Using Decades Of Experience To Protect Your Interests

Experienced, Effective Motor Vehicle And Car Accident Attorneys

Last updated on March 17, 2025

Whether you have been involved in a car wreck, a truck or an 18-wheeler collision, or a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation if the accident occurred as the result of negligence by another person. It is important to enlist legal representation after being injured in an accident. In Fort Dodge, Gowrie and surrounding areas of Iowa, the easy choice for representation is Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C.

Our personal injury attorneys represent clients who have been hurt and the families of those killed in motor vehicle accidents. We can help you understand your rights, which may include pursuing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Common Auto Accidents In Webster County, Iowa

For the past 75 years, we have stood up for the rights of clients who have been injured in all types of accidents, including:

Car crashes
Motorcycle wrecks
Truck collisions (semi trucks, tractor-trailers)
Bicyclist and pedestrian accidents
Hit-and-run crashes
Head-on crashes
Lane change crashes
Rear-end collisions
Broadside (T-bone) accidents
Collisions with tractors and other farm equipment utilizing public roads

Our decades of serving clients in the area has given us a strong institutional memory for accident patterns, dangerous locations, common problems and other information that informs how we approach cases. This is the kind of local knowledge that most firms from larger cities cannot match – even if they also take cases here in Webster County.

The Most Dangerous Roads In Webster County, Iowa

Webster County sees significant traffic on its county roads, ranking fourth in daily vehicle miles across the state. This underscores the importance of knowing the most dangerous routes for motorists in the area.

Here are some risky routes:

Highway 20: Route 20 winds through stunning landscapes, providing drivers with panoramic views of lush fields and charming small towns. Despite its scenic beauty, the road’s twists, turns and occasional blind spots require drivers to remain fully attentive. The road is prone to becoming slick and snow-covered, creating treacherous driving conditions.
Highway 69: Just like Highway 20, this road serves as the main artery in Webster County. The road may have challenging conditions, especially during winter. The high traffic flow and unpredictable weather conditions make this route particularly treacherous for motorcycle and semi-truck drivers.
Highway 60: This 22-mile stretch of road has 27 trains running along it every day, and 36 side roads cross over tracks. Traffic on the road continues to increase, which is leading to more accidents by the year.
Highway 61: Highway 61, a historic route winding through charming river towns, presents a glimpse into the area’s history and modern challenges. Drivers can expect congestion due to an influx of local traffic that constitutes large trucks and recreational vehicles. Narrow passages and occasional lack of road shoulders heighten risks. This emphasizes the need for vigilance, patience and shared road responsibility.
Interstate 80: This cross-country highway presents challenges with long, unbroken stretches, heavy traffic and unpredictable weather. Drivers must exercise extreme caution, maintain distances and adapt to changing conditions for safer travels.

Our community-oriented lawyers can effectively represent you after a motor vehicle accident on the above challenging roads. We can help you determine if you have a claim and proceed with the legal matters to ensure you get compensated fairly, whether you have suffered a rear-end collision, a multivehicle accident, a crash with a commercial vehicle or a motorcycle wreck.

Types Of Injuries Following A Car Accident

No two crashes are exactly the same, and even seemingly minor collisions can result in catastrophic injuries. Our firm handles all types of serious injuries that may stem from a car accident, such as:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Closed head injuries
Concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis
Nerve damage
Neck injuries
Back injuries
Broken bones
Lacerations and abrasions (Road rash)
Amputations

We also offer compassionate and supportive representation to the family members of those killed in fatal accidents. Our wrongful death attorneys are here to support you during this trying time.

Iowa Insurance Laws And Determining Liability For A Car Accident

Like all states, Iowa requires car owners to carry insurance. Under state law, insurance policies must provide, at minimum, liability coverage of:

$20k per person and $40k per accident for bodily injury to other drivers and vehicle occupants
$15k per accident for property damage to other vehicles

Unlike some neighboring states, Iowa does not follow the no-fault model of insurance coverage. Rather, we are an “at fault” state, meaning that the at-fault driver and their insurance company are responsible for compensating the costs of the crash. If the other driver is primarily at fault but you contributed to the crash or your own injuries in some way, you can still seek compensation so long as your share of fault is less than 51%. However, your compensation will by reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

When you hire our firm, our car accident liability lawyers conduct an in-depth investigation into the crash to determine how it happened and to prove that the other driver was to blame. In order to maximize your compensation, we will also argue aggressively to refute or limit any allegations that you shared fault.

Process Of Filing A Car Accident Claim In Iowa

After a car accident in Iowa, you should follow the following steps to file your claim:

Obtain accident report from police: Get the official report from law enforcement detailing the accident’s circumstances.
Identify witnesses and collect documentation: Gather contact information from any witnesses and any available evidence, such as photos or videos of the accident scene.
Collect doctor injury diagnosis and document impact and pain over time: Obtain medical records documenting your injuries and keep track of any ongoing pain or impact on your daily life.
Tally up health care costs, lost wages and long-term impact: Keep records of all medical expenses, missed workdays and any other financial losses resulting from the accident.
Report to your insurance and the other driver’s insurance – avoid making any statements or apologies: Notify both insurance companies of the accident without admitting fault or making statements that could be used against you.
Maintain timeliness within state deadlines: Adhere to Iowa’s deadlines for filing accident reports and insurance claims to ensure your claim is processed smoothly.

At Johnson, Mulholland, Cochrane, Cochrane, Yung & Engler, P.L.C., our Iowa car accident attorneys can help you understand potential hurdles to compensation and provide free legal guidance to maximize your results in either trial or settlement negotiations.

Commonly Asked Questions About Filing A Car Accident Lawsuit In Iowa

As a law firm with more than seven decades of experience representing clients across Iowa, our lawyers have dealt with numerous car accident cases. Here are some of the questions we hear most from our clients about filing a car accident lawsuit.

What if I am in an accident in a company car or on a business trip?

If you’re in an accident while driving a company car or during a business trip in Iowa, it’s important to understand the following:

Responsibility for damages: If another driver is at fault, their insurance typically covers damages to the company car and injuries. If you’re driving a company car provided by your employer, their commercial auto insurance usually handles damages, potentially covering liability for damages caused to others if you’re at fault.
Workers’ compensation for injuries: Injuries sustained while driving a company car or during a business trip may be covered by workers’ compensation.
Primary insurance coverage: The insurance provided by your workplace for the company car or business trip is usually the primary coverage used for vehicle damages.

An Iowa car accident lawyer can offer invaluable assistance in understanding your rights and options following the accident.

What does it mean that Iowa is an at-fault state for car crashes?

In Iowa, being an “at-fault” state for car crashes means that the person responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for covering the resulting damages. Essentially, the at-fault driver’s insurance company typically bears the financial responsibility for compensating the other parties involved in the accident for medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost wages and other losses.

However, Iowa also applies a comparative fault system, which means the claimant must prove that the other party was more than 50% at fault for the accident to recover damages. If the claimant is found to be more than 51% at fault for the accident, they may lose the claim for compensation altogether.

How long does an insurance company have to settle a claim after a crash?

In Iowa, there is no specific statutory requirement for insurance companies to settle or pay a claim within a certain time frame after a car accident. The claimant, however, has to file a claim within two years from the date of the accident to be eligible for compensation under Iowa law.

Who pays a claim if the at-fault driver does not have insurance or is underinsured?

In Iowa, if the at-fault driver does not have insurance or is underinsured, the injured party may turn to their own insurance policy for coverage, specifically uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This coverage is designed to protect policyholders in situations where the at-fault party either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages.

What does “no pay, no play” mean in Iowa?

“No pay, no play” laws prevent uninsured drivers from receiving compensation from the insurance company of an insured driver, even if the insured driver was responsible for the accident.

Speak To An Iowa Car Accident Attorney About Your Legal Options For Free

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is important that you speak with a lawyer who is experienced at handling these types of cases. Contact a Fort Dodge car wreck attorney at our office today. We represent clients throughout North-Central and Northwest Iowa.

To schedule your free consultation, call our Fort Dodge office at 515-639-3124 or our Gowrie office at 515-346-6346. You can also submit an online contact form.