Under Iowa personal injury law, accident victims can sue the responsible party for damages, or compensation for the victim’s losses. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of another person or business’s negligent, careless, reckless or intentional behavior, a Des Moines personal injury lawyer can explain your legal options. These may include attempting to negotiate a settlement with the responsible party or filing a lawsuit in Iowa District Court.
Statute of Limitations for Iowa Personal Injury Lawsuits
You have two years from the date of your injuries to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. This time limit, known as a statute of limitations, is strictly filed. If your lawsuit is filed even just one day too late, your case may be dismissed and you’ll be unable to collect any compensation for your injuries.
When injuries are not immediately obvious — as is sometimes the case with defective drugs and medical devices, for example — then the statute of limitations may be calculated from the date your injuries are discovered. An Iowa personal injury lawyer can help you calculate the date by which you have to file a lawsuit.
Lawsuits can take time to research and prepare, and you don’t want your personal injury attorney to rush through the process. For this reason, it makes sense to hire a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
Iowa Personal Injury Damages
Damages are intended to compensate your for your accident related expenses. Iowa’s personal injury laws allows accident victims to receive money for:
- The repair or replacement of damaged property, such as clothing, a motor vehicle or anything else that was damaged or destroyed as a result of the accident
- Past, present and future medical expenses for treatment related directly to your injuries
- Other medical costs, such as prescription drugs, adaptive aids, and transportation to and from doctors’ appointments
- Lost wages for time when you’re unable to work
- Loss of future wages, if your injury makes it impossible for you to work in the same job or earn the same salary that you were earning prior to your accident
- Mental and physical pain and suffering
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury is a broad area of the law that encompasses many types of accident-related injuries. These include motor vehicle accidents, animal bites, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, injuries caused by defective products, birth injuries, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse and neglect.
