Burlington Personal Injury Attorneys

Accidents and injuries can suddenly change lives. In these challenging times, personal injury lawyers are vital. These professionals advocate for those harmed by others' negligence, ensuring they receive due compensation. This article highlights the crucial role personal injury lawyers play in navigating claims and aiding in recovery.

Over 46 million people ride bicycles each year in America for sport, fitness, fun, and commute. Bicycling is not only an economical form of recreation and commute, but it also has a minuscule carbon impact and is beneficial for your health. However, bicycling can also be dangerous, particularly for new cyclists who have yet to learn all the rules of the road. High traffic areas and roads that are not bike-friendly are especially hazardous.

Road Safety Tips for Cyclists

Before you hop on the saddle and hit the road, make sure you’ve acquainted yourself with relevant bike safety information. It could save your life. Our firm, Walker, Billingsley & Bair, represents injured cyclists and families of fatally injured cyclists. We’ve encountered many horrific accidents that could have been prevented with simple safety precautions. Here are some essential safety tips:

- Learn the Rules: Familiarize yourself with the bicycling rules of the road for your town. Each city and state can have distinct traffic laws for cyclists.
- Practice in Safe Areas: Before riding in congested areas, practice in safe zones without cars. Learn how to safely maneuver your bike, including clipping in and out of pedals and using rear brakes.
- Take a Safety Course: Enroll in a bicycle safety course in your area.
- Ride with Traffic: Always ride with traffic, not against it, and stay as far to the right as practicable if no bike path is available. Avoid riding on sidewalks.
- Wear a Helmet: Always wear a helmet, without exception.
- Stay Visible: Wear reflective clothing and use reflectors and lights at night. In Iowa, rear lights are mandatory. Wear bright clothing during the day.
- Avoid Earbuds: Stay alert to traffic sounds, such as honking horns or speeding cars, by not wearing earbuds.
- Stay Alert: Pay attention to what cars around you are doing. Make eye contact with drivers when possible to avoid collisions.
- Avoid Blind Spots: Do not ride in drivers’ blind spots and leave room between yourself and parked cars to avoid being doored.
- Don’t Speed: Leave ample time to react by not speeding.
- Bike Maintenance: Ensure your bike is in good repair before hitting the road, including checking tire pressure and brakes.

Walker, Billingsley & Bair take Iowans’ bike safety seriously. We fight for bikers’ rights in claims or court cases because those who ride bikes to improve their health and the environment shouldn’t be punished by negligent drivers. 

Understanding Comparative Negligence Rule in a Car Accident Claim in Iowa

When you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, establishing negligence is crucial for pursuing compensation. Iowa follows the modified comparative fault – 51% rule. This means that to file a claim against another driver, your fault must be 50% or less. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages.

Even if you’re at fault for less than 51%, the damages you’re entitled to may be reduced. For example, if the other driver made an unsafe lane change, but you were speeding, this could reduce your claim. Seeking legal help is important to prove that the other party was more negligent to recover more in damages.

What Are the Available Damages in a Dramshop Claim?

The damages available in an Iowa personal injury claim are the same as those in a dramshop claim. They include:

- Medical Bills: Payment of all medical bills associated with the accident, including prescribed physical or occupational rehabilitation.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional suffering, such as PTSD or the trauma of permanent loss of a limb.
- Lost Income: Recovery of job-related wages or self-employment earnings. This also includes work-related benefits like paid medical insurance or retirement contributions.
- Damaged Property: Repair or replacement of the victim’s vehicle and any items in it at the time of the accident.
- Wrongful Death: Compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of consortium, and other expenses incurred due to the untimely death of a family member.
- Punitive Damages: Additional damages awarded if the defendant showed willful disregard for the victim’s safety.

Basics of Dramshop Law

A dramshop claim is filed against a person or business with a liquor license for serving too much alcohol to an individual who later causes an accident resulting in injury or death. Iowa’s dramshop laws are outlined in Iowa Code § 123.92. There are strict time limits for providing written notice of intent to file a claim, and the burden of proof lies with the injured victim or their survivors.

If someone is hit by an intoxicated driver, they can sue both the bar and the drunk driver. Each defendant pays a percentage of the victim’s reasonable damages, excluding punitive damages. The notice to file a claim against the establishment’s licensee or permittee must be filed within six months of the accident, with precise information required. The statute of limitations for filing the injury claim is two years from the accident date.

By combining these comprehensive insights, you can better understand road bike safety, car accident claims, and dramshop laws to protect yourself and your rights effectively.

We Are Here To Help

Remember, you are not alone in recovering from your injuries. We have helped thousands of Iowans through their physical, emotional, and financial recoveries. If you have questions about what you are going through, feel free to call our office for your confidential injury conference. We will take the time to listen to you and give you our advice concerning your injury matter at no cost or risk to you.

Free Book at No Cost 

If you are not ready to speak with an attorney yet but would like to learn more about Iowa injury cases including tips about how you can avoid making common costly mistakes request a copy of our Iowa Personal Injury book which includes 14 myths about Iowa injury cases and 5 things to know before hiring an attorney.

If you have specific questions about your injury matter feel free to call our office to speak with our Injury team at 641-792-3595 or use our Chat feature by clicking here 24 hours a day/7 days per week. Your information will remain confidential and there is no cost or obligation.