Personal Injury Law in Cedar Rapids, IA

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Cedar Rapids? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Cedar Rapids, IA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Cedar Rapids relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Cedar Rapids, IA

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Cedar Rapids 

The Iowa Department of Public Health states that unintentional and accidental injury is one of the leading causes of death across the state, and auto accidents are the leading cause of injury. Auto accidents are much more prevalent in cities like Cedar Rapids, due to the greater likelihood of accidents based on population density.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Cedar Rapids, IA

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Iowa

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

Over 90% of personal injury cases end as a result of a settlement. This could happen when you first come before a judge, or during the mediation process if it is mandated by the Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids. If your case does go to trial, a judge or jury will be the ones to decide the settlement, if any.

Iowa Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Settlements across Iowa frequently vary due to factors such as the degree of fault and severity of the injury. Most settlements in Cedar Rapids are in the $10,000-$20,000 range. However, as stated by the Drake Law Library, it is very difficult to pinpoint an average settlement because there are so many factors. This makes it difficult to have an average settlement for Cedar Rapids.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in IA, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Iowa

If your Iowa personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and that the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Iowa has just recently passed any type of damage cap, but these are only in very rare circumstances. In most cases, an amount awarded to the plaintiff can not be reduced to a set cap.

Statute of Limitations in Cedar Rapids, IA Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Cedar Rapids residents have 2 years from the date of the injury to file their personal injury claim. If you exceed this time limit, you will be in violation of the statute of limitations and most likely will have your claim rejected.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Cedar Rapids, IA Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Cedar Rapids against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Iowa state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!