An injury can leave you facing unexpected challenges and difficult decisions. Our Des Moines personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping clients pursue compensation while providing guidance and support throughout the legal process.
Were you hurt in a car wreck, workplace accident, or any other injury in Des Moines? Iowa Code § 614.1(2) gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Iowa follows a modified comparative fault rule. If an insurer proves you were 51% or more at fault, you may lose your right to recovery. Call Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys for a free review.
In Iowa, the personal injury statute of limitations is two years. Iowa Code § 614.1(2) sets that deadline. If you miss this deadline, even by one day, the courts could toss your case.
Iowa follows a modified comparative fault rule under Iowa Code § 668.3(1). Fault in an accident could be split between the parties involved. If your share is 50% or less, your recovery is reduced by that amount. But if an insurer pushes that number to 51% or higher, you may not recover anything at all.
What if your accident involved a city vehicle, a Polk County road defect, or any government-owned property? Then Iowa Code § 670.5 sets a much shorter deadline. Claims against Iowa governmental subdivisions require written notice. This written notice must be filed within 60 days of the injury.
The deadline to file a government claim is just two months. If you miss that step, then your claim may be lost entirely, even if you’re still inside the two-year window. Talk to an attorney before deciding your next move.
Des Moines is Iowa’s capital city and largest metro area. It sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, which are two of the busiest cross-country interstates in the country. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Iowa recorded 259 fatalities in 2025. Common accident sites include Interstate 235, Interstate 80, and Merle Hay Road.
Running 14 miles through Des Moines, Interstate 235 (I-235) is the busiest highway in Iowa. The highway is infamous for rush hour congestion and accidents. Plus, the downtown corridor has narrow lanes. Rear-end crashes and sideswipe collisions are common.
Interstate 80 (I-80) passes directly through the Des Moines metro. Des Moines, Waukee, and West Des Moines are car accident hotspots. Winter conditions, including snow and ice, make things worse. Multi-vehicle pile-ups occur near the Des Moines interchange.
Merle Hay Road is one of Des Moines’s most crash-prone surface roads. It runs north through a populated commercial zone with heavy retail, restaurant, and commuter traffic. Frequent driveways and closely spaced intersections regularly cause rear-end and sideswipe crashes. The corridor near the I-235 interchange is particularly hazardous.
After a car accident, evidence disappears quickly, especially once roads are repaired. The best thing you can do for your claim is to speak with an attorney. Your first case review is free.
Our Des Moines Office
Find our Des Moines office at 500 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Our team is available by appointment only. Reach us at 800-229-7989. Your first case review is always free. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win a settlement or verdict in your favor.
We Also Serve Clients Throughout Iowa
Des Moines is our Iowa office. Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys represents injured clients across the state. No matter where in Iowa your injury occurred, our attorneys can help you understand your options.
Our Des Moines car accident and truck wreck attorneys handle cases throughout Polk County and across Iowa. We also represent clients in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and premises liability claims.
After an accident in Iowa, you need the best law firm on your side. Our attorneys in Des Moines fight for the compensation you deserve.
Our personal injury attorneys are here to make sure your pain won’t be minimized, and neither will your settlement.
Share what happened through a quick, no-cost evaluation. Get legal support online, by phone, or even by text. It’s fast, easy, and there’s absolutely no obligation.
If your case qualifies, we’ll connect you with an experienced attorney and a dedicated support team. They’ll guide you through every step, answer your questions, and keep you informed from start to finish.
Your team will investigate your case, take on the insurance company, and push for the best possible outcome, because you deserve nothing less.
From the first call to the final verdict, our clients share how we stood by them and delivered results when it mattered most.
If you’ve been injured in Des Moines, you may be confused about what to do next. That’s where we come in. These are the most common questions we receive from Iowa residents like you.
Our Des Moines attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury cases. Our practice areas include car accidents, wrongful death claims, and catastrophic injury cases. We also handle mass torts and insurance disputes. Regardless of your losses, your first case review is always free.
In Iowa, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit under Iowa Code § 614.1(2). The clock starts on the day you were hurt. But if your accident involved a city vehicle or any government-owned property, a much shorter deadline applies. Under Iowa Code § 670.5, you may have as little as 60 days to file a notice of claim.
Most Des Moines law firms, including Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front. Instead, you only pay if we win a settlement or verdict in your favor. Your first case review is always free.
You may still be able to recover, even if you were partly responsible. Iowa follows a modified comparative fault rule under Iowa Code § 668.3(1). If your share of the blame is 50% or less, you can still pursue a claim. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If an insurer pushes that number to 51% or higher, your claim is barred entirely.
