The steps you take after a car accident can have a major impact on your insurance claim and financial recovery. Common mistakes like failing to document the scene, delaying medical treatment, or admitting fault can make it harder to recover compensation.
Des Moines is Iowa’s largest city and a major transportation hub, with busy roadways and intersections that see thousands of vehicles each day. Major roadways such as Interstates 35 and 80 pass through the Des Moines metropolitan area. Drivers in Des Moines must follow specific procedures after a collision, especially when injuries or significant property damage are involved.
Working with a car accident law firm in Des Moines can help you understand your options, preserve important evidence, and deal with insurance companies more effectively. Professional guidance can also reduce the risk of costly mistakes during the claims process.
This article explains some of the most common mistakes people make after a car accident in Des Moines and ways to avoid them.
Documenting the Scene Thoroughly
To protect your civil claim, you must gather comprehensive evidence right at the scene if your physical condition allows it.
Take clear photographs of all vehicle damage, license plates, nearby traffic signals, and any visible road hazards. This objective documentation prevents the opposing insurance company from changing the narrative regarding how the collision occurred.
Additionally, gather the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses who observed the event.
According to data tracked by the Iowa Department of Transportation, thousands of distracted driving collisions occur annually across the state, making immediate witness statements invaluable for establishing fault.
Never leave the scene without getting a copy of the initial police exchange sheet or the responding officer’s badge number.
Seeking Immediate Medical Attention
A frequent mistake made by collision victims is delaying a medical evaluation because they feel fine due to a rush of adrenaline. Many severe injuries, such as whiplash, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain trauma, do not present obvious symptoms until days after the event.
Delays in medical treatment give insurance companies a reason to argue that your injuries were caused by a completely separate incident.
Establishing a direct timeline of medical care is essential for your recovery. Under Iowa’s modified comparative fault system, outlined in Iowa Code § 668.3, your final financial compensation can be reduced if you are found partially responsible for exacerbating your own injuries through neglect.
Visiting a Des Moines emergency room or urgent care clinic immediately creates an official, unassailable link between the crash and your physical condition.
Handling Insurance Adjusters Cautiously
You should contact your own insurance carrier quickly to report the crash, but you must remain highly cautious when speaking to the other driver’s insurer.
Insurance adjusters frequently ask for recorded statements structured to get you to inadvertently admit fault or minimize your injuries. You are under no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to an adversarial insurance provider without proper guidance.
Accepting a quick settlement offer from an insurance company is almost always a costly mistake.
Early offers rarely account for long-term physical therapy, future medical bills, or extended lost wages from work. Once you sign a release of liability form, your claim is closed permanently, and you cannot pursue additional compensation if your medical issues worsen over time.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa Code § 321.266 requires reporting any accident with injury or over $1,500 in damage within 72 hours.
- Take photos of vehicle positioning, damage, road conditions, and secure eyewitness contact details.
- Seek a medical evaluation right away to document injuries and prevent insurance gaps in care.
- Refrain from apologizing or making definitive statements about blame at the crash scene.
- Do not provide recorded accounts to the opposing insurance adjuster without legal oversight.
- Avoid signing quick insurance offers that fail to account for long-term medical treatment or lost wages.
