Information and Insight for Injured Iowans

People will travel hundreds of miles to find the best possible car for their own situation. Some people are willing to travel a few extra miles to find a quality house that they can afford. For some, reason, though, many people seem hesitant to travel or commit to an attorney outside of their hometown. Finding an attorney is an investment and should be handled as such. As Cedar Rapids, IA car accident attorneys, we have seen people try to find an attorney doing all the wrong things. One important thing to remember is that the closest attorney is usually not the best attorney for your case. You have to look around.

What are the odds that you just happen to live minutes away from one of the relatively few Iowa lawyers who practice primarily in serious car accident cases? The sad truth is that most people are willing to drive several hours for a good deal on a new car but they do not look beyond their hometown for a lawyer. Don’t get us wrong – if you were injured in Iowa, you will likely need a lawyer with a license to practice in Iowa. But what many people don’t realize is that a car accident attorney who is licensed to practice law in Iowa can file a lawsuit in an Iowa county.

You should not focus on picking the nearest attorney – you should focus on picking the best and most qualified one for your case. That kind of choice can and should involve a statewide search.

To find out more tips for finding and hiring an experienced car accident attorney, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

           An unexpected car accident can lead to a frantic situation. Numerous thoughts may sprint through your mind. Was it my fault? Should I report this to the police? Does my insurance company need to know? To assist car accident victims, we created a guide for those who are involved in a car accident. The following points are key steps you should take after an accident:

• First, seek medical attention. It is better to seek medical treatment even if you are unsure whether you were injured or not. Often times, injuries from car accidents go unnoticed for hours or even days.
• Call your insurance company even if you are not near your home. Ask your insurance agent which forms or documents you need to fill out. If you do not report your accident to your insurance company after a certain amount of time, you may lose protection from your insurance company.
• Write down everything you remember from the scene including a drawing of the scene, the time of day, weather conditions, road conditions, what you saw, and what you heard.
• Arrange for photos to be taken. Take photos even if the investigating officer and insurance company already took photos. Take photos of the accident, your vehicle, your injuries, and your medical treatment.
• Get permission before having your vehicle repaired. Your insurance company may not cover your bills if you fail to clear the maintenance with them. Also, if anyone was seriously injured or killed in the accident, talk to an attorney before you have your vehicle repaired.
• Avoid contact with the other driver’s insurance company. Ask the insurance company to send you everything in writing. If you have questions about documents that you are being asked to sign, talk to an attorney.
• Consult an attorney before you pay a traffic fine or ticket. Paying a fine or ticket may be used against you as an admission of guilt.
• If you suffer car-accident related injuries, settle your claim or file a lawsuit within two years of the date of the car accident. Iowa law requires lawsuits to be filed within a short period of time after the accident. If you need assistance filing documents, contact an attorney to assist you with the process.

To learn more about safe and smart ways of protecting yourself after a car crash, call 1-800-IOWA-JUSTICE (toll free) to receive a free copy of “8 Simple Steps to Protecting Yourself After a Car Accident in Iowa.”

     Even though car accidents are common across the country, there is a lot of confusion surrounding car accident claims. Part of a car accident claim includes negotiating for a settlement, which is complicated and risky if you are inexperienced.  As Cedar Rapids, Iowa personal injury attorneys, we are skilled and knowledgeable about negotiations and its repercussions.

     Insurance companies save money by paying as little on injury claims as possible. Insurance company representatives are trained to get you to say things that will sooner or later hurt you case and decrease any possible settlement. There are many ways to weaken a legitimate personal injury claim when dealing with an insurance company representative – the more severe your accident-related injuries, the more dangerous the consequences.

     To learn other ways to prevent damaging your car accident claim, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us

toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.

   Have you ever not written something down, being sure you would remember it later and then forgetting it? It can happen to the best of us, but should be avoided when dealing with a car accident. The factors surrounding a car accident are important in determining what occurred and who was at fault, so it is important to remember the details.

In our experience as Cedar Rapids, Iowa personal injury attorneys, we recommend you write down everything you remember about the crash as soon as you get home. Draw a diagram of the scene and the vehicles involved. Make note of the following information about the accident:

·         The time of day

·         The weather

·         The road conditions

·         What you saw

·         What you heard

     Put the notes in a safe place so that they are available if you have to speak with an attorney or go to trial.

     To learn more ways to protects yourself after a car accident, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us

toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.

      There are many myths surrounding car accidents. As Cedar Rapids, Iowa personal injury attorneys, we are often asked questions about claims. One such question is when to settle.

     Most insurance companies will only issue one settlement check for a car accident injury claim and –after that check – the insurance company will never pay any additional money for that particular accident in the future – even if your injuries get worse. If any of the following applies, you usually should avoid a quick settlement:

·         If you are still receiving medical care for accident-related injuries

·         If your accident-related injuries will likely require additional medical care in the future

·         If you have not yet been able to return to normal activities – especially work-related activities

     If you are still in one of the above situations five months after a car accident, you should immediately consult with an attorney to see what legal deadlines may apply to your personal injury claim.

     To learn other ways to protect your car accident claim, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us

toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no  fee for an initial consultation.

We all know how much of an inconvenience it is to have one’s car be damaged or un-drivable. Our first priority is usually to get vehicle fixed cheaply and quickly.  However, after a car accident, this should not be the case. If you are involved in a car accident claim, a quick fix to your car could cause major problems.

     While taking photographs of any damage to your vehicle is advisable, you should also find out what procedures your insurance company requires before arranging for car repairs. If you fail to take this important step, your company may refuse to pay your repair bills. If anyone was seriously injured or killed in the accident, you should also talk to an attorney before having your vehicle repaired.

     For more information about protecting yourself after a car accident, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.

     Most car accident victims will receive a request from an insurance company to sign a medical release form.  Often, an insurance company representative will suggest that his or her company cannot start paying medical bills until it receives a signed medical release. Do not be bullied into signing one of these forms.
     The first thing to realize is that the other driver’s insurance company is not likely to pay any medical bills until you are willing to settle your case once and for all. Signing a medical release or any other insurance company document is not likely to change that. An insurance company is eventually entitled to review records of any medical treatment for which you ask to be reimbursed. In our experience, however, most medical release forms are written in such a way that they give the insurance company access to all of your medical records – even records that are unrelated to your accident injuries.

     Often insurance companies will then turn around and use your pre-accident health history as justification for making a low settlement offer. Our firm protects our clients from this tactic in a number of ways:

·         We advise our clients to avoid giving an insurance company a signed medical release until we have reviewed your medical records first

·         If our review uncovers items in your medical history that may impact your claim, we make sure that you know about them before the insurance company does

·         When we do provide the insurance company with a signed medical release, we make sure that the release only applies to relevant medical treatment

     To learn more ways to protect yourself from unfair insurance company tactics, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us

toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.

     Finding the right attorney takes time and effort. However, it can all be worth it when an experienced attorney helps you reach your desired settlement or verdict. An easy way to determine the caliber of an attorney is by asking if they have legal malpractice insurance. 

     An attorney in Iowa is not required to carry malpractice insurance. Some do not. We believe that carrying malpractice insurance says something about a lawyer’s sense of responsibility. Mistakes can happen. Clients should be protected if an attorney’s mistake causes harm. How much trust can you place in a lawyer who does not care enough about his or her clients to carry malpractice insurance?

     Find out other questions to ask your potential attorney by going to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us toll-free:  1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.

       After investing time, money, and energy on a car accident claim, the last thing you want to do is say you were the at-fault driver.  This can occur very easily, however, if you are not careful.  Here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we have seen people accidentally take the blame of a car accident.

     Paying a fine for a traffic offense can be used against you as an admission of guilt.  Any testimony at a legal hearing can be recorded and used against your interests.  Before taking either action, you should talk to an attorney-either one you have hired yourself or one provided to you by your insurance company.

     To learn more ways to avoid damaging your car accident claim, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

     If you have any related questions or immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us toll-free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no charge for an initial consultation.

     A quick search on the internet can be very helpful when looking for quick answers or easy instructions. This is not true when looking for car accident attorneys. Attorneys can have a huge impact on your case and you should only hire attorneys who can handle that responsibility. Internet services do not ensure quality, experienced car accident attorneys, and should be regarded “with a grain of salt.”

     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 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.

     To learn more tips for finding an experienced car accident attorney for your claim, go to Iowa Car Accident Facts to download a free 35-page guide.

      If you have any related questions or any immediate concerns, do not hesitate to contact us toll free: 1-888-546-6529.  We will do our best to answer your questions and there is no fee for an initial consultation.