Cherokee Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Accidents and injuries can abruptly alter lives. In these difficult times, car accident injury lawyers become vital allies. They fight for those hurt by others' negligence, ensuring just compensation. This article emphasizes the critical role these lawyers play in helping people manage their claims and restore their lives.

Social Media and Car Accident Claims: Navigating Legal Complexities and Protecting Your Rights

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to share experiences, connect with friends, and stay updated. However, after a car accident, what you post online can significantly impact your claim. This article explores how social media can affect your car accident claim, the implications of Iowa's DUI laws, and the importance of proper handling of medical bills in insurance claims.

Refrain from Talking about Your Accident

After a car accident, you might feel the urge to share your experience on social media. However, doing so can be detrimental to your claim. Insurance adjusters often scour social media profiles for information that can be used against you. Discussing the accident online may lead to unintentional admissions of fault or sharing details that contradict your official statement, weakening your position.

Tips to Protect Yourself:
- Avoid posting any information about the accident.
- Refrain from discussing the incident with friends or family on social media platforms.
- Keep your social media accounts private and be cautious about accepting new friend requests.

Avoid Posting Pictures and Videos

Sharing photos and videos on platforms like Instagram and Facebook is common, but after a car accident, it can undermine your injury claim. Images or videos showing you engaging in physical activities can be used by insurance adjusters to argue that your injuries are not as severe as claimed.

Why This Matters:
- If you claim a serious injury like a broken leg but post a video showing you walking without crutches, it raises doubts about the extent of your injury.
- Even past photos posted after the accident can be misinterpreted and used against you in court.

Don’t Post Location Check-ins & Status Updates

Location check-ins and status updates can also harm your claim. If you check in at a location or post about your activities, it can be used to suggest that your injuries are not as severe as you allege.

Potential Issues:
- Checking in at social events or posting about being out with friends can contradict claims of significant injury or distress.
- Insurance adjusters can use these updates to challenge the credibility of your injury claims.

The Best Social Media Policy

To safeguard your claim, it’s best to avoid social media altogether after a car accident. Consider temporarily deactivating your accounts or, at the very least, set your profiles to private. Only interact with people you know personally and refrain from posting new content.

Further Steps:
- Disable location services on your social media apps to avoid accidental check-ins.
- Regularly review your privacy settings to ensure that your information remains secure.

Understanding Iowa’s DUI Laws and Their Impact on Your Claim

If you are involved in a car accident with a drunk driver in Iowa, understanding the state’s DUI laws is crucial for your claim. Iowa operates under a fault-based system, meaning the at-fault driver’s insurance covers the damages.

#Establishing Fault

To file a successful personal injury claim in Iowa, you must prove that the other party was more than 50% responsible for the accident. If the other driver was intoxicated, their DUI citation, charge, and conviction can serve as strong evidence of negligence.

#Evidence of Impairment

Chapter 321J.2 of the Iowa Code states that operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is a violation. Additionally, Iowa’s implied consent laws (Chapter 321J.6) require drivers to submit to blood, breath, or urine tests. Refusal to take these tests can also be used as evidence in civil proceedings.

Types of Evidence:
- Breath, blood, and urine test results indicating a high BAC.
- Eyewitness testimonies and photographs from the accident scene.
- Expert witness testimonies to corroborate the severity and cause of the accident.

Handling Medical Bills in Car Accident Claims

When filing a car accident claim in Iowa, all medical expenses incurred due to the accident should be included in your claim. There is no minimum amount that your medical bills must exceed for the insurance company to pay.

#Diagnostic vs. Treatment Expenses

Insurance adjusters may attempt to categorize your medical expenses into diagnostics (emergency care, tests, specialist visits) and treatments (medication, surgery, therapy). They might argue that only treatment expenses relate to the severity of your injury, aiming to reduce the amount of special damages (medical expenses) and, consequently, general damages (pain and suffering).

Why Diagnostics Matter:
- Proper diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.
- Diagnostic expenses are integral to your recovery and should be included in your claim.

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.