Car accidents occur everywhere, but they are not treated the same in every city. It is important to know the laws and the requirements surrounding a car accident wherever you live. For those who live in Des Moines, this blog post provides some basic accident information to keep you up-to-date.
Taking the correct steps immediately after an accident will protect your rights and help ensure that you don’t face criminal charges. These first steps include:
- Try not to move your car, but do move it if it presents a traffic hazard.
- Call for medical help if someone has suffered a serious injury.
- Call the police as soon as possible.
- Do not leave the scene or you might be charged with hit-and-run.
- You must provide your contact and vehicle information to other motorists involved in the crash.
The city of Des Moines requires the reporting of all car accidents resulting in death, injury or property damage totaling at least $1,500. It is not difficult to make this report, and you can find the right form on Iowa’s government website. If the police investigated your car accident, you do not have to make a report of your own.
Like other cities, Des Moines requires auto insurance coverage, which is important when car accidents occur. The current requirements include:
- Not less than $20,000 to cover bodily injury per person
- Not less than $40,000 to cover total bodily injury per accident
- Not less than $15,000 to cover property damage per accident
Here are two important injury claim tips to keep in mind. If another party caused the accident and you suffered injury, it is wise to seek a legal opinion. Continuing on that theme, apologizing for or claiming fault for the accident could hurt any legal action you may choose to pursue.
Source: FindLaw, “Your Des Moines Car Accident: The Basics,” accessed May 08, 2018