If you are involved in an auto accident in Iowa, it is important that you understand Iowa car accident laws. These laws can control what you do in an accident’s aftermath as well as your options for recovering compensation for losses you experience when someone else caused your crash to occur.
Berry Law is very familiar with all Iowa car accident laws, and we know the ins and outs of how the legal rules in the state affect your ability to collect damages.
Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer in Council Bluffs, IA to find out how we can fight for your rights and get you the money you need and deserve after a crash.
Iowa Car Accident Laws on Auto Insurance
Iowa law requires certain minimum auto insurance coverage for drivers, including:
- $20,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage and $40,000 per accident in coverage
- $15,000 in property damage coverage per accident
While these limits are not high, many drivers do choose to buy more than the required minimum coverage. Further, the fact that there are rules in place establishing auto insurance minimum coverage ensures there is at least some money available to pay for your damages when a crash happens.
It’s also important to note that Iowa does not require personal injury protection and is not a no-fault state. While some states limit your ability to recover compensation from an at-fault driver in auto accidents to only severe injury cases, Iowa is not one of them.
Regardless of how serious your accident is, you can pursue a claim with the other driver’s insurer to make you whole after a collision occurs.
Iowa Car Accident Laws on Stopping at the Crash Scene and Reporting Accidents
Iowa also has strict laws in place on what you must do in the aftermath of an accident. Specifically:
- Iowa Code Section 321.261 states: “The driver of any vehicle who knows or has reason to believe that the driver’s vehicle was involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible and if able, shall then return to and remain at the scene of the accident”
- Iowa Code Section 321.266 states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the sheriff of the county in which said accident occurred, or the nearest office of the state patrol, or to any other peace officer as near as practicable to the place where the accident occurred.”
This means drivers have to stop at the crash scene. Drivers are also required to report accidents within 72 hours of the incident if the incident resulted in injury, death, or total property damage in excess of $1,500.
These rules are important because you need to be able to exchange insurance information with the at-fault driver. The police report that you obtain in an accident’s aftermath can also be invaluable evidence showing who was at fault if you are pursuing a car accident claim.
Iowa Laws on Making a Claim for Compensation After a Car Accident
Iowa also has a few other key car accident laws that affect your rights if you are involved in a crash.
- Iowa Code Section 668.3 says, “Contributory fault shall not bar recovery in an action by a claimant to recover damages for fault resulting in death or in injury to person or property unless the claimant bears a greater percentage of fault than the combined percentage of fault… but any damages allowed shall be diminished in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the claimant.”
- Iowa Code Section 614.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which means you must bring your claims within that time period or your case will be time-barred.
The contributory negligence rules mean that you can pursue your claim as long as you are not 51% or more at fault for causing your own losses.
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Getting Help from an Iowa Car Accident Lawyer
Understanding these and other car accident laws can help you maximize your chances of being able to pursue a successful accident claim. A Council Bluffs injury attorney at Berry Law can help, so give us a call to get a dedicated lawyer on your side as you fight for compensation after a crash.
