Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer

Pursing Financial Recovery After a Car Accident

When you have been injured in a car accident, our Des Moines, IA car accident lawyer knows that you may be unsure of what to do next. Are you experiencing anger, anxiety, and confusion after being in a car accident? If so, a car accident lawyer Des Moines, Iowa trusts would like to speak you with about your possible legal options. In general, when negligence or wrongdoing is a factor, you have the right to seek monetary compensation that will help you to cover the expenses associated with the accident. To get started now you may call Des Moines Injury Law.

If you are looking for the right Des Moines car accident lawyer, look no further than Des Moines Injury Law to provide you with superb legal advocacy. Call us today for a consultation. 

When the driver of a vehicle fails to adhere to the rules of driving or makes a careless mistake, he or she may be found liable for any injuries or property damages that resulted. When something horrific like this happens, victims of an accident must understand that a claim is not automatically filed on their behalf of them. Rather, the victim must take the initiative and file their own claim as soon as possible. The insurance company might be the first party to initiate the process. For instance, the victim may receive a call from an adjuster who is ready to offer a settlement. Rarely is this enough to cover the damages. You should always have a car accident lawyer in Des Moines, IA on your side.

Table of Contents

• Pursuing Financial Recovery After a Car Accident
• Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots
• What to Do After a Car Accident
• Des Moines Car Accident Infographic
• Des Moines Car Accident Statistics
• Des Moines Car Accident FAQs
• Des Moines Injury Law, Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer
• Contact Our Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer Today

How Our Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Car accident claims are within the category of personal injury law. This is a civil branch of the legal system that tends to include a broad, and complicated, set of legislation and guidelines. Without legal knowledge, navigating it can be extremely difficult. A Des Moines car accident lawyer has to offer can take on a large portion of the challenges so you can focus on your recovery. 

Your lawyer can help to gather important parts of your case, such as:

• The police report
• Medical records
• Witness testimony
• Evidence from the scene
• Video Footage

If need be, we can hire reconstructionists to rebuild the scene, expert witnesses to defend your case, or investigators to look into further details. Rest assured, as leading Des Moines car accident lawyers, we will be ready to take the necessary steps to defend your case to the maximum. We seek maximum damages and typically recover them through out-of-court- negotiations. In the rare event that we have to take your case to trial, please know we will be prepared for a legal battle. 

Proving Negligence

Although car accident claims can have common factors involved, there are often many unique circumstances that a lawyer, like a car accident lawyer Des Moines, IA relies on, must assess and consider for any particular claim. One of these factors is whether or not negligence was involved and who can be considered liable (or at fault). Learn more about Common Driver Distractions

For example, you might be absolutely sure that you were not at fault for what happened. However, it will be up to you, or your Des Moines car accident lawyer to demonstrate the burden of proof. 

Before you can be awarded damages, a car accident lawyer will need to prove negligence. In general, most accidents involving an automobile will involve negligence to some degree or another, but it is not always easy to prove. For this reason, it is advisable to contact a car accident lawyer as quickly as possible. This way he or she has enough time to build a defense and demonstrate that:

• The defendant, or negligent party, had a duty to you to use reasonable care;
• The defendant failed to do so;
• As a result of this negligence an accident occurred; and
• You were injured because of the accident.

Even if you are unsure about who is at fault, you can and should call a trusted and reliable lawyer like a car accident lawyer Des Moines, IA residents can count on Des Moines Injury Law.

Proving the above can be difficult or relatively straightforward. When there are challenges, a lawyer may take advantage of important resources. Thus, it is important to choose a firm that has access to such resources without delay. 

Compensation for a Car Accident

With personal injury claims such as car accidents, there are various types of damages that a lawyer might seek to recover. These may include:

• Medical Care – including treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, and future medical expenses;
• Lost Wages – this includes the wages you would have earned and any prospective wages you might have earned;
• Pain and Suffering – such as physical pain, emotional grievance, and mental health issues that arise after the accident; and
• Loss of Consortium- this may apply when the victim is married and the accident causes a negative effect on the relationship.

Punitive damages are occasionally included in a claim and can be further explained by an attorney, as a Des Moines car accident lawyer can turn. Compensation for any property damage may also be discussed in the consultation.

Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots

Many of us have had the experience of a near miss while walking or driving through a parking lot. Maybe we were crossing a lane or pulling out from a space, when all of a sudden, a driver appears, barely avoiding a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, as a Des Moines car accident lawyer can attest, these types of collisions are increasingly common, with reckless driving behaviors such as speeding and distracted driving to blame.

Parking Lot Accidents and Injuries

Parking lot accidents are often considered ‘fender benders’, so minor that drivers fail to report them to their insurers. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), these accidents actually have the potential to be quite serious, killing roughly 500 drivers and pedestrians each year, and causing serious injuries for as many as 60,000 others.

Distracted driving, such as using cell phones and texting behind the wheel, are among the most common causes. The NSC claims that nearly 70 percent of drivers admit using their phones to call or check in via text to others while driving through a grocery store, restaurants, office buildings, and mall parking lots.

A Des Moines car accident lawyer knows that even when both drivers are going relatively slow or when one of the vehicles is stopped, the force of impact can end up causing serious damages. Injuries common in these accidents include:

•       Soft tissue injuries, such as muscle or tendon strains, sprains, and tears
•       Broken bones and fractures
•       Whiplash, and other types of back and neck injuries
•       Head injuries, including concussion and traumatic brain injury

For pedestrians, especially children, these accidents can be particularly severe.

What to Do in the Event of a Parking Lot Accident

Parking lot accidents should be treated the same as any other type of collision. Whether you are a driver, a passenger, or a pedestrian involved, you should follow these steps:

•       Immediately notify security or local law enforcement.
•       Exchange personal contact, vehicle, and insurance information with the drivers involved.
•       Make note of any witnesses at the scene, and take pictures of the damages, if possible.
•       Get medical treatment for your injuries.

Even if the accident was minor and you are not experiencing symptoms, it is important to get checked right away and to follow all of your doctor’s instructions. Potentially serious injuries have symptoms that can take days or weeks to appear and failing to get medical care could jeopardize your rights in a claim.

What to Do After a Car Accident

For those who find themselves in a car accident due to poor driving, negligence, or distraction of another driver, they may trust a car accident attorney Des Moines IA clients call from Des Moines Injury Law to handle their case. We have seen people suffer from car collisions and have fought for their legal rights for more than a decade. We have grown a legal portfolio to be proud of and can offer only the most professional and courteous counsel.

This may be a time of great frustration and pain for you, and we can strive to make it as easy as possible. By hiring a car accident attorney Des Moines IA victims rely on from Des Moines Injury Law, we can answer any questions you have, from preventing a future accident, to what conditions increase your chances of being involved in one, and what to do if you are in a vehicle collision.

• Pull to the shoulder of the road

If there is damage or a person hurt, both cars must stop and pull over to exchange information and ensure no one needs immediate medical help.

• Call 9-1-1

Submit a verbal or written claim to law enforcement at the time of the accident.

• Get other driver’s information

Get the name, phone number, name of the insurance company, and address of other drivers.

• Take down witnesses’ information

If there are people around who saw the accident happen, ask for their information so you can use their statements in support of your claim in court.

• See a doctor

Even if you do not notice an obvious injury right away, seeking your doctor for a physical evaluation confirms you have no harboring injuries.

• Do not share comments

Keep opinions and thoughts only to yourself or police officers and do not admit fault to the other party. What you say may be used against you by the offending driver.

• Take pictures

Use your phone to take photographs of the scene, injuries or areas of pain, witnesses, license plate, VIN number, and other occupants in the vehicles.

• Speak with an attorney

Consult with a car accident attorney Des Moines IA locals recommend immediately for advice on what to do next after following the above suggestions.

Des Moines Car Accident Infographic

Des Moines Car Accident Statistics

According to Iowa DOT, 2022 Iowa Traffic Fatality Count so far for the year has been 198, last year the traffic fatality count for the whole year was 356.

Des Moines Car Accident FAQs

What is a car accident lawyer?

A car accident lawyer in Des Moines IA is a personal injury attorney who specializes in representing victims of car accidents. If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company to receive compensation for your damages. However, if the other driver was at fault for the accident, you may also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against him or her. A Des Moines car accident lawyer from the law office of Des Moines Injury Law, LLP can help you determine whether you have a case and represent you throughout the legal process.

How can I prove the other driver was at-fault for the accident?

A: It often requires evidence that a driver violated laws of the road. While some violations may be very obvious, like tailgating, running a red light, or not stopping at a stop sign, there are other scenarios that may need a more in-depth investigation. After the accident, you can talk to witnesses and get their information so your Des Moines, Iowa auto accident lawyer can follow up with an official statement of how they saw the crash occur. These witness statements can be hugely influential if you decide to file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you because they were not abiding by traffic laws.

Is it my responsibility to figure out who was at-fault?

Never admit or state blame when it comes to who was responsible for the car accident. That may only makes things more tense at the car accident scene and your insurance policy states that you must not assume liability or fault for vehicle collisions. It is best to keep any opinions to yourself and let your insurance company do the talking. What you can do, however, is gather as much evidence as possible before leaving the accident area to help your insurance company and auto accident lawyer in Des Moines, IA fight for your side of the story.

What should I do if I get calls from insurance adjusters?

After the car accident, you may be contacted by insurance adjusters, hoping to offer you a settlement amount for damages, losses, and injuries you sustained. However, in many cases these settlements are way lower than what the victim of the crash deserves or even requires in order to get back onto their feet financially. The settlement may not factor in the total cost for your medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, or loss of earnings. If you get these calls, you may want to hold off on accepting or denying the settlement until you have spoken with an experienced auto accident lawyer from our Des Moines, Iowa office.

How do I know what car damage is old or new?

If the other driver’s vehicle has plenty of damage, it may be difficult to determine what is old or new. Your insurance company may use certain strategies to figure this out when evaluating the car accident claim. The best thing you can do is take photographs of all the damage you see, then let your insurer figure out the rest. Moreover, there are other ways for one to know if car damage is old or new.  An example of this, would be the look of this scratch on a car, the condition of the cracked windows, etc.  This is why when it comes to assessing an auto accident for injuries, it is important to take clear pictures of the car condition after the accident, to better assess the severity of the damage that was done and the compensation that should be accounted for.

What should be my priority after the car accident?

Get yourself a medical exam immediately after the accident to ensure you didn’t sustain any injuries that require treatment. This is also a good way to officially document the injuries you did have, which can be used as proof in your lawsuit later on.

Examples of important medical documents to request copies for are hospitalization records, prescription medication, doctor exams, diagnostics, test results, receipts for anything paid for out-of-pocket, and treatment plans. All of these documents can be useful in proving the severity of your injuries and can be used by your auto accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you need to get back onto your feet.

What can hiring a lawyer do for me in a car accident case?

Being involved in a car accident can truly change a person’s life. The victim may have suffered serious injuries that require long-term care, in addition to having his or her bank account emptied due to medical costs. This may be especially true for victims who were sent to the emergency room or were hospitalized due to the accident. An auto accident lawyer in the Des Moines, IA area can help you get the compensation you need to overcome such a setback. A lawyer can also offer legal advice, gather witness statements, represent you in court, fight for your behalf, and help you complete the necessary paperwork for filing a personal injury lawsuit.

How much may I receive in compensation for what happened?

The victim of an auto collision may be entitled to receiving a substantial monetary sum through a personal injury lawsuit. How much a person may be awarded depends on how serious the accident was, and what the victim endured because of the crash. Factors that can contribute to the outcome of your lawsuit include severity of injuries, transportation costs getting to and from doctor visits, length of treatment, current and future loss of income, how the accident occurred, and the extent of vehicle damage.

Why is a car accident lawyer needed?

When you are in an accident, your world is turned upside down. You may be dealing with injuries, property damage, and a host of other issues. Add to that the stress of dealing with insurance companies and you have a recipe for disaster. That is where a Des Moines car accident lawyer comes in. They can also help with any criminal charges that may arise from the accident. 

A car accident lawyer in Des Moines, IA is needed to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries and damages. An experienced car accident lawyer will know how to negotiate with the insurance companies and get you the full amount of money that you deserve. Most importantly, a good lawyer will fight for your rights in court if necessary.

Am I required to call the police after an accident?

When you are in an accident that involves property damage or physical injury, one of the best things you can do is call the police. Our Des Moines car accident lawyer knows that an official police report will be extremely helpful when it comes to getting information from everyone (including witnesses) on what happened during the accident. 

What are the common causes of car accidents?

There are many common causes of car accidents, including distracted driving, driver fatigue, driving under the influence, and more. A driver may be playing with their radio or texting while driving, may have gotten poor sleep the night before or been driving for long periods of time, and may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel. 

What kinds of injuries are common after a car accident?

Our Des Moines car accident lawyer knows that most people have heard of whiplash and know that it is common to sustain a whiplash injury after a car accident. This occurs because the force of the impact stops your car and your body continues to move at such a high speed. While whiplash is often played for laughs in a movie or TV show, it can actually be quite painful and you should seek medical attention for it immediately. Other common injuries from a car accident include concussions and traumatic brain injuries, broken or fractured bones, lacerations or objects impaling you, back and spinal cord injuries, partial or total paralysis, and more.

Des Moines Injury Law, Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer

699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Contact Our Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer Today

The car accident lawyers at Des Moines Injury Law believe in kindness, integrity, and justice. These traits are not easy to come by, especially when you want the best car accident lawyer for your claim.

Our firm has been recognized by various legal organizations and is known throughout the Des Moines, IA community. We understand the tremendous stress an accident can put upon you and your family. Working as hard as possible, we will aggressively fight insurance adjusters and any other negligent party involved to get you what you deserve.

We know that you have likely already paid thousands of dollars out of your pocket to cover the cost of unexpected expenses that occurred after the accident. Our lawyers handle most personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means you may not have to pay anything upfront. Only when we win do we get paid.

If you would like to begin a claims process, please call an attorney like a car accident lawyer Des Moines, IA victims can trust, Des Moines Injury Law, a car accident law firm you can count on for results.

Do not hesitate to contact us today to receive your first free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Des Moines IA from Des Moines Injury Law.

You may reach a Des Moines car accident attorney provides at (515) 493-4878, where we can speak with you either over the phone or in person regarding the various details of your specific case.

Des Moines Car Accident Law Google Review

“Brad Biren and his entire staff are great to work with. You can count on Brad to provide the utmost in professional services. He is a compassionate listener who will be honest and forthcoming with you so you know exactly what to expect from the process. If you are ever in the position of needing to seek out a personal injury lawyer, having someone with the integrity and moral character of Brad Biren on your team will make the process so much easier.” – Regus R.

Client Review

“I am an attorney located in San Diego and needed a referral in Iowa. Brad was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He spent about 15 minutes of his time to point me in the right direction. He made me feel comfortable and was very pleasant to talk to. Thank you, Brad!”
Holly A.