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Iowa Car Accidents Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: An uninsured 17 year old motorist hit my car and caused $1,000 damage. Do I sue the child or the parent?

The car is registered to the child. They verbally agreed to pay to have my repairs made but I sent copies of the invoices and they won’t pay. I have a copy of the police report and a witness stating it was the kid’s fault. She also fled the scene but I caught up to her and called the police.... View More

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Jun 19, 2020

You file an accident report with the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division explaining there was an collision and explaining why, factually, the other driver was at fault. If they agree with you, then the IA-DOT contacts her and if she does not pay for your damages they take away her driver's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Iowa on
Q: can you be charged with anything if you ask someone you ask to come to see you get in an accident

if you asked someone to come and see you and they refuse to let you pick them up and instead they take public transportation and then get into an accident are you responsible to help pay the medical bills and if you don't can they charge you with anything?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on May 29, 2020

An Iowa attorney could answer your question best, but your post remains open for two weeks. As a general matter, it seems unlikely that criminal charges would stem from such a scenario, unless there are factors not mentioned, such as allowing a small child to fend for themselves on public... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Arbitration / Mediation Law, Car Accidents and Insurance Bad Faith for Iowa on
Q: If a driver of a vehicle has a suspended license and hits someone riding a bicycle, wouldn't she be at fault automatical

Wouldn't she be at fault for driving on a suspended license

Erik Luthens
Erik Luthens
answered on Feb 24, 2020

Operating a motor vehicle with having a suspended license does not create a liability per se situation.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: Car in front slams on breaks (interstate) for no reason and gets rear ended-vehicle behind is boxed in-who is at fault?

Car in back had vehicles on either side (3 lane interstate)/could not move over and slammed on breaks, but cracked the bumper of car in front (crushed front end of car in back). Car in front had no reason to stop in regular 65mph traffic. Car in back received a ticket for failure to stop and full... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 26, 2020

The standard rule in most rear end collisions in virtually any jurisdiction is that the vehicle in the rear is at fault. Vehicle & traffic law can vary from state to state, and highway safety officers at the scene could characterize things differently, whether citing the situation as following... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: What options are there for an individual who was involved in an auto accident but had no insurance at that time?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jul 11, 2019

If you were at fault and facing a big claim, talk to a bankruptcy attorney unless there were no injuries and only minor damage to the car.

If you were not at fault, contact a member of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Assn or Iowa Assn for Justice for the county where it happened--they give free...
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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Iowa on
Q: We have a neighbor who parks his semi on the side of a gravel road. Is there anything to make him stop?

It is difficult to get other machinery down the road and unsafe for general traffic.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 9, 2019

If it obstructs traffic on a public road yes.

3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Iowa on
Q: I was in a motorcycle accident Nov 7 2016 I didn't have insurance. The other driver ran a red light and hit me no ins

He was charged for running the light. I was in Iowa City for CPL weeks cracked and broken pelvis had 8 1/2 hr surgery in a wheelchair for a year. I'm still unable to work and require additional surgery. Is their anything I can do since neither of us had insurance?

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Oct 7, 2018

That's a difficult question to answer without having more information about the accident and without being able to read the accident report from the police department that investigated the accident. I will be in the office after 2:30 Pm today if you would like to discuss the situation.

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: Can I remove the doors from my car? I live in iowa.
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jun 24, 2018

For street use? I doubt its legal. If it won't pass inspection then it's not legal.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Collections and Small Claims for Iowa on
Q: My husband owes $6,000 due to a fender bender in Washington State. How do I start a payment plan to get that paid back?

They suspended his licence too. Need to get that back

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 16, 2018

Did he have insurance? If so that should cover it. You need to talk to someone who hanldles suspensions to see what his options are.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: Yesterday i was leaving Walmart a lady started to reverse so we stopped walking. She then stopped so we proceeded to wa

We proceeded to walk behind the vehicle. As we got behind the vehicle she put it in reverse, i put my arm up in defense the vehicle hit me, we all told the police the same information including the driver of the vehicle. The police then arrested me saying “i lied and jumped into the car”for... View More

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Apr 7, 2018

Facts are funny, it seems everyone has their own set. Many things are 'legal', but what is 'legal' isn't necessarily right. I have no idea which town or city you were in. (Jurisdiction) I have no idea what the police officer wrote in his/her report. And I have no idea what... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: what Should I do if my replacement for a broken side mirror is not in yet?

I recently broke my driver side mirror, and I immediately ordered a new one, however it isn’t supposed to be in until February 15th.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 3, 2018

You can drive with it though I'd carry something showing your mirror is on order.

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: What should I ask for in a vehicle accident settlement?

I was in my work vehicle and I was hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light. He did not have a drivers license, he was arrested, but his passenger fled the scene and he attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle. He hit me at a high rate of speed on my driver's side of my work vehicle. The... View More

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Apr 7, 2018

Fair compensation. You should ask for a fair amount of compensation. No more and no less. Now I know what your next question will be and no lawyer can answer that question without knowing more about the facts of your case. Lawyers gather the evidence about how the accident happened because knowing... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: I was in a car accident at a gas station and wondered if I could ask them to give me the video to review who is at fault
Harley C. Erbe
Harley C. Erbe
answered on Jan 21, 2018

You can ask, but the gas station has no obligation to give you a copy of the video. You can only force production of the video through a subpoena. A subpoena's only available if a lawsuit's on file.

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Iowa on
Q: First car accident ever and am being required to retest with the DOT to keep my license. Do I have any recourse?

I was in my first accident since I began driving at the age of 16 (I am 33 now). I did not receive a moving violation for this accident, but am now being required to retake all tests (written, driving, vision, hearing) with the DOT in order to keep my license. Is this normal or is this something... View More

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Jan 4, 2018

It's normal if you are a member of the Congressional majority. Without seeing/reading what you have there isn't any way for a lawyer to give you an complete answer.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Divorce and Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: What are my options concerning a credit hit I took for my ex wife not paying her vehicle loan?

We both signed, and a judge signed, the stipulation for our divorce, and it literally states "(she) shall be awarded the 2012 Cruze automobile free and clear from any claim of (me) and she shall assume any indebtedness thereon, holding (me) free from any liability thereon".

2... View More

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Dec 17, 2017

You can file with the divorce court an application for her to show cause why the Court should not hold her in contempt. You can ask the Court to award you attorney fees but during the pendency of the action you will have to pay your own lawyer.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Child Support for Iowa on
Q: I pay child support right now, if I get a car accident settlement do I need to tell my ex wife about it?

I am paying child support for my two children now, I got in a car accident and should be getting a settlement from it. Do I need to tell my ex wife I am getting a settlement, or can she find out the amount I got from the settlement?

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Nov 19, 2017

Are you behind in support? Either way you have no legal obligation to 'tell her', but if she learns of it she may attach it for unpaid child support.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Civil Litigation and Traffic Tickets for Iowa on
Q: My 17 year old son took a truck and hit another car. Then left the scene. The other couple has liability what do we do.

He was charged and does have a job. We have had way to many issues with him. Does he have to pay this or what are our options we cannot pay all of the estimate in one try.

Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on Nov 19, 2017

The facts are not clearly stated, which makes answering your question difficult. I have been a lawyer for thirty-six years and a father for longer than that. Here is my advice: 1. Yes, he has to pay. 2. Make him get a job and repay anything you have to pay on his behalf. 3. Ground him and take away... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: Need advice on a traffic incident that was "setup".

I was involved in a traffic incident where a person claimed i scratched their car, which i did not. The police decided not to give me a ticket either. Where this is at, at the moment, is the iowa d.o.t. is going to suspend my license if I dont deposit $1,500 with their office in the next few days,... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Aug 6, 2017

Unfortnately, the way most statutes run, you don't have insurance and someone claims you are at fault, even if you win you can be suspended. If the cops wrote it up, get a copy of the report. They are asking it sounds like for a security deposit. You want to argue, pay the deposit.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Products Liability, Car Accidents, Insurance Bad Faith and Insurance Defense for Iowa on
Q: Tire shop repair caused me to lose my entire wheel on the freeway, now they won't give me their insurance info.

I got my tire replaced at a tire shop. They took the whole wheel off and replaced the tire and then put the wheel back on. The first time that I was driving it was on the highway and I heard some vibrations and a few seconds later my tire flew off, the rotor hit the road, caused sparks, my car was... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jun 13, 2017

Call a member of the Iowa Assn for Justice--they give free consults. You may have to handle this yourself as you weren't injured. You need any bolts that sheared, the tire and rim that went etc.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Iowa on
Q: Do you use your gross or net wages when calculating lost wages in Iowa for car accident insurance claim
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
answered on May 12, 2017

Net wages for a W-2 employee.

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