly often how does one know if your family member in Iowa suffered from nursing home neglect, abuse, or negligence or simply from an innocent mistake or accident?  You should speak to an Iowa nursing home attorney as soon as you suspect something is not right – there may be violations of state or federal law involved.   You should also attempt to get copies of the records as soon as possible.  With the help of a nursing home negligence attorney you can often get these medical records quickly.  You may need to report the suspected abuse to the State but you should talk to a lawyer first in most situations as everything you do could become evidence at a later date.  Once you have decided you have some questions that need answers, you need to make sure you seek out an attorney who understands Iowa nursing home cases and nursing home laws.   Feel free to check out www.riccololaw.com  or www.pressleyhenningsen.com to learn more or request our nursing home negligence guide.   We have worked on nursing home negligence cases in many of Iowa’s communities including Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Des Moines, Sioux City and many other smaller communities.  We will gladly talk to you and try to answer your questions. If you like, you can call us toll free at 1-888- 546-6529 any time.   

      Being a smart consumer is easier than ever nowadays; we have newspapers, phonebooks, and the Internet, all at our fingertips. However, due to this ease of getting the information quickly, many people only look at one source of information and don’t do any more research on their own.  As a medical malpractice law firm based in Cedar Rapids, IA, we have witnessed the damaging effects that can arise from failing to thoroughly search for attorneys.

     What we are talking about here is the type of service –either over the phone or on the internet—where you are directed to describe your situation and give your city and state. In exchange, you are then provided with the name of an attorney to contact. A lawyer is listed by an attorney referral service or website not necessarily because they are good at the specific area of law, but because they have usually paid a fee to be listed. You won’t get a guarantee of the recommended lawyer’s expertise or experience. You need to have more information available to you to make an informed decision. Without more information, it is dangerous to rely solely on an attorney referral service or website’s recommendation or any other single source of information.

     For a step-by-step guide to finding the right malpractice attorney for you, go to Iowa Malpractice Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

The thought of being in a truck accident can cause most of us to cringe. But imagine an even worse scenario: you have to pay for the entire medical and repair bill yourself, even though it wasn’t your fault. Many folks in Iowa believe the myth that if the truck accident wasn’t your fault, somebody else must compensate you for your injuries, and that is just not a guarantee.

     Being able to prove that you have a legitimate personal injury claim after a tractor trailer accident does not necessarily mean that you will be fairly compensated. There also has to be a responsible party with the ability to pay. Any one of the following scenarios can have a negative impact on a semi accident victim’s ability to receive fair compensation:

·         When the negligent truck driver has no insurance

·         When the negligent semi driver does not have assets that can be seized to pay for the accident victim’s damages

·         When the negligent tractor trailer driver does not have enough insurance to cover all of the accident victim’s damages

     That is why it is so important to have sufficient uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance policy. Without it, you and your family may be saddled with a lifetime of medical bills and lost wages after a truck accident.  Many trucks that cross state lines are adequately insured.  Some may not be.

     For the truth behind more dangerous myths about Iowa truck accident claims, download a free 35-page guide at Iowa Truck Accident Facts.