After you have been injured because of someone else’s fault in Iowa, you probably want to know whether you need to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Do You Actually Need a Lawyer For Your Personal Injury Case?
The first thing you should consider is whether you need a lawyer at all. Not every personal injury case in Iowa requires an attorney’s help. If you were in a car accident or suffered an injury at work where you were not seriously injured, it may not make sense to hire an attorney to help settle your case.
The reason for this is because personal injury lawyers often work on contingency. This means an attorney will get a certain percentage of whatever settlement or verdict you get. If you are not seriously hurt, you probably won’t get a large settlement for your injuries. If you have to pay attorney’s fees out of this settlement, you may not have much left for your own pocket. So it may not always make financial sense to hire an attorney.
That being said, we do recommend you speak with an experienced Iowa personal injury attorney even if you believe you were not seriously injured. A lawyer can give you advice on how to best deal with the insurance company and make sure you’re getting a fair settlement.
Iowa’s Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims
If you were seriously injured because of someone else’s fault, you may need months or even years to recover from your injuries. There is a limited amount of time you are able to seek out compensation for your injuries. This is known as the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations in Iowa is two years from the date of the accident or injury. That means if you are still healing and the two-year anniversary is approaching, you may need to file a lawsuit so you can preserve your right to fair compensation. An attorney can monitor important dates for you and tell you if you need to file a lawsuit.
Pre-Existing Conditions and Iowa Personal Injury Lawsuits
Most Iowans are not perfectly healthy. It isn’t unusual for someone with a pre-existing condition to get into an accident or suffer a fall because of someone else’s negligence.
What that means is that your pre-existing condition can make your claim more complicated. The insurance company will likely argue that your injuries were already present before the accident, and you are exaggerating about any further pain or injury.
If you hire an attorney to help with your claim, they can review your medical records and interview your treating doctors. This can help present a clear picture to the insurance company of how your injuries were made worse because of the accident.
Finally, you should consider hiring an attorney at any point in the process if you’re feeling overwhelmed in dealing with the insurance company. Some people will hire an attorney even if they’re not seriously injured so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of settling a claim. Some people like the peace of mind that comes with having an attorney take care of the details.
If you would like a free, no-obligation case evaluation by one of our Iowa personal injury attorneys, call RSH Legal today at 1-319-774-1903.
