The majority of people have never been involved in a legal dispute. As a result, many car accident victims and their families are hesitant to file a personal injury lawsuit. Although a lawsuit may conclude in a jury trial, the majority of them do not, and victims should not be afraid of the legal process or to hire an attorney after an auto collision. 

When to Contact an Attorney After a Car Accident? 

Not everyone who has been injured in a car accident will require legal assistance. If your accident was serious or complicated, however, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible so that they can begin establishing your case. Though, some instances require immediate legal action and if you find yourself in any of the circumstances, contact an attorney as soon as possible:

• Car Accident resulting in serious or significant injuries to any of the parties involved 
• An auto collision where it is difficult to identify fault 
• A crash involving multiple people or persons other than a motorist (cyclists, pedestrians, etc.)
• Automobile accidents involve excessive speeds 
• Accidents that occur in school zones, work zones, or construction zones 
• an automobile accident that involved someone that was under the influence at the time of the wreck 
• if the insurance company is not providing answers or an offer consistent with the damages 

The majority of the time, crash victims will want to contact an attorney after a major or more serious car accident. However, there are times when smaller “fender-benders” will require legal action, especially when injuries have been sustained. 

It is imperative that survivors contact an attorney as soon as possible after a car accident because Iowa has a statute of limitations of two years to file a lawsuit against the responsible party or parties. If a car accident victim in Iowa fails to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party within this two-year timeframe, this will likely result in the case being dismissed by the judge and the individual becoming unable to recover the compensation they need.

Additionally, a lawyer will understand that the insurance carriers involved in the claim will also have their own reporting deadlines that must be adhered to. A lawyer will initiate the claims process on your behalf as soon as possible. 

How Can an Automobile Accident Attorney Help After a Car Crash? 

It may seem that handling the aftermath of a crash by yourself will be the easier route. However, that is rarely the case. Working with a skilled attorney can ease the compensation recovery process and they can protect you from unscrupulous insurance adjusters. After a car accident, an attorney can assist with a variety of issues.

Insurance companies are not always trustworthy. That is why choosing the representation from an experienced Iowa car accident lawyer during this time is imperative. A lawyer can take on the insurance company and make sure they are not acting unfairly. 

Additionally, paperwork and forms are involved in filing a vehicle accident claim and a personal injury lawsuit. These forms must be completed correctly and on time in order for the case to go as planned and to receive a favorable outcome. Incorrectly filled papers or failing to file the required documents can cause a case to be delayed and prevent the injured party from collecting the funds they require.

Hiring an Auto Accident Attorney After a Collision 

Personal injury attorneys have a lot of expertise in investigating automobile accidents. They regularly work with crash reconstruction experts, forensic teams, and various collision experts to identify any parties involved, including those not named in the police report, such as the automobile manufacturer, the municipal responsible for road maintenance, or the bar that supplied the drunk driver.

Furthermore, people who hire a lawyer are compensated more than those who do not. Lawyers understand how to put together a case that demonstrates to the insurance company how much money an injured person needs to properly recover, both physically and mentally. They are not afraid to go head-to-head with big insurance companies, and they will battle to ensure that all of your medical bills and medical expenses are taken into account, including current, ongoing, and future costs. 

When it comes to obtaining compensation following an automobile accident, there is no regulation that says you have to engage an attorney. Some vehicle accident victims seek legal advice and representation in order to focus on their health and recuperation while also pursuing legal action. Hiring an attorney after an accident allows for an injured party to properly heal and alleviates some of the stress after a serious accident. 

Car Accident Statistics

When examining data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are around 5.5 million car accidents in the United States each year. These accidents result in about 3 million injuries and 40,000 deaths a year. 

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the United States Department of Justice, roughly 60% of all real estate, contract, and tort trials involved some type of bodily harm. It was also discovered that over 7,000 personal injury cases were tried in state courts across the country’s 75 most populous counties.

The Department of Justice also emphasized the nature of personal injury claims, which shed light on the commonality of various situations. They discovered that motor vehicle accidents accounted for around 52 percent of all personal injury cases in the United States.

Road crashes cost Americans $871 billion in economic and societal damage, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel. The direct medical costs of road crashes in the United States were more than $380 million. In the United States, pedestrian and biker fatalities are on the rise. More pedestrians and cyclists were killed in 2018 than in any year since 1990, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Contact Our Des Moines Auto Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has sustained serious injuries after a car accident, contact the Iowa auto accident attorneys at the law firm of Mueller, Schmidt, Mulholland & Cooling today to discuss your case.