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]
Injury Compensation When There is a Pre-Existing Condition
If someone is injured due to another’s negligence, the unexpected frailty of the injured person is not a valid defense against liability. The eggshell rule generally holds that the negligent party is liable for all consequences resulting from their negligent activities leading to the injury of another person even if the victim has an unusually… [Read More]
First Responders Injured By Distracted Drivers
The sight of paramedics, police, or fire crews responding to an accident or other roadside emergencies can cause motorists to engage in the dangerous practice of rubbernecking that can result in yet another accident. Add the distraction of a phone to the mix and sometimes first responders get hurt or killed. In fact, new research… [Read More]
Des Moines Iowa Bicycle Accidents
Despite expanded prevention efforts across the nation, fatalities among bicycle riders have increased. In 2015, nearly 1,000 bicyclists were killed in accidents, a 12 percent jump over the previous year. Decades ago, children and teens accounted for many of the cycling deaths, injuries and near misses, however, more recently, older cyclists have joined their ranks… [Read More]
Determining Fault in an Iowa Car Accident
Following a car accident, you may be surprised to find that the other driver is not admitting fault even though you feel they clearly caused the accident. The question of who was at fault in a car accident can be answered by looking at whose negligence or carelessness resulted in the accident, but sometimes both… [Read More]
Safe Driving for Teens Boils Down to Experience
According to the Journal of Adolescent Health, the cause of teenage crashes is not the skill with which they can drive so much as it is the judgement they exercise while driving, something largely gained from experience. Are Teen Driver’s Education Programs Enough? Despite efforts to educate kids through driver’s education, there is little evidence… [Read More]
