Accident victims have a lot on their minds. Immediately following a motor vehicle crash or slip and fall, many victims are focused on immediate needs, like dealing with pain and trying to pay their bills. The financial stress can dominate someone’s mind. They might go a year or more focused on rehab before they ever think of reaching out to an Iowa personal injury lawyer.
Unfortunately, waiting to hire an attorney comes with a cost. Critical pieces of evidence can vanish, and you might even accidentally go past the statute of limitations. That would mean losing the ability to sue.
Here are signs it’s time to contact an attorney to discuss your accident. Contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., to speak with a lawyer.
Your Accident Happened a Year Ago
You should contact an Iowa personal injury lawyer if you were hurt in an accident over a year ago. Iowa has a statute of limitations which is only two years in duration (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)). You must file a personal injury lawsuit within this limitations period, otherwise you cannot sue for a personal injury.
We can immediately get a case filed, if necessary. From our offices in Waterloo and Iowa City, we service the entire state and can come out to meet you to discuss your injuries. Then we can file a lawsuit if the statutory deadline is fast approaching to preserve your legal rights.
You Are in the Hospital with Injuries
Some people only suffer property damage in a motor vehicle crash. If so, you can probably handle your own claim. There is less controversy about the value of car repairs because you can look at the market value. By contrast, anyone who suffered a significant bodily injury should call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C.
Bodily injury cases are more subjective. Our clients can receive compensation for pain and suffering, which is harder to assign a dollar value. You can expect the defendant and their insurance company to minimize the amount you are entitled to. They might even claim you are exaggerating your pain and depression. We will fight to make sure you receive a fair amount.
You Are in Over Your Head
Some people try to tackle their own insurance claim, only to realize that they are overwhelmed with paperwork and questions. That’s okay. Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., is happy to jump in and help anyone, regardless of where you are in the personal injury claims process.
So long as you haven’t accepted a final settlement offer, we can usually step in and get things on track. Always show any settlement offer to a lawyer. We are happy to look and see if you are getting a decent deal. (You probably aren’t—insurers are not known for offering fair deals, at least initially, and certainly not to victims who do not have a lawyer.)
Bodily injuries require complete focus to heal. You probably are attending rehabilitation, and you need to rest to improve the chances of full recovery. Allow us to do the heavy lifting involved in negotiating a settlement.
You Are Being Ignored by Insurance Companies
This also happens more than it should. Some insurers drag their feet when it comes to investigating claims and making settlement offers. Months could pass after you submitted your claim, and you don’t hear anything. The insurance representative assigned to your case might not even return your phone calls or emails.
This type of behavior is often deliberate. Insurers are ignoring you to increase the pressure. They want you to feel so desperate that you immediately snatch at the first settlement offer, even when it is too low.
No accident victim should be ignored. Call our office. We know how to light a fire under the insurance companies, who have certain legal obligations to claimants. For example, they must perform a prompt investigation and tender a settlement if liability is clear. We can remind them of these duties and possibly file a bad faith insurance claim if they continue to ignore you for no good reason.
Why You Should Call Our Office As Soon As Possible
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., makes it easy for accident victims to get legal advice. We offer free consultations to anyone who wants to talk about their case. We can listen to your story and determine if you have a strong claim.
Because the consultation is free, there is no risk to calling us and scheduling a meeting. We might think your case is too weak to bring, or we need more evidence before arriving at a thoughtful assessment. It is best to ask a seasoned personal injury lawyer’s opinion than to assume you have no case or believe you can tackle negotiations on your own.
Call soon. There are many reasons to avoid delay:
- Critical evidence might disappear, including witnesses or video footage of the accident (if they exist).
- You might be approaching the deadline set by the statute of limitations. Going past this deadline by even a single day could be disastrous.
- You might be tempted to accept a settlement offer. Before saying “yes,” make sure our legal team reviews it.
We can also discuss how we charge our fees. We represent accident victims with contingency fee arrangements, which do not require legal fees. Instead, we will agree to receive a percentage of any settlement if we win. This agreement reduces the risk to clients, who won’t owe anything if for any reason we can’t win your case.
Experienced Iowa Personal Injury Lawyers
Our office brings to each case more than 100 years of collective experience in personal injury law. We have helped people hurt in a variety of accidents, including premises liability cases based on defects as well as a full range of motor vehicle cases. We have sat across the bargaining table from Iowa’s largest insurers, and they know we bring unmatched dedication to our cases. Contact us to schedule a time to meet with a member of our legal team.