Iowa City Car Accident Lawyers

Waterloo Attorneys

Your Legal Team After a Serious Crash

Everything in your life will feel upside-down after being in a bad car accident that wasn’t your fault. The compassionate and experienced car accident lawyers of Ball, Kirk & Holm in Iowa City are here to help make everything right or close to normal again. We offer comprehensive legal assistance for all sorts of car accident claims, and we can also help you if your case can’t settle and needs to go to court. Backed by 60+ years of legal experience, we are confident we should be your first choice of legal assistance when financial recovery and future well-being are on the line.

Call (319) 220-0416 or contact us online right away.

On This Page:

• Causes of Car Accidents in Iowa City
• Common Car Accident Injuries
• What Damages You Can Recover
• Average Car Accident Settlements
• How Long You Have to File a Claim
• How Often Do Car Accident Claims Go To Court?
• How Long Do Car Accidents Take to Settle?
• Why You Should Hire a Lawyer

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Oftentimes, a good starting point for a car accident claim is figuring out the cause of the crash. We need to be able to prove that the other driver did something wrong or reckless that directly caused your injuries and damages. An investigation carried out by our talented staff and outside experts, if needed, can help uncover and prove the cause.

Common causes of car accidents include:

• Driving while intoxicated or impaired by drugs
• Driving and texting or using a smartphone
• Speeding or street racing
• Intentional acts of road rage
• Driving while exhausted or completely asleep
• Running a red light or stop sign

Types of Injuries Often Suffered in Car Accidents

Terrible injuries can occur in a high-speed car accident. Some people suffer life-changing injuries in low-speed collisions, though. Our law firm in Iowa City has helped people seek compensation after all types of accidents and after suffering a variety of moderate to severe injuries.

Serious injuries often suffered by car accident victims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Multiple broken bones
• Whiplash injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

What Types of Damages Can You Get in a Car Accident Claim?

Our goal is to get you as much compensation from the other driver’s insurance policy as possible after being in a serious car accident. We might even be able to file against additional insurance policies they own to pursue damages that otherwise would have been lost due to policy caps. No matter what, our car accident attorneys in Iowa City are never satisfied with a case result until the client is, too.

A short-list of common damages cited in car accident claims includes:

• Past and future medical costs
• Past and future lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repair costs

Be aware that the opposing auto insurance company will probably send you a car accident settlement offer within a few weeks after your crash if it seems like their policyholder did cause it. You should not sign any offers without first talking with one of our car accident attorneys. There is a high chance that the settlement is small compared to what you really need and deserve. This tactic is used commonly by insurance companies as a way to save money and end cases rapidly.

What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?

Every car accident settlement is different because no two accidents are alike. Because of this, a typical car accident settlement involving injuries can range anywhere from $10,000 to several hundred thousand. The more severe your injuries the higher your settlement will most likely be. For example, if you only suffered whiplash in the accident, your settlement will most likely be on the lower end. However, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury your settlement will be on the higher end of the spectrum. No matter how severe your injuries are, our team will work to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Iowa has a two-year statute of limitations on car accident claims brought to court. You could have only days or weeks to file a car insurance claim, though.

The two-year statute of limitations begins on the date of the car accident for most cases. When the statute of limitations ends, any claim you file afterward will be dismissed by the court before it has a chance to develop much further. To make certain you don’t miss this important legal deadline, we recommend contacting our firm within a day or so of your accident to get your case moving early on.

How Often Do Car Accident Claims Go To Court?

It’s estimated that only about 5% of car accident claims go to trial. 95% of the time, car accident lawsuits are settled pre-trial. However, that doesn’t mean that those claims were resolved without the help of a lawyer. On the contrary, if your attorney does their job right and the insurance company is reasonable, your personal injury attorney should be able to settle your claim without having to argue it in front of a judge. This is because court proceedings are lengthy and expensive, not just for the victim but also for the insurance company. It is usually in both parties’ best interests to avoid it when possible. But, if your claim can’t be resolved successfully pre-trial, our team is prepared to go to the mat for you and fight your case in court.

How Long Do Car Accidents Take to Settle?

Your case could take anywhere from a few months to over a year to settle, depending on several factors.

• If the insurance company is willing to negotiate and offer a fair settlement, your case could potentially be resolved in just a few weeks
• If the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement and your case ends up going to trial, it could take several months to a year to resolve

The majority of car accident claims are settled outside of court, but in the event that your case does proceed to trial, we are prepared to fight for your best interests in front of a judge or jury.

Why Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Iowa City?

Insurance companies like to jump at the chance to use every tactic they know on a car accident claimant who is unrepresented. Do not give them that early advantage in your car accident case. Hire a car accident lawyer soon, so they have to contend with a legal professional backed by years of experience.

If you live in Iowa City and were recently in a car accident, then our auto accident attorneys would like to hear from you. There might be thousands of dollars in compensation owed to you, but the key to getting it is to fight for it. Let us act on your behalf and go toe-to-toe with insurers and defense teams, just as we have for so many others in Iowa.

Call (319) 220-0416 today to speak to one of our auto accident lawyers and get started on your car accident lawsuit. We look forward to hearing from you.