Yes, you may recover for any expenses or costs that you can prove were directly related to the injury that you suffered in a truck accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. In other words, if you can prove that the trucker, the trucking company, or another party was responsible for the injuries that you suffered, then you can recover for any out-of-pocket expenses that you had to pay because of those injuries.

What Kinds Of Costs Are Included After A Truck Wreck?

The law allows you to recover for anything that you had to pay for because of your injury. Of course, this is limited to reasonable expenses (vacations, for example, are not costs you had to incur because of your injuries). While each recovery is unique and based on the specific situation of the truck accident victim, some types of expenses that could be included in your recovery are the costs of:

• Household help. If you need help taking care of your home because of your injuries, then those costs may be reimbursable.
• Transportation. If you incur transportation costs because of your injuries, then those costs can be included in your recovery.
• Child care. If you did not need child care prior to your injury and now you do, then those costs may be part of your settlement or court recovery.
• A funeral. If your loved one died as a result of truck accident injuries, then funeral costs can be part of a recovery.

Any other costs that you did not have to pay for prior to injury and that you paid because of your injury may also be included in your recovery.

Protect the Recovery That You Deserve

The insurance company or the defendant may argue that the costs that you are claiming are not necessary. It is up to you to prove that you had to pay them because of your injuries and you will need to prove their exact value. In order to do this, you are going to have to present evidence such as receipts, medical records, and expert testimony.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can investigate your claim, gather the right evidence and fight for your fair and just recovery of out-of-pocket costs and all other damages related to your truck accident injuries. If you've been involved in a truck accident, contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your free consultation.

 

Yes, any income that you can prove that you lost as a direct result of your truck accident injuries may be part of the damages that you recover in a truck accident case. This includes income that you earn if you work for someone else as an employee, income that you earn as an independent contractor, or income that you earn from being self-employed.

How to Prove the Full Value of Your Lost Income

The burden is on you to prove the value of your lost income, just as it is on you to prove the value of your other truck crash damages. Proving the value of your lost income may require you to present copies of your:

• Most recent pay stubs.
• Most recent tax returns.
• Employment contract.
• Company’s policies about bonuses, raises, and benefits.
• Business plan.
• Customer contracts.

Any other documentation that can prove the value of your wages, benefits, or income from self-employment will also be relevant.

The insurance company that you are trying to settle with or the defendant that you are suing in court wants to minimize the value of your lost income so that they can pay you as little as possible. The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to make a strong case about the value of your lost income damages.

An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You Do That

Our legal team knows how to investigate truck accidents, identify the right defendants, and fight for our clients’ full and fair recoveries. We only represent people who have been hurt in accidents. If you have been hurt then we will provide you the attention that you deserve and we will fight hard to get you the compensation that you need for all of your past, current, and future lost income. Whether you can’t work at all, you have to work reduced hours, or you have to work a lower wage job because of your truck accident injuries, you should speak with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. We encourage you to contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to learn more about your rights today.

 

Yes, you may recover damages for the physical pain and emotional suffering that you endure after a truck wreck. Since the moment you were hurt you may have realized that your physical pain and your emotional suffering were among the most costly and significant of the injuries that you suffered.

Truck Accidents Are Among the Hardest to Value

While the law allows you to recover for your pain and suffering, there are no bills or documentation that you can submit to prove the value of these damages. Instead, you are going to have to present evidence to the insurance company during settlement negotiations or to the court during litigation to prove how badly you’ve been hurt and how your injuries have impacted your life.

Such documentation could include:

• Medical records that show the extent of your injury and reflect on your physical pain.
• Evidence of treatment you’ve received by a mental health professional.
• A diary of the activities that you missed because of your injuries and the daily living activities that you struggle with since your injury.
• Statements from friends and family members about how your injury has impacted your life.

Your injury is unique, however, and you may have additional evidence to present that helps to prove the value of your pain and suffering.

Talk to an Experienced Lawyer About Your Fair Truck Accident Recovery

Pain and suffering is an important part of your truck accident compensation; however, there are also other damages that will help fully compensate you for the injuries that you have suffered.

You deserve to make a full recovery, but you need to know that the defendant and the defendant’s insurers are going to fight hard to minimize that recovery.

You need to fight hard too, but you do not need to do it alone. Instead, you have the right to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer who will fight hard for your fair and just recovery.

We want to help you get the recovery that you deserve, but your time to file a case is limited by law. If you've been involved in a truck accident contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your free consultation.

Yes, it is possible to reach a fair settlement in a truck crash case. However, coming to such a settlement requires skilled negotiations and requires the injured party to understand the consequences of a settlement before agreeing to anything.

What You Should Know Before Settling Your Case

Before you begin settlement negotiations, it is important to understand what happens at the end of settlement negotiations. Once a settlement is reached, the amount of money that you will receive is your final recovery for your truck accident injuries. The terms of the settlement will not allow you to pursue a further recovery even if your future damages are more than you expected. Thus, it is important that your settlement fully compensate you for your past, current and future medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, pain, suffering, and other damages.

While your goal is to make a full recovery through a settlement, the insurance company with which you are negotiating has another goal. It is the insurance company’s goal to get you to accept the lowest possible settlement. In this way, the insurance company works toward its ultimate goal of maximizing its profits.

Don’t Negotiate Your Own Settlement

The insurance company has professional and skilled negotiators working to get you to accept a smaller recovery than you may truly deserve. You deserve the same advantage. You can work with an experienced truck accident lawyer who is a skilled negotiator and who will work hard on your behalf.

In many cases, your attorney will take control of settlement negotiations by sending a demand letter to the insurance company explaining the value of your damages and what the insurance company needs to pay to settle your claim. The insurance company will then answer the demand letter with a counter-offer, and negotiations will proceed. If a fair offer is made, then your attorney will explain to you the benefits and potential costs of accepting it. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, then your attorney will advise you of the benefits and potential costs of resolving your case in court.

To learn more about your own potential truck accident settlement you need to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer before you talk to an insurance adjuster. Contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678. We would be pleased to provide you with a free consultation, to describe how a truck accident case works, and to help you get the settlement that you deserve.

Chapter 668A of the Iowa Code allows punitive damages (also known as exemplary damages) to be awarded in some personal injury cases. Punitive damages are awarded far less frequently than compensatory damages, and they serve a different purpose.

Punitive Damages Are Meant to Punish the Defendant

While compensatory damages are meant to compensate the person who was hurt for things such as medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant. The law only allows this type of punishment in certain situations.

The law requires that special questions be answered by a jury (or by the court, if there is no jury) in order for punitive damages to be awarded. Specifically, the jury or judge must determine:

• Whether the defendant’s conduct that caused the injury was done with “willful and wanton disregard for the rights or safety of another.” This must be proven “by a preponderance of clear, convincing, and satisfactory evidence”—a standard that is much higher than is required to prove compensatory damages in an Iowa personal injury case. Punitive damages may only be awarded if this standard is met.
• Whether the defendant’s conduct was directed at the person who was hurt. If the defendant’s conduct was directed at the person who was hurt, then the full amount of punitive damages may be awarded. If, however, the defendant’s conduct was not directed at the person who was hurt, but an injury happened anyway, then the plaintiff may recover up to 25% of the punitive damages awarded, with the rest going into a state trust fund.

Punitive damages can serve two important public policies. First, they can punish the defendant for extreme wrongdoing. Second, they can deter others from acting in a similar way and from hurting other people in the future.

For these reasons, it is important to speak with an experienced Iowa personal injury lawyer as soon as possible about protecting your rights and getting all of the damages you deserve after an Iowa accident. Contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your free, confidential consultation today.

According to Iowa Code §614.1(2), you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in an Iowa court. While the Iowa statutes are clear on this timeframe, there are some factors that could make lengthen or shorten the statute of limitations for you.

Regardless of when your personal statute of limitations will end, it is important to take action quickly. There is no need to wait until the statute of limitations is about to expire to contact a personal injury lawyer. Instead, you can begin preserving evidence and getting the recovery that you deserve as soon as you know that you are hurt by contacting us today for a free consultation.

Exceptions to the Iowa Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

The two-year statute of limitations may be extended if the person who is hurt:

• Has a mental illness at the time of the injury.
• Is a minor at the time of the injury.

In these circumstances, Iowa Code §614.1(8) provides that a lawsuit may be filed by the person who was hurt within one year from the time the mental illness ends or the time the minor becomes an adult. Of course, this assumes that a parent or legal guardian did not file a case on the injured person’s behalf earlier.

Similarly, the time for filing a personal injury case against a government entity may be shorter than two years because of special rules about suing government employees and agencies.

Don’t Miss the Deadline

You need to know when your personal injury statute of limitations will expire so that you don’t miss it. If you do not file your case before the statute of limitations expires and you file it after the legal deadline then you should expect that the defendant will file a motion to dismiss your case which will be quickly granted by the court. You won’t be able to recover any damages.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, learn more about how a personal injury case works in Iowa by browsing our free articles, contacting us online or calling us directly at 800.800.5678 today.

You’ve done your research. You understand how a personal injury case works in Iowa, you believe that you have a case, and you expect that the court will award you damages for your injuries. Now, however, you have to take action and file your case correctly so that you can begin the process of getting the compensation that you deserve.

Take the Right Steps to Protect Your Rights

Your case officially begins when you file a petition in an Iowa district court. Your petition must include:

• The names of all parties involved. This includes you and anyone that you are naming as a defendant in your lawsuit.
• Your theory of recovery. You must provide your legal grounds for filing a lawsuit. Many personal injury plaintiffs allege that the defendant was negligent, for example.
• The relief that you are seeking. This is where you tell the court about the injury and damages that you suffered because of the defendant and about the specific compensation that you are seeking.

In addition to filing this petition (also known as a complaint) in an Iowa district court, you will need to make sure that the petition is served (or properly delivered) to each defendant in the case.

You Don’t Have to File Your Case Alone

The rules explained above may seem easy to follow, but they can be complicated. The information that you provide in your petition is going to set the stage for your lawsuit and eventual recovery.

You need to get it right and we can help. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will make sure that your rights to all potential compensation will be protected. For more information about filing a personal injury case in Iowa or about your possible recovery, we encourage you to contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678. We would be happy to set up a free consultation and to help you take the legal steps that you need to take before the statute of limitations expires and you no longer have time to file your claim.

You have the legal right—or standing—to sue after an Iowa personal injury accident if you were the one who suffered an actual injury or if you have a certain legal relationship to someone who suffered an actual injury. The threat of an injury or being scared that an injury will occur because of someone else’s wrongdoing will not allow you to recover damages in court.

But an Injury Will Give You Standing to File a Case

Iowa law will allow you to file a personal injury lawsuit if:

• You were the one who was hurt. If you suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, you are 18 or older, and you are of sound mind, then you have standing to file a lawsuit.
• You are the parent of a minor child who was hurt. A minor child cannot file a lawsuit independently. However, as the child’s parent you have the right to file a personal injury case on behalf of your child. The recovery would be for the benefit of your child.
• You are the legal guardian of someone who was hurt. The rules here are similar to those of a parent and child. If you have been named by the court as the legal guardian of someone else and that person is injured, then you may have the right to file a case for the benefit of the person who was hurt.
• You are the personal representative of the estate of someone who died. If you are the personal representative of someone’s estate and that person died in a personal injury accident then you have the right to bring a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the estate. Any recovery that is made will belong to the estate.

It is important to determine whether or not you have standing before you file a lawsuit. If you do not have standing to sue, then the defendant will raise that issue quickly and your case will be dismissed without your recovering any damages. That is not worth your time and effort.

Instead, you want to be sure that you have the standing that you need and that you know how a personal injury case works in Iowa so you can minimize any surprises and protect your fair and just recovery. Please contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678.

The answer to your question depends on two things. First, you must have suffered an injury in a personal injury incident. Second, you must not have been the one who was primarily responsible for the incident that resulted in your injuries. In other words, someone else (or a group of people) must bear the primary responsibility for the accident and your resulting injuries.

Iowa Law Is Clear

Iowa Code 668.3 explains when you may recover damages even if you bear some of the legal responsibility for your injury. According to the statute:

• Your personal injury case may proceed—and you may recover damages—unless you bear a greater percentage of fault then the defendant(s).
• Any damages that you recover will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributable to you. This percentage may be decided during settlement negotiations with the insurance company or it may be decided by the court. For example, if you are found to be 15% at fault for the incident that led to your injury, then your recovery will be reduced by 15%.

The law seeks to make your recovery fair for you and for the defendant who should not have to pay for your own negligence.

Evidence and Advocacy Are the Keys to Your Fair Recovery

You can expect that the percentage of fault will be hotly contested during settlement negotiations or in court. The defendants will want to maximize the percentage of fault attributable to you so that their own liability is minimized and so that they have to pay you less in a settlement or court verdict.

A thorough investigation, reliable evidence, and strong advocacy skills can result in a fairly negotiated settlement or an accurate court verdict. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you with all of these things. To learn more about how a personal injury case works in Iowa, please contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule your own free, no-obligation consultation with us.

Whether you’ve been injured in a car crash, motorcycle wreck, by a dog bite, by a prescription medication, or in another type of accident you may be angry. You may want the person or company that hurt you to be punished.

In some cases, you may be able to recover punitive damages—or damages that are designed to punish the wrongdoer. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to the compensatory damages that you recover for the harm that you have suffered. However, punitive damages are not available in all cases and they can be difficult to get. An experienced personal injury lawyer can put forth the necessary evidence and advocate for your recovery of punitive damages, when appropriate.

When Punitive Damages Are Awarded in Illinois Personal Injury Cases

One of the Illinois state statutes, 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.05, explains when punitive damages may be awarded, what a plaintiff needs to prove to get punitive damages, and what those damages may include.

A judge or jury may award punitive damages in an Illinois personal injury case if the plaintiff can show by clear and convincing evidence that the “defendant's conduct was with evil motive or with a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and with a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others.”

Clear and convincing evidence is a higher standard than the preponderance of the evidence standard that you use to prove other types of personal injury damages. The clear and convincing evidence standard means that you must prove with a high degree of certainty that you are legally entitled to personal injury damages.

How Much Can You Recover in Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are only allowed if you were hurt and you can recover personal injury damages for things such as medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering. The amount of punitive damages that can be recovered is limited by Illinois law to three times your economic damages.

Punitive damages can be hard to prove and difficult to recover, but they may be important to you personally and for public policy reasons. Accordingly, if you believe that you have a case that could include punitive damages then we encourage you to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule a free consultation about your rights and for more information about protecting your full and fair recovery.