When you are involved in a car accident, you may wonder if you need a lawyer to settle your claim with an insurer. Generally speaking, if you are not injured, you may be able to settle the insurance claim without the need for legal representation. However, if you or a family member is hurt in… [Read More]
Year Over Year Increases in Traffic Fatalities
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that over 42,000 people were killed in car accidents in 2021, an increase of 10.5% from 2020 when 38,824 fatalities were recorded, up from 36,096 in 2019. In 2022, the deadly trend continued with roadway deaths rising 7% percent in the first three months of the year,… [Read More]
Car Accidents Involving Stopped Vehicles
A recent motor vehicle accident involving a motorist and a DOT maintenance vehicle marks the first 2023 traffic related fatality in Des Moines. The driver crashed into a DOT maintenance vehicle that was pulled off the shoulder of an I-235 exit and later succumbed to his injuries. Accidents involving vehicles pulled over on the… [Read More]
Pedestrian Traffic Accidents Rise in Des Moines Metro
Pedestrian traffic accidents are on the rise in the Des Moines metropolitan area, with a number of hit and run accidents sending pedestrians to the hospital. Nationally, pedestrian deaths are on the rise, and in Iowa, the number of pedestrian traffic fatalities has steadily increased over the last several years. Not surprisingly, many traffic accidents… [Read More]
Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accidents
The popularity of rideshares as a means to get from point A to B is growing in popularity across the country. Companies such as Uber and Lyft have seen an increase in customers who appreciate the convenience of being picked up or dropped off at their destinations using an app on their phones and the… [Read More]
Personal Injury Caused by Drunk Driving
An injury accident caused by a drunk driver presents as a very clear indicator of negligence in a personal injury lawsuit. Drunk or drugged driving impairs a drivers physical and mental abilities significantly, diminishing their judgement, focus and concentration and affecting their coordination, control and reaction time. It is a recipe for an accident and,… [Read More]
Rear End Car Accidents
A typical passenger car traveling at 60 mph covers approximately 88 feet per second. When braking occurs, it takes over 270 feet for a car to come to a complete stop in ideal conditions – dry pavement with good brakes and tires. According to Edmunds, the perception time, the reaction time, and the effective braking… [Read More]
Improper Passing Car Accidents
Improper passing maneuvers on our roadways can result in catastrophic car accidents. Although motorists can often legally pass other vehicles on roadways, they must always exercise caution making sure that there is enough space and time to pass vehicles in their lane and that no other potential dangers exist. Sometimes inexperience plays a role in… [Read More]
Recent Des Moines Pedestrian Fatality Raises Road Safety Concerns
Recently, a motor vehicle pedestrian accident involving a child occurred at SW Ninth Street in Des Moines. This follows a Des Moines City plan to review safety issues in the area where two other fatal vehicle pedestrian accidents involving children also occurred in 2016 and 2017. At the time of the earlier incidents, the Des… [Read More]
Renewed Efforts to Reduce Distracted Driving
A collaboration between the Iowa State Patrol and Farm Bureau Insurance to reduce distracted driving has been joined by the Governor who declared the last week of May “End Distracted Driving Week in Iowa”. Among the resources available to promote safe driving choices is a video series starring Iowa State Patrol Officer Sargent Ludwig who… [Read More]