We Are Attorneys Standing Up For Injured People After A Crash

When you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by another person, you should talk with an attorney about your options. Unfortunately, you can’t rely on insurance companies to put your best interests first. The offer you receive – if you receive one at all – may not fully address your loss.

Meanwhile, you and your family may be struggling under mounting medical debt, the pressure of lost wages or the emotional chaos of having lost a loved one in a car wreck. At times like this, you want to make sure the attorney you work with will be on your side every step of the way.

At Carter Law Offices, P.C., in Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska, we are passionate about serving the needs of our clients. We put experience, resources and dedication behind every case we take.

Taking On Complex Collision Claims

You have rights. You have options. You can put an experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer on your side. Our lawyers take on a wide range of motor vehicle cases, including:

• Car accidents, including rear-end accidents and rollover accidents
• Accidents involving motorcycles
• Truck accidents
• Accidents caused by drunk drivers

An automobile crash can leave a person and an entire family in turmoil. In the most serious of cases, there can be long-term care needs, major hospital bills and even final expenses for a loved one involved in a fatal crash.

We stand behind you and your family in and out of the courtroom. You shouldn’t have to settle for less.

How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

After a collision, injured people and their families face many challenges. The financial strain can be significant, and insurance may not offer enough to support them as they recover. This can leave them wondering whether a car accident lawsuit can offer the support they need.

At Carter Law Offices, P.C., we have advocated for injured people in Iowa and Nebraska for more than 25 years. We understand the deep way that a collision can impact victims and families. We are proud to help them in their fight for full and fair compensation after a car accident.

What Factors Influence The Value Of A Claim?

The amount you receive from a car accident case will vary depending on your unique situation. The court may consider many different details about your case, including:

• Property damage: If the collision damaged your personal property, the cost of repairing or replacing those assets might be an aspect of your claim’s value.
• Costs related to medical care: Depending on the severity of your injuries, your care may include medication, surgery, physical therapy or even long-term care. A car accident claim will address both the cost of your past care and the likely cost of future care.
• Lost wages: If an accident keeps you from working while you recover or permanently changes your ability to pursue your career, a car accident claim may include damages to offset those lost earnings.
• Pain and suffering: A car accident can lead to significant physical and emotional pain. While this pain may not have a direct monetary cost to people who experience it, a lawsuit can also provide compensation for these struggles.

Every person’s experience after a car accident is unique, and the value of your claim can vary depending on many different factors. One of the best ways to establish the value of your claim is to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the law and the many ways an accident can impact your life.

What Should You Do Immediately After An Accident?

Immediately after a collision, assess your injuries and any injuries suffered by your passengers. If necessary, call an ambulance for emergency medical care. If not, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Another step you should take is reporting the accident. In many states, the law requires you to report an accident. For example, Iowa law requires drivers to report any accident that caused injuries, property damage totaling more than $1500 or death. However, even if an accident does not seem to be serious, you may still want to call the authorities to make a report.

If you have not suffered serious injuries in the collision, you should take time to document the scene. Collect the contact information, insurance information and car information of the other driver, as well as the contact details for any witnesses.

Finally, contact your insurance company to report your accident. Be careful not to discuss the details of the crash or any potential causes because this information could be used to deny your claim.

What Kind Of Documentation Is Helpful After A Car Accident?

If you want to hold the at-fault parties accountable for the damages you suffered, you want to be able to give a detailed narrative of how and why they caused it. You will need proof. Here is a brief overview of the kind of documentation and information that can help us build your case:

• Photos of both cars, including detailed photos of damage to your car
• Contact information of any witnesses
• Photos of the accident scene and your observations (weather, time of day, traffic, etc.)
• Photos of any visible injuries (cuts, abrasions, bruises)
• Medical documentation

Be sure to tell the doctor you were in a vehicle accident and to follow up with all prescribed treatments and appointments.

What Should You Do In The Days Or Weeks After A Collision?

In the days after an accident, be sure to preserve documentation about your medical care, any damaged property and any time you have had to spend away from work due to your injuries. This documentation can create a full picture of the impact of the accident.

You should also discuss your collision with an experienced attorney. Not only can a lawyer help you understand your legal options, but they can also help you focus on recovery from your injuries. Whether preserving important evidence or negotiating with the insurance company, an attorney can be an essential ally for injured people.

Who Pays For My Medical Care After An Accident?

A personal injury claim can take many months. The medical bills start piling up quickly. If you have health insurance, it may cover your hospital bills and medical treatment in the aftermath of an accident but only up to a certain limit. A personal injury settlement typically includes damages for past and future medical expenses. However, your health insurance provider may later try to recoup their losses through subrogation (a lien against your injury settlement).

It’s also possible that your own auto insurance policy will pay your initial medical bills, but only if you purchased additional insurance such as Med-Pay or Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Med-Pay and PIP coverage are optional in Iowa.

Make Sure You Are Treated Fairly

Instead of giving an injured person a fair settlement, many insurance companies choose their bottom lines over their obligations to pay fair compensation. These insurance providers do not expect people to choose to fight.

At Carter Law Offices, P.C., many of our clients work hard to be treated fairly by insurance companies and are too often mistreated or flat-out denied compensation. Our trial-tested attorneys bring decades of combined experience to their fight for full compensation. Whether negotiating with powerful insurance companies or taking cases to trial, we are dedicated to helping our clients even the odds.

What Does It Mean That Iowa Is An “At-Fault” State?

In a no-fault state a person’s injuries and property damage are covered by their own auto insurance policy, no matter who caused the accident. In an at-fault state (such as Iowa), you must establish that the other driver caused or contributed to the accident to bring a claim for compensation against their insurance policy. That makes it all the more important to have a skilled car accident lawyer who can prove liability if the claim is contested.

What Does It Mean That Iowa Is A “Comparative Fault” State?

Comparative fault allows you to be compensated even if you were partly to blame for an accident. Iowa follows modified comparative fault, meaning that you can bring a claim as long you are not more at fault than the other driver. Your compensation is proportional to your degree of fault. For example, if you were found to be 20% at fault, your recovery would be reduced by 20%.

What If The Other Driver Is Underinsured?

Iowa law requires every driver to carry liability insurance in the event they cause an injury or property damage accident. The minimum insurance coverage in Iowa is 20/40/15 – $20,000 per person for bodily injuries, up to a maximum of $40,000 for all persons injured in one accident, plus $15,000 in property damage.

Many drivers carry only the mandatory minimum coverage, which may not fully cover a bad crash with severe injuries or multiple victims. If your losses exceed the other driver’s policy limits – or if the other party was driving illegally without any insurance – you may be able to bring an uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist claim to cover the difference. This only applies if you purchased UM / UIM coverage on your own auto policy.

Specific Car Accident Statistics For Omaha

In the state of Nebraska, there were 233 deaths resulting from car accidents in 2020. The following year, 2021, saw a slight decrease with 221 fatalities stemming from 192 fatal collisions. However, this figure increased noticeably to 250 fatalities in 2022. A parallel trend is evident in Omaha, where car accidents led to 42 fatalities in 2020, constituting nearly 20% of the state’s total for that year. The city’s fatalities dropped to 32 in 2021 but rose to 41 in 2022.

Specific Car Accident Statistics For Iowa

The number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents continues to decline throughout the United States, with 42,795 fatal crashes in 2022 and 42,939 killed in 2021. According to early data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is a promising downward trend in the number of car accidents reported by most states. However, in contrast to this trend, Iowa has experienced a 14.1% increase in traffic fatalities, with 171 deaths in the first half of 2023 compared to 150 deaths in the same period of 2022.

What Are The Different Types Of Car Collisions?

Being aware of the types of collision can be valuable should you want to know how the accident happened and determine who was at fault. Below are some common types of car accidents:

• Rear-end collisions: Often caused by tailgating or sudden breaking, rear-end collisions occur when the front end of one vehicle collides with the rear end of another. Drivers should maintain a safe following distance to prevent rear-end collisions. Usually, the driver who hit the vehicle in front is typically at fault.
• Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous types of car accidents and happen when the front ends of two vehicles hit each other. These crashes can occur when a driver drifts into oncoming traffic or intentionally drives against traffic. The force of head-on collisions can result in significant injuries or fatalities due to the high speeds and direct impact involved.
• T-bone: Also known as side-impact collisions, T-bone accidents occur when the side of one vehicle is hit by the front or rear of another, forming a ‘T’ shape. These types of accidents typically happen at intersections, frequently due to one driver failing to yield or running a red light.
• Multi-Vehicle accidents: In accidents involving three or more vehicles, the fault may be shared among several drivers and such a scenario might include different types of collision. Multi-vehicle accidents can happen due to tailgating, poor weather or hazardous road conditions. Determining the initial cause will be challenging.
• Rollovers: Rollover accidents refer to when a vehicle flips over onto its side or roof. These types of accidents can be caused by sharp turns at high speeds, collisions with other vehicles or objects or losing control on slippery roads.

Our personal injury lawyers have experience with all kinds of collisions. We can review the evidence from the accident and use it to support your claims.

You Can Afford Reliable Representation

With a free initial consultation and contingency fees for personal injury claims, you owe us nothing unless we recover for you. Rely on our legal professionals for effective, experienced and personalized legal solutions. Contact us at 515-644-4871 or 402-979-8675 to schedule an appointment or send us a message here.