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5 Myths About Iowa Personal Injury Claims (Video)

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Posted by Ben Long

There is a lot of incorrect information out there about filing a personal injury lawsuit in Iowa. Here are some of the most common myths about Iowa personal injury claims:

Myth Number 1: You Can File Your Personal Injury Claim Whenever You Want

Iowa personal injury claims are limited in the amount of time you have to file.  This time limit is known as the “statute of limitations.”  In Iowa, the statute of limitations for Iowa personal injury claims is generally 2 years from the date of the injury. If you do not settle your claim or file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations is up, then you will likely lose your right to compensation for your injuries.

Myth Number 2: You Need to Pay Your Iowa Personal Injury Attorney a Retainer

Unlike some other types of attorneys, personal injury lawyers generally work on a contingency fee basis.  This means if you do not get compensation for your injuries, then your lawyer will not get paid for his or her services.

There are a few ways the contingency fee arrangement can be beneficial:

  • You can hire an experienced personal injury attorney without having to pay a retainer;
  • Contingency fees motivate Iowa attorneys to obtain the highest settlement amount that they can, because the more money you receive, the more money your attorney receives;
  • It’s unlikely your attorney will take unnecessary risks in the case because if you don’t get paid, then your attorney won’t get paid either.

Myth Number 3: Your Lawyer Will Tell You How Much Compensation You Will Receive For Your Claim

Any lawyer who tells you at the beginning of a case that they know exactly how much money you will get for your claim is not being truthful.  Each case is different and will get a different result.  It’s impossible for anyone to know exactly how much compensation you could receive for your injuries until all the information about your case has been gathered.

An attorney may be able to give you an estimate of how much your case may be worth, but no attorney can or should promise a specific dollar amount.

Myth Number 4: The Person Who Injured You Has To Pay Your Medical Bills Right Away

Neither the person at fault for your injuries nor their insurance company is required to pay any of your bills until they are ordered to do so by a judge.  The only way they are likely to pay without a verdict is if you are ready to settle your case.

Until a settlement is agreed upon, or a verdict is won, you are responsible for your own medical bills – and your credit will suffer if you do not pay those bills.

Myth Number 5: Most Personal Injury Lawsuits Are Frivolous

Many people believe we live in a society that is overly litigious – we file lawsuits for anything and everything.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Most personal injury lawsuits are filed because victims suffer serious injuries and need compensation to pay their medical bills.

If you have been seriously injured because of someone else’s fault, you should never feel guilty about filing a personal injury lawsuit.  This may be the only way you can get fair compensation for your bills and for your pain and suffering.

Call RSH Legal today at 1-319-774-1542 and speak with one of our personal injury attorneys.  They will be able to answer any questions you may have about your Iowa personal injury case.

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