Each year, the state of Iowa witnesses over 300 car accident fatalities on its roadways, and despite the local authorities' best efforts, the number seems to be steadily rising. There are a variety of reasons that cause an accident to occur, but in many cases, it is the innocent victims who suffer the most.
If one is unwittingly involved in a car accident in Des Moines, IA that is serious enough to cause personal injury, one should approach a personal injury attorney with extensive experience dealing with car accident claims. Iowa car accident law states that the driver who caused the accident is liable to pay damages as compensation for the other driver's pain and suffering.
The car accident attorney at Tom Fowler Law firm has handled many cases of car accidents in Urbandale, IA, and offers a free consultation to discuss the potential of being awarded damages. The severity of car accidents can vary greatly, with some being minor fender benders, while some have proved to be fatal. Car accident attorneys at Tom Fowler Law firm have seen it all and are well equipped to guide victims on the right course of action to take.
What Causes Serious Road Accidents?
While there is a wide range of possible causes of road accidents in Des Moines, IA, the most common causes are as follows:
Excessive speeding
Distracted driving or driver inattention
Driving while intoxicated or impaired
Failure to yield to pedestrians
Driver fatigue
Failure to stop at red lights or stop signs
Following too closely
Unsafe lane changes or improper passing
Backing up unsafely
Vehicle defects or road defects
The Five Most Common Types of Car Accidents
Of the many different types of car accidents, that occur each day in Des Moines, AI, these five are the most common:
Rear-End Collisions
Following too closely behind another car while driving at speed can result in a rear-end collision if the other driver makes a sudden stop. This is one of the most common types of car accidents and can be prevented by keeping a safe following distance between the two cars at all times rather than tailgating.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Sometimes, car accident lawyers are faced with situations whereby they have to track down drivers who would have fled the accident scene to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. In such cases, it helps to have a dedicated investigator on the team, such as in the case at Tom Fowler Law, who will track down the offending driver and bring justice to car accident victims.
T-Bone or Cross-Traffic Accidents
Collisions at an intersection are very common due to the tendency of some drivers to run a red light or a stop sign. The victims of these kinds of accidents usually have no way of avoiding the collision since they will be driving with confidence knowing that they are correctly following the traffic law. In such cases, they have done nothing wrong and are well within their rights to claim damages for personal injury.
Sideswiping
Impatience plays a big role in these types of car accidents, especially during heavy traffic congestion when drivers unlawfully switch lanes to try and move forward. Although not usually serious or fatal, sideswiping still accounts for several minor injuries, such as bruising and concussions, which can result in medical bills. As such, by law, they are categorized as personal injury and damages can be claimed on that basis.
Road Construction Accidents
Construction zones pose a danger to drivers who will be driving without due caution, and as such, fail to notice the warning signs, traffic cones, stopped vehicles, or workmen signaling to them. Such distracted driving is usually common among young drivers, speeders, and drivers who use their phones while behind the wheel.
This type of accident has the potential to be very serious due to the inherent dangers that exist at a construction site. Proper investigation is needed by the car accident lawyers to ascertain whether proper signage and barriers were in place to prevent such accidents from occurring.
What To Do in Case of a Car Accident?
In the event of an accident, whether it's a minor fender bender or a serious collision, chances are that the driver might be feeling too shaken up and disoriented to think clearly. In that regard, it is prudent to be familiar with the proper way to handle an accident situation because being prepared can save lives, reduce injuries, and make the claims process easier.
The following is a list of what to do in case of a road accident:
Take Care and Seek Safety. The car should be pulled off the road if possible or otherwise protected from further collisions using flares or reflectors. All those involved in the accident are to be assessed for injuries and an ambulance should be called if needed.
Assess Damage to the Car. Any damages should be noted and pictures should be taken if possible.
Alert Police. Police should be alerted immediately. Alternatively, a police report can be made at the nearest police station. An official police report is the best tool in case of any future lawsuits.
Seek medical attention. The victim must be examined by a licensed medical professional immediately so that all injuries that were sustained during the accident are recorded. All receipts of payments and medical expenses incurred following the accident should be kept securely, and handed over to the Des Moines car accident law firm handling the case.
Get the Claims Process Started. Approach the Tom Fowler Law firm for a free initial consultation and get the ball rolling. The sooner the insurance company is notified and the claims process started the better while details are still fresh in the mind.
Types of Injuries Common to Car Accidents
Car accidents can be, and many times are, fatal, but those lucky enough to survive might experience one or more of these common car accident injuries:
Head injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Severe neck and back pain
Dislocated, fractured, or broken bone
Disfigurement
Burns
Lacerations
Organ damage or internal bleeding
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Personal Injury Victims
As soon as the free initial consultation is completed, outstanding lawyers at Tom Fowler Law firm will fight tooth and nail to make sure that victims receive every last dime that they lost due to personal injury, and then some.
Fair compensation means that the court awards the victim damages that are deemed sufficient to cover not only their expenses but also their pain and suffering.
There are many different damages that victims can be awarded after being in a car accident, and these are a few of them:
Medical Expenses
Any medical procedures that the victim underwent, minor or intrusive, should be paid for by the third party's insurance company. These expenses include, but are not limited to, ambulance costs, medication, hospital stay, procedures or operations, follow up care, and rehabilitation.
Economic Damages
Any negative economical impact that victims incur as a direct result of the accident should be covered by the amount being sued for. These include lost wages due to time off work, decreased earning potential due to disability, and loss of pension benefits or other learning opportunities that the court deems reasonable.
Pain and Suffering
This is generally classified under non-economic damages and is determined by the doctor's report and what the court decides can be deemed a justifiable amount of pain and suffering the victim experienced due to the car accident.
The car accident attorney can bring forth various witness statements and doctor's testimonies if needed, to attest to the ordeal the victim went through.
When Is It the Right Time To Call a Car Accident Lawyer?
Physical and mental injuries, along with other losses sustained due to a car accident can be compensated provided the claim is made on time and follows due process. The statute of limitations regarding car accident claims in Urbandale, IA, is two years for personal injury lawsuits and three years for wrongful death claims.
With the amount of work needed to be done by car accident lawyers to adequately prepare before making the claim, the best time to call an experienced car accident attorney and take them up on their offer of a free consultation is immediately after the accident.
Things like accident photographs, medical reports, police reports, and witness statements, receipts of any out-of-pocket expenses all need to be organized and filed in case the claim runs all the way to a trial. Any extenuating circumstances like road rage or suspicion of criminal activity should be considered and their potential impact on the claim determined.
Other Urbandale Practice Areas
Visit Tom Fowler Law Firm
With more than two decades of providing legal services to car accident victims of Urbandale, IA, Tom Fowler has become one of the top IA car accident lawyers in the state, and a master of personal injury law.
Car accident lawyers are a dime a dozen, and sometimes the only way to know whether one is well suited to a particular case is to go for a free consultation and talk face to face about the nature of your lawsuit.