Akron Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Unexpected accidents and injuries can alter lives. During these difficult moments, car accident injury lawyers are vital allies. They support those harmed by others' negligence, ensuring fair compensation. This piece highlights the crucial role these lawyers play in guiding individuals through their claims and rebuilding their lives.

What Should I Do If My Wife Is Injured in an Accident?

Few things are scarier than receiving a call that a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Iowa. Even after the initial scare of not knowing if the person is OK and will make it, stress and anxiety levels can skyrocket. This is especially true if the person injured is your spouse and the primary breadwinner of the family.

If this has happened to you, you are most likely faced with questions like:
- How are we going to pay the medical bills?
- What is going to happen to her job?
- How will we put food on the table?
- Who is going to help me with the kids?
- How am I going to be able to care for her after she is out of the hospital?

In order to give your spouse the best chance at a full recovery and also to protect your family’s legal rights, here are some important steps to take:

1. Get your wife the medical treatment that she needs, making sure to follow all of the doctor’s orders.
2. Find out the insurance coverage of the at-fault party’s insurance to see if there is enough to cover the cost of the medical bills.
3. Find out how much uninsured and underinsured coverage you have on your own policy, in the event that the at-fault party does not have enough.
4. Utilize the medical payments coverage on your policy. This money will help cover the costs of co-pays, prescriptions, medical supplies, and any other out-of-pocket medical expenses.
5. Request that your wife’s doctor put in writing the amount of time she is being kept off of work for when it comes time to calculate and prove lost wages.
6. Do not sign anything without first reviewing it with an attorney, especially if they are documents provided by the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Total Knee Replacement (TKR) for Car Accident Injury

While most people typically think about the immediate injuries sustained in a car accident in Iowa – such as lacerations, bruises, or broken bones – there are also long-term injuries that can result, many of which may require costly medical care. One such type of injury is a knee injury, which can require total knee replacement (TKR) surgery in some cases.

Understanding your rights as an accident victim can be complicated, especially when you suffer a serious injury. For more information about how you can recover compensation for your knee injury and total knee replacement surgery, seek guidance from an attorney. Your lawyer can help you determine the damages you may recover and help you prove your entitlement to damages for long-term medical costs.

What is Total Knee Replacement Surgery?

Total knee replacement surgery may be right for those who have severe knee damage and pain. While the normal and healthy knee has plenty of joint cartilage, as well as healthy bone mass, a damaged knee often has deteriorated cartilage and bone.

During a TKR, the surgeon will replace any non-functioning parts of the knee with synthetic materials. While TKR can alleviate knee pain and discomfort, the knee may not return to normal. Following a TKR, patients may be unable to take part in activities they once enjoyed, such as:
- Running
- High-impact sports
- Sustained activity

Recovery time for a TKR surgery varies depending upon the person, but usually requires the patient stay in the hospital for several days. After that, the use of crutches or a walker may be necessary. Eventually, the patient may be able to walk with minimal assistance and discomfort.

Possible Knee Problems That May Require TKR

Total knee replacement surgery is required when loss of function of the knee occurs. While the most common cause of loss of function in the knee is arthritis, loss of function and knee pain that requires TKR surgery can occur as a result of a traumatic accident. Sometimes, the traumatic accident will result in the immediate need for surgery; other times, the traumatic accident will cause an injury that may lead to chronic arthritis that eventually requires TKR.

Some types of knee injuries from car accidents that may cause knee deterioration and require total knee replacement surgery include:
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries
- Knee sprain injuries
- Knee dislocation injuries
- Knee fracture injuries

Discuss your injury and the short- and long-term treatment options with your doctor to get a better idea of what your injury may require. Because knee replacement surgery may not be required immediately following an accident, but is necessary years later as a result of an injury that did occur during the accident, an attorney can help you clarify your legal options to recover damages related to your accident.

Talk to an Attorney About Damages Related to TKR

Your car accident attorney should account for all of the damages related to your accident and knee injury. One factor taken into account when awarding a settlement to a car accident victim is the amount of money his or her injury will require in the future, in addition to more immediate costs related to the accident. As such, if your knee injury is one that may require total knee replacement surgery in the future, the cost of surgery should be factored into your settlement amount.

How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster in Iowa: What Not to Say

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that there were 49,798 traffic accidents in the state in 2013. If you were one of the tens of thousands of people involved in an accident each year throughout the state, you might be wondering how to deal with an insurance adjuster.

One of the first people you’ll talk to after reporting your accident to your insurance company and that of the other party (if that party is to blame for the accident) is an insurance adjuster. It’s important to know which questions to ask the adjuster and what not to say. Below are a few things to avoid saying to the adjuster.

What Not to Say to the Insurance Adjuster

“It was my fault.”
Not admitting fault is one of the most important parts of talking with the insurance adjuster. Even if you believe it was your fault, hold off on saying so until you know more about the accident. Depending on the details of the accident, you might not be aware that another driver ran a stop sign or drifted into your lane, for example. If you admit you were speeding a little bit, were a little distracted, weren’t wearing your glasses, or are sorry about what happened, the insurance adjuster may use that against you. He or she might argue that these behaviors contributed to the accident, even in part, when, in fact, the other driver was fully or mostly to blame.

“I think…”
Try to avoid guessing about what happened. Provide only the details of which you’re sure. Give the adjuster your name, contact and insurance information, location and time of the accident, and the broad details (the other driver struck me from behind, the other driver side-swiped me, etc.). If pressed for more specific details, inform the insurance adjuster that you will provide him with more details at a later time, preferably with the assistance of an attorney. Make sure any statements you give are true and do not lie.

“I accept!”
The insurance adjuster will probably offer you a settlement amount pretty quickly. And it will probably be too low. It might be tempting to accept the settlement so you can start paying bills and replacing your lost wages while you’re recovering. But if you settle too early and for an amount that is too low, the settlement might not fully cover all of your damages. Wait until you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages. Your attorney can negotiate a settlement that is fair.

“I don’t have an attorney.”
If you suffered serious injuries or extensive damages, get legal help from an attorney. Your lawyer can not only help you better understand how to deal with insurance adjusters but can also deal with the adjuster for you in many cases, negotiating a fair settlement.

What to Do When Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster

- DO get the insurance adjuster's name and contact information as well as the company they represent.
- DO give the insurance adjuster your full name and contact information.
- DO take notes.
- DO ask the adjuster if they have any witnesses to the accident in Iowa.
- DO be general when describing your injuries.
- DON'T agree to have the conversation recorded.
- DON'T discuss anything with insurance adjusters except the location of the accident in Iowa, the date and time the accident occurred, and the type of accident (car, truck, motorcycle).
- DON'T agree to anything.
- DON'T sign anything.
- DON'T answer questions about your family.
- DON'T identify any witnesses.
- DON'T provide the name of your doctor.

It would also be a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer before you speak with any insurance adjusters. Your personal injury lawyer can go over the details of your case, help determine who was negligent and, if appropriate, take steps to build a solid Iowa personal injury claim. With the help of your Newton personal injury lawyer, you might be able to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

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.