When a crash upends your life, you need attorneys prepared to take on insurance companies and fight for every dollar you deserve. We represent injured drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians, and families of crash victims across Iowa, Minnesota, and nationwide.
FEATURED RESULT – NOVEMBER 2025
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Verdict against Mayo Clinic — among the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Iowa history
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At Hixson & Brown, P.C., our attorneys represent drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians who have been seriously injured — and families who have lost a loved one — in motor vehicle accidents caused by another party’s negligence. We handle cases in Iowa, Minnesota, and across the country through our co-counsel partnership with Trial Lawyers for Justice.
Insurance companies begin working to limit their exposure the moment a crash is reported. Evidence disappears. Witness recollections fade. Black box and ELD data in truck cases can be overwritten within days. Having experienced legal representation immediately after a serious collision — not weeks later — can make a decisive difference in what you recover.
We handle all motor vehicle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly charges, and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts — often contacting injured victims within hours of a crash to obtain recorded statements and settle claims before the full extent of injuries is known. Common ways insurers undervalue or deny claims:
Fatal motor vehicle crashes on U.S. roads each year
Iowa statute of limitations for most injury claims (shorter for some cases)
On economic damages in Iowa motor vehicle accident cases
Our attorneys represent seriously injured clients across the full spectrum of motor vehicle collision claims — from rear-end crashes to catastrophic commercial truck accidents. Each case is handled with the resources and preparation required to go to trial if necessary.
We also handle cases involving drunk driver accidents, commercial vehicle accidents (delivery trucks, company vehicles), and collisions caused by road design defects or hazardous conditions.
Our firm is based in West Des Moines, Iowa, but we handle serious motor vehicle accident cases in multiple states and nationwide through our co-counsel relationship with Trial Lawyers for Justice (TL4J). Motor vehicle accident laws vary meaningfully by state — including differences in statutes of limitations, comparative fault rules, insurance minimums, and damage caps. Our experience in multi-state litigation means we understand these differences and can guide clients wherever they need representation.
For complex commercial truck cases involving carriers operating across state lines, or fatal crash cases requiring extensive expert resources, our TL4J partnership provides significant additional depth. We have access to a national network of accident reconstruction specialists, biomechanical engineers, life care planners, and economic experts to build and present your case at its strongest.
Iowa’s legal framework for motor vehicle accident claims includes critical rules on filing deadlines, how fault is allocated when both parties share some responsibility, and what categories of compensation you can pursue. These rules apply to Iowa cases — other states have different requirements.
In Iowa, personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents must be filed within two years from the date of the accident (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)). Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline, running from the date of death rather than the date of the crash if those differ.
Government vehicle exception — critical deadline: If the at-fault vehicle was owned or operated by a state or local government entity — a state patrol vehicle, city bus, county maintenance truck, or similar — a formal notice of claim may be required within 60 days of the incident under the Iowa Tort Claims Act. Missing this short deadline can permanently bar your claim, regardless of how strong it is on the merits.
Injured minors: Iowa generally allows injured minors until two years after reaching age 18 to file, subject to certain exceptions. If a child was injured in a crash, contact an attorney promptly — the rules can be nuanced.
Because evidence and witness memories degrade quickly after any crash, contacting an attorney as soon as possible — not just within the two-year window — is always the right call.
Iowa follows a modified comparative fault system under Iowa Code § 668.3. This means you can recover compensation even if you contributed to the accident — but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
The 51% bar: If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced proportionally. For example, if your damages total $300,000 and you are found to be 20% at fault, you recover $240,000.
Insurance companies and defense attorneys regularly attempt to inflate the injured party's share of fault through recorded statements, selective evidence presentation, and accident reconstruction hired specifically to assign more blame to the victim. An experienced attorney can counter these tactics with independent reconstruction, witness development, and thorough evidence preservation.
Multiple-vehicle crashes: In accidents involving more than two parties, fault percentages are assessed across all parties, and each liable party is responsible for their proportionate share of damages. Our attorneys have experience untangling complex multi-party crash cases.
Iowa does not cap economic damages in motor vehicle accident cases. There is no legal limit on what you can recover for medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs, and other financial losses — no matter how large those amounts are.
Economic damages you can pursue include: past and future medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, chiropractic, future treatment); past and future lost wages and diminished earning capacity; property damage (vehicle repair or replacement); and the cost of in-home care or assistance if your injuries require it.
Non-economic damages — including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium — are also uncapped in Iowa motor vehicle cases. This is an important distinction from Iowa's medical malpractice framework, which imposes specific non-economic damage caps under 2023 legislation.
Punitive damages may be available when the at-fault party's conduct was particularly egregious — such as a repeat drunk driver, a driver who fled the scene and caused a fatality, or a trucking company that knowingly allowed an unqualified or hours-fatigued driver to operate a commercial vehicle.
The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. You should consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific situation.
Contacting Hixson & Brown, P.C. by phone, email, or contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Such a relationship is only established through a signed engagement letter.
Please do not send confidential or sensitive information until an attorney-client relationship has been formally established. Information sent prior may not be protected by attorney-client privilege.
Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
Questions? Call (515) 222-2620