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Accidents and injuries can unexpectedly impact lives. During these tough times, car accident injury lawyers are essential allies. They specialize in representing individuals harmed by the negligence of others, ensuring fair compensation. This article delves into the critical role these lawyers play, guiding people through the intricacies of their claims and aiding in their recovery.
Broken Nose Treatment after an Accident in Iowa
An accident victim might suffer severe facial injuries, including a broken nose. A broken nose often involves a fracture of the large bone over the bridge of the nose. Typical causes of a broken nose include car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, sports injuries, falls, or fights. This article delves into the symptoms, necessary treatments, and legal considerations regarding broken nose injuries in Iowa.
Symptoms of a Broken Nose
In some cases, a broken nose is easily diagnosed because of extreme swelling or a crooked appearance. In other cases, it may not be clear whether your nose is actually broken or only bruised and sore. If you believe you have a broken nose, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The following symptoms may indicate that your nose is broken and you need to see a doctor:
- Difficulty breathing
- Mucus discharge from your nostril(s)
- Blocked nasal passages
- Bruising around the nose or eyes
- Pain and/or tenderness when touching your nose or the surrounding area
- Bleeding from your nose
- Swelling of your nose and surrounding areas of the face
- Misshapen or crooked nose
When You Should Go to the Emergency Room
Some accompanying symptoms could signal a more serious injury and warrant a trip to the hospital. If you experience any of the following symptoms, get medical help right away:
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Clear or watery fluid discharge from your nostril(s)
- Loss of consciousness
- Bouts of nausea and/or vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Clearly twisted or disfigured nose
Your doctor will conduct an examination of your nose and any other concerning areas, ordering X-rays and possibly CT scans to properly diagnose all potential injuries.
Treatment for a Broken Nose
For minor fractures, a doctor might provide instructions for self-care at home, such as applying ice to the area and taking over-the-counter pain medications. You may be directed to schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.
For more serious breaks, several medical treatments can repair the injury:
1. Manual Realignment: In cases where the nose bones and/or cartilage are displaced, the doctor may perform a manual realignment. The doctor may provide local anesthesia prior to the realignment, then use a nasal speculum to open the nostrils and special tools to realign the cartilage and bones. Packing within the nostrils and splinting outside and/or inside the nose will keep the bones in place.
2. Surgery: Severe cases may require surgery. When a patient has multiple breaks in the nose or waits too long to seek treatment, surgery can become the only option for repair. Reconstructive surgery is sometimes also necessary if the nasal septum has been damaged.
Do My Medical Bills Have to Exceed a Certain Amount Before the Insurance Company Pays for a Car Accident?
In Iowa, your medical bills do not have to exceed a certain amount before the insurance company pays. When filing your insurance claim, be sure to submit all of your medical expenses and demand reimbursement. If negotiating with insurance companies is not your strong suit, a qualified Iowa personal injury lawyer can act on your behalf to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
An insurance adjuster may try to separate your medical expenses into a diagnostic category and a treatment category. Diagnostics include your emergency care, any tests run to diagnose your problem, and specialist visits, while treatment includes medication, surgery, physical therapy, and routine doctor visits.
The reason why the adjuster will try to reject part of your insurance claim is that the amount of general damages (i.e., pain and suffering, diminished quality of life) is based on your special damages (medical expenses). By reducing the amount of your special damages, the adjuster can save the company money on your total car accident claim.
Remember that you cannot get the treatment you need without the proper diagnosis. Therefore, diagnostics are just as important as treatment. Submitting an insurance claim can be a complicated process. A qualified Iowa personal injury lawyer can help you determine the value of your injuries and submit the proper medical files and paperwork to back up your insurance claim.
Dram Shop Liability or Social Host Liability for DUI Accident in Iowa
Dram shop liability laws protect the rights of individuals injured by intoxicated drivers. An injured person can bring a personal injury claim against the intoxicated person to recover damages. Under dram shop laws, that same injured person may also be able to bring suit against the establishment that served the alcohol to the intoxicated person.
Each state has its own approach to dram shop liability laws, and Iowa is no exception. In Iowa, if you’re injured by the actions of an intoxicated person, you may be able to hold the alcohol vendor who served that person drinks responsible for your injuries and resulting damages.
Iowa’s Dram Shop Liability Laws
The dram shop liability law is found in Iowa Code section 123.92. It establishes that any bar, restaurant, or other vendor in possession of a permit or license to serve alcohol may be liable for damages that another person suffers because of an intoxicated driver, if the establishment served alcohol to the person while intoxicated or appearing intoxicated.
Consider the following scenario: John is drinking at a local Des Moines bar on a Saturday afternoon. He has had several drinks, and the other patrons at the bar can see he’s intoxicated. He gets up to go to the bathroom and loses his balance, falling down.
When he returns, he orders another drink and the bartender serves him. He continues to drink and stays at the bar, ordering two more drinks before he finally leaves to go home at 7:00 p.m. At 7:10 p.m., he collides with another car when he crosses the center line of the roadway, seriously injuring Jody, the other car’s driver. Police on the scene attribute the accident to John’s elevated blood alcohol level and charge John with driving under the influence.
Jody’s family files a personal injury claim against John. They also file a lawsuit against the bar under the Iowa Dram Shop Act because the bartender continued to serve alcohol to John after he was visibly intoxicated.
Complicity in Dram Shop Liability Cases
There is one factor that could prevent an injured party from bringing suit against the bar or other entity in a dram shop case. This factor is called complicity, and it refers to situations where the injured party was involved in the alcohol consumption in some type of material or important way.
For example, if Jody had been at the bar with John or at the same time as John, and was buying him drinks or engaging in drinking contests or other drinking behavior, she would have difficulty convincing the court that she did not participate in the activities leading up to the injuries. The case could be rejected because of complicity.
Social Host Liability in a Drunk Driving Accident
What if the drunk driver did not obtain alcohol from a bar, restaurant, or liquor store? What if he was at a party at a friend’s house and received liquor there, becoming intoxicated, and later striking another vehicle? What is the host’s liquor liability for the accident?
Dram shop liability differs from social host liability. While some states may allow injured parties to pursue compensation from the social host of the party who served the alcohol, Iowa does not. The law in Iowa only applies to establishments with a license or permit to sell alcohol.
So if John was at a friend’s house on a Saturday afternoon watching football and became intoxicated, Jody’s family would not be able to hold John’s friend liable.
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.