Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accident Lawyer Des Moines, IA
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Des Moines, you’re probably dealing with more than just a damaged vehicle. Medical bills are stacking up. You may have missed weeks of work already. And the insurance company on the other end of this keeps calling, asking for statements, pushing a lowball offer, hoping you’ll settle before you know what your claim is actually worth.
That’s where we come in. The Law Group of Iowa has represented car accident victims across Polk County and central Iowa for over two decades. Our founding partners, Christopher Johnston and Christopher Martineau, have been trying personal injury cases since 2001 and 2003, respectively. We know how Des Moines insurance adjusters operate, we know the local court system, and we know what it takes to get our clients the compensation they’re owed. If you need a Des Moines, IA car accident lawyer, contact our office for a free consultation.
Why Choose Law Group of Iowa for Car Accident Cases in Des Moines, Iowa
Deep Roots in Iowa and Real Trial Experience
Chris Johnston was born and raised in Iowa. His family has been here for three generations, going back to his great-grandfather, who settled in Coin, Iowa, in Page County. He didn’t come to this state to practice law, this is home, and he takes it personally when Iowans get hurt because of someone else’s negligence.
Johnston graduated from William Mitchell College of Law and is admitted to practice in Iowa, Minnesota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and Federal Court. He’s a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Minnesota Association for Justice. In 2011, Minnesota Law and Politics named him a Rising Star, and he received the Up and Coming Attorney of the Year award in 2007.
Martineau graduated from Hamline University School of Law and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction reserved for attorneys who have achieved million-dollar-plus verdicts or settlements. Together, they’ve helped clients recover millions of dollars after car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle wrecks, and other serious accidents.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer in Des Moines, you’re getting attorneys who prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.
No Fees Unless We Win
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. No retainer. No hourly bills. We only get paid if we recover money for you. Period. This structure exists because we believe that someone dealing with injuries from an auto accident shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can afford a lawyer on top of everything else. Our free consultation gives you a straightforward assessment of your case, what it may be worth, what to expect from the process, and what your options are.
A Team That Communicates
One of the biggest frustrations people have with attorneys is the silence. You call, you leave a message, you wait. We don’t operate that way. Our team keeps you informed at every stage. You’ll know when we file paperwork, when the insurance company responds, and what the next step is. The entire firm is built around the idea that clients deserve to know what’s happening with their case without having to chase anyone down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “After being in a car accident several years ago (no fault of our own), my wife and I had long ago wrote off getting any kind of fair settlement. 6 years later and a surprise call from Chris Johnston, he took over our case and got things handled very fairly. I highly recommend Chris.” Trevor E
See more client reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Des Moines
Car crashes come in many forms, and the legal approach changes depending on how the collision happened. Here are the types of auto accident cases we take on regularly.
- Rear-end collisions. These are among the most common crashes in Des Moines, especially at congested intersections and along I-235 during rush hour. Injuries like whiplash and soft tissue damage often don’t show up for days.
- Head-on collisions. These are the deadliest types of car accidents. When two vehicles meet head-on at speed, the injuries are almost always catastrophic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and fatalities.
- T-bone accidents. Side-impact crashes frequently happen at Des Moines intersections where drivers blow through red lights or fail to yield. The side of a vehicle offers minimal protection compared to the front or rear.
- Hit-and-run accidents. When a driver flees the scene, it makes the claims process more complicated but not impossible. We work with law enforcement and uninsured motorist policies to pursue every available source of recovery.
- DUI-related crashes. Iowa’s Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau reports that impaired drivers cause roughly 30 percent of all fatal crashes statewide. When a drunk or drugged driver causes a collision, the injured party may be entitled to punitive damages on top of standard compensation. Fatigued driving is another serious contributor, particularly during early morning and late-night hours on I-80 and I-35.
- Distracted driving accidents. Texting, scrolling, adjusting GPS any of it can turn a two-second lapse into a life-altering crash. Iowa passed hands-free legislation effective July 1, 2024, but distracted driving remains a leading cause of collisions across the metro.
Iowa Legal Requirements for Car Accident Cases
Iowa law shapes every part of a car accident claim, from how long you have to file a lawsuit to how fault is divided between the parties involved. Understanding a few key statutes helps explain what you’re up against and what protections exist.
The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Iowa is two years from the date of the accident, under Iowa Code § 614.1. Miss that deadline and you lose the right to file entirely. For property damage claims, the cost of fixing or replacing your vehicle, you have five years. But waiting accomplishes nothing. Evidence deteriorates, witnesses forget, and the insurance company gains leverage with every month that passes.
Iowa follows a modified comparative fault system outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 668. In plain terms, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury assigns you 20 percent of the blame for an accident and awards $100,000 in damages, you’d receive $80,000. But if you’re found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your share of fault for exactly this reason.
Iowa is also an at-fault state, meaning the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying the injured person’s damages. Iowa requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverages, $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $40,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage, though many drivers on the road carry far less than what’s needed to cover a serious crash.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a Des Moines Car Accident Case?
After a car wreck in Des Moines, Iowa law allows you to pursue several categories of damages. What you actually recover depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the strength of the evidence supporting your claim.
Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document with receipts, bills, and pay stubs. This includes current and future medical expenses, emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any long-term care you’ll need. It also includes lost wages from missed work and, in severe cases, lost earning capacity if you can no longer perform the same job you held before the accident. Vehicle repair or replacement costs fall here too. The hidden costs of car accidents often far exceed what people estimate during the first few weeks after a crash.
Non-economic damages compensate you for the things that don’t come with a price tag but are no less real. Pain and suffering. Emotional distress. Loss of enjoyment of life. If your injuries prevent you from playing with your children, exercising, or doing the activities that gave your daily life meaning, those losses carry value. Iowa does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, which means there is no arbitrary ceiling on what a jury can award for your suffering.
Punitive damages are different. They’re not about compensating you, they exist to punish the defendant for especially reckless or willful conduct. Under Iowa Code § 668A.1, a claimant must prove willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others by clear, convincing, and satisfactory evidence. Drunk driving cases are one of the most common scenarios where punitive damages apply in Iowa auto accident lawsuits. And notably, punitive damages are not reduced by your own comparative fault.
What Steps Should I Take After a Car Accident in Des Moines?
The actions you take in the hours and days after a car crash directly affect your ability to recover compensation later. Here’s what to do.
- Check for injuries and get to safety. Move out of traffic if you can do so without making your injuries worse. Turn on hazard lights.
- Call 911. Even if the accident seems minor, a police report creates an official record of the crash. You will need this later.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Get their name, insurance policy number, license plate, and contact information. If there are passengers, get their names too.
- Document the scene. Take photos of both vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Photograph the intersection or roadway from multiple angles.
- Get witness contact information. Bystanders who saw the crash can provide statements that corroborate your version of events.
- Seek medical attention immediately. Some car accident injuries concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage, don’t present symptoms right away. A medical evaluation within 24 to 48 hours ties your injuries to the accident.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. The adjuster is not on your side. Anything you say can be used to diminish or deny your claim.
- Notify your own insurance company. Report the accident, but keep the details brief and factual. Don’t speculate about fault.
- Keep all records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, correspondence with insurance companies, and proof of lost wages. These documents form the backbone of your claim.
- Contact a Des Moines car accident attorney. The sooner an attorney gets involved, the sooner evidence can be preserved, medical treatment can be coordinated, and the insurance company knows you are represented.
Des Moines Car Accident Infographic
Car Accident Statistics in Des Moines, IA
The numbers tell a story about how serious the problem is and why having qualified legal representation matters. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, 375 people died in traffic crashes across Iowa in 2023, an increase of more than 11 percent from 334 fatalities in 2022. It was the highest death toll since 2016, when 402 lives were lost. Data from the Iowa Crash Analysis Tool shows that the contributing factors remain stubbornly consistent: speeding, impairment, distracted driving, and failure to buckle up.
In 2024, Iowa saw 357 traffic fatalities, still well above the 300 annual goal that the Iowa State Patrol has been working toward for years. The good news: preliminary data for 2025 indicates the state may finally fall below 300 deaths for the first time since records began in 1925. But that’s statewide. In the Des Moines metro area specifically, the picture remains concerning.
A detailed safety study by the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, analyzing five years of Iowa DOT crash data from 2018 through 2022, found that a high percentage of severe crashes in the metro occur at intersections. The report flagged several urban roads for elevated injury-crash rates, including MLK Jr. Parkway, University Avenue, and I-235. State highways like Iowa 28, Iowa 163, and Iowa 160 in Ankeny were also identified as problem corridors.
Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 39,345 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2024, a 3.8 percent decrease from 40,901 in 2023. The fatality rate dropped to 1.20 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, the lowest since 2019, but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Iowa was among the states that logged a decrease in 2024, but the numbers still represent hundreds of families whose lives were upended.
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau reports that the leading behavioral factors behind crashes and fatalities in Iowa remain impairment, distraction, speed, and driving unbuckled. Approximately 70 percent of fatalities in 2023 occurred on rural roads, and nearly half of those who died were not wearing seat belts.
Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer FAQs
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer In Des Moines Cost?
We handle car accident cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront and owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict.
How Long Does A Car Accident Case Take To Resolve In Iowa?
It depends on the complexity. A straightforward claim with clear liability might settle in a few months. Cases involving disputed fault, serious injuries, or litigation can take a year or longer.
What If The Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
You may still recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Iowa doesn’t require UM coverage, but many policies include it. We can review your policy and identify all available sources of recovery.
Do I Have To Go To Court For A Car Accident Claim?
Most cases settle before trial. But if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, we are prepared to take your case in front of a jury. Having attorneys who actually try cases rather than just settle them changes the dynamic of every negotiation.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
There’s no single answer. The value depends on the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery takes, whether you’ve lost income, and what your medical costs look like going forward. We evaluate every case individually during our free consultation.
Can I Still Recover Money If I Was Partially At Fault?
Yes, as long as your share of fault doesn’t exceed 50 percent. Under Iowa’s modified comparative fault law, your award is reduced by your percentage of blame. If you’re 30 percent at fault and the damages total $200,000, you’d receive $140,000.
What Should I Not Say To An Insurance Adjuster?
Don’t admit fault. Don’t say you feel fine. Don’t agree to a recorded statement without a lawyer. The adjuster’s job is to minimize what the insurance company pays, and anything you say becomes part of their strategy.
When Should I See A Doctor After A Car Accident?
Immediately, or within 24 to 48 hours at the latest. Delayed symptoms are common with injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding. Waiting too long to seek treatment also creates gaps that the insurance company will use against you.
What Types Of Injuries Are Most Common In Des Moines Car Crashes?
Whiplash, back and neck injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue injuries are the most frequent. Severity ranges from minor strains that heal within weeks to catastrophic injuries that permanently alter someone’s quality of life.
How Long Do I Have To File A Car Accident Lawsuit In Iowa?
Two years from the date of the accident for personal injury claims. Five years for property damage. Exceptions apply for minors and individuals with certain disabilities. Don’t wait.
Can I File A Wrongful Death Claim If A Family Member Died In A Car Accident?
Yes. Iowa law allows surviving family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the date of death. Recoverable damages include funeral expenses, lost financial support, loss of companionship, and more.
Will My Insurance Rates Go Up If I File A Claim?
Your rates should not increase if you were not at fault. However, insurance companies have their own internal policies. Filing a claim against the other driver’s insurer does not affect your record.
What If The Car Accident Aggravated A Pre-existing Condition?
Iowa law allows recovery for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The at-fault driver takes you as they find you. If a crash worsened a back injury or re-aggravated an old knee problem, that additional harm is compensable.
Can I Handle My Car Accident Claim Without A Lawyer?
You can, but the odds shift against you. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and defense attorneys. They understand that unrepresented claimants are statistically more likely to accept lower settlements. The benefits of hiring an attorney after a crash go beyond legal strategy, they include knowing what your claim is actually worth.
What If My Accident Was Caused By A Road Hazard Or A Defective Vehicle?
Claims against municipalities for dangerous road conditions and claims against automakers for defective parts follow different rules from standard car accident cases. Shorter notice requirements or specialized statutes may apply. Talk to an attorney before the clock runs.
Most Dangerous Locations for Car Accidents in Des Moines
Certain roads and intersections in the Des Moines metro see a disproportionate number of crashes. Knowing where they are won’t prevent every accident, but it provides useful context for understanding how and where collisions happen in this city.
I-235 consistently ranks among the most crash-prone corridors in the metro. Congestion during morning and evening commutes, tight on-ramps, and high speeds create a volatile mix. I-80, which runs through the southern edge of the metro, averages roughly 19 traffic deaths per year statewide, according to NHTSA data. University Avenue, East Euclid Avenue, SW 9th Street, MLK Jr. Parkway, and Indianola Road have all been flagged by the Des Moines Area MPO or the Iowa DOT for elevated rates of serious-injury collisions.
Intersection crashes are especially common. Iowa DOT records show that failing to yield and running red lights account for a substantial portion of collisions within city limits, particularly during evening rush between 5 and 8 p.m. The Cornell Street corridor, Bancroft Street, and the intersection of East University Avenue and East 30th Street have also drawn attention from safety analysts.
Important Local Resources for Car Accidents in Des Moines
After a car accident in Des Moines, you may need to contact several local agencies and providers. Here is a list of resources that can help.
- Des Moines Police Department (515) 283-4811. File a police report or request a copy of a crash report.
- MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center (515) 247-3121. Level I trauma center serving the greater Des Moines area.
- UnityPoint Health – Iowa Methodist Medical Center (515) 241-6212. Emergency and trauma services.
- Broadlawns Medical Center (515) 282-2200. Public hospital with emergency department access.
- Iowa Department of Transportation Crash reports and traffic safety information.
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office (515) 286-3336. Reports for crashes that occur outside city limits but within Polk County.
Listing these resources does not constitute an endorsement by the Law Group of Iowa. They are provided for informational purposes only.
Law Group of Iowa, Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer
699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Contact Law Group of Iowa
If you or someone in your family was hurt in a car accident in Des Moines, IA, we want to hear from you. Our attorneys offer free consultations for all car crash cases, no obligation, no pressure. You won’t owe us a dime unless we recover compensation on your behalf. We’re available to meet in person at our Des Moines office, by phone, or by video call. Reach out today and let us review your case.
Des Moines Car Accident Law Google Review
Client Review
“Highly recommend Chris Johnston! Was easy to work with, straight forward, capable to take on any challenge, and an excellent communicator!”
Wendy L.
