Sioux City Car Accident Attorneys
Making Car Accident Claims Simple for Our Clients
Auto insurance companies have a bad yet justly-earned reputation for making things difficult for injured claimants. If you have been in a serious car accident, then you might already know to expect trouble from the other driver’s insurance provider. You do not need to go through this situation alone, though. You have the right to seek and use legal counsel throughout the entire car accident claim process.
For the people of Sioux City, the trusted name in car accident representation is LaMarca Law Group, P.C. Our car accident attorneys have been standing up to major insurance companies on behalf of the wrongfully injured of Iowa for decades. Let us do the same for you when the outcome of your claim matters now more than ever before.
On This Page
- How Did Your Car Accident Happen?
- Injuries Often Suffered in Car Accidents
- What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Need help working on your case? Call (515) 705-0233 and let us know.
How Did Your Car Accident Happen?
The questions surrounding the cause of your car accident are crucial to answer accurately. It is highly likely that the other driver will deny that they did anything wrong, even though you might know with utmost certainty that they caused the crash. If you cannot depend on them staying honest or being realistic, then you will have to prove your argument with convincing, powerful evidence.
Our Sioux City car accident lawyers are well-versed in auto accident investigations and analyses. Let us get to work on your case, so we can prove that its cause was not your mistake.
Five common causes of car accidents are:
- Drunk driving: Intoxicated drivers have virtually no control over their vehicles. They get behind the wheel and hope for the “best,” which is a worst-case scenario for everyone else on the road. If a drunk driver hit you, then we might be able to use criminal evidence in your civil claim like blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results and police reports.
- Distracted driving: As smartphones have become so common in today’s society, they have also become a common cause of car accidents. By some estimations from groups like the National Safety Council (NSC), between 10% and 25% of all car accidents involve a driver who was not paying full attention to the road.
- Reckless driving: There are many different driver behaviors that constitute reckless driving, such as speeding, tailgating, changing lanes without checking mirrors or signaling, and so on. We can use eyewitness statements, official reports, dashcam footage, and more to see the best way to prove that the other driver was acting reckless and breaking traffic laws when they hit you.
- Auto part defect: If a defective auto part causes a crash, then the automaker could be liable for the resulting losses and damages. Auto part defects are most often caused either by an unsafe design or a manufacturing error. Working with a mechanical engineer might be necessary to get to the bottom of what caused the defect and how that caused your crash later.
- Roadway damage: Were you driving when a defect or damage to the road caused you to lose control of your vehicle? It might be possible to hold the city accountable for failing to properly maintain that stretch of the road. Lawsuits against municipal entities are complicated and sometimes need to be started within a few months of the accident, so contact our firm quickly.
Injuries Often Suffered in Car Accidents
The extent of your injuries caused by the car accident is important to understand. The worse your injuries, the more your claim will be worth, in most situations. By working with your doctor and other medical providers, we can get a full picture of your injuries, their consequences and symptoms, and what needs to be done to treat them.
Some of the worst injuries that can be suffered in a car accident are:
- Brain injuries: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) will change your life forever to some extent. Some TBIs cause memory loss, speech impediments, mobility issues, mental health difficulties, etc. Most TBIs are also considered permanent and incurable, but they can be treated with specialized care and therapy.
- Spine injuries: Damage to the spine and spinal cord can cause paralysis if the damage is severe enough. Paralysis of both legs is called paraplegia, and paralysis of all four limbs is quadriplegia.
- Broken bones: When recovering from a bone fracture, the level of care provided is important. A bone break that does not heal correctly can cause permanent complications and technically become a catastrophic injury.
- Permanent disfigurements: Scarring and disfigurements that do not cause any physical symptoms can cause mental and emotional harm instead. Car accident survivors with visible scars, for example, might struggle with their appearance for quite some time after. This struggle can be added as non-economic damage in a car accident claim.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
It is important to take certain steps after being in a car accident. By doing so, you can help get the scene under control, make sure people get the help they need and improve your chances of filing a successful claim later on.
If you took these steps after the car accident, let our attorneys know right away:
- Dialed 911: Emergency responders should be notified immediately after any crash that results in severe injuries or vehicular damage. The reports that these responders write could be beneficial to your claim.
- Collected information: You should always exchange full identifying and insurance information with all other drivers involved in the crash. Without this information, you might not have a claim at all.
- Photographed the scene: Use your smartphone to take pictures of the car accident. Pictures of injuries, damage, traffic conditions, and the weather can all help us piece together what happened as we work on your case.
- Spoke with eyewitnesses: The best evidence in some car accident cases comes from eyewitnesses who saw the crash from a different angle. If you can, pass the contact information of eyewitnesses to our team, so we can interview them, too.
- Received medical attention: If you are not taken to the hospital in an ambulance, then you still need to go to urgent care as soon as possible. Let a doctor check your injuries and diagnose any underlying issues. This step also adds to your medical record a timestamp that shows when your injuries happened and why they did.
Make the Most of Your Claim Today
Building a car accident claim is not a simple task, especially when the opposition is actively working against you. You can simplify everything, though, by letting our Sioux City car accident attorneys handle the case. We know how to work on a case from start to finish, so you do not need to worry about a thing. We will act as if we are representing ourselves, so you can be confident that your case is being taken seriously.
For a free consultationwith our firm, call (515) 705-0233.
Car Accident Claim FAQ
Do you have to tell your auto insurance company that you got into a crash?
Yes, your auto insurance company should be notified about your crash as soon as possible. If you take too long, then your insurer will get suspicious and might not support your claim. Be mindful about what you say, though.
What happens if I am partly to blame for the car accident?
Iowa uses a modified comparative negligence rule that stops you from getting damages from a defendant if you are at least 51% liable for the accident. As long as your liability is below this threshold, then you should have an eligible claim.
Is apologizing after a car accident really so bad?
If you apologize to the other driver after getting into a crash, then you can bet that they will tell their insurance provider that you said “sorry.” The insurer will then distort your words to make it sound like you were admitting guilt and accepting liability. To be safe, do not apologize, at least not until the claim is fully settled and closed.
Should I let the other driver’s insurance company see my medical record?
Usually, you should not openly share your medical record with the other insurance company> They do not have an immediate right to see it, and they only want to see it to use against you. Talk to us first if the other party is asking for your medical records, so we can decide the best way to proceed.
I didn’t have my seatbelt on – will that hurt my claim?
Iowa requires seatbelt use for anyone seated in the front seat of a car. Minors must wear a seatbelt in all seats. If you were legally required to wear a seatbelt but did not have it when you crashed, then it could significantly damage your claim by spiking your liability. Always wear a seatbelt.
What is a first-party car accident claim?
Filing an injury claim against your auto insurance provider, not the insurer of another driver, is called a first-party claim. This situation can happen if you are in a single-vehicle accident or hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM).
