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Maximizing Compensation in Your Personal Injury Case: 

Robert Stahle • December 18, 2024

Key Strategies

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve fair compensation to cover your losses. But achieving the maximum settlement or verdict requires more than just filing a claim—it involves a strategic approach to building your case. At Fitch & Stahle Law Office, we’re dedicated to helping clients maximize their compensation and secure the justice they deserve. Here’s how you can strengthen your case and recover the full value of your claim.

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your health should be your top priority after an accident. Seeking prompt medical attention:

  • Ensures your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.
  • Provides a clear link between the accident and your injuries, which is critical for proving damages.
  • Prevents insurance companies from arguing that your injuries aren’t serious or are unrelated to the incident.

Follow all recommended treatments and attend follow-up appointments to show that you are taking your recovery seriously.

2. Document Everything

Thorough documentation is essential to maximizing compensation. Keep a detailed record of:

  • Medical Records : Bills, treatment plans, and prescriptions.
  • Accident Evidence : Photos of the scene, property damage, and your injuries.
  • Lost Income : Pay stubs or employer statements detailing time missed from work.
  • Daily Impact : A journal describing how your injuries affect your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

This evidence not only demonstrates the extent of your damages but also makes it harder for insurance companies to dispute your claim.

3. Don’t Rush to Settle

Insurance companies often offer quick settlements to minimize payouts. While a fast resolution may seem appealing, early offers are typically far below what your case is worth.

  • Evaluate Future Costs : Consider ongoing medical expenses, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering.
  • Consult an Attorney : Before accepting any offer, have a legal professional review it to ensure it covers your full damages.

4. Avoid Common Mistakes

Certain actions can jeopardize your claim and reduce your compensation, including:

  • Admitting Fault : Stick to the facts when discussing the accident and avoid statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault.
  • Posting on Social Media : Avoid sharing details about your accident or recovery online, as insurance adjusters may use your posts against you.
  • Delaying Legal Action : Filing your claim promptly ensures evidence is preserved and prevents you from missing the statute of limitations.

5. Account for All Damages

Compensation in personal injury cases goes beyond medical bills. You may be entitled to:

  • Economic Damages : These include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
  • Non-Economic Damages : Compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
  • Punitive Damages : In cases of egregious negligence, you may also seek punitive damages to punish the responsible party.

An experienced attorney can help you accurately calculate and pursue these damages.

6. Work with Experts

Expert testimony can strengthen your case and demonstrate the full impact of your injuries. Common experts include:

  • Medical Professionals : To provide insight into your injuries and future treatment needs.
  • Vocational Experts : To assess how your injuries affect your ability to work.
  • Accident Reconstructionists : To establish fault and liability in complex cases.

7. Hire an Experienced Attorney

Navigating a personal injury claim alone can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with insurance companies. At Fitch & Stahle Law Office, we:

  • Handle all communications and negotiations with insurers.
  • Build a strong case using evidence and expert testimony.
  • Fight for the maximum compensation, whether through settlement or trial.

Our expertise ensures that no detail is overlooked and that your claim fully reflects the damages you’ve suffered.

Final Thoughts

Maximizing compensation in a personal injury case requires diligence, strategy, and professional representation. By taking the right steps and working with an experienced legal team, you can ensure you receive the full value of your claim.

If you’ve been injured and want to secure the compensation you deserve, contact Fitch & Stahle Law Office today for a free consultation. Let us guide you through the process and fight for your rights every step of the way.

Fitch & Stahle Law Office: Committed to protecting the injured and delivering the justice you deserve.

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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