Des Moines Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyers
Another Party May Be Responsible for Your Injuries
Single-vehicle accidents involve only one car. Since only one car is involved, how and why the accident occurred needs to be determined in order to pinpoint liability.
When you’re the only vehicle involved in an accident, you may be quick to blame yourself. Oftentimes, however, another party is at fault. Another driver’s actions may have caused you to swerve and crash your car. A road defect, such as a large pothole, could have resulted in you losing control of your vehicle.
A single-vehicle accident can impart serious harm, such as head or neck injuries, broken bones, spinal damage, or other harmful injuries. You may be owed compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering. Our lawyers have the skillset and know-how to help you get it.
If you were injured in a single-vehicle accident, don’t delay in reaching out to the Des Moines single-vehicle collision lawyers of LaMarca Law Group, P.C. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped numerous victims injured by negligent parties get the financial reward they need to move forward. We will help build your case and make sure you get the outcome you deserve.
To schedule a free consultation, call LaMarca Law Group, P.C. today at (515) 705-0233 to get started.
Why You Need a Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Being injured in a single-vehicle accident can be frightening, and it can take time to recover from it. Your focus should be on healing and getting your life back to normal, not tackling a complex legal case. There are several reasons to have a lawyer by your side.
A skilled lawyer will:
- Investigate your accident: Our team will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine fault. We will hire expert witnesses to develop your case when needed, such as accident reconstruction experts and medical experts.
- Gather evidence: We will gather evidence to build a strong case. Evidence may include the police report, witness statements, surveillance footage of the accident, cell phone records of the driver who caused your crash, photographs of the accident scene, road maintenance reports, comprehensive medical records, a vehicle damage report, and more.
- File your personal injury claim: We will make sure no detail is overlooked when we file your injury claim, and we’ll meet every deadline.
- Negotiate assertively: We’ll negotiate assertively with the insurance adjuster to protect you from lowball offers.
- File a lawsuit: We’ll be prepared to take your case to court if the insurance company fails to offer the settlement you deserve.
- Represent you in court: Our experienced trial attorneys will defend your case in court to fight for the full compensation you need.
Potential Injuries from Single-Vehicle Accidents
Single-vehicle accidents not only cause fear and anxiety, but they also have the potential to cause serious injuries.
The types of injuries suffered in these accidents are wide-ranging, but here are some of the most common ones we see at LaMarca Law Group, P.C.:
- Head or neck injuries: Given the force of impact in these accidents, they can cause a quick back and forth snapping motion of the head and neck, resulting in whiplash. Often the head will hit the window or the steering wheel and could potentially result in a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Head or neck injuries could occur even in minor accidents.
- Back injuries: Serious back injuries can occur in a single-vehicle accident. There are several types of disc injuries that can occur, such as herniated, ruptured, or slipped discs, which sometimes need surgery to repair. A severe accident can result in spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
- Broken bones: All types of broken bones can result from single-vehicle accidents. Recovery time depends on how bad the break is and where it occurred.
- Bruises and lacerations: The force of the impact and broken glass can result in substantial bruising and deep cuts.
It’s important that you seek medical attention if you have been in an accident, even if you don’t feel hurt in any way. Some injuries take time to appear, such as head injuries or internal injuries, and a physical examination may identify injuries you weren’t aware of.
Liability in Your Single-Car Crash
When someone is involved in a single-vehicle accident, the natural tendency may be to blame the driver for the accident.
However, there are several reasons why another party may be liable for your accident, such as the following:
- Automotive defect: If a defect in your car caused your accident, the car manufacturer, parts manufacturer, or the vehicle maintenance shop may be held liable. We’ll inspect your vehicle to determine if a defect may have been a factor in your case.
- Negligence of another driver: Single-vehicle accidents are often caused by other drivers. Maybe they veered into your lane or pulled out in front of you, causing you to swerve and crash into a pole, tree, or run off the road. Maybe something wasn’t tied down on another vehicle, and it fell onto the road, and you hit it. In these examples, you would not be liable for your crash.
- Hazardous roads: Sometimes, a single-vehicle accident happens because a road isn’t properly maintained or is poorly designed. In these cases, a government entity may be liable for your crash. Since most government agencies have a complex claims process and immunity from lawsuits, pursuing compensation in these accidents can be challenging, but we have the experience to identify the liable agency and secure your recovery.
Contact a Single-Vehicle Accident Attorney in Des Moines
Have you or someone you know been involved in a single-vehicle accident?
Call us today to schedule a free consultation at (515) 705-0233.
What to Do After a Single-Vehicle Accident
The first thing to do after an accident is to stay calm. The aftermath of a serious accident can be overwhelming, but there are important steps to take to keep yourself safe and protect your right to compensation.
1. Call 911 or law enforcement: If anyone is injured, you should call 911 immediately. Even if no injuries are immediately apparent, you should still call the police. The police officer will investigate the scene of the accident and create an accident report, which may provide invaluable evidence in your case.
2. Exchange contact information with the other driver(s): Be sure to collect the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance policy information, driver’s license, and vehicle license plate number.
3. Gather the contact information of any witnesses: Take down the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Their testimony may be needed later for your insurance claim or lawsuit.
4. Document the accident scene: Take photos of the final resting position of the vehicles, the damage to the vehicles from multiple angles, any nearby traffic lights, road markings, or road signs, the weather, if relevant, skid marks, and anything else that may be pertinent. Also note the make and model of the other vehicles.
5. Take notes: Write down details of the events that led up to the crash. Did you swerve to miss a pothole? Did a driver veer into your lane or cut you off? Record how fast you were going and the time of day. Remembering important details will help build your case.
6. Seek medical attention: If you didn’t receive emergency medical treatment from the first responders, you should seek medical attention immediately following your accident. Even if you don’t feel hurt, some injuries take time to manifest, so it’s important to get checked out as soon as you can. This will also help prove that your injuries resulted from your accident.
7. Seek legal advice: The insurance companies will not be looking out for your best interests, so before you give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company or sign any documents, seek the advice of an experienced car accident lawyer to protect your right to full compensation.
What Compensation May I Be Entitled To?
If another party was liable for your single-vehicle accident and your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation from them for your expenses and losses.
Some of the types of compensation you may be owed include:
- Medical expenses: You may be reimbursed for all of your medical expenses, such as emergency medical bills, hospital bills, doctor visits, X-rays, medication, and more.
- Future medical expenses: You may need coverage for future medical expenses, such as rehabilitation, physical therapy, appointments with specialists, and other related costs.
- Lost income: If you had to miss work due to your injuries, you may be owed compensation for your missed wages.
- Future loss of wages: If your injuries prevent you from returning to work for the foreseeable future, you may be owed damages for your loss of future earnings.
- Property damage: You should be reimbursed for any costs related to the maintenance or replacement of your vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering is a general term that refers to your physical pain and your emotional pain, such as emotional anguish, trauma, and PTSD.
- Punitive damages: In the event that the at-fault party’s actions were especially egregious or if they acted with gross negligence and total disregard for others’ safety, you may be awarded punitive damages by a judge or jury in a lawsuit.
Single-vehicle accidents can be challenging to navigate, but our experienced attorneys can guide you confidently through the entire process. Let LaMarca Law Group, P.C. help you get the settlement you deserve.
We have dedicated our lives to protecting the rights and futures of injured Iowans. We work to ensure that your case is handled while you focus on your recovery.
