Des Moines Auto Accident Lawyer

Auto Accident Lawyer Des Moines IA

Cars are one of the essential modes of transportation in America. Every year, there are thousands of car accidents and the number keeps rising every year. National statistics reveal that there are more than five million car accidents each year in this country.

Unfortunately, car crashes often cause serious injuries to victims and, tragically, many victims do not survive those injuries. Injured victims of car accidents often end up with physical and financial consequences that require long and painful recovery periods.

If you were involved in an accident that was as a result of someone else’s negligence, the legal team from Des Moines Injury Law can help you with your case. You do not have to deal with insurance companies and adjusters on your own. Our car accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you need and recover damages.

Des Moines Injury Law Legal Team Can Help You

The experienced attorneys at our Des Moines office recognize the daunting process of handling a motor vehicle collision case. You can trust that we are on your side and we will aggressively advocate for you during negotiations. We can help you with the getting compensation to cover the following:

• Current and future medical bills
• Vehicle damages and/or replacement
• Loss of wages after the accident
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Caregiving and transportations services
• Impact to your quality of life that the injuries have had

As the best auto accident lawyer in Des Moines IA for your case can attest, car crash injury cases can be complex. Developing a case that can help you recover your losses can be difficult. Although some victims think they can deal with the insurance company directly, the truth is that by not retaining the services of a Des Moines auto accident lawyer, they may actually recovering much less than the full amount of financial compensation they may be entitled to for all of their losses. You need someone who knows how to navigate the maze of laws and regulations, as well as know how to effectively negotiate with the insurance company.

When you retain a lawyer from Des Moines Injury Law, you can be assured that you are retaining the best auto accident lawyer in Des Moines IA for your needs. It is important that you worry about your health and healing while we take care of the legal work. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

What to Do After a Crash

1. 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.
2. Call 9-1-1 – Submit a verbal or written claim to law enforcement at the time of the accident.
3. Get other driver information – Get the name, phone number, name of insurance company, and address of other driver.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Crashing your car on the way to work is not the best way to start your day. It may set the tone for days and even months to come depending on the severity of the incident. While some accidents are inconvenient, others are downright life-threatening. You may find yourself the cause of the crash or just a victim of circumstance. To help prevent you from becoming a statistic, it never hurts to brush up on some of the most common causes of crashes so you can do your part to avoid perpetuating them.

Driving Distracted

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the growing number of distractions drivers face. The rise in smartphone use has been the most common culprit, but the practice has gone on for many years. Cellphones aren’t the only thing that can take a driver’s attention away from the road. Radios, passengers, pets and even eating can all serve as distractions. The campaign to end distracted driving is intensifying in the face of the fact that it is the number one cause of vehicle crashes. Moreover, there are also reasons for distracted driving that should be accounted for.  One of the strongest examples of this, pertains to texting and driving on the road. Being on the road and on the phone can be dangerous, especially on a busy road. 

Driving Under the Influence

Drunk driving is a criminal offense, and in some cases, the punishment is quite severe. Deciding to operate a vehicle after a few drinks is more than just reckless: It is deadly. Drunk or buzzed driving is responsible for half of all fatal crashes. When enjoying adult beverages, the safest practice is to always designate a non-drinker to drive home or call a cab. Driving under the influence is also dangerous, because the person is also putting other people at risk as well.  Moreover, people who get into a car with a driver that they know is drunk, can cause them to be held accountable as well.

Excessive Speed

Everyone has been late at one time or another, and making a choice to speed can end badly for you and others. However, this is highly risky and the consequences can be disastrous. Too many drivers overestimate their ability to control a vehicle at high speeds. Speeding may lead to the loss of vehicle control resulting in a crash. When this happens around other cars, it may mean impacting others. Speeding can also make it harder to stop without striking the vehicle ahead. Depending on the other circumstances, this may cause a chain reaction with other vehicles crashing behind you.

Weather Conditions

Driving takes on a whole new level of difficulty when Mother Nature decides to act up. Weather conditions, like rain, sleet and snow make seeing and maintaining control difficult. When the road gets a layer of ice, it can mean the tires can no longer get a good grip. Learning how to drive in these conditions is essential.

There are many ways vehicles may crash. When you find yourself dealing with the aftermath of a collision, a Des Moines auto accident lawyer may be your best way to go to ensure you are covered.

Des Moines Auto Accident Lawyer Infographic

Des Moines Auto Accident Statistics

According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of personal injury in the United States. In 2021, there were over 6 million car accidents in the United States, resulting in over 3 million injuries and 40,000 fatalities.

If you have been injured in a crash caused by another party, reach out to one of our auto accident lawyers to find out what type of financial compensation you may be entitled to.

Des Moines Auto Accident FAQs

It is necessary to call the police?

It is highly recommended that you call the police after being in an accident. One of the reasons why this is important, is because when it comes to police, they can offer fast and efficient aid. Moreover, police officers are needed in calling, because they can help to assess the situation from an early perspective. This includes factors, such as who is on the scene at the time, how severe the car crash was, the severity of the injury at the time, and more. These are some of the reasons why when there is an auto accident, it is important to not leave the scene of the crime, because I could get in trouble for not reporting the incident upfront with the police. This can make an individual look suspicious.  Also, the officer can create an incident report of what happened, which can also be a useful document to have for your lawsuit. This report often includes officer observations of the scene, facts, and statements from each driver about the incident. If you do not call the police, you may not be as protected.

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.

Des Moines Injury Law – Des Moines Auto Accident Law Firm

699 Walnut St
Des Moines, IA 50309

Contact Our Des Moines Auto Accident Lawyer Today!

If you are recuperating from your injuries, you may be unable to collect the evidence needed for your case. It is why you need the best auto accident lawyer in Des Moines IA for your case to help you. You need someone that has considerable knowledge and skill along with experience to be able to handle your case.

Our attorneys at Des Moines Injury Law have just that. By working with you we can gather all the evidence to create a compelling case. When you are dealing with our attorney you do not have to worry about:

• Collecting witness testimonies
• Contacting medical providers or collecting medical records
• Obtaining photographs of the accident, where it happened, and your vehicle.
• Collecting police reports and statements
• Dealing with the insurance companies

Those who have been hit by a vehicle driver who was being reckless on the road may want to seek justice through filing a personal injury lawsuit for compensation with an auto accident lawyer from Des Moines, IA. Whether or not the victim receives restitution is based on the extent to which he or she can prove fault. It can be very challenging to prove fault in a car accident case, but it is not impossible. If you have been involved in an auto accident, you should contact an auto accident lawyer Des Moines, Iowa trusts from Des Moines Injury Law, LLP.