Videos

Why Choose The Lombardi Law Firm For A Serious Personal Injury?

The Lombardi Law Firm’s goal in any personal injury case is single-fold, our goal is to improve the lives of our clients.

Iowa Injury Car, Truck, Semi-Truck, Motorcycle Accidents

If you have been in a car, truck, motorcycle or semi-truck accident in Iowa let us help you with the insurance claim. We have been helping injured clients since 1981. Let us help you. Call now!

Personal Injury Lawyer Offer Free Consultation Offer

Do You Need Help Finding An Amazing Offer for a Personal Injury Lawyer In Des Moines, Iowa? Get Ready To Be Impressed! Meet The Lombardi Law Firm In Des Moines, IA. We’re Always Available To Successfully Help You. Our Incredibly Experienced Team Will Impress You! We Are Your Personal Injury Lawyers Around Iowa. Join Our List Of Satisfied Clients. This Is Your Opportunity To Enjoy Our Amazing Offer, Contact Us Right Now!

2019 10 08 Iowa Workers Compensation Law Changes

Iowa workers got royally screwed after changes were made to Iowa’s workers’ compensation laws. Medical benefits, weekly compensation, healing period benefits, permanency benefits, industrial disability and especially shoulder injuries were negatively affected.

What Is The 90 Day Notice In An Iowa Work Comp Claim?

Notice of injury (85.23) The law provides that the employer must have notice or knowledge of an alleged injury within 90 days of its occurrence, if not, benefits may be denied. The 90-day period begins to run when the employee knew, or should have known the injury arose out of and in the course of employment.

Do You Need An Iowa Attorney?

Not everyone needs to hire an attorney. But every claim involving serious personal injury does require an attorney to present the case for both settlement discussions and for a trial. You may ask why that is, and the answer lies in knowing what you are entitled to receive and why. The law is complicated. Understanding the law of damages is even more complicated. And appreciating the medical evidence even more so. Taking a step backward, you cannot get a credible medical opinion without the right evidence. And if you have failed to gather and to preserve the available evidence you have missed out on a major value-added idea in case-valuation. \n\n We have gathered and preserved evidence for so long that it is second-nature to what we do. We would like to help you with your case and offer you the opportunity find out if what we do. \n\n It does not cost you anything to talk with us about your claim. We do not charge for initial discussions and then all cases are taken on a contingent fee basis with us advancing all litigation costs. Medical and neurological evaluations, reports and testimonial depositions isn’t something a layperson can seriously attempt. Serious personal injury cases include accidents involving death, disability, surgery, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, loss of a limb, loss of eyesight, paraplegia, quadriplegia and neurologic disorders. Call us today for a free consultation and to discuss your case.

Injured In An Iowa Truck Accident | Truck Accident Claims

TO US YOU ARE LIKE OUR MOTHERS. We treat your case as if it was for my mother. We work our case files in a way that produces results. Results that you need and deserve. We aren’t chasing an AdWords bill or trying to settle your case for anything other than what it is worth. When I lend you my 35 plus years of experience, I am handing you valuable advice. I expect everyone else in my office to do the same. Why? Because your case is THE most important case you have. It is not our only case, but it is the only one you have. You have no other case, this is it. You have one shot to produce something valuable. And I know this is it. Katrina knows this is it for you. And so, does Barbara. We all know you depend on us to give you our best effort. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN DECIDING HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Understand the law and what we will have to prove. \n Look at the facts in your case. Give an honest review of the fact. \n Apply those facts to the law. \n And listen to what your lawyer is saying about the risks of losing. \n Than ask yourself, can you afford to lose? THE LAW OF PERSONAL INJURY IS LIKE A CAKE RECIPE \n\n There are elements to prove any personal injury case. If you leave out one of the elements, the lawsuit won’t bake right. We have to have all the elements and enough facts to make a strong case. Like trying to bake a cake with not enough flour, the elements can be weakened by weak testimony or a missing piece of evidence. When an element is lacking or weakly supported, the risk of a loss increases. Like that cake, you might be able to bake it, but it may not taste all that good. WE FOCUS ON WINNING, WHILE YOU FOCUS ON LEARNING HOW TO WIN, If you listen to the lessons we provide, you will learn and you can then provide the evidence ( via testimony and physical evidence ) that will produce the best results. Your case is an investment in your future. Invest in it and it will pay dividends. We invest in your, your case and you invest in our litigation model.  \n\n And together we win. CONCLUSION, If we can help you with your personal injury case give us call. Call today!

Get Paid The Right Amount For Your Work Injury Claim

How do you know if you’re getting paid the proper amount for your workers’ compensation claim? Attorney Steve Lombardi explains in this helpful video.

Injured In An Iowa Truck Accident | Truck Accident Claims

In this video, Attorney Steve Lombardi discusses the various ways truck drivers and trucking companies can be negligent, causing life-altering accidents.

Experienced Workers' Compensation Attorney In Iowa

Attorney Steve Lombardi discusses how he became a passionate about helping injured workers get the compensation they deserve. This video details Steve’s experience.

How To Prepare For A Deposition | What To Do And Not Do

Let me make an offer you can’t refuse. The Godfather said it and he could not have been more right. If you are lucky enough, most of you will never see the inside of a courtroom. Never.
Why will I never see the inside of a courtroom?
Because if your lawyer has done their job right, you’ll do so well in discovery and in the deposition that the insurance company will make an offer you can’t refuse. The most important answer to who you should hire is what sort of a track record they have with other clients in getting you ready to prepare for the road that lies ahead. Is your lawyer one who is trying to handle hundreds of case, a volume lawyer, and will have no time to take your phone call or to answer your email mail? The Lombardi Law Firm is not a Volume Law Firm
We aren’t chasing an Ad bill and two hundred small cases for two hundred clients. We could, but we just don’t want to. It’s not the way we want to practice. We do handle some small cases, because we want to, but we are not taking on cases to settle in order to pay a monthly ad bill.
We like to handle serious personal injury cases. Serious PI cases include ones with serious injuries: death, broken bones, and injury requiring surgery, quadriplegia, paraplegia, paralysis, traumatic brain damage, ruptured discs or lengthy hospitalization.
If this sounds like your case and you want a serious lawyer contact the Lombardi Law Firm and set up an appointment with attorneys Steve Lombardi and Katrina Phillip.
Call today!

How We Handle Truck Accident Claims

In Iowa, the Lombardi Law Firm represents clients who are injured after being involved in a semi-tractor-trailer-semi on the Interstate Highways that traverse Iowa. Those highways are likely I-80 and I-35.
I-80 goes east to west from Davenport and the Quad Cities through Iowa City, then onto Des Moines (central Iowa) to the western border and the city of Council Bluffs before crossing the Missouri River into Omaha, Nebraska.
I-35 is the north-south highway which runs north to Minneapolis-St. Paul and south through Des Moines to Kanas City, Missouri.
We work with lawyers from Texas to Minneapolis and from the east coast to the west coast to make sure your right to recover is preserved.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE
The injuries in these cases can be catastrophic resulting in brain damage, quadriplegia and paraplegia or death. Having been trained as a private investigator and then a trial lawyer I want to get out when the evidence is fresh. Meaning, you cannot call me too early. Call me, call me now.
WHAT WE DO
We get out ASAP and if needed hire a private investigator to document the truck, your car, other cars or trucks and the accident scene. We will come to the hospital to take appropriate photographs in order to document the injuries. Because when the evidence is gone, it is usually gone.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The next part of the case involves the medical care, treatment and rehabilitation. And we do the same things during that period as we did with the accident investigation. We gather and we preserve your evidence.
WHEN SHOULD I DO THIS
If you are reading this or watching this video then now is not too soon. Call us. Check out the number on the website.

IBM, Professional License Issues And How To Reduce Your Legal Expenses

Here are ten important considerations for you to think about when you’ve received or are likely to receive an inquiry from the Iowa Board of Medicine. This is a starting point and if right from the start you treat this event as critical you are likely to save money on your legal bill to defend your reputation and right to practice medicine. Hire someone early for advice about hot to limit your exposure. Sit down and think about the patient, the diagnosis, the prognosis, the care and any problems. Write out what you remember and provide only to your lawyer. Before you respond to the IBM’s investigator confer with an attorney. Don’t mistake the investigator being friendly with them being your friend. They only job is to find facts that support their case. Do not make any statement, either written or oral, to the IBM investigator without a lawyer first discussing the case with you. Don’t discuss the details of the situation with your partners before you meet with the lawyer. Check your professional liability policy to see if it covers attorney fees. In a recent case we saved the client about $15,000 in fees using the professional liability policy. Recognize the seriousness of signing the settlement agreement (the S.A.) it will affect your professional malpractice premiums, health insurance qualifications and professional designations with professional organizations you belong and that provide certifications. Do not underestimate the disruption the I.B.M. can cause to your future. These are just ten ways for doctors with a problem before the Iowa Board of Medicine to limit their legal expenses. There are more but 10 are enough. Next video “Ramifications of Signing the SA”

What You Can Expect After Hire The Lombardi Law Firm.

Personal injury cases most often result from traumatic accidents that can leave you feeling scared and unsure of what to do. The process after the accident can be very confusing, causing even more stress. Today Attorney, Katrina Schaefer talks about the process and steps in a personal injury case to give you an idea of what happens when you bring your accident claim to personal injury attorneys at the Lombardi Law Firm. 1) Client Intake: After making contact with our firm, we speak with the potential client to obtain preliminary personal information, discuss the injuries sustained and treatment, as well as obtain a signed fee contract. 2) Insurance Companies Information: After obtaining all necessary information from the new client, we send letters of representation to the insurance companies for our client and the other parties involved in the accident. We then acquire the information regarding the policies held by the parties involved, including the monetary limits on the policies. 3) Medical Records and Bills: We then write to all treating physicians, physical therapists, etc. that our client sought treatment with to obtain medical records, bills, notes, and x-rays. By collecting and organizing this data, we can understand the course of treatment our clients experienced and the extent of their injuries. This allows us to value the case and determine what amount we will demand of the insurance companies. 4) Demand Letter; or File Petition: Once the client has finished medical treatment or has reached “maximum medical improvement,” we then finish valuing the case and write a demand letter to the insurance company with our evaluation of the claim and how much money we are asking for to make our client whole after the injury. In the alternative, we may file a petition with the court, beginning the legal process within the court system. The petition will normally allege negligence on the part of the other party, lay out the facts of the case, and the judgment demanded. The time to file a personal injury case is within two years after the date of the accident. This is called the “statute of limitations.” After those two years have passed, the client can no longer bring a claim for that injury or receive compensation from the insurance company. 5) Negotiation and Settlement After sending a demand letter to the insurance company, they will then make a counteroffer and negotiation discussions will begin. This can be quite long and drawn out, or very simple if both sides agree quickly. If the parties cannot agree, they may decide to go to meditation, where a third party will mediate negotiation discussions with the hopes of reaching a settlement on that day. If a petition is filed rather than a demand letter, however, discovery is then sent to the opposing side to obtain information. This includes interrogatories, or questions, that the other side must answer, as well as requests for documents that the other side has in its possession. Even if a petition is filed, the case often will settle outside of the courtroom. If not, the end result will be a trial to determine the amount to be awarded, if any, to the client.

Interstate Highway Accidents in Iowa Hiring An Iowa Lawyer

Facts — One challenge is to put the case together. This has to do with distances people travel to be in Iowa and where they are going. We have to locate witnesses and then obtain their cooperation to participate. The closer we are in time to the accident the more likely witnesses are to cooperate. Witnesses can be difficult to locate and then to obtain statements from or depositions. People move, truckers get fired and disappear off our radar. The farther in time we get from the accident the harder it is to locate your witnesses. If you’re a personal injury lawyer with a case venued in Iowa, call us early. We do split fees with lawyers who participate in the litigation. We have a good reputation for honesty and hard work. Venue — Federal or state court? Law — No real differences. Practical considerations Investigation — It needs to happen right after the accident. Service of Process — You may need to file the case early so the petition or complaint can be served on the responsible parties. Experts — If you need an accident reconstruction expert they need to be involved as early as is possible. Litigation Costs — We understand litigation and the costs of litigating. We invest in your claim. Call us, we are here to help and offer a consultation at no cost.

Five Ways To Screw Up Your Iowa Workers Compensation Claim

Here are the Five Ways to Screw Up Your Work Comp Claim Fail to give the 90 day notice of injury Fail to file within the statute of limitations Talk too much during the recorded statement Fail to understand the issues in a work comp case Fail to accurately describe the accident in the initial history you give the doctor.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations In An Iowa Workers Comp...

Two-year Statute of Limitation (85.26) If within two years from the occurrence of the injury the employee does not receive Iowa weekly workers’ compensation benefits or file an application for arbitration, benefits may be denied. Three-year Statute of Limitation (85.26) If Iowa weekly workers’ compensation benefits have been paid, the employee has three years from the last payment of weekly benefits to receive additional benefits or file an action before the workers’ compensation commissioner. If not filed within the three-year period, the benefits may be denied. This statute of limitation does not apply to medical expenses reasonably necessary to treat the injury.

You Can Buy But Not Sell A House As-Is.

Buyers have a duty to disclose known defects. Sellers have no duty to read or to pay attention to what is being disclosed. So, you can buy a home on an ‘as-is’ basis, but as a seller you have to fill out a written disclosure form and deliver it to any buyer making an offer. Make sense? If not call us for a consultation.

How To Put Some Bite In Your Dog Mauling Case

Preservation of Evidence is Key to Winning your case. Don’t give a statement without first talking to a lawyer. If you do and later see a lawyer tell them you gave a statement to the dog owner’s insurance company. 1. Video the growling dog even is you need to visit the dog at the pound. 2. Save the clothing you had on at the time of the attack. 3. Photograph the injuries using a ruler to show the length of any lacerations and teeth marks. 4. Photo/video the defective hardware, like gate latches and dog chains. 5. Save the defective hardware. 6. Obtain contact information for all witnesses. 7. Obtain a copy of the police report and the animal control officer’s name. 8. Keep a copy of the medical bills. 9. Keep a list of the MSP’s and their contact information. 10. Keep a list of the prescription drugs and where you had each filled. 11. Copy the DEC page of your homeowner’s insurance policy. 12. Keep a copy of your health insurance card. 13. Keep a copy of any work excuse the doctor gives you excusing you from work. 14. Keep track of your time off from work. 15. Open a file folder to keep all information.

Iowa Workers' Comp - Overriding The Adjuster's Refusal...

What should you do when the doctor who is treating you prescribes treatment, but the workers’ compensation adjuster won’t authorize it? You call us and we file a petition for alternate medical care. CALL: 515-222-1110 While the insurance adjuster is allowed to authorize treatment they are not permitted to practice medicine, since they are not licensed to do so. We work for you to turn that “No’s into “Yes’s. In today’s case the post surgery physical therapy was refused. Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer, Steve Lombardi puts his 30+ years of experience to work for the injured worker and uses the legal means available to get the authorization for the care. Allow us to do the same for you. Follow the contact information on this site and we will help you to get the care you deserve. That way you can get healthy and get back to earning a living and supporting your family.

How Much Will I Get Paid Each Week After An Iowa's Worker's...

Many of our clients ask how much they will get paid while off of work during the healing period*. What you will receive is a weekly indemnity check. To you it is a pay check paid by the Iowa workers’ compensation insurance company; but to the lawyers and insurance adjuster it is referred to as a weekly indemnity check. I don’t care what you call it so long as you understand what you will need to provide your lawyer so they can figure out how much it should be. How much will I receive ever week? You will receive an amount that differs for every injured worker because the amount depends on several factors. Those factors include your marital status, the number of your dependents and how much you earned for the 13 weeks prior to the injury. Those should reflect 13 full weeks of work so it’s always better to provide the lawyer with at least 15 weeks of earnings. Now don’t get your undies all in a bunch if you don’t have that information, the lawyers can request it from your employer. Not all employers cooperate but enough do so don’t worry, because for those who don’t we can always send them an invitation (called a subpoena). What is the technical name for what I receive every week? We call it the weekly compensation rate and Katrina and I use a reference book, your payroll information, a calculator, your tax returns and a good old fashion pencil to make the calculation. Oh and let’s not forget we also have to use our brain. What is the technical name for the amount I can expect to receive each week? It is called the weekly compensation rate; sometimes referred to as just “the rate”. Who figures out how much the weekly compensation rate should be? The lawyer will make this calculation. Do I need to provide him with anything to make the calculation? Yes you do but if you can’t it’s not terminal to your case, but may take longer to get what we need to figure out the correct rate. Now I will say this about your over-the-road truckers. Your weekly compensation rate is a little bit tougher to calculate. It is based on how much you earn which usually requires knowing your mileage rate and number of miles driven over those 13 weeks. We don’t count how much they reimburse you for expenses, only for pay and technically expense reimbursement is not pay. So bring in your log books and pay check stubs so we can make the calculation. Believe me when I say figuring out the weekly compensation rate is not straight forward. You need the following information and documentation to figure it out: 1. Are you married or single? 2. How many people were dependent on your for support on the date of the accident? 3. How much did you earn during the 13 weeks previous to the injury? Here are the documents that help us figure out your weekly compensation rate. 1. Obtain copies of your paycheck stubs for the 15 weeks prior to the injury. 2. Obtain copies of your income tax returns for the past five years. 3. If you drive over-the-road for a living bring in your log books and paycheck stubs showing expense reimbursement and mileage rate. *(The healing period is being covered tomorrow so stay tuned for an explanation about the healing period.) Links: The Iowa Industrial Commissioner FAQ’s on the Industrial Commission site The Lombardi Law Firm FAQ’s for Workers’ Compensation Lombardi Law Firm section on Iowa Workers’ Compensation.

Spouse, Child Or Actual Dependents Can Receive Iowa Work...

Christopher Wheeler died while working on a road construction crew near Liberty Center. He was working the flag in Warren County when he was struck by a truck on Highway 65. This Sunday’s Des Moines Register reporter, Sharyn Jackson, did a nice job of writing up the dependency issue involving his family. She reports his five siblings along with nieces or nephews not only looked up to him, but also “at times the sole provider for his household.�? And that’s the point I find the most intriguing from a legal standpoint. Wheeler worked for Iowa Erosion Control since May. Ironically one case on this very issue (actual dependency) involves Iowa Erosion Control. Here is a direct quote from the case. “In Iowa Erosion Control, Inc. v. Sanchez , 599 N.W. 2d 711 (Iowa 1999), the Iowa Supreme Court interpreted Iowa Code section 85.44 as allowing two types of dependents: (1) those who are actual dependents; and (2) those who are mentally or physically incapacitated from earning.�? My point is this, if the parents, brothers, sisters, nieces or nephews were actually dependent on Chris Wheeler they have a workers’ compensation claim. Iowa Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Call Now – 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com or katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com . So why is this important to the Wheelers? It is important because the Wheeler’s may be eligible to receive coverage under both types of insurance: the workers’ compensation and from the personal injury insurance. The truck’s casualty insurance policy will provide coverage as may the workers’ compensation insurance. And if Chris Wheeler were single then the work comp insurance will try and settle quickly and on the cheap. The difference could be over a $100,000. The insurance adjuster will act all friendly like he’s doing them a favor when in fact he’s hiding the ball. He won’t tell the Wheeler’s the dependents may be entitled to lifetime benefits which I’ll assume are pretty significant. That alone may be worth over $250,000. So what should the Wheeler’s do? Do not talk to the adjuster without first getting legal advice. Is that clear enough? DO NOT TALK TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WITHOUT LEGAL ADVICE! Okay I said it again. (515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com or katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com .) I posted a news item about Chris Wheeler on September 29 th , Iowa Highway 65 Construction Worker Struck and Killed . If we can assist with both the personal injury case (the owner of the truck that hit and killed Wheeler) or the workers’ compensation case against Iowa Erosion Control, drop us a line. (515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com or katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com .) Here is the actual quote from the Rojas vs Pine Ridge Farms case. Iowa Codes section 85.31(1) indicates when death results from a work-related injury, the employer shall pay dependents who were wholly dependent on the earnings of the employee for support at the time of the injury. Under the statute, dependents include a surviving spouse, children, and dependents as defined under Iowa Code section 85.44. A dependant is defined under Iowa Code section 85.44 as: … one actually dependent or mentally or physically incapacitated from earning. Such status shall be determined in accordance with the facts as of the date of the injury. In such cases if there is more than one person, the compensation benefit shall be equally divided among them. If there is no one wholly dependent and more than one person partially dependent, the compensation benefit shall be divided among them in the proportion each dependency bears to their aggregate dependency. In Iowa Erosion Control, Inc. v. Sanchez , 599 N.W. 2d 711 (Iowa 1999), the Iowa Supreme Court interpreted Iowa Code section 85.44 as allowing two types of dependents: (1) those who are actual dependents; and (2) those who are mentally or physically incapacitated from earning. In Murphy v. Franklin County , 259 Iowa 703, 145 N.W. 2d 465 (1966), the Iowa Supreme Court indicated that the calculation for determining the degree of dependency, under Iowa Code section 85.31(3), is related to the percentage of wages determined to have been contributed to the dependent’s welfare. In Murphy , the evidentiary record indicated a seventeen year old minor son contributed at least fifty percent of two paychecks toward his family. Based on that evidence, the court upheld an award of fifty percent under the statutory formula found in Iowa Code section 85.31(1). The Iowa Supreme Court in Murphy noted: Dependency and support.

Iowa Work Comp: What You Do When The Adjuster Refuses Medical...

When the adjuster refuses to follow the doctor’s prescribed treatment you need to hire a lawyer who will file a petition with the Iowa Industrial Commission for Alternate Medical Care. Call us if we can help you.

Should I Ever Report A Work Injury As A Non-Work Injury?

Some workers believe the workers’ compensation insurance will be too much of a hassle, so they report a work injury as non-work related. But this justification for lying will certain blow up as soon as the history and physical are complete. The doctor’s opinion that this work injury is a work injury will cause real problems with the health insurance. Listen today as Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer Steve Lombardi discusses this issue.

Iowa Personal Injury - Who Will Likely Be Sued After The Drive...

Have you ever wondered who or which companies could be sued after a driver falls asleep at the wheel and causes a major accident with serious injuries? Join Iowa personal injury lawyer, Steve Lombardi, as he discusses 10 likely defendants. And as always if we can help you with your Iowa personal injury or workers’ compensation accident give us a call.

Factual Causes For Falling Asleep At The Wheel

When someone falls asleep at the wheel everyone immediately points the finger at the driver. But to successfully recover you need to discover the likely cause of why the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Iowa personal injury lawyer, Steve Lombardi discusses the factual causes that should point you in the direction of who to sue. Who to sue is a later video. If the Lombardi Law Firm can help you with your Iowa personal injury case contact our firm by filling out the contact form in the contact us box

Introduction To Iowa's Residential Seller Disclosure Statement Form

This is one of the more important first steps you take in selling your home. Let us help you do it right. Iowa’s Residential Seller Disclosure Form The law requires sellers to disclose Any fact material to the established of a purchase price Don’t make excuses or minimize defects Disclosure I’m here to help $250.00 vs $1,000.00 to $20,000.00 in damages and attorney fees.

Why Is A Foreign Object In Your Fast-Food Such A Tough...

At the local fast food restaurant you sit down to eat with your family and as you bite into that burger something hard chips your tooth. What can you do? Today Attorney Lombardi discusses why these cases are so difficult to prove. Why is a foreign object in your fast-food such a tough insurance case? High burden of proof — These cases are too easy to fake All the fake cases before you drag you down and elevate the needed proof. Low level of damages makes most cases economically infeasible. Fast Food Tricks — The manager will ask for the object “to have it tested by a lab’s. The objective is to shut you up in front of the other customers. The Denial – The manager will then either deny you gave it to him or will say he doesn’t recall you giving it to him. They throw it away. Lost or misplaced — Sorry you can’t prove your case.

The #1 Reason Why Work Comp Cases Don't Settle Quickly

I’m often asked how an injured worker can speed up the settlement process. Today Attorney Lombardi discusses why in most cases you can’t speed up the settlement process. The #1 Reason Why Work Comp Cases Don’t Settle Medical — Medical is the #1 reason why cases don’t move towards settlement negotiations. Should you rush to the settlement table? What should I do? Cooperate with the doctors Follow the doctor’s advice and recommended treatment Do your home exercises and wound care instructions. Don’t get re-injured

10 Reasons To Quickly Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer after...

Right after you are in a car accident with a semi-truck you want nothing more than to get better. But while you’re healing the insurance industry is busy ruining your case by destroying valuable evidence. So what should you do? Today Attorney Steve Lombardi discusses why you need to immediately hire a personal injury lawyer who can gather and preserve your evidence while you take care of getting better and back to work. 10 Reasons to Quickly Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer after A Semi-Truck Accident Photograph and record the accident scene Photograph the vehicles Photograph your injuries Identify witnesses Interview witnesses Hire an accident reconstruction expert Determine insurance coverage Protect you from activist insurance adjusters Work with your health insurance company Work with your medical service providers to insure proper payments are made.

30 Ways To Preserve Your Iowa Wrongful Death Case

A wrongful death case is an insurance claim involving the death of a person where someone else was at fault for causing an accident that lead to their death. This can be an accident involving a drunk driver, a semi-truck driver, a motorcycle, moped, scooter, a fall, a pedestrian, an interstate highway accident involving multiple cars/trucks, a work accident or any other accident in which someone dies. Drunk driving accidents can be tricky so it’s important you folks visit with an Iowa personal injury lawyer pronto. The Lombardi Law Firm handles all kinds of personal injury cases, including workers’ compensation and premise liability cases that lead to someone’s death. We represent children, parents, wives, husbands and so many other people that’s it’s almost impossible to catalog them all. So let’s get busy because if you don’t preserve the evidence in your case you’re not likely to win. Here are a list of your supplies and evidence you’ll need to preserve. Let’s get busy and organized. Understand when I say “you’s I’m referring to the estate administrator or the wife, husband, relatives, friends or anyone else in charge of the case. We can and would like to help you with your wrongful death case. Call 515-222-1110 or send us an email. As promised here are 30 things you should do to preserve your case. 30 Things You Should Do To Preserve Your Wrongful Death Accident Case Get a folder for recordkeeping. Get a good digital camera, a video camera, a tape measure and a measuring wheel. Photograph the accident scene. Photograph any vehicles. Photograph the visible injuries. Photograph anything in the accident environment that you believe the person who you think caused the death will blame for causing the accident. Collect the names and contact information for every eyewitnesses. Save your clothing and don’t wash them! If you shot images on your phone download them to your computer. Burn all the photographs to a CD so you can give them to your lawyer. Keep a copy of the accident investigation report from the police. Keep a copy of the driver exchange of information form. Save the autopsy report. Get the insurance policies out and the DEC page. Keep copies of any correspondence from the insurance company. Don’t give a statement to the truck owner’s insurance company. Keep copies of medical records. Keep copies of the ambulance report and bills. Keep copies of all medical bills. Keep copies of all work excuse slips. Keep copies of cards and make a list of all your medical service providers. (doctors, etc.) Don’t talk with anyone but your lawyer about the accident. Before you give your own insurance companies a recorded statement hire a lawyer. Place a copy of your health insurance card in the folder. Understand what you did right. Understand what you did wrong, if anything. Realize the person you think caused the death will ultimately blame the person who died. Realize the insurance company of the person you think caused the death is going to blame the person who died. Open a folder and keep all your records in it. Open your mind and get ready to learn how to win. Let’s get organized and let’s learn how to win your case.

32 Things You Should Do To Preserve Your Iowa ATV Accident...

My mother is a stickler for organization. I learned a lot from her about how to create a base upon which success can be supported. After my father died she raised five children and paid the freight altering clothes. She learned to make ends meet with little investments; like buying her two oldest sons a fishing pole and sea worms with directions to the Elk’s Dock. She persuaded my Uncle Jeep to show us how to clean a flat fish. From there we cut cleaned and wrapped buckets of flash fish in foil before filling the freezer for winter meals. We learned to survive by doing the right prep work and in teaching me to fish she taught me how to survive. As a lawyer I hate to lose and as a son I thank my mother, Dolly for showing me what it takes for a 35 year-old mother of five to survive with only a tenth grade education and the will to not lose. Like I’m fond of saying, “I hate to lose.�? And so should you. So let’s get busy because if you don’t preserve the evidence in your case you’re not likely to win. Here are a list of your supplies and evidence you’ll need to preserve. Let’s get busy and organized. 32 Things You Should Do To Preserve Your Bike Accident Get a folder for recordkeeping. Get a good digital camera, a video camera, a tape measure and a measuring wheel. Photograph the accident scene. Photograph the ATV. Photograph your injuries. Photograph anything in the accident environment that you believe the driver or owner will blame for causing the accident. Collect the names and contact information for every eyewitnesses. Save your clothing and don’t wash them! Save the ATV and don’t wipe it down or wash it off! Don’t use the ATV! Save the helmet! Don’t use the helmet again, but save it! Photograph the helmet showing the location and size/length of every dent/cut/scrape. If you shot images on your phone download them to your computer. Burn all the photographs to a CD so you can give them to your lawyer. Keep a copy of the accident investigation report from the police. Keep a copy of the driver exchange of information form. Get your insurance policy out and your DEC page. Keep copies of any correspondence from the insurance company. Don’t give a statement to the truck owner’s insurance company. Keep copies of all medical bills. Keep copies of all work excuse slips. Keep copies of cards and make a list of all your medical service providers. (doctors, etc.) Don’t talk with anyone but your lawyer about the accident. Before you give your own insurance companies a recorded statement hire a lawyer. Place a copy of your health insurance card in the folder. Understand what you did right. Understand what you did wrong, if anything. Realize the ATV driver is going to blame you. Realize the ATV driver’s insurance company is going to blame you. Open a folder and keep all your records in it. Open your mind and get ready to learn how to win. Let’s get organized and let’s learn how to win your case.

Product Liability: Concentrated Laundry Packets

BIt’s being reported that a 7-month-old boy died after eating a laundry detergent packet. The AAPC has an alert on laundry detergent packets and reports in 2012 poison centers received 6,231 reported exposures of highly concentrated packets of laundry detergent by children 5 or younger. The AAPC has these recommendations: The experts at your local poison center urge parents and caregivers to: Always keep detergents capped and locked up high, and out of the reach of children. Follow the instructions on the product label. Call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect a child has come in contact with this detergent. There is a downloadable fact sheet which I will download onto our website. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has several alerts and appears to be holding conferences to discuss the problems these packets pose to children and consumers in general. The problem appears to be these packets look like toys to children who then put them into their mouths. Orlando Sentinel, Infant dies after ingesting detergent pod , Arelis R. Hernandez reporter

Field Tools For Preserving Evidence in an Iowa Personal Injury Case

If right after your accident you aren’t going to hire an Iowa personal injury lawyer, then there are some things you ought to be doing to gather and to preserve the evidence in your personal injury case. In this video Attorney Steve Lombardi discusses simple tools you’ll need in the field to investigate the accident scene.

What do I need to know to value my case?

Do you know how to establish a value for your personal injury case? Today Attorney Steve Lombardi discusses what is behind the lawyer’s valuation of your case. Valuing a personal injury case isn’t easy. It requires knowing the law and then applying the facts to the law while considering historically what the lawyer has received in the past for similar cases. Here are all the elements of what you should consider. There are other considerations; but these generally are the major considerations. I. Assess comparative fault on the issue of liability. 1. Who was at fault for causing the accidental injury? 2. Did you follow all of the recommended treatment? 3. If not what was your reason for not following the treatment? II. Know all the elements of damages. 1. Medical expense – past. 2. Wage loss. 3. Reduced earning capacity. 4. Surgery or no surgery? 5. Future medical expense? 6. Reduced earning capacity? 7. Permanent disability? 8. Pain & Suffering If we can help you with your case, give us a call.

35 Things You Should Do To Preserve Your Bike Accident Case

My mother is a stickler for organization. I learned a lot from her about how to create a base upon which success can be supported. After my father died she raised five children and paid the freight altering clothes. She learned to make ends meet with little investments; like buying her two oldest sons a fishing pole and sea worms with directions to the Elk’s Dock. She persuaded my Uncle Jeep to show us how to clean a flat fish. From there we cut cleaned and wrapped buckets of flash fish in foil before filling the freezer for winter meals. We learned to survive by doing the right prep work and in teaching me to fish she taught me how to survive. As a lawyer I hate to lose and as a son I thank my mother, Dolly for showing me what it takes for a 35 year-old mother of five to survive with only a tenth grade education and the will to not lose. Like I’m fond of saying, “I hate to lose.�? And so should you. So let’s get busy because if you don’t preserve the evidence in your case you’re not likely to win. Here are a list of your supplies and evidence you’ll need to preserve. Let’s get busy and organized. 35 Things You Should Do To Preserve Your Bike Accident Case Get a folder for recordkeeping. Get a good digital camera, a video camera, a tape measure and a measuring wheel. Photograph the accident scene. Photograph the bike. Photograph your injuries. Photograph anything in the accident environment that you believe the truck driver will blame for causing the accident. Collect the names and contact information for every eyewitnesses. Save your clothing and don’t wash them! Save the bike and don’t wipe it down or wash it off! Don’t use the bike! Save the helmet! Don’t use the helmet again, but save it! Photograph the helmet showing the location and size/length of every dent/cut/scrape. If the accident was at night and you were using a light wait till the same time as the accident occurred, then turn on the light and either videotape or photograph it. Save the light, remove the batteries so they don’t drain and keep them in a baggie. Photograph the light and batteries. If you shot images on your phone download them to your computer. Burn all the photographs to a CD so you can give them to your lawyer. Keep a copy of the accident investigation report from the police. Keep a copy of the driver exchange of information form. Get your insurance policy out and your DEC page. Keep copies of any correspondence from the insurance company. Don’t give a statement to the truck owner’s insurance company. Keep copies of all medical bills. Keep copies of all work excuse slips. Keep copies of cards and make a list of all your medical service providers. (doctors, etc.) Don’t talk with anyone but your lawyer about the accident. Before you give your own insurance companies a recorded statement hire a lawyer. Place a copy of your health insurance card in the folder. Understand what you did right. Understand what you did wrong, if anything. Realize the truck driver is going to blame you. Realize the truck driver’s insurance company is going to blame you. Open a folder and keep all your records in it. Open your mind and get ready to learn how to win. Let’s get organized and let’s learn how to win your case.

The 7 Things You Need To Be Your Own Lawyer

Not everyone needs to hire a personal injury lawyer; do you? After an accident ask yourself this question: Do I need to hire a personal injury attorney? Not everyone does. This is a true story. I’ve got a friend who has a job that pays him a lot of money. He has a lot of money in the bank and in the stock market. He requires nothing except more money. He can afford the best lawyers on the planet. But it’s funny, when faced with the adjuster in his wife’s personal injury accident he wouldn’t even hire a lawyer to help settle the property damage claim on her brand new BMW. Why, you might ask would he balk at paying for legal services. He flat out refused to hire a personal injury lawyer and instead tried playing the role of being his own personal injury lawyer. He’s really good at his job running a major corporation, but when it comes to playing lawyer, he’s terrible at it; he really is. I didn’t tell him that because it would have been wasteful on my part. He hasn’t a clue about what he’s doing. So why might a guy with all the money in the world be willing to handle his own personal injury case? The answer is simple, he can afford to lose. So long as you can afford to lose you too can play lawyer. Here are the seven skills you need to have to play lawyer in your own personal injury case. If you have these 7 qualities you don’t need to hire a personal injury lawyer. The 7 Key Qualities for Self Representation 1. Are you confident you understand the legal issues? 2. Are you confident you understand how to prove damages? 3. Are you overconfident and will you recognize when you’re in over your head? 4. Are you familiar with how insurance adjusters act friendly, but they really aren’t your friend? Do you know the difference? 5. Can you recognize when you’re being fooled into talking too much? 6. Can you just say nothing and still be comfortable with it? If not then hire a lawyer. But wait, there is one more. And before I tell it to you I want to tell you about toilets. I don’t fix leaky toilets I hire a plumber and I think practicing law is a whole lot harder than fixing a toilet. 7. And finally, if you’re willing to fool yourself into believing you have these 6 skills, then its one simple question left: Can you afford to lose? If you can then you don’t need me or any lawyer for that matter; and the reason is simple, you don’t need the money.

Workers Compensation 101, Just the basics

To get workers’ compensation benefits you need to have suffered an injury that is related to your work. Injuries generally fall into two catergories, the first is a single event and the other one caused by cumulative trauma. The single event injury is the easy one to prove. The cumulative trauma injury is a series of events that accumulate until finally the need for medical becomes evident. Before the final event causes immediate need for medical attention, more than likely pain and complaining is the only treatment. So join us today on this video and let’s talk shop in the Legal Minute. Visit us at www.lombardilaw.com and listen to Attorney Lombardi discuss the answer to legal questions. If we can help you call us at 515-222-1110 or write to me at sdlombardi@aol.com or send Katrina an email at katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com .

Iowa Workers Compensation, What if I reinjure the same leg?

What do you do if you are out on Iowa workers compensation with a leg injury and you re-injure the same leg? Is is compensable? Can I get still get benefits? Will they cut off my benefits? How and to who do I report this re-injury? Will the doctor see me again? Am I just out of luck? Help! Well first thing you need to do is take a breath. The answer to that question isn’t easy or straightforward without more information about how the reinjury occurred. So we start there and then decide how to proceed. Some answers just need a lawyer to be involved and if the lawyer you hired isn’t involved then you have a problem and need to decide whether to stick with that lawyer or to hire another who has more time. This is not an assembly line business nor a business where needy clients will ever feel satisfied. But it is a people business and requires some degree of hand-holding. So buckle up your seat belt and let’s join attorney Steve Lombardi for the Legal Minute as he takes a few minutes from his busy day to try and answer your legal questions. Visit us at www.lombardilaw.com and listen to Attorney Lombardi discuss the answer to legal questions. If we can help you call us at 515-222-1110 or write to me at sdlombardi@aol.com or send Katrina an email at katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com .

Wrist injury and the company doctor examination...

Let us not fool each other. The insurance industry controls the doctors and therefore controls their opinions. It’s the Golden Rule which stands for: He who controls the gold makes the rules. So don’t ever let them tell you the workers want to be out on workers’ comp or that they look to get injured. That my friend is complete BS. You have but one friend in your case – your lawyer. Everyone else can be friendly, but they are not your friend. As your lawyer I’m here to tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear. We can protect your rights only by being forthright, honest and direct. We are not scouts in the business nor priests, we’re lawyers. So join attorney Lombardi as he puts you on the right path to obtaining the legal recovery you are entitled and deserve. Visit us at www.lombardilaw.com and listen to Attorney Lombardi discuss the answer to legal questions. If we can help you call us at 515-222-1110 or write to me at sdlombardi@aol.com or send Katrina an email at katrina.schaefer8@gmail.com