Personal Injury Representation Backed By More Than 70 Years Of Experience
At Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., our attorneys help individuals who have been injured receive compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Whether you have been involved in a car wreck or a slip-and-fall accident, or are the relative of a loved one who suffered a wrongful death, we will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive a just settlement or judgment in a jury trial.
Trust Your Case To Our Skilled Fort Dodge Personal Injury Attorneys
If your injury was caused by the negligence of another person, you have cause for a personal injury lawsuit and are eligible for compensation. Our lawyers will work closely with you to learn the facts of your case and, if necessary, pursue that case in the courtroom. Throughout our firm’s history, we have helped countless clients with legal matters related to:
- Car accidents
- Truck, semi, 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle crashes
- Motorcycle crashes
- Injuries caused by dangerous and defective products
- Premises liability matters, including slip-and-fall accidents, dog bites, and animal attacks and more
- Injuries and illnesses caused by physician or hospital negligence (medical malpractice)
- On-the-job injuries warranting a workers’ compensation claim
If you lost someone you love in a fatal accident caused by another’s negligence, our caring attorneys can also help you seek accountability in a wrongful death claim.
You Deserve Compensation For Your Hospital Bills And Other Medical Expenses
Attorneys Neven J. Mulholland and Stuart J. Cochrane and the other lawyers at our law firm represent clients whose lives have been changed by:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Soft-tissue injuries
The costs related to a serious injury can be astronomical. Our lawyers will advocate aggressively to ensure you have the funds you need to pay for hospital bills (current and future), physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychological therapy, lost wages from time spent unable to work and modifications to your home and vehicle required to adapt to permanent disability.
How Our Fort Dodge Injury Attorneys Investigate A Claim
At Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., we do everything we can to ensure that a personal injury claim is taken seriously. As such, our personal injury lawyers need to conduct a thorough investigation of a claim. We take the time to:
- Visit the scene of the accident
- Take pictures
- Obtain a medical record
- Interview witnesses
- Gather police reports
- Identify all possible parties at fault
Once we have reviewed an accident claim, an accident injury attorney can take the next step to build a case so that our clients receive fair compensation for their injuries.
What To Know About Personal Injury Claims In Iowa
The process of seeking compensation can begin as soon as you are physically able, which can involve gathering evidence at the accident scene, writing down what you remember about what happened and seeing your doctor to get diagnosed and begin treatment. Then you should meet with a personal injury attorney to go over your case and get an idea of how much compensation you are entitled to.
Your lawyer will send a demand letter to the defendant and their insurance company detailing how the defendant is liable for your injuries. If the defendant responds, this could be the basis for a reasonable settlement. Otherwise, your attorney will file a lawsuit. Filing suit can be powerful leverage against the insurance company, which typically would rather avoid the expense and risk of a trial.
Next comes the discovery process. Your attorney and the other side will exchange evidence to help build a case and prepare for trial. Meanwhile, settlement negotiations generally continue, often including one or more mediation sessions and could resolve the conflict before your trial date. Otherwise, your case will go to trial.
Keep in mind that your time to take action on a personal injury claim is limited. Iowa’s statute of limitations generally requires you to file suit within two years of your injury. Except in very limited circumstances, the court will be forced to dismiss your claim if more than two years have passed before you initiate a lawsuit.
You might be concerned that you made mistakes that contributed to the incident that harmed you. Fortunately, Iowa follows the modified comparative negligence model, which means a personal injury plaintiff can recover compensation as long as their level of fault is greater than the defendant’s. The amount the plaintiff can recover is reduced by the percentage of fault the judge or jury assigns to them. For example, if the jury finds that the plaintiff suffered $100,000 in damages and was 20% at fault, the defendant would owe the plaintiff $80,000. The modified negligence model recognizes that life is not always black and white and accident victims should not have to show the defendant was 100% at fault to collect compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims
The biggest reason our clients come to us is because they have too many questions unanswered about how to pursue fair compensation in a personal injury claim and what happens when a case is made. Here are a few that you may have:
How should I interact with an insurance company?
The goal of an insurance company or adjuster is to give accident victims the lowest compensation deal possible. We do not want to see our clients pay out of pocket for their medical bills, therapy and other expenses because their compensation was too low. At Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., we talk to insurance companies in a way that gets our clients the most compensation possible.
How do I choose the best personal injury lawyer for my needs?
There is no single “best” personal injury attorney in the Fort Dodge area, because every injured person’s case, needs and personality are different. You need an attorney who has experience handling claims similar to yours, and has the type of personality and temperament you can get along with as you work together over the next several months.
Founded in 1950, Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., has served the community for over 70 years. Our attorneys are among the most experienced and respected in motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, dog bite and workplace accident claims, and we are capable of reaching positive results in the most complex cases. In addition, we practice employment and estate planning law, which often helps us gain insight into a client’s case that other firms cannot. We combine this rare level of skill with the personal service only available at a smaller firm.
How are medical bills handled after a personal injury?
In many cases, your own insurance company will pay while you pursue your claim, then subrogate the claim to the liable party’s insurance.
What should I expect when filing a personal injury claim?
When you work with one of our Fort Dodge injury accident attorneys, we take the necessary steps so that you get fair compensation. We may request additional documentation, such as police and medical reports and other information so that a proper investigation can be made. We always aim to negotiate a fair settlement, but we will not hesitate to take a case to trial.
The Benefits Of Hiring Local Attorneys With Deep Roots In The Community
Our firm has offices conveniently located in Fort Dodge and Gowrie. We offer legal services to clients throughout North-Central and Northwest Iowa.
Our practice began in 1950 as The Johnson Law Firm. We have been in continuous operation in Fort Dodge for more than 70 years. Although individual attorneys and staff members have come and gone, our firm has remained a trusted part of the local community. We understand the needs and goals of our clients because they are our friends and neighbors. And we offer a level of service and individualized attention that you will not find at many firms based in Iowa’s larger metropolitan areas.
Schedule A Free Consultation About Your Legal Options
If you would like to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney regarding injuries sustained in a car crash or a slip-and-fall accident, contact our firm today. Our attorneys will fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our offices in Fort Dodge at 515-639-3124 or Gowrie at 515-346-6346.