Information and Insight for Injured Iowans

     Car accident victims want to get all the help they can for a claim. They look to numerous different people in various lines of work to assist with aspects of the case; what they don’t know is the biggest help to their own case can be given with a snap—or a click—of their own hands. As personal injury attorneys in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we have seen how beneficial photographs taken by the car accident victim can be.

    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 you approached 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 when it is up on a lift at the garage.

·         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, gets photos of those as well.

     When in doubt, take the photograph. If your case has to go to trial, you want to have all of the visual evidence that you can show to the jury.

     Would you like to learn more ways to protect your car accident claim? Go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you need immediate assistance, please call 1-888-546-6529 and we will try to help you.

As an Iowa Personal Injury Attorney handling personal injury and auto accident claims and as an old farm boy, I am familiar with the dangers of farm tractors, hay racks, wagons and machinery on the roads.   Many car crashes this time of year are intertwined with the harvest season.  Most involve deer moving about with all the commotion in the fields.  Unfortunately, some involve farmers not obeying the rules of the road – they are after all driving virtual tanks and are rarely hurt when a car collides with them on some rural Iowa road.  They are used to driving in the field where the only traffic is the wildlife scattering to get out of the way.   Some folks seem to forget that they are going to be on the roadways when the workday (or night) is done so in the meantime they have a few beers in the tractor cab.  It is against Iowa law to operate any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol – even a tractor.  I handled a horrible accident case involving just that.  The farmer had lost his license for drinking violations but didn’t think twice about driving a field tractor and grain wagon home that night – pulling out from the field access directly in front of my client so that my client rear ended the unlit machinery.  All Iowa tractors on the roadways are supposed to have a slow moving triangle facing the rear and at night, an amber flashing light.   The slow moving triangle does no good when covered by field dust and the old lights on the implement are only good if they are converted to fit the new tractor – something not every farmer worries about until its dark outside and too late.  Especially if they have had had a few drinks, are tired and are not concerned about the safety of others.

If you have been hurt by a tractor, combine or some other farm machinery that was not obeying the rules of the road, give us a call and we’ll try to answer you questions.  In the meantime, keep in mind that there could be slow moving machinery around every corner this time of year in Iowa.  Take care and be safe.

Visit our website  www.riccololaw.com to learn what questions to ask your potential  attorney. 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.

You’re in downtown Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport or some other Iowa town.  You’re in the middle of the block and want to jump across the street but don’t want to walk to the corner.   Very light traffic – what do you do?  Well, your asking an Iowa personal injury lawyer right now – so, I have lots of horrible accident cases I can give you by example.  Our firm has represented too many pedestrians (or their families) that have been hit by cars in Iowa.  The injuries are devastating – sometimes they are deadly.

According to the Iowa code, “A pedestrian in a crosswalk may rely upon an approaching driver’s duty to yield, but the pedestrian still must exercise ordinary care to avoid being struck by a motor vehicle which was seen or should have been seen. Whenever possible, pedestrians shall walk on the right half of the crosswalk.”  A violation of this law is negligence.  The law also states that “any pedestrian crossing a road at any point other than a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to all vehicles on the road.”
 

Please go to the crosswalk.  Heaven forbid you get hit by a car when you are walking – but if you are in the crosswalk when it happens you should have some redress for your potential medical bills or lost wages.   You are also a lot less likely to get hurt in the first place if you cross at the corner, in the crosswalk.  You want to make sure you adhere to these codes, keeping yourself safe and protected.  As you know, make sure you go over these rules with your children, also. 

If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident, give us a call and we’ll try to answer you questions and address you concerns.  A claim is not barred if the injured person was not in the crosswalk, especially if the person was a child —  you just need to talk to a personal injury lawyer right way to make sure you handle the case appropriately.  Take care and be safe.
Visit our website  www.riccololaw.com to learn what questions to ask your potential  attorney. 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.

      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.

As an Iowa personal injury lawyer located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa I am often asked:  Do I need a Lawyer?   Simple question – not such a simple answer.   If you have a minor injury that does not result in permanent problems and the insurance company is being fair, you may not need a lawyer.  But you should always talk to a lawyer and do so early on.   Believe it or not, you need a lawyer to help you know if you’re going to need one for the long haul.  Most good attorneys are not going to steer you wrong or charge you any fee for an initial consultation.   How do you know whether you are talking to a competent Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer?  Make sure they practice primarily in personal injury law and are not a general practitioner.  Simply ask “do you practice primarily in personal injury law?”  and they must be honest with you.   You should also make it clear what kind of accident you were involved in and ask the lawyer if they have handled such a case.  Ask them if they have ever tried a case to jury on similar issues in the last few years.  If they haven’t you should at least contact other attorneys and look at your options.   We’re in Cedar Rapids, Iowa but go all over Iowa on various cases.  We have tried to develop some helpful legal guides addressing various kinds of personal injury or malpractice cases.  Go to our site  www.riccololaw.com to check them out or give us a call if you have any questions, toll free: 1 -888-546-6529.