Ankeny Car Accident Attorneys
Auto Insurance Claims Handled by Professionals
One of the only things that can make being in a car accident worse is dealing with the other driver’s stubborn auto insurance company. Nine times out of ten, the other insurance company will not want to give you the time of day or hear any reason that blames their policyholder for the crash. Instead, they want to find a way to pin the liability on you entirely, no matter what evidence shows otherwise.
To save yourself the frustration of messing with an auto insurance company and all of their tactics, team up with LaMarca Law Group. Our Ankeny car accident lawyers can handle all aspects of your claim, including all discussions and negotiations with the insurance company. With our representation leading the way, you can feel confident that your claim will have a fair chance of getting you the compensation that you need and deserve to recover from your injuries.
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Call (515) 705-0233. We offer free initial consultationsto car accident clients.
Leading Causes of Car Accidents
Understanding the cause of your car accident will be important to prove that you did nothing wrong and, therefore, should not be liable for its damages. We can investigate the circumstances of your wreck to pinpoint what went wrong. When the details of a crash are unclear, we can even network with third-party experts who can assist with the case investigation. For example, we could hire a crash reconstruction expert who is specifically trained to piece an accident back together from the smallest bits of available evidence.
Six of the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Distraction: Driver distraction is a huge problem across the country. Every driver has a smartphone, so every driver has an easy way to distract themselves while the car is in motion.
- Intoxication: We know how to prosecute drunk drivers in civil court to demand the full compensation they owe you for their egregious recklessness.
- Impairment: In recent years, drug impairment behind the wheel has been a growing problem. Drivers mistakenly believe that taking “harmless” drugs like marijuana will not worsen their driving abilities.
- Speeding: The most common form of reckless driving is speeding. Breaking the speed limit even by just 5 mph is inexcusable and can place most or all of the liability for a crash on the speeding driver.
- Tailgating: Following another driver too closely is called tailgating. This form of reckless driving is a leading cause of rear-end accidents and whiplash injuries.
- Auto part defects: Poorly made and defective auto parts can be the sole cause of a crash if the defect takes control away from the driver without warning.
5 Steps After a Car Accident
After a car accident, you should try to take a certain set of steps, which will help keep you safe and preserve your future claim’s credibility.
Try to remember to do these five steps after a car accident or tell us if you followed them already:
- Call 911: You should always call 911 after a car accident if someone was injured or a vehicle was seriously damaged. First responders can provide medical aid, control nearby traffic, and create accident reports that benefit your claim.
- Exchange information: You must exchange identifying and insurance information with all other involved motorists and parties after a crash of any severity. We cannot file a claim against the right driver if you do not know who they are.
- Take pictures: Photograph the crash scene with your smartphone to document what happened with clear evidence. Do not hesitate to take a lot of pictures. The more images you snap of injuries, damage, traffic conditions, and so on, the more our attorneys can work with.
- Talk to witnesses: If anyone stops to help you after a crash, ask them to provide their contact information and if they would be willing to give a testimony later. We can interview them later if you prefer.
- See a doctor: Always see a medical professional for at least a checkup after a car accident. You could have subtle injuries that get worse later if not treated now. A doctor’s medical report can also benefit your claim by proving that your injuries happened on a certain date and due to a car accident.
Iowa Comparative Negligence Rule
In Iowa, you can make a recovery against another driver’s insurance policy as long as you are not more liable than they are. Under this rule, your liability must be less than 51% for you to have a valid claim. Any recovery you can collect will also be reduced by your total liability, too. For example, if you are found to be 20% liable for the crash, then your final recovery amount can be reduced by 20%.
Surprise the Defendant by Starting Your Claim Early
The defendant’s insurance company might tell you to not file a claim because “you will lose” or “you caused the accident.” Stand up to dishonest auto insurance company tactics by hiring our Ankeny car accident attorneys. By starting your claim as soon as possible, you can surprise the defendant and gain an early advantage in the legal fight to follow.
Learn how we can help settle or litigate your claim. Call (515) 705-0233.
