Guthrie Center Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Lives can be instantly upended by accidents and injuries. During these challenging periods, car accident injury lawyers become essential allies. They advocate for those injured by others' negligence, ensuring fair compensation. This article underscores the crucial role these lawyers play in assisting individuals with their claims and restoring normalcy.

Can Uninsured Motorist Coverage Help if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

Uninsured motorist coverage can be a lifesaver if you are injured by another driver who doesn’t have insurance. It’s surprising how many motorists fail to carry auto insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Iowa ranks number 24 in the nation for uninsured drivers, with about 11.5 percent of motorists lacking insurance in 2009.

How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Can Help

If you have uninsured motorist coverage and you are injured by another driver who fails to carry insurance, your medical costs and other damages may be covered. This coverage also extends to any passengers in your vehicle who suffer injuries. 

Although uninsured motorist coverage isn’t required in Iowa, it is highly recommended. Not only does it provide protection in accidents involving uninsured motorists, but it also covers injuries from hit-and-run incidents. The cost of uninsured motorist coverage is relatively inexpensive, and the more coverage you have, the better protected you will be. Typically, consumers purchase coverage amounts of $100,000 for one person and $300,000 per accident.

Preserving Your Vehicle as Evidence When It Is Towed from the Accident Scene

Filing a car accident claim can help you recover costs for damages, medical bills, lost wages, and more. However, claims can be complicated when vehicles involved in the collision are towed away and evidence is lost or destroyed.

Steps to Preserve Your Vehicle as Evidence

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. Move Your Car to a Private, Covered Storage Area: Tow yards often charge high daily fees and may destroy or scrap a car quickly due to space constraints. Housing the vehicle in a private unit can prevent this and protect against vandalism or tampering.

3. Take Pictures: Always keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment. If you’re involved in a wreck, snap photos of your damaged car, the accident scene, and more. This way, if evidence is lost or destroyed, you still have documentation to support your claim.

Collecting Evidence: 5 Critical Pieces to Gather at the Auto Accident Scene

Preserving and collecting evidence after an auto accident starts at the scene of the crash. The sooner this is done, the better protected your claim may be. Iowa personal injury lawyers can help collect and evaluate further evidence for your claim.

5 Types of Evidence to Gather at an Accident Scene

1. Photographs: Take pictures of the crash scene, damaged vehicles, tire marks, damaged property, street signs, lights, and anything else relevant. Capturing everything while it’s fresh is crucial.

2. Information on the Other Driver: Obtain the other driver’s name, telephone number, address, insurance company, and driver’s license and plate numbers.

3. Witness Contact Information: Gather names, phone numbers, and email addresses from any witnesses. If any are willing to provide a written account or a diagram of the accident, this could be very helpful.

4. Police Report Details: Ask the responding police officer how to obtain a copy of the accident report. Write down the case number or at least the officer’s name to make locating the report easier.

5. Contact Information for Additional Evidence: Collect contact information of anyone who has taken pictures or video footage, or businesses with surveillance footage that may have captured the accident.

Help from an Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer

Preserving evidence in an accident claim is critical, and an Iowa personal injury lawyer can assist with this process. Acting quickly after a car accident in Iowa and collecting evidence before it can be altered or destroyed is essential.

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.