LEGAL ADVICE IN IOWA AND NEBRASKA

The main thing to do is to write down details, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. In the case of automobile accidents, collect insurance names and policy numbers from others involved, witnesses, and police officers, including their report numbers.

Keep records of where and how the accident happened, including the weather and time of day. Take pictures of injuries, property damage, and several views of where the accident happened. It is important to review the section of "What to Do In Case of Injury or Accident" to see additional points. A crucial task will be to find a competent personal injury attorney.

Fortunately, most claimants are not subjected to the stresses of litigation, and many cases are settled out of court. However, when the defendant's or insurance company's offer of settlement is too low or questions of liability remain, the facts and damages of a case may need to be decided by a jury or a judge. The decision to settle a case or file a lawsuit is one of the key decisions a lawyer can assist you in making.

There is no fee for initial consultations with our personal injury attorneys. In these cases, once an attorney makes a commitment to represent you or your family, they only charge an attorney’s fee when they succeed in obtaining recovery. This cost is calculated as a percentage of the recovery.

Most times, all necessary expenses for pursuing an injury claim will be advanced by a personal injury attorney. If at the conclusion of the case, nothing is recovered on your behalf, you generally will not owe the attorney any fees or case expenses.

If you are partially at fault, you may still be entitled to receive a percentage of the compensation you would have normally received. The amount depends on the percentage of fault assigned to you. Until a judge or jury has established that percentage, you should seek Iowa legal advice from one of our personal injury attorneys.

The use of alcohol can be considered an aggravating circumstance in a personal injury claim. If you were injured by a person under the influence of alcohol, a personal injury attorney will be able to advise you as to the actual value of your case and will be able to act on your behalf to insure that you are not taken advantage of with a low offer.

The short answer is the more information the lawyer has, the better his advice to you will be. You should supply any documents that might have a bearing on your case. Accident reports, for example, contain eyewitness accounts and details about auto accidents. Copies of medical reports from doctors and hospitals which you have obtained will describe your injuries. Information about the other driver's or negligent party’s insurer is extremely helpful, as are any photographs you have of the accident or of your injury. If you do not have these documents in your possession, do not worry. Your lawyer will be able to obtain all necessary paperwork necessary to bring your case.

You should expect to obtain a sense of confidence in the law firm you choose. Your lawyer should be able to tell you if you have a case with merit. If it’s one they’re willing to accept, you will likely be provided with a retainer agreement, which they should explain to you. Remember, a lawyer cannot represent you without this written agreement.

Once the retainer agreement is in effect, your counsel should start gathering the documents and information they need for your case. No competent lawyer should tell you what your case is worth on the first visit.

To determine damages, your lawyer will need to assess the extent of your injuries, including pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, medical costs, and lost wages. Many times, these elements of damages cannot be determined without extensive research and consultation with expert witnesses. Once retained, your lawyer should be able to provide you with a rough timeline for the pre-litigation, litigation, and potential appeal phases of your case.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of a Judge or jury to assess the fault and responsibility in an Accident. A personal injury attorney can work with you in conducting a through investigation, and gather the evidence to get to the bottom of who was at fault in an injury causing incident. For this reason, it is important that you gather as much information as possible, and preserve as much physical evidence as possible.

There is no exact formula for determining the amount of compensation you might recover from a court case or settlement. A judge, jury and the attorneys in the case might consider a wide variety of factors in determining what is “fair and just” compensation. These factors might include the severity of the accident, the severity of injuries, the impact of the injuries on the victim’s employment and day-to-day life, and cost of medical care. Aggravating factors such as drunk driving can also be taken into consideration. A personal injury victim may also recover compensation for physical pain, mental or emotional suffering, physical impairment or disability, property damage and other losses.

If the liable party doesn't have insurance to cover their damage, but you carry uninsured motorist coverage, you will need to make a claim against your own policy. In some cases you can file a claim against the liable individual, but chances are that their assets won't cover the damage.

If you were in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, you typically will seek compensation from the negligent driver’s insurer based on his insurance policy.

The proper procedure for bringing an injury claim completely depends on the circumstances of each case. Variables such as the type of injury, nature of the at fault party, and the nature of insurance coverage can drastically effect the method by which a victim must bring a claim. Also, different types of claims are subject to distinct time limits. So it is important that you take action without delay. A personal injury attorney can advise you as to the proper method and timing to properly file a claim in your particular case.