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Des Moines Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The Advocates have decades of experience helping motorcyclists deal with insurance companies, pay their medical bills, and get fair compensation after a motorcycle crash.

Attorneys walking forward on a bridge.

A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case

According to the Department of Public Safety, motorcycles comprise 4% of all registered vehicles in Iowa but account for 16% of all fatalities. If a motorcyclist survives an accident, they are more likely to have serious injuries.

It is overwhelming to balance recovery from a crash while contending with a motorcycle accident case. That is where motorcycle accident attorneys come in. While you heal your broken bones, they work to get you the compensation you deserve.

That Advocates specialize in doing just that. We are Iowa locals representing motorcycle accident victims. Contact one of our Des Moines motorcycle lawyers for a free consultation. We are here to give legal advice and representation to you or your family members suffering from a motorcycle crash.

The Next Steps in Your Des Moines Motorcycle Accident Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries and seek medical attention

Hire Attorney

Contact a personal injury lawyer with The Advocates to start your recovery

Treatment

Seek medical treatment for your injuries

Property Damage

Get the damage on your motorcycle repaired

Finish Treatment

When you have completed treatment, your Advocate will compile your medical records

Demand

Your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.

For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.

Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case

For 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.

We can help you:

  • Access medical care
  • Investigate your accident
  • Build your case
  • Negotiate with insurance companies
  • Take your case to court if necessary

We only get paid if we win your case!

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Biker Helmets and Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle helmets on a light blue background

Do Motorcyclists Have to Wear Helmets in Iowa?

No. Iowa is one of just a few states without a helmet law. Even though it is optional, the protection a helmet gives a motorcyclist cannot be overstated. People in car accidents have the protection of seat belts and airbags. Motorcyclists have nothing but the protective gear they choose to wear.

Statistics exemplify what can happen when bikers choose not to wear a helmet. Data collected over five years show 74% of people killed in a motorcycle accident were not wearing a helmet — the national average is 38%.

Helmets are an affordable, effective way to reduce the chance of wrongful death when riding a motorcycle. It is up to you if you want to wear one, but all the data and stories of loved ones lost suggest you should.

Tips to Find the Perfect Motorcycle Helmet for You

Everybody has different requirements for an ideal helmet. A well-fitted motorcycle helmet ensures maximum protection and comfort. Follow these tips to get the right helmet for you:

  • Ensure the helmet meets the the Department of Transportation standards. 
  • Helmets come in different shapes, such as round, oval, or something in between, to fit various head shapes. Get one that fits your head.
  • Measure the widest part of your head with a flexible measuring tape and match that to the corresponding helmet size.
  • Test the helmet. It should feel snug but not restrictive. Pressure should feel evenly distributed around your head rather than focused on one area.
  • Fasten the chin strap so that you can fit two fingers between the strap and your chin.
  • Do a movement test by shaking your head around. Your head and the helmet should move as one. The helmet is too big if it moves separately.
  • Wear it for thirty minutes to ensure it is still comfortable.
  • Check for features like adequate ventilation and good peripheral vision.
  • Avoid helmets with less than one inch of insulation. This is not enough protection during a crash.
  • Consider what style you want, such as full-face, modular, dual sport, etc.
Side Profile of a full-face motorcycle
layout of a biker outfit and accessories, Ready to ride

Other Protective Gear to Wear

The helmet is just the beginning of motorcycle safety. There is more you can wear to prevent broken bones and other serious injuries:

  • Durable Gloves: Get a pair of all-weather gloves with a good grip. They will protect your hands during an accident and improve your control over the bike.
  • Secure Footwear: Choose a sturdy pair of riding boots that go up to your ankles. They give you better stability while riding.
  • Leather Pants and Jacket: They can prevent abrasions if you slide across the road. Road rash is not the most serious injury, but it is still painful.
  • Protective Eyewear: If you are not going to wear a helmet, you should at least wear eye protection. They keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent hazards like debris from potentially blinding you.

Motorcycle Accident Facts

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

If a negligent driver causes an accident where you get hurt, then you should file a personal injury claim. All damage done to you deserves fair compensation. These are the most common types of injuries motorcyclists face:

  1. Lacerations and bruising (road rash)
  2. Ligament tears or strains
  3. Broken bones
  4. Spinal cord injuries
  5. Traumatic brain injuries

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Preventive measures are the key to avoiding accidents. To take the proper steps, you need to know the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:

  • Distracted Drivers: Motorcycles are harder to spot than cars or trucks. Many drivers do not see motorcycles up until the moment they hit them. Add in other factors like drivers using their phones, and it becomes even more critical for bikers to approach other vehicles cautiously.
  • Speeding: Excessive speed from either the motorcyclist or another vehicle prevents a rider from reacting to split-second changes, making crashes much more deadly.
  • Left-Turn Accidents: Cars often do not see motorcycles on the road. When turning left, drivers look for other vehicles but usually fail to notice motorcycles.
  • Roadway Conditions: Adverse roads for a car can be deadly for a motorcycle. Some common threats a motorcycle may come across are:
    • Hidden driveways
    • Pavement defects
    • Railroad tracks
    • Poorly lit intersections and roads
    • Insufficient shoulders
    • Standing or flowing water
Close-up Of Woman Typing Text Message On Mobile Phone
Man checks tire pressure on rear wheel of motorcycle

Precautionary Ways to Avoid a Motorcycle Crash

You can never remove the chance of an accident occurring when riding a motorcycle, but these tips will reduce your chances of getting in one:

  • Stay visible: Keep your headlights on, even during the day, to increase your visibility to other drivers. Also, be sure to position yourself in the lane where you are most visible.
  • Maintain your motorcycle: Regularly inspect the brakes, lights, tires, and signals for issues.
  • Ride Defensively: A defensive motorcyclist looks for hazards like potholes, maintains a safe distance between them and other vehicles, and slows down at intersections.

Iowa’s Motorcycle Education Course

Iowa offers motorcycle rider education courses  courses for new and returning riders. These courses provide hands-on experience to improve the following necessary skills:

  • Risk and evasive strategies
  • Situational awareness
  • Mental preparedness
  • Perception development
  • Riding basics such as driving in a straight line, shifting, turning, and stopping

Behind every accident are people who could have made different choices. Errors in judgment will never go away, but an education course helps increase riders’ confidence and drive proactively.

Motorcycle training course

When Should I Hire a Motorcycle Injury Attorney?

Iowa has one of the highest fatality rates in the country for motorcyclists. The dangers are undeniable. We do not want anybody ever to be a part of this statistic, for every life cut short by an accident is a tragedy.

Unfortunately, crashes happen every day. If you are a part of one, you probably have a personal injury and do not know how you are going to pay your medical bills.

Getting the settlement you deserve is never easy, especially because Iowa is an at-fault state, meaning that to file a claim, you must show the other driver was more than 50% at fault. The system is complicated for those who do not understand it, making it difficult to file and win a motorcycle accident claim.

When you are ready, just know that you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit or settle your case.

While navigating the claims process may seem daunting, it pales in comparison to the hurdles personal injury victims must overcome to get back to normal. Getting a new vehicle after the accident, paying for rehabilitation, and dealing with insurance adjusters take their toll on a person. Fortunately, you do not have to do it alone.

Contact our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyers today for beginning-to-end legal representation. Motorcycle crashes are potentially life-changing events. If you have experienced one, you deserve a local lawyer ready to guide you through those changes. You deserve an Advocate.

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