Struggling with medical bills after a car accident? Learn how to manage costs, protect your credit, and leverage health insurance or MedPay. Contact our experienced auto injury attorneys in Des Moines for a free consultation today!

Injured in an icy road accident in West Des Moines or in the state of Iowa? Our experienced accident attorneys explain why the “Act of God” defense often fails and how Iowa law holds drivers accountable. Contact us for a free consultation today!

If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury, navigating insurance claims and mounting medical bills can feel overwhelming. At Lawyer Lawyer Dutton Drake & Conklin, our experienced injury attorneys are here to provide the guidance and advocacy you need. We fight for injured Iowans—not the insurance companies. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you focus on recovery.

After an accident, gathering evidence quickly is crucial to the case. As the burden of proof falls on the injured party, relying solely on insurance companies or law enforcement to collect evidence can harm your chances of receiving fair compensation.

When you’ve been involved in an automobile accident in Des Moines, IA, especially one that leads to injury, the first few days can feel overwhelming. Between hospital visits, insurance calls, and dealing with the aftermath of the event, it’s easy to feel lost. However, prompt investigation of the incident is crucial—both for the injured party and for the overall strength of any future claim. One of the most common questions people ask in the early stages of a personal injury claim is: "What should I do now?

18 May, 2016 While most Iowans head for the AC when the heat is on, construction workers must labor outside in conditions that can hit a whopping 110 degrees. Just look at the heat index from last summer. Things are looking just as... While most Iowans head for the AC when the heat is on, construction workers must labor outside in conditions that can hit a whopping 110 degrees. Just look at the heat index from last summer. Things are looking just as hot this summer. The Des Moines Register reports, "NASA scientists and others said that there's a good chance that this year will pass 2015 as the hottest year on record ." If you allow your body to overheat, you can suffer from various heat-related illnesses, including a fatal heat stroke. So what can construction workers do to stay safe under the beating rays this summer? Water, rest and shade Drinking water is the most important thing you can do to fight the heat. One rule of thumb: drink four cups of water every hour. Moreover, taking frequent breaks from the heat will prevent the body from overheating. Strenuous tasks should be accomplished early in the morning or later in the shift when the sun is not overbearing. Seek shade for these breaks. If natural shade is not available, opt for portable shade, such tents or umbrellas. Know the signs Heat exhaustion is overpowering and can threaten your health. When you are at work under the heat, be cautious of these signs : Dizziness, fainting or headaches Wet skin and weakness Confusion or irritability Nausea, vomiting or thirst The more egregious symptoms associated with heat stroke include: Seizures Collapsing Fainting Foggy thinking Get help right away If you suspect you are suffering from a heat-related illness at work, move to shade and remove outer clothing. A fan, mist, water and ice may help alleviate any symptoms. It also helps to drink cold water. More important, call a supervisor for help and seek immediate medical attention. Generally, you can secure workers' compensation benefits for most work injuries, including heat-related illnesses. To qualify for benefits, the injury must be caused by or aggravated by your work responsibilities or the condition of your workplace. If the overwhelming circumstances of your sweltering work environment have compromised your health, speak to a lawyer about work injury benefits.

17 Jun, 2016 Putting your elderly relative in a nursing home may have seemed like the best option for everyone involved. Your relative could receive the care and treatment he or she needs in a safe environment, assisted by trained professionals. Did nursing... Putting your elderly relative in a nursing home may have seemed like the best option for everyone involved. Your relative could receive the care and treatment he or she needs in a safe environment, assisted by trained professionals. Did nursing home abuse ever cross your mind? Recently, however, you may have noticed that your relative doesn't seem happy. He or she acts quiet or withdrawn when you visit and doesn't participate in the activities he or she used to enjoy. If this scenario describes your relative, he or she may be a victim of nursing home abuse. Types of Abuse Nursing homes generally limit the power and agency of elderly residents in favor of the staff. Unscrupulous individuals use this power balance to take advantage of the people they are supposed to be assisting. One or more of the following types of abuse may occur: Physical . The victim receives physical injury at the hands of another person, including hitting, pushing, scratching, kicking, and forcibly restraining without cause. Emotional . The person in a position of power emotionally manipulates his or her victim by insulting, humiliating, terrorizing, intimidating, or ignoring that individual. Sexual . The nursing home resident is the victim of unwanted, non-consensual sexual contact. Financial . A financial abuser may steal property or money from his or her victim, discover the victim's banking information, or force the victim to change his or her will or trust. Neglect . Like other forms of abuse, neglect may be an intentional act, or it may result from oversight or apathy. The victim may not receive proper medical or physical care or adequate mental stimulation. Any type of abuse puts your loved one at serious risk and makes the nursing home an unsafe environment. Signs of Abuse Abuse often goes unreported. One study found that only 1 in 24 cases of abuse was reported to an appropriate authority. If you suspect something might be wrong but your loved one hasn't reported any inappropriate treatment, keep an eye out for some of the following indicators: Bruises, scratch marks, and sudden injuries, emergency medical treatment, especially if a pattern emerges that is unrelated to any conditions the individual may have, unsanitary or unhealthy conditions, sudden emotional withdrawal, signs of fear or stress when around staff, missing belongings, strange charges on a credit card or bank account & lack of adequate food or medicine. Physical abuse is probably the easiest to detect since it leaves visible traces, but any type of abuse leaves signs if you look carefully. Investigating Possible Abuse As soon as you have reasonable suspicions, talk to your loved one if they are lucid. Let him or her know he or she can tell you anything. Report the claims to a proper authority. However, if your loved one suffers from dementia or a similar condition, he or she may be unable to speak on his or her own behalf. In this case, you'll need to decide whether your loved one is safe in the facility, even if nothing has been proven. You may want to find other accommodations, as your loved one's safety shouldn't be taken lightly. Unless you can be reasonably positive that no abuse or neglect has occurred, you don't want your loved one to stay in a bad situation. A lawyer will help you access records and understand what you can legally investigate. Talk to other residents and their families and see if there has been a pattern of abuse. Try and find witnesses to corroborate your loved one's story, if they reported abuse, or who may have seen abuse that didn't get reported. Your lawyer can take care of the legal aspect of the situation, gathering evidence and filing a claim against the nursing home and perpetrator of the abuse. A lawyer who has handled nursing home abuse cases before will have the skills and expertise necessary to know what to look for, how to build a case, and how to get you fair compensation.

29 Jun, 2016 Today a client called to complain because the work comp doctor wrote down some wild story the client told the doctor about working in the yard. Instead of the client focusing on his care he told the doctor about hurting... Today a client called to complain because the work comp doctor wrote down some wild story the client told the doctor about working in the yard. Instead of the client focusing on his care he told the doctor about hurting his shoulder picking up a coffee pot. Even though the shoulder injury happened at work this client chose to tell a story about a coffee pot causing shoulder pain. There was no reason to tell the doctor this "war" story. It added nothing to the medical plan. But it did get noticed... by the doctor who's working for the insurance company! The workers' compensation doctor took the coffee pot war story and blamed all of the shoulder problems on that event instead of the work event. What a mess! Worst of all, the injured worker caused this harm by entertaining the doctor with tales of what worsened his pain. Grrrrrr....... It seems unnecessary to tell people that if you have a work injury you should talk to the work doctors about that injury and nothing else. If common, everyday activities aggravate or cause more pain on an already determined injury don't clutter up your case by telling a bunch of war stories to your doctor. On this topic you should stick to the facts and get the care you need.

12 Jul, 2016 We spend a lot of time helping clients understand the factors of Industiral Disability in a workers' compensation case. All of this advice is free because it does the client no good to negotiate a settlement if they don't understand what... We spend a lot of time helping clients understand the factors of Industrial Disability in a workers' compensation case. All of this advice is free because it does the client no good to negotiate a settlement if they don't understand what they're negotiating. One key settlement value question is whether or not an injured worker can return to the same job. At its core, the value of work comp case is determined by the effect it has on the workers ability to work. Obviously, if you go back to your job with no tangible harm to your ability to work, the disability settlement is to going to be lower. But if you can't do the job the disability will be higher. How do you prove you can't do your job? Some clients think only they decide if they are able to go back to the old job but this is not the way it works. First, the company doctor has a lot to say about the return to work conditions. Then, it's up to the company to see if it can meet the restrictions, or make other accommodations. While all this going on it's important that the worker document the exact job that they're doing and how heavy or difficult it would be in light of the injury and resulting problems. You just can't sit back and hope that everybody takes your word that you cannot do the job. Give us a call and we can help you better understand this concept and give you some ideas about proving you are right. The call is always free.