Belle Plaine Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Injuries and accidents can suddenly change lives. During these challenging moments, car accident injury lawyers are vital allies. They advocate for those harmed by others' negligence, ensuring fair compensation. This piece underscores the significant role these lawyers play in assisting individuals with their claims and recovery.

If you’re involved in a car accident in Iowa, filing a car accident claim can help you recover costs for damages, medical bills, lost wages, and more. However, claims often become difficult when vehicles involved in the collision are towed away, leading to lost or destroyed evidence. To prevent this, follow these steps recommended by Iowa car accident attorneys:

1. Find out where your car is being towed immediately. Contact your lawyer and ask them to send a preservation letter to the tow yard, requesting that the vehicle remain intact and untouched. If this doesn’t work, your attorney can file a motion in court to order the tow yard to preserve your car.

2. Get your car moved to a private, covered storage area. Tow yards often charge high daily fees and may quickly destroy or scrap a car due to space and time constraints. Housing the vehicle in a private unit also prevents vandalism or other tampering.

3. Take pictures just in case. Keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment. If you’re ever involved in a wreck, snap photos of your damaged car, the accident scene, and more. This can serve as evidence if the vehicle is lost, destroyed, or tampered with.

Injuries from car accidents can cause significant distress, and one common injury is an annular tear. Chrissy’s story, shared with Spine Health, highlights the challenges of dealing with annular tears caused by car accidents. After multiple doctors' visits and numerous medical bills, Chrissy still suffers from burning pain and arm weakness due to her annular tears. Here’s what you need to know about annular tears and their treatment:

What is an Annular Tear?

An annular tear occurs in the intervertebral disc, which provides mobility and shock absorption between two vertebrae. The outermost part, called the annulus fibrosis, connects the two adjacent vertebrae and is innervated with sensory input from the sinuvertebral nerve. A tear in this outermost layer can cause severe pain, as the inner layer of the disc (the nucleus pulposus) may rub against the nerves.

Treatment for Annular Tears

Patients reporting severe lower back pain after a car accident may receive an MRI to diagnose their symptoms. However, sometimes a discogram is needed to diagnose annular tears accurately. Treatments include:
- Chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, or deep tissue massage
- Hot or cold compresses
- Exercise or pain medications
- Epidural injections or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Surgery is rarely necessary unless disc herniation occurs. Many medical professionals recommend non-surgical treatments because annular tears can sometimes heal on their own. Regardless of the treatment chosen, medical bills can be costly. If your annular tear resulted from a car accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation from your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company.

Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher who cause accidents are typically held liable for damages and may face criminal and civil penalties. However, even if the at-fault driver’s BAC is lower than .08 percent, they could still be held liable. Here’s what you need to know:

The Law for Drinking and Driving in Iowa

Iowa law prohibits operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more. However, driving while “under the influence of an alcoholic beverage” is also illegal, regardless of BAC. Additionally, having any amount of a controlled substance in the body while driving is against the law.

Understanding Negligence

Liability in Iowa is based on a driver’s negligence, not just BAC. If a driver was engaging in behavior outside of what is considered reasonably prudent, and this leads to an accident, they may be held liable. Iowa’s comparative fault laws state that any damages recovered in a civil suit will be reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of negligence.

Seeking Legal Assistance

Seeking legal counsel from experienced Iowa car accident attorneys such as those at Walker, Billingsley & Bair can provide invaluable support in filing insurance claims or pursuing personal injury lawsuits. With a comprehensive understanding of Iowa law, their team can help gather evidence, establish liability, and secure the compensation deserved by accident victims.

Suffering from the aftermath of a car accident shouldn't impede your pursuit of justice and fair compensation. The Iowa injury lawyers at Walker, Billingsley & Bair work hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies.

That's why we provide this FREE book; The Legal Insider's Guide to Iowa Car Accidents: 7 Secrets to Not Wreck Your Case. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation. Call 641-792-3595 to order your free accident book today.