Frequently Asked Questions

Many insurance and personal injury questions are answered on Craig Nierman's blog.

What should I do if I am wrongfully injured or someone in my family is killed because of the carelessness of another?

It is generally not wise to talk to the party that hurt you, their attorney, or an insurance adjuster until you fully understand your rights. Saying the wrong thing could compromise your claim.

There are often complicated legal questions, such as what legal deadlines apply, whether you can make recovery from multiple sources and insurance policies, how to preserve your ability to get your medical bills and expenses paid before your claim is settled, etc.

Contact us today to set up an appointment with L. Craig Nierman for your free consultation concerning Insurance Law and Personal Injury matters.

What can I collect for in case of personal injury or wrongful death?

Iowa law allows personal injury victims to collect for:

• past and future medical expenses
• past lost earnings
• loss of future earning capacity
• past or future loss of function of the body and/or mind
• past or future loss of physical and/or mental pain and suffering
• past or future loss of consortium

A wrongful death claim can include medical charges, funeral expenses, loss of wages, loss of support, loss of parental guidance, health benefits and/or retirement benefits.

It is important to make sure that your claim is presented correctly to preserve your rights in all of these areas.

What if my injury occurs while I am at work?

In most cases, you can collect workers' compensation benefits. The categories of compensation can include Temporary Partial Disability, Temporary Total Disability, Medical Benefits, Healing Period, Permanent Partial Disability, Permanent Total Disability, Second Injury Fund Benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits and/or Death Benefits in addition to your medical bills and mileage to medical appointments.

You may be able to make a personal injury claim in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. This requires a careful coordination of benefits.

What if the death of a loved one occurs while they are at work?

You may collect workers compensation benefits, including Death Benefits. An attorney experienced in workers' compensation, Insurance Law and Personal Injury can help you with coordinating benefits to maximize your recovery.

How will my medical bills get paid?

We help clients to look at all available forms of insurance and then determine which ones will be to your benefit. Options often include health insurance, coverage under automobile or homeowner’s policies, workers’ compensation benefits, government benefits, and others. In many cases we will negotiate with the insurance carrier to force it to pay a portion of your attorney fees.

What about my lost wages?

When someone else prevents your from working, in most cases, you can obtain compensation for any of your sick or vacation leave you had to use up.

My vehicle was damaged in an auto accident. What am I entitled to?

If your vehicle is totaled, you can make a claim for the value of your car. Otherwise, you may be entitled to the cost to repair your vehicle and additional compensation. In many cases we have the insurance company pay for your rental car.

How much is my case worth?

The value of your case is based on many factors including how long you need medical treatment, how bad your injury is, the amount of pain and suffering you have, and whether you suffer permanent injuries. In most cases, these factors are not clear until we are well into the case.

The important thing is to choose an attorney that will maximize the value of your claim after we collect all of the information. Please go to our Client Successes page for a sample of cases we have handled.

How long will it take for me to receive compensation?

Settlements vary depending on the particular facts, including how severe your injury is and what insurance companies are involved. Mr. Nierman can make some estimates after he has met with you.

How much will you charge me?

We handle almost all Personal Injury and wrongful death claims on a contingency basis. This means you do not have to pay money up front and you will not be charged attorney fees unless we recover for your damages. Our fee is based on a percentage of what we collect for you. We will provide you with details at your free initial consultation.

What can I do if my own insurance company wrongfully denies my claim or pays me only a portion of what I am entitled to?

Unfortunately, this is a common problem because insurance companies often try to profit from not paying claims fairly. You have rights to collect for your claim, but you must act quickly and follow specific legal procedures to preserve your rights. The necessary steps and deadlines depend on what type of claim you have, what is written in your policy, as well as state and/or federal laws governing your case. In cases of bad faith, you may be eligible for punitive damages.