Car crash FAQ
Iowa and Illinois car accident lawyer Howard Zimmerle answers your questions
What should I do after I get into a car crash in Iowa or Illinois?
If you are involved in a car crash, the first thing you should do is make sure that you and any passengers are not injured. If anyone is injured, call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
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If you can do so safely, consider taking pictures of the vehicles and their position. If you talk to witnesses, get their names and contact info, as the police may not talk to everyone.
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If you need medical assistance, do not hesitate to go to the hospital. Soon after you get home, notify your auto insurance company.
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In the following days, schedule a followup appointment with your doctor if you are still in pain. If you wait too long, the insurance company may think you're faking or exaggerating your injuries.
The insurance company made an offer. Should I take it?
It's very common for insurance companies to offer a small amount of money in the days immediately after a car accident. Be very, very careful about this, as you may not know how serious your injuries are right away. Generally we don't recommend settling a case while you're still in pain.
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Auto insurance companies may also say that they will pay your medical bills, but not be clear about what they are paying, at what rate, and for how long. The devil's in the details.
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The one time we recommend settling with the insurance company early is for your car damage.
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If an insurance company has made you an offer, call us. We can help steer you in the right direction.
Who pays my medical bills?
This is a surprisingly difficult process sometimes. Medical providers sometimes choose not to bill your health insurance after a car accident. To make matters worse, the at-fault driver's insurance may not pay anything until the entire case is settled. Meanwhile you are getting bills and collection notices.
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Zimmerle Law is used to sorting all of this out. Give us a call.
What if the other driver didn't have insurance?
Unfortunately, this happens a lot. We will investigate other potential insurance coverage.
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If the at-fault driver truly does not have insurance (or does not have enough), your own insurance policy might come into play. You may have UM or UIM coverage, also known as uninsured or underinsured motorists coverage. In that case, we can make a claim for your injuries and damages against your own auto insurance policy.
What is a good settlement for a car accident?
If it was easy enough or if there was a basic formula, you probably wouldn't need us.
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Settlement value depends on the injuries, the amount of medical bills, the amount of lost wages, and many other factors. If you were partially at fault, that could lower the value of the case. The insurance policy limits available can also limit the value of certain cases.
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Anyone who tells you what your case is worth without knowing all of the facts is full of it and isn't being honest with you.
How hard is it to win a car accident lawsuit?
Thankfully, most of our car crash cases are settled without even filing a lawsuit. That's not always in our control though - we're not the ones with the checkbook. If we feel like the insurance company isn't going to give us what the case is worth, we'll file suit.
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Luckily, the vast majority (90+%) of our car accident lawsuits settle well before trial.
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To win a lawsuit, we like to have good liability (it was the other guy's fault), a crash severe enough to cause the injury complained of, and a believable client who doesn't lie or exaggerate. Typically when that all comes together, car crash cases are pretty darned winnable.
What evidence is needed for a personal injury case in Illinois or Iowa?
First, you need to prove liability. Was the other party at fault? Why? You and/or other witnesses need to be able to testify as to what happened. This might require expert witnesses who study the issue to determine what went wrong (ie accident reconstructionists).
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You will also need to prove that your injuries and damages were caused by the incident. This is typically done with testimony from your treating doctors. However, in some cases it might be better or easier to have one doctor review all of the material.
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Finally, you need to prove the amount of the damages. What are the medical bills? Is there testimony or a stipulation that the amount of the bills was reasonable and proper? That the medical treatment was reasonable and necessary? Were there lost wages that someone testified about?
Where can I find a car accident lawyer or get advice about a personal injury case in Iowa or Illinois?
We practice in both Iowa and Illinois, and are conveniently located in Moline. We would be happy to talk to you - for free - and help you in the right direction, whether it's with us or not.
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Call Zimmerle Law at 309-581-5336 for any questions about personal injury or workers compensation. Put our 20+ years of experience to work for you.