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Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Your Personal Injury Case

Robert Stahle • January 22, 2025

Navigating a personal injury claim can be a complex and intimidating process. The decisions you make along the way can significantly impact the outcome of your case, including the compensation you receive. Unfortunately, many individuals unknowingly make costly mistakes that weaken their claims or even result in denial. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help you avoid these pitfalls and ensure your case is managed with precision and care.

Common Mistakes That Can Jeopardize Your Claim

The legal system is filled with procedural requirements and strategic challenges that can trip up even the most diligent individuals. Some of the most common mistakes include:

1. Accepting a Low Settlement Offer

After an accident, insurance companies often present early settlement offers that may seem tempting, especially if you’re facing mounting medical bills or lost income. However, these offers are usually far below the true value of your claim. By accepting prematurely, you may forfeit your right to pursue additional compensation for long-term damages, such as ongoing medical treatment or diminished earning capacity.

2. Saying the Wrong Thing to Insurance Adjusters

Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s bottom line, often by minimizing your claim. Statements you make during conversations with them can be taken out of context and used against you. For example:

  • Admitting partial fault for the accident.
  • Downplaying the severity of your injuries.
  • Speculating about details you’re unsure of.

Without proper guidance, you risk inadvertently undermining your case.

3. Missing Filing Deadlines or Providing Insufficient Evidence

Each personal injury case has a statute of limitations—a strict deadline for filing your claim. Missing this deadline can result in the outright dismissal of your case. Additionally, a claim supported by weak or incomplete evidence is unlikely to succeed. Failing to gather and present necessary documentation, such as medical records, accident reports, or witness statements, can hurt your chances of proving liability and damages.

How an Attorney Helps You Avoid These Pitfalls

An experienced personal injury attorney serves as your guide through the legal process, helping you avoid costly errors and giving your case the best chance of success. Here’s how:

1. Strategic Negotiation with Insurers

Your attorney understands the tactics used by insurance companies and knows how to counter them effectively. They’ll handle all communications on your behalf, ensuring you don’t say anything that could harm your case and negotiating aggressively for a fair settlement.

2. Comprehensive Evidence Collection

From gathering medical records to consulting expert witnesses, your attorney will ensure your case is backed by strong and credible evidence. This preparation is crucial for both settlement negotiations and potential court proceedings.

3. Timely Filing and Legal Compliance

Your attorney will keep track of all deadlines and procedural requirements, ensuring your claim is filed correctly and on time. This attention to detail prevents technical errors that could jeopardize your case.

Protecting Your Right to Compensation

Navigating a personal injury claim is challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. By working with an attorney, you can focus on your recovery while they handle the complexities of your case. Their expertise ensures that every aspect of your claim is managed effectively, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

At Fitch & Stahle Law Office, we’re here to help you avoid costly mistakes and secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a consultation and let us guide you through the process with confidence and care.

How Drunk Driving Accident Victims Can Maximize Compensation With Legal Help

By Robert Stahle • June 11, 2025
When you’re injured by a drunk driver, the physical trauma is often only the beginning. Medical appointments, hospital stays, and prescription medications can last for weeks, months, or even years. You may be unable to work. You may lose your vehicle. And the emotional toll—fear, anxiety, depression—can weigh heavily on you and your family. Unfortunately, many accident victims never receive the compensation they truly need to recover. Insurance companies are skilled at downplaying injuries, undervaluing claims, and pushing quick settlements. These early offers often only cover short-term costs—and leave victims with nothing for long-term consequences. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a personal injury attorney who understands how to fight for your full and fair compensation. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we’ve helped countless clients throughout Iowa and Nebraska recover the financial support they deserve after being hit by drunk drivers. Here’s how having legal representation can make a difference: 1. Understanding the Full Value of Your Claim A serious injury isn’t just about your ER bill. A strong legal claim must account for: Follow-up medical care, physical therapy, and surgeries Future medical treatment or long-term care Mental health services for trauma, PTSD, or anxiety Lost wages and reduced ability to earn income Property damage and vehicle replacement Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life Without legal help, you may never even know you’re entitled to compensation for these elements—let alone how to calculate their true cost. Our attorneys work closely with doctors, financial experts, and accident specialists to build a comprehensive case that reflects the full scope of your losses. 2. Pursuing Punitive Damages In Iowa and Nebraska, courts may award punitive damages in drunk driving cases. Unlike compensatory damages (which are designed to cover your losses), punitive damages are intended to punish the offender for particularly reckless or egregious behavior and deter others from doing the same. These damages can significantly increase the value of your claim—but you need an experienced attorney to prove that the driver’s actions warrant them. We know how to present evidence of impairment, prior offenses, and other aggravating factors that strengthen your case. 3. Exploring Additional Sources of Compensation Sometimes, the drunk driver’s insurance policy won’t cover the full cost of your damages. In those cases, we explore: Your own underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage Dram shop liability (if a bar, restaurant, or event overserved the driver) Third-party liability (in rare cases, the driver’s employer or vehicle owner may also share responsibility)  Our team works to leave no stone unturned when identifying all potential sources of recovery. 4. Standing Up to the Insurance Companies Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. Their job is to pay out as little as possible. Without a lawyer, they may take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge or pressure you into a fast settlement. With Fitch & Stahle in your corner, you don’t have to deal with their tactics. We handle all communication, submit all documentation, and push aggressively for the settlement you deserve. And if the insurance company won’t cooperate? We’re ready to take your case to court. If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver in Iowa or Nebraska, don’t let the insurance company decide what your recovery is worth. Contact Fitch & Stahle Law Firm today for a free case evaluation. Let us help you move forward—with the compensation and justice you deserve.

Why You Need a Lawyer After a Drunk Driving Accident in Iowa or Nebraska

By Robert Stahle • June 6, 2025
Drunk driving accidents are among the most devastating types of crashes—and the most preventable. Every time someone chooses to drive under the influence of alcohol, they not only break the law, but they also endanger innocent lives. When you’re the victim of one of these reckless acts, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences can be overwhelming. Many accident victims assume that if the other driver was arrested for DUI, the case will resolve itself quickly and fairly. After all, if the police have proof that the driver was drunk, what else is there to fight about? The reality is far more complex. Even when intoxication is clear, recovering compensation is rarely straightforward. Insurance companies are primarily concerned with protecting their bottom line. They may admit the drunk driver was at fault but still dispute the amount of damages you’re owed. They may claim your injuries aren’t as severe as you say or argue that you had pre-existing conditions. In some cases, they may even try to shift partial blame to you. That’s why hiring an experienced drunk driving accident attorney is so critical. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we represent clients throughout Iowa and Nebraska who have been harmed by drunk drivers. Our attorneys know how to build strong legal cases backed by evidence, expert testimony, and strategic negotiation. We don’t just take the word of the insurance company—we conduct our own investigations, obtain police and toxicology reports, interview witnesses, and, when necessary, work with accident reconstruction professionals to determine exactly what happened and who’s responsible. Beyond proving liability, our goal is to make sure every client receives the full amount of compensation they’re entitled to under the law. That includes not only current medical expenses and lost wages but also: Future medical care (surgeries, rehab, medications) Lost future earning capacity Pain and suffering Mental and emotional trauma Property damage Punitive damages when applicable In particularly egregious cases, we may also pursue compensation from third parties under Iowa or Nebraska’s dram shop liability laws . If a bar, restaurant, or even a private event served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated or underage, that establishment could be held partially liable for the damages. Dealing with injuries, doctors, bills, and the trauma of the crash is hard enough. You shouldn’t also have to navigate legal paperwork, deadlines, and difficult insurance adjusters on your own. We provide personal, compassionate, and aggressive legal representation—so you can focus on healing while we focus on justice. Remember: The other driver’s arrest or conviction does not guarantee you fair compensation. Civil and criminal cases are separate, and only a personal injury claim will secure the financial support you need to recover and rebuild your life. If you or a loved one has been hit by a drunk driver in Sioux City or the surrounding areas of Iowa and Nebraska, don’t wait. Call Fitch & Stahle Law Firm today for a free consultation. We’ll help you hold the drunk driver—and their insurance company—fully accountable.
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