Representing Personal Injury Accident Victims In Central Iowa
Last updated on May 5, 2025
A serious accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. Our attorneys at Lombardi & Miler Law Firm PLLC know how scary it can be when you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. We are here to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our Des Moines personal injury lawyers will guide you through the complex legal process and ensure you pursue the medical attention and financial support you need. We can handle your personal injury case with proficiency and compassion.
Types Of Compensation For Your Injuries
Seeking compensation for your injuries can be a complex and overwhelming process, but our attorneys are here to help guide you through it. This step is crucial in determining the amount of your rightful compensation.
In personal injury law, negligence is the failure of one party to act with reasonable care, which results in harm to another party. Negligence can take many forms, and our Des Moines personal injury lawyers will work with you to find out whether negligence played a role in your accident.
If negligence has contributed to your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of expenses and losses related to your injuries, including:
- Medical bills: These can cover the cost of hospital stays, surgeries and ongoing treatment.
- Lost wages: These can compensate you for time missed from work due to your injuries.
- Diminished earning capacity: This can account for any reduction in your ability to earn a living due to your injuries.
- Car repair costs: These can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
- Pain and suffering: These can compensate you for the physical and emotional pain caused by your injuries.
In addition to these types of compensation, you may also be eligible for punitive damages in certain circumstances. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for their reckless or intentional behavior and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. Our Des Moines personal injury lawyers will help you determine whether punitive damages may be applicable in your case.
It is also crucial to be aware of the statute of limitations for personal injury in Iowa, which is generally two years from the accident date. This means that you have two years to file a claim, and if you fail to do so, you may be barred from seeking compensation.
Our Experience And Knowledge In Personal Injury Law
Our Des Moines personal injury lawyers have vast experience and knowledge in handling personal injury cases, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents and wrongful death. We can guide you through the process, handle all of the paperwork and fight for fair compensation.
Our lawyers have a deep understanding of personal injury law and have helped numerous clients navigate seeking compensation for their injuries. We understand that personal injury cases can be complex and time-consuming, and personal injury claims may take several months to several years to resolve. This is because each case is unique, and requires a thorough investigation and careful preparation to build a case.
Our goal is to provide reliable and personalized guidance to our clients during a difficult time. Our Des Moines personal injury lawyers care about you and are dedicated to advocating for justice and fair treatment for all clients.
Nick’s Accident
In 2014, our attorney, Nicholas Lombardi, was the victim of a careless driver, which resulted in the near amputation of his right leg below the knee. As he headed east on Ashworth Road in West Des Moines, a truck crossed two lanes of traffic and hit him head on. The subsequent impact caused the dashboard of the car to collapse, nearly severing his lower right leg completely off. Within 48 hours, he had two serious surgeries and remained in the hospital for 18 days, only to be readmitted a week later for an infection that resulted in another nine-day stay at Methodist. The bills and endless questions quickly piled up. Who would pay the bills? Who would take his daughter to school? How would he get to work? The following 14 months were the most challenging of his life. Scheduling his life around his next surgery (four in total), dealing with constant pain, and trying to explain how there can be pain even when there is not an open wound for people to see was mentally and emotionally exhausting.
Attorney Lombardi has been there, and he will work tirelessly to secure the compensation that clients deserve for the serious injuries they have suffered. Choosing the right lawyers can make a difference in your case. At Lombardi & Miler Law Firm PLLC, we combine the resources and track record of a larger firm with the personal attention of a boutique. Our attorneys can answer your questions and get your case moving in the right direction.
Call us to at 515-217-6812 to discuss the details of your case.
Personal Injury
FAQ
Do I need a lawyer?
If you were seriously hurt (broken bones, torn ligaments or anything that may be long lasting or permanent) or if you required significant medical care (such as a hospital stay or extensive evaluation), then it is important to speak with a lawyer. If your injuries were minor and healed quickly, then a lawyer may not be necessary.
Several benefits of hiring an Iowa personal injury attorney are that they:
- Have full knowledge of the law and know what legal rights and remedies are available for injured victims
- Specialize in cases involving medical malpractice, auto accidents, slip-and-falls, workers’ compensation claims and other types of negligence cases
- Help you understand your case better by explaining complex legal terms and providing valuable advice on how to proceed with your claim
- Build strong relationships with insurance companies, which they may be able to leverage when negotiating fair settlement amounts
- Ensure that the evidence related to your case is collected properly so that it can be used in court should the need arise
- Provide invaluable assistance in filing paperwork, meeting deadlines and making sure that all legal requirements are met
- Provide comfort, support and guidance throughout the process so that clients feel secure knowing that their rights are being protected
- Work hard to obtain maximum compensation for their clients, since they are usually only paid if they’re successful in obtaining a settlement or award
Having a personal injury lawyer handle your case allows you to focus on recovery from any injuries that you sustained during the incident while they work hard behind the scenes to obtain the maximum compensation possible for you.
Who will pay the medical bills?
If you have health insurance, then it is important that you provide that information to the hospital or doctor. It is preferable that the bills be paid by the health insurer, as the health insurer will likely receive a discount of the amount to be paid on your behalf. Some doctors and hospitals will not submit the bills to a health insurer if there could be a claim against some other party. Your auto insurance may also cover some of your medical bills if you have medical payments coverage on that policy. Sometimes, the medical payments coverage must be exhausted before health insurance will cover the bills. This is an issue a lawyer can address on your behalf.
The other insurance company is calling and wants to talk – what do I do?
You are not obligated to provide a statement to the other party’s insurance company or actively participate in its claim evaluation. In cases where you will need a lawyer, it is preferable not to give a statement without an attorney’s help. A sworn statement given to the other party’s insurer can be used against you. There is no advantage to providing information and being cooperative if litigation is likely and you will have to give a deposition in the future.
My own insurance company is calling – what do I do?
If your own insurance company is involved in handling your property damage claim or requires your assistance, it is important to cooperate. Most insurance policies require that you cooperate with your insurer as requested and needed. Failure to cooperate with your own insurer can impact your insurance coverage; however, we strongly encourage you to speak with an attorney before making a recorded statement or speaking with an adjuster.
What about time missed from work?
Lost wages are an important element of damage that can be pursued as part of your claim. Unfortunately, compensation for lost wages is available only at the conclusion of the claim and not as the claim pends. This can cause severe financial hardship. Some employers provide short- and long-term disability benefits on behalf of their employees. Some people have their own personal disability policies as well. If the injury suffered was severe, disability benefits may be available through the Social Security Administration. Whether you are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is driven by the type of injury and permanency of the condition. A lawyer can explore all potential disability benefits with you.
How much is my case worth?
The value of a personal injury claim is driven by the nature and extent of the injury, the medical care received, and whether the condition is long lasting and/or permanent. Whether the other party was clearly negligent will also impact case value. Other important factors include whether wages were lost and what other impacts the injury had or will have on the person’s life in the future.
What materials does a lawyer initially need to get the case started?
Our attorneys will want to discuss the injuries you suffered and the treatment you received to date. We may also have questions regarding your medical history and whether you have suffered any similar type of injury before. Additionally, we will want to learn more about your work history, whether you are able to work and the amount of medical bills you’ve incurred. Our lawyers will want to know what the doctor has suggested you will need in the future and whether you are continuing to receive medical care. Finally, the amount of insurance coverage at issue and whether you have given a statement or otherwise taken any action with the other insurance company will be important. If you were seriously hurt and required significant medical care, then it is important to speak with an attorney.
How does Lombardi & Miler Law Firm PLLC get paid for representing me?
Like most attorneys who handle personal injury claims, we charge a contingent fee of one-third of the total amount recovered. The fee is “contingent” because no attorney’s fee of any amount is charged if money is not recovered for you. Similarly, we will pay litigation expenses on your behalf for things such as court filing fees, the obtaining of medical records, court reporting fees and, if needed, expert witnesses. We are reimbursed for those amounts only if our lawyers recover money for you. We do not require any type of retainer or other amount upfront before representing you.
Have More Questions?
Fill out our online contact form or call 515-217-6812 to reach our personal injury attorneys in Des Moines.