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3 Things You Should Know

Sometimes the answer to whether or not you should hire a lawyer is "no". That is right you may not need a lawyer in your Iowa car accident case. Sometimes it is a good idea to represent yourself in your car accident case because lawyer fees may take a significant portion of your settlement. As an example if you do not have at least $5,000 in medical bills (the total medical costs paid by your insurance company, the amount of the bills that you owe and any amount that are not paid) and your injuries are not permanent then it can be best for you to try to settle your case without a lawyer. Because of this our office will not accept your car accident case unless you have more than $5,000 in medical expenses and/or a permanent injury. However, if you decide that it is best to represent yourself without an attorney in your Iowa car accident claim there are 3 things that you need to know.

1. You should know that sometimes your medical expenses have been paid by your health insurance company and if they paid your bills they will be paid in full out of any settlement proceeds that you recover. That's right your health insurance is not really insurance at all, but really just a loan that you will have to pay back. In some states, which include Iowa, there is usually a deduction for your lawyer’s fees and costs. Although, in some cases insurance companies hire lawyers, collection companies or subrogation specialists to make a claim for the full amount paid by the health insurance company. Another thing that you will probably not hear from the insurance company is that this area of law, known as “subrogation” or "reimbursement" can be complicated and at times is controlled by federal laws called ERISA (The Employee Retirement Income Security Act). If you handle your car accident case without a lawyer then you need to understand how ERISA can affect your case and if the car insurance company will be your health insurance company from the settlement or if you will be required to pay them back from your settlement proceeds.

2. Keep in mind that negotiating a car accident claim with the insurance company is important and there are some things to keep in mind. Before you speak with the insurance adjustor you should understand the law and the facts of your case. If you have a polite and confident attitude when dealing with the insurance adjustor then you will have a better chance of success. As an example it seldom helps your case to threaten to talk to the boss of the insurance adjustor and usually the offer has been approved by the boss. If the insurance adjustor makes a very low offer, instead of interrupting the adjustor or acting discussed simply ask if the adjustor thinks that a jury will only give you that much money. You should never lose your temper in a car accident case as it will likely cause damage and may result in a lower offer as the insurance adjustor will know that you can be easily angered.

3. Before negotiating you car accident case you should know what medical care you have had, the amount of your medical bills and lost wages (if you have lost wages). As an example, if you have $3,500 in total medical expenses and you are offered $3,200, you can ask what the adjustor's basis is in paying you less than your out of pocket expenses let along providing compensation for you loss of quality of life, pain and suffering.

A new Iowa Car Accident book reveals • What to Know Before Hiring a Lawyer ? 10 Myths about Iowa Car Accidents and much, much more. Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer Corey Walker offer his book at no cost because he has seen too many Iowa car accident clients who made costly mistakes before they knew their rights and responsibilities. Now you can learn about Iowa car accidents in the comfort of your home with no obligation or risk to request your copy now go to http://www.IowaCarAccidentBook.com. Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer Corey J. L. Walker practices primarily in personal injury law (including car accidents) throughout the state of Iowa including Des Moines, Ames, Ft. Dodge, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Knoxville, Pella, Marshalltown, Newton, Waterloo, etc.