Leveling the Field between Injured Iowans and Insurance Companies.

A Look at Comparative Negligence in Iowa

Before you file an Iowa personal injury claim after a car accident in Des Moines, it's important to know that Iowa is a 51% comparative negligence state. If it is determined that you are at least 51% responsible for your car accident in Des Moines, you will be unable to claim compensation. 

To determine negligence in an Iowa personal injury claim after a car accident in Des Moines, insurance adjusters will investigate the facts surrounding the accident. If, for instance, they find the car accident in Des Moines was partly caused by another driver speeding but you failed to signal a lane switch, you may be found 25% responsible for the accident, and your total settlement will be reduced by 25%.

So if your original settlement offer is $60,000 in an Iowa personal injury claim, but you were found to be 25% negligent, your total recovery would be $45,000 ($60,000 - 25% = $45,000). But again, if your negligence is found to be 51% or greater, you will be ineligible for compensation in an Iowa personal injury claim.

To file an Iowa personal injury claim, you can get the help of a Des Moines car accident lawyer. An experienced Des Moines car accident lawyer can also help answer your questions about comparative negligence laws in Iowa, and represent you when dealing with insurance adjusters. 

Contacting a Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer

Recovering damages is often a complicated affair. The Des Moines car accident lawyer team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair works hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies. That's why we provide this complimentary 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 and schedule a no-cost consultation - 888-792-3595.