Washington Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Unexpected accidents and injuries can change lives in an instant. In these challenging times, car accident injury lawyers are essential allies. They represent individuals injured by others' negligence, ensuring they receive just compensation. This article underscores the significant role these lawyers play in helping people manage their claims and restore their lives.

Broken Nose Treatment after an Accident in Iowa

An accident victim might suffer severe facial injuries, including a broken nose. A broken nose often involves a fracture of the large bone over the bridge of the nose. Typical causes of a broken nose may include car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, sports injuries, falls, or fights. Read on to learn more about these injuries and the broken nose treatment that might be necessary.

Symptoms of a Broken Nose

In some cases, a broken nose is easily diagnosed because of extreme swelling or a crooked appearance. In other cases, it may not be clear whether your nose is actually broken or only bruised and sore. If you believe you have a broken nose, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The following symptoms may indicate that your nose is broken and you need to see a doctor:

- Difficulty breathing.
- Mucus discharge from your nostril(s).
- Blocked nasal passages.
- Bruising around the nose or eyes.
- Pain and/or tenderness when you touch your nose or the surrounding area.
- Bleeding from your nose.
- Swelling of your nose and surrounding areas of the face.
- Misshapen or crooked nose.

When You Should Go to the Emergency Room

There are some accompanying symptoms that could signal a more serious injury and warrant a trip to the hospital. If you experience any of the following symptoms, get medical help right away:

- Inability to stop the bleeding.
- Clear or watery fluid coming from your nostril(s).
- Loss of consciousness.
- Bouts of nausea and/or vomiting.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A nose that is clearly twisted (not a result of swelling) or disfigured.

Your doctor will conduct an examination of your nose and any other concerning areas and will order X-rays and possibly CT scans to properly diagnose all potential injuries.

Treatment for a Broken Nose

In some minor fractures, there is little a doctor will do. You will probably be given instructions on how to issue self-care at home, such as applying ice to the area and taking over-the-counter pain medications. You may be directed to schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.

In more serious breaks, there are some medical treatments to repair the injury. The following are some possible broken nose treatments:

- Manual Realignment: In cases where the nose bones and/or cartilage in the nose are displaced, the doctor may perform a manual realignment. The doctor may provide some type of local anesthesia prior to the realignment. They will then use a nasal speculum to open the nostrils and will use special tools to realign the cartilage and bones. Packing within the nostrils and splinting outside and/or inside the nose will keep the bones in place.
- Surgery: Severe cases may require surgery. When a patient has multiple breaks in the nose or waited too long to seek treatment, surgery can become the only option for repair. Reconstructive surgery is sometimes also necessary if the nasal septum has been damaged.

What to Do if You Were Involved in a Hit-and-Run Accident

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately 11 percent of all motor vehicle crashes involve one driver who flees the scene of the accident. About 1,500 people are killed each year in hit-and-run accidents, 60 percent of which are pedestrians, the AAA Foundation reports. If you or a loved one were recently injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance carrier to cover your damages.

Iowa’s Laws Regarding Hit-and-Run Accidents

Fleeing the scene of an accident is illegal in Iowa. According to Iowa §321.261, if a driver is involved in an accident that causes physical harm to someone and flees the scene, he or she is only guilty of a misdemeanor.

If the victim was killed in the accident, then the fleeing driver could be punished with a class "D" felony. Hit-and-run victims have another form of legal recourse if the suspect is caught and apprehended; they or their families are legally entitled to file an injury or wrongful death lawsuit against them.

What to Do (and Not to Do) if You’re in a Hit-and-Run Accident

If you are in an accident and the other driver flees the scene, here’s the basic recommended protocol:

- Call 911.
- Provide the police with information and obtain a copy of the report.
- Try to jot down any identifying information about the other driver (the make, model, color, etc. of the car, and anything you recall about the driver).
- Collect contact info for any witnesses of the accident.
- Call your insurance company to report your accident, see what your coverage is and determine if you can file a claim.

What you do NOT want to do after a hit-and-run accident is attempt to track down the fleeing driver. In many cases, drivers flee the scene either because they are intoxicated, have a criminal record, recently committed a crime, or don’t have insurance. Chasing a suspect will only put you at risk. Let the police handle it.

Filing a Car Accident Claim for a Hit-and-Run Accident

Some drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage (UM). This type of insurance is optional in Iowa. It covers your damages should you be in a crash that involved a driver who either fled the scene or has no insurance.

If you have this type of insurance, you can speak with your insurance company and file a claim. If you don’t have UM, you’ll be responsible for your own damages unless the law can track down the other driver. Health insurance may cover some medical costs, however, once you meet your deductible.

Who is at Fault in a Left Turn Car Accident?

Left turn car accidents can be some of the most serious car crashes that we see. Often the force of the impact is localized to the passenger side of the car where hopefully someone is not sitting. Other times, the force of the impact will send the turning vehicle skidding and sometimes flipping. There are many factors to determine who is at fault for a left turn car accident, sometimes called Rules of the Road. The determination of fault is also referred to as determining who is liable for the collision or a liability determination.

Traffic Controls

The first thing to consider is what, if any, traffic controls were in the area. If you are waiting to turn left across traffic and have a green arrow, then it is most likely the other driver's fault. However, if you have a blinking yellow or red light when you turn, you may be found at fault. One of the most difficult fault determinations to make is when a driver is in the middle of the intersection getting ready to turn left when the light begins to change from green to yellow and then to red. The other driver is approaching and goes through the light. The other driver may have run the red light, but things happen quickly, and if you pulled into the other driver's path, then you may be at fault. In some areas in Iowa, we have traffic cameras to capture exactly what happened, but the vast majority of intersections do not have traffic cameras.

A more common left turn car accident occurs at a stop sign. A driver looks and thinks there is no traffic coming, but in fact, there is a vehicle approaching. "Look before you leap" is a term we have all heard before, but when it comes to making a left turn into traffic, this is especially true. It is best to look in both directions twice to make sure no one is coming. It goes without saying, but talking on your cell phone or trying to send a text while making a left-hand turn is a bad idea. Driver distraction is the number one reason we have car accidents, to begin with. You don't want to place the safety of yourself or your passengers behind a call or text that could wait until you get home. No call or text is worth the costly price you and your family could pay if involved in a car crash.

Failing to Yield

When you are making a left-hand turn across traffic, you have the duty to yield to oncoming traffic. If you pull out in front of a vehicle that then strikes you, you are likely to be found at fault. However, if the other vehicle was speeding, then they may also be found at fault for the crash. Under Iowa law, you have the right to assume that other drivers are following the traffic laws around you. This means if the driver is going 100 mph in a 55 mph zone when you turn in front of his vehicle, then the speeding driver may be 100% at fault for the collision.

Uncontrolled Intersection

If there are no traffic signals, then the general rule is that you must yield to your right. Also, as discussed above, there are rules to yield to oncoming traffic as well. So, if a vehicle is coming from your right and you turn left in front of the vehicle, then you may be at fault for the collision. As discussed above, there can be other factors, such as the speed of the other vehicle, which will be considered in determining fault.

Comparative Fault

Because determining fault can be difficult sometimes, Iowa has what is called comparative fault. Not surprisingly, this means that the fault of the parties is compared. In order to make any recovery, you have to prove that the other driver was 50% or more at fault. Whatever

 the percentage of fault that is assigned to you will reduce your recovery by that amount. For example, let's say you were turning left and it is disputed whether the other driver ran the red light or you turned in front of him just prior to impact. If a judge or jury found that you were 30% at fault and provided you with a verdict of $100,000 for your injuries, then you would only be allowed to collect $70,000 because you were 30% at fault.

Where to Go from Here?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a left-turn car accident, then just because the police may have found you or the other driver at fault does not mean that the police are always right. You should consider speaking with a qualified Iowa car accident attorney to determine if your case is worth investigating and pursuing. Our office handles these types of cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no upfront cost and no risk to you. We are only paid if we are successful in making a recovery, and then it is a percentage of the recovery depending upon if the case settles or if litigation is required. If we are not successful, then you owe us nothing, not even the costs or time we spend on the case. So, there is no risk to you.

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.