Personal Injury Law

What Should You Never Do When Dealing With an Insurance Adjustor?

Posted on October 08, 2008
Like most Iowans, you have likely had a claim against an insurance company for a property damage claim such as hail damage, a leaking roof, etc.  You may have received a call or visit from the insurance adjustor to discuss your claim.  If you have to deal with an insurance adjustor in the future, there [...

Iowa Car Accidents and Personal Injuries Myths and Mysteries Revealed

Posted on September 22, 2008
For more than 100 years Iowa Courts have recognized a person?s right to bring a claim against another for injuries caused by fault also known as negligence.  Whenever you are hurt by anyone?s negligence, including that of another car driver, corporation, manufacturer, store merchant, or someone else you have a ?personal injury? claim...

Iowa Workers? Compensation- Questions and Answers

Posted on September 17, 2008
Here are some general answers to often-asked questions about workers? compensation benefits. It is important to note that the outcome for each case is determined on its specific facts and circumstances. Q: Is my employer responsible for the medical expenses caused by my work injury? A: Yes, but usually your employer and/or [...

While the Economy Slows Down Why Should You Increase Your Car Insurance Coverage?

Posted on September 03, 2008
Most people think, well it will never happen to me, but car accidents are the #1 cause of accidental death and disability with more than 6 million accidents each year causing 3 million injuries and more than 42,500 deaths. That means that you have a better than 98% chance of getting into [...

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Iowa?s Workers? Compensation System- Myths and Mysteries Revealed

Posted on September 02, 2008
In 1913, the Iowa Legislature passed the law creating Iowa?s workers? compensation system.  When the law was passed, there was a trade-off made between employers and employees.  While an employee does not have to prove fault or negligence like they would in a car accident case for example, the trade-off is that the employee?s damages [...

12 MYTHS ABOUT IOWA PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENT CASES

Posted on August 25, 2008
1. If you are reasonable with the insurance company, then they will be reasonable with you. 2. The insurance adjustor is there to help you with your personal injury claim. 3. When you are in an accident and the insurance company asks for a recorded statement, you have [...

Iowa Workers? Compensation- The Coming and Going Rule

Posted on August 05, 2008
A client of ours named Mary, was injured when she slipped and fell on ice while walking on a public sidewalk outside of her work. She had already punched out on the clock of her hourly job and was walking to her car when she fell. The insurance company denied her claim stating [...

OWI- Operating While Intoxicated, What You Must Know if You Drink Alcohol and Drive a Car

Posted on July 12, 2008
We live in a society in which alcohol is widely used in social and recreational settings and a society that is highly dependent upon cars. As a result, the two activities often cross paths. Every year hundreds of Iowans are killed and injured because of drinking and driving...

Jim?s Story of Struggle with an Iowa Workers? Compensation Case

Posted on July 08, 2008
A client of my named Jim was a hard working truck driver and father of two children.  While he was driving his employer’s tractor-trailer, he was involved in an accident causing him to sustain two broken bones in his back.  He was immediately transported to the nearest trauma center where he spent the next several [...

Iowa Work Injuries- How Can This Be Happening to Me?

Posted on July 03, 2008
Often injured workers wonder, how can this be happening to me? Take for example, Karen, one of my clients. Karen, was a 35 year old wife and mother of three working in the factory. Karen was a dependable worker who always came to work on time and had not missed a day of work in [...

BOATING AND ALCOHOL

Posted on July 02, 2008
Every summer people gather with friends and family at lakes around the state to enjoy the warm weather and cool water.  Favorite lake activities often include water skiing, tubing, fishing and other boating activities.  In order to reduce the risk of injuries, Iowa has passed laws concerning alcohol and boating...

What is a Workers? Compensation Case?

Posted on June 15, 2008
Let?s start at the very beginning: Just what is a workers? compensation case?  A workers? compensation case is any type of claim where a person has been injured or killed while on the job.  The legal requirement is that the work injury arose out of and in the course of employment...

Should You Handle Your Car Accident Case Without an Attorney? 3 Traps that can Cost You Thousands of Dollars

Posted on June 11, 2008
The answer is ?yes?, sometimes it can be a good idea to handle your car accident case without an attorney. For example, if your total medical expenses are less than $5,000 (this means the total medical bills paid by your insurance company, the bills paid by you and the bills that are unpaid) and [...

FLIP-FLOPS AND CROCS, ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN

Posted on June 01, 2008
Flip-flops and Crocs have become staples of fashion for children, but could they be an injury waiting to happen?  Studies have shown that not only are the shoes not good for your feet, they can be very dangerous on escalators and other surfaces.  The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons has an increase in [...

What Must be Proven to Win an Accident Case?

Posted on May 29, 2008
The law does not require that a person is compensated for every injury. You must prove that someone else was negligent, reckless or careless and that because of their behavior you were injured.  If you have been injured in an accident that was no one?s fault or if you do not sue the right person, [...

Dogs Bites Upon Children on the Rise

Posted on May 18, 2008
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 2% of the U.S. population is bitten or attacked by a dog each year.  This translates to more than 5 million dog bite victims every year, most of whom are children...

Do Not be a Good Patient by Lying to Your Doctor

Posted on May 12, 2008
There is an open secret among doctors, nurses and the medical community in general: Some patients lie. While some will lie about how much they drink or smoke, others will not tell their doctors about prior injuries to the same area of the body. Many doctors have a rule of thumb...

What Could be the Most Dangerous Thing you do this Summer?

Posted on May 05, 2008
Statistically, riding a motorcycle is one of the most dangerous things that you can do.  Here are some facts about motorcycle crashes.  1. Approximately 75% of motorcycle crashes involve a collision with another vehicle, which most often is a passenger car...

THE INJURED WORKERS? BILL OF RIGHTS- 2nd Part

Posted on April 19, 2008
Last week we shared the first of the 5 Iowa Injured Workers? Bills of Rights and now we will share the rest of the 10 rights: 6. Cash Payments for Permanent Disability: If your work injury or occupational disease causes a permanent disability also known as a permanent impairment rating or functional [...

THE IOWA INJURED WORKERS? BILL OF RIGHTS

Posted on April 14, 2008
Iowa Law has recognized the needs of its injured workers since 1913. The law requires every employer to obtain workers? compensation insurance (or be approved as a self-insurer) to cover their workers. However, even the best employer is not likely to tell you all you need to know...

While Winter May be Over and the Roads are Clear, Your Chances of Being in an Accident are Actually Higher

Posted on April 02, 2008
After a long, cold winter, spring is finally here.  We can look forward to spending time outdoors with our family and friends and also to roads with no snow or ice.  However, just because the roads are clear does not mean they are any safer.  In fact, statistics from the Iowa Department of Transportation show [...

60% of Americans Still Report Pain One Year After Accident

Posted on March 22, 2008
A recent study published in the Archives of Surgery found that 60% of Americans injured in personal injury accidents, such as car accidents and work injuries, experience pain for more than one year after their accident. The majority of the was in the joints and limbs with a large percentage also reporting ongoing back, [...

19 Years for Justice and Counting

Posted on February 26, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments this week in what has been the longest court case in history. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground dumping millions of gallons of oil into the ocean. The captain of the Valdez was reported to be intoxicated, but his criminal charges were later [...

Injured Iowans Lose on Legal Loopholes

Posted on January 29, 2008
Each year Injured Iowans lose their work injury, car accident and personal injury claims because they fail to protect their rights. Some fail to bring their case within the time limitations (Iowa law has time limits as short as 90 days in certain cases) while others do not seek the ?right? legal advice...

36% of Nursing Home Workers Have Witnessed Resident Abuse. How to Prevent Your Loved One from Becoming a Nursing Home Abuse Statistic

Posted on January 01, 2008
According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a full 36% of nursing home workers interviewed said that they had witnessed other employees physically abuse residents. Iowa has the largest percentage of residents over the age of 65 in the United States...

Workers? Compensation Q & A

Posted on December 08, 2007
Here are some general answers to often-asked questions about workers? compensation benefits. It is important to note that the outcome for each case is determined on its specific facts and circumstances. Q: Is my employer and/or their insurance company responsible for the medical expenses caused by my work injury? A: Yes...

Thanksgiving, The #1 Cause of Accidental Death and Disability, and How To Protect You and Your Family

Posted on November 25, 2007
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I get to spend a day with my extended family catching up, being thankful for another year and discussing the upcoming holiday season. For most of us, the holiday season means more travel time in a car...

Dangerous Driving and Snow Takes a Life

Posted on November 22, 2007
On November 21 a semi-truck driver struck 2 vehicles head on killing one woman and injuring another who was taken to Mercy Medical Center. We all have to remember to slow down for winter weather driving conditions. This is an unfortunate accident which could have been prevented, but instead has forever changed [...

What Should I Receive As An Injured Iowa Worker?

Posted on November 17, 2007
1. Medical Benefits- Lifetime medical benefits for medical treatment, including doctors? appointments, prescriptions, mileage, etc related to your work injury. 2. Healing Period/Temporary Disability (TTD/TPD) Benefits- These are the weekly payments made to an injured worker while they are healing from their work injury and are either not able to return to their job, [...

As an Injured Worker Should You Receive Second Injury Fund Benefits?

Posted on November 17, 2007
  We have spoken with dozens of injured workers who did not even know that the Second Injury Fund existed. We have recovered almost $1,000,000 in Second Injury Fund benefits for injured workers who learned for the first time when we told them that they qualified...

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