Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When cars and trucks collide, occupants in the passenger vehicles typically are seriously injured or even die as a result of having an 80,000-pound truck crash into their car. Thankfully, you survived this Eastern Iowa truck crash; however, you should be rightfully compensated for your injuries.

Insurance companies know that Iowa truck accidents can produce serious injuries, and often injuries can still surface months later. This is why you may find that the insurance company is trying to settle your claim as soon as possible, so they won't be liable for your injuries later down the line.

It is best to never accept their first offer. You should also talk with a skilled Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund to find out what financial rights you are entitled to. Call (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation to find out how much your claim may be worth.

Insurance adjustors are trained professionals who are in the business to save their company money. After an Iowa car accident, they will start calling you immediately so that they can try and settle your case as quickly as possible. They hope that you will admit some fault in the recorded statement you give them. This way they will be able to lessen your claim amount. Remember, they are not looking out for you, but rather they are trying to lessen their company's liability. It is never a good idea to give the insurance company a recorded statement or sign any papers until you have spoken with a Cedar Rapids personal injury attorney. If you would like us to review your case, please call us today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal evaluation.

Yes, however snow tires are only allowed during the cooler months of the year. Iowa law allows the use of chains on tires when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions that cause a car to skid. Snow tires, or winter tires, are allowed by in Iowa, but only from November 1 through April 1. For more information on winter driving, see our article on Iowa winter weather driving.

After a truck accident in Iowa, there are several parties that may be held liable for your injuries and damages. Although the truck driver is first to come to mind after a tractor-trailer wreck in Cedar Rapids, the truck company may also be responsible for the crash and potentially liable for your injuries.

The truck company may have been negligent and may have had something to do with your accident. Ultimately, they are responsible for everything their employees do. The truck accident could have occurred because of improper loading of the truck, lack of maintenance, or lack of proper rest breaks. Although the driver may be liable for working too many hours and not taking the proper breaks according to the law, the truck company may share in this liability and may be responsible for your injuries, lost wages, medical bills and more.

It is a truck company's responsibility to make sure their truck driver is following the rules and to make sure that the truck is safe while on the road.

For more information about your specific legal case, call a skilled Cedar Rapids truck accident attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today to schedule a free legal evaluation at (319) 866-9277.

Yes if the death was caused by the negligence, carelessness or intentional act of another. This is called a wrongful death lawsuit. There is no greater tragedy then the death of a child and if the death was preventable, the parent(s) of the child may bring a lawsuit against the responsible person or company. If you have lost a child and think you may have a wrongful death claim, you should contact an attorney to learn more.

Yes. The death of a loved one is a significant loss even if the person was a child, retired or a stay-at-home parent. Whether your loved one was employed at the time of death may affect the amount of the damages that you are entitled to recover, however you can still seek recovery for your loss.

Yes. If you suffered an economic loss because a product did not perform in the manner that it was supposed to the purchase price (and possibly other damages) can often be recovered in claims for breach of warranty (even if there was no written warranty). Additionally, Iowa has recently enacted a law creating a private cause of action for consumer fraud. This law will allow some consumers to bring claims based on products that fail to adequately perform. These types of cases are often brought as class actions because there are many purchasers of the defective product and each purchaser's economic loss may not be high enough to justify an individual lawsuit.

Most children in Iowa get lead poisoning from chipping and peeling lead based paint in homes built before 1960. Children often become lead poisoned from putting items that have lead dust on them in their mouths or from inhaling lead dust. Other sources of lead poisoning can be lead glazed pottery or certain home remedies including ayurvedic herbal supplements. In many cases, the local health department will investigate your child's lead poisoning to determine the source of the lead and help you to eliminate the lead hazards.

Consumer and financial fraud in Iowa and throughout this nation occurs every day, and you need to know what to watch out for. Oftentimes, people may not know their identity has been stolen for quite some time, whereas others may immediately see some obvious signs that they have been victims of identity theft.

One of the noticeable signs that you may be a victim of identity theft is that your credit report has questionable items on it. For example, if there are certain accounts that were recently opened or accounts that have not been paid, an identity thief may have opened a new credit account in your name. It is always wise to check your credit report once a year to look for inaccuracies.

Other signs that you may be a victim of identity theft in Iowa include: receiving new credit cards in the mail that you didn't open, not getting bills in the mail that you previously received, receiving phone calls from collection agencies on a debt you didn't know you had, getting denied credit, or seeing mysterious withdrawals from your bank account.

If you are a victim of consumer fraud and identity theft, you should file a complaint with the FTC and talk to an Iowa consumer fraud lawyer about your rights. When an identity if stolen, it frequently leads to a tarnished credit report and lost money.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, credit card fraud, bank fraud, or any other type of consumer fraud in Iowa, call a skilled Cedar Rapids consumer fraud attorney at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation.

Sadly, there are hundreds of Iowa nursing homes fined for health and safety violations. Many reasons include lack of staff, neglect, staff not trained properly, inadequate nutritional services, malnutrition, failure to make the facility safe, inability to provide quality care to residents, patient abuse, infected bed sores, medication errors and more.

While I'm sure everything you are reading sounds bad, there are still some good Iowa nursing homes out there; however, you need to conduct your research, visit the facilities and interview the residents and staff.

When a nursing facility is cited for a health and safety violation, they may be penalized with fees, probation, or other disciplinary actions. Unfortunately, the average Iowa nursing home has an average of 7 health deficiency violations. Make sure you do your research on a facility to find out how many violations they might have.

If your loved one has been a victim of Iowa nursing home neglect and abuse, contact the Cedar Rapids nursing home abuse attorneys at Brady Preston Gronlund today for a free consultation at (319) 866-9277.

Car accidents in Iowa can lead to many serious injuries including fractured vertebrae, spinal fractures, spinal cord injury, and more. If you have been injured in a car accident, you should seek medical attention immediately.

If you may have fractured your vertebrae, you should visit your doctor or the emergency room. Symptoms of fractured vertebrae and spinal fractures include:

• Pain in the back
• Pain in the neck
• Tingling or numbness
• Muscle spasms
• Weakness of the muscles
• Paralysis

More fractures occur to the lower back region generally due to the force a seatbelt places on your body during the impact of a collision. If the fracture is severe, it sometimes can lead to spinal cord injury. However, not all fractured vertebrae will result in a serious injury. Sometimes these injuries can heal within a couple of months with the use of a neck or back brace.

If you believe you have suffered from a back injury during an Iowa car accident, contact Cedar Rapids car crash attorneys at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today. Call (319) 866-9277 today and find out your legal options.

Yes. Lead poisoning is linked to learning disabilities in children. Sadly, children are more susceptible to the negative effects of lead poisoning because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. A child could have been exposed from lead paint in their house, during pregnancy, or from a worker living in their home.

If any child is exposed to lead before the age of six years old, learning disabilities can occur. High blood lead levels have been known to interfere with a child's development, affect their IQ, and cause damage to the brain and nervous systems. Other symptoms of lead poisoning affect speech delays, hearing loss, hyperactivity, and stunted growth. It has also been linked to attention deficit disorder, loss of cognitive skills and learning behavior problems.

Watch your child's behavior and get them tested before the required age. If you believe you have a legal case, contact the experienced Iowa child lead poisoning attorneys at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277, or visit our website and request a copy of our FREE book Get the Lead Out.

As of July 1, 2011, Iowa did adopt a no texting law on the roads to reduce the number of distracted drivers and Iowa car accidents. However, on December 13, 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for a nationwide ban on using cell phones – hand-held and hands-free – behind the wheel.

If this law is adopted by state lawmakers, it would affect all age groups, all types of vehicles, and essentially all drivers would only able to use their cell phones in case of emergency. This law would include:

• No talking on hand-held or hands-free cell phones
• No texting while driving
• No emailing or searching the Internet while driving

The NTSB cannot put this law into place, but they are strongly recommending this law be passed by state lawmakers.

Distracted driving, especially the use of cell phones, takes a driver’s mind off the task at hand, eyes off the road, and hands off the wheel. When this occurs, drivers are much more likely to cause an Eastern Iowa car crash than if they were paying full attention to the road.

If you have been injured by a distracted driver on Iowa roads, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, physical therapy, lost income, and instances of pain and suffering. Call an experienced Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for more information and a free legal consultation today at (319) 866-9277.

Unfortunately, this situation is not rare, and cases of consumer fraud in Iowa occur from time to time. There are many thieves and scammers online looking to make some fast cash. Typically these false advertisements are posted on eBay or Craigslist, making the offer look too good to be true. For example, the advertisement might show a picture of a John Deere tractor or Kubota front-end loader with the correct specs and information, but there may be specific false signs to look out for.

Is the price too low for the age of the tractor, is the posting asking for a money wire, and does the seller refer to the currency as USD? If so, it most likely is a scam. There are honest ads on these sites too, but these fraudulent advertisements make people hesitant to even purchase anything on these auction sites ever again.

If you have been cheated out of your money, then you are a victim of consumer and financial fraud in Iowa. Please call an Iowa consumer fraud lawyer to find out about your rights and what your next steps should be. Call a skilled Cedar Rapids consumer fraud attorney at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation.

Although you hit his car, you might have a personal injury case for compensation for your injuries, instances of pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages and more. Because it is illegal in Iowa to not have working lighting equipment on the vehicle, the other driver may be found negligent of your Eastern Iowa car crash.

All lighting equipment on motor vehicles must meet the standards set forth in Iowa Code 321.384 to 321.423. All lights and lamps provided by the manufacturer have to be maintained in working condition or be replaced with equivalent lighting equipment according to Iowa Code section 321.23.

For more information on your rights to a financial recovery, you should talk with one of our skilled Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund. We need to find out what type of injuries you and the other driver sustained and if the police report noted that the other driver's lights were out in the rear, in order to determine what type of case worth you have. Call (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation to find out more about your potential legal and financial rights.

As you know, Darvocet or Darvon was used as a prescription pain reliever; however, it was recalled because of patients having heart issues. The pain medication propoxyphene, which is found in Darvocet and Darvon, was the cause of concern, as there is evidence that the drug changes the electrical activity of the heart. Some of the problems people have complained of include irregular heartbeats, rhythm abnormalities, and cardiac arrest.

If you have experienced a heart attack in Iowa due to defective drugs, or have had irregular heartbeats, rhythm abnormalities, or required the use of a pacemaker while taking Darvocet, you may be entitled to seek compensation.

You should contact an Iowa product liability attorney if you have suffered from any of these side effects while you were taking this drug. Find out your rights, and call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund regarding the Darvocet drug recall and your potential product liability class action lawsuit. Call us today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal evaluation.

Sadly, debit card fraud in Eastern Iowa and nationwide has increased since 2010. Scammers and hackers know that more and more people are watching their credit reports, making credit card fraud and identity theft more difficult to get away with. Because of this, there has been a shift from credit card fraud to debit card fraud.

Hackers have found out a way to steal debit cards, giving them access to people’s checking accounts and even savings accounts. This has left many people broke for weeks until their banks finish investigating their claims.

In the meantime, people have been left without a way to pay for their mortgages, car payments and other monthly bills. Attorneys know that in these situations you do not have money to pay up-front legal fees. There are lawyers who will take your case on a contingency fee basis, which means that you pay nothing until your case is won.

If you receive a recovery, then your attorney fees are paid at the end. If you were a victim of financial fraud in Cedar Rapids or anywhere in Iowa, please call a skilled Eastern Iowa financial fraud attorney for more information. At the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund, our Cedar Rapids financial fraud attorneys will provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation when you call us at (319) 866-9277.

Anytime a driver is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Iowa, there are penalties and fines in place. Punishment includes steep fees, jail time, driver's license revocation or temporary suspension, and in some cases the installation of an ignition interlock device. The fees can range up to $1,250, plus the driver's auto insurance rates will increase.

The drunk driver who hit you will have to live with a DUI conviction on his driving record, and may face a minimum of 48 hours in jail. His driver's license will most likely be revoked for 180 days or be given a temporary suspension. In addition, he will be required to complete courses regarding substance abuse.

If you were injured in an Iowa drunk driving crash, you need to make sure your financial needs are met. Talk with an experienced Iowa personal injury attorney to find out how a lawyer can help you get just compensation. An attorney will be able to make sure the driver who hit you is being charged to the fullest degree, and will look out for your best interest. Call a Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer at Brady Preston Gronlund for legal advice today at (319) 866-9277.

I am so sorry to hear about your serious injuries from this Cedar Rapids car accident. It sounds like you were a victim of a negligent driver who may have been racing another car, driving distracted, or driving under the influence. Because the driver's careless actions have caused you injuries, you need to pursue compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, physical therapy, ongoing care, lost wages, and more.

Your case worth will depend on a number of issues, but the primary factor is the severity of your injuries and medical diagnosis. Sometimes Iowa personal injury cases can be complicated and it is wise to talk to an attorney who is knowledgeable about these types of cases. A skilled Cedar Rapids accident attorney will be able to talk to your doctors, understand your medical reports, gather evidence for your case, negotiate with the insurance company, and fight for your rights.

Call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our Cedar Rapids law office, we can come to you.

You can also order a copy of our book Answers to Iowa Car Crash Victims' Top 10 Questions, available on our website as a free download.

When a seatbelt fails, you can sustain serious injuries through no fault of your own. The manufacturer of the seatbelt, most likely the vehicle manufacturer, could be held liable for your injuries.

Seatbelts have been known to be defective and malfunction in a number of different cases each and every year - causing injuries to many. There are many reasons why a seatbelt could fail, including: unlatching, failure of the seatbelt's retractor, torn or ripped seatbelt webbing, faulty automatic seatbelts, and other additional causes.

After your Cedar Rapids car accident, you need to talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer who can help get your seatbelt and vehicle inspected to collect and preserve the evidence proving your seatbelt failure, in order to hold the manufacturer liable for your injuries.

Call an experienced Cedar Rapids accident attorney today at Brady Preston Gronlund at for a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277.

You can also order a copy of our book Answers to Iowa Car Crash Victims' Top 10 Questions, which is available on our website as a free download.

Yes. In Iowa, children who are injured have until they are 19 years old to bring claims for their injuries. It is not always a good idea to wait that long to bring a claim because witnesses may move away and important evidence may be destroyed. Additionally, parents of lead poisoned children also have claims that have a shorter statute of limitation. You should contact an attorney to discuss whether your child has a legal claim.

An individual person who has been harmed by a product or company can bring a class action suit on behalf of others who have been injured in the same manner. A class action lawsuit typically starts with a single person who has been injured. Once the class action has been started, it is common for other people to join the suit.

Generally, the court certifies a class action lawsuit because there are too many people to make individual lawsuits practical. Most of the time hundreds or thousands of people are involved in class action lawsuits.

Some class action statutes have a minimum number of class members that are required by law in order to be certified as a class action suit. However, most of the time a civil court certifies a case as class action because there are too many people to be named as parties in the lawsuit.

If a class member does not want to participate in the class action suit, he or she can hire their own lawyer to pursue an individual case.

Unfortunately con artists prey on senior citizens because they know that seniors are often trusting people, from a generation where a man's word was honorable. Cons target senior citizens often because they know that they are typically home to answer the telemarketing phone calls, the mail, or the door bell.

Cons also know that seniors generally do not use computers to check their bank accounts and financial statements, so they are more apt to get away with committing financial fraud including: credit card fraud, investment fraud, healthcare fraud, identity theft, forging checks, and even stealing money.

The best thing you can do is to talk with your senior parent and warn them of the scams that are taking place. Inform them that it is usually not a good idea to purchase anything from a solicitor or give anyone else their credit cards, checkbooks, social security cards or healthcare cards.

If your elderly parent has become a victim of financial fraud in Iowa, whether it was a few hundred dollars or much more, please call our skilled Cedar Rapids financial fraud lawyers at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund to talk with a qualified Iowa financial fraud attorney in a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277.

Beware of advance fees! An advance fee is the most common type of consumer fraud. This type of fraud occurs when you are asked to pay money upfront to secure a loan, credit card, or service performed.

Even though it is illegal for a credit repair company in Iowa to charge you an advanced fee, many of them do and will. You will want to stay away from the companies charging upfront fees for credit repair. Remember, you can do credit repair yourself.

In addition, if you are looking for a guaranteed loan, do not pay an advance fee to a loan broker. Loan broker scams typically make you pay an advance fee for processing or application fees. After you send the money, you never hear from that company again and you don't get that loan.

Most businesses are professional, but there are fraudulent people and companies out there. If you have been cheated through a credit repair scam or advance fee fraud, contact Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 and learn how to protect yourself against fraudulent companies.

Sometimes, playground accidents in Iowa occur due to a child's own fault; however, once we look closer at the situation, there may be a responsible party to hold liable. For example, if your child missed a bar when climbing and fell, the injury might be the child's fault. However, if the fall zone was not equipped with the correct materials like sand, wood fiber chips, shredded rubber, or shock absorbent mats, then a negligent party may be held liable.

If the accident occurred in a city park, then the city may be liable. If the fall happened at school or at daycare, then the daycare center or school may be held responsible for your child's injuries. There are other parties that may be held responsible depending on what type of accident your child suffered. If there was defective equipment involved, then the equipment manufacturer may be held responsible or the workers who put the equipment together may be found liable.

In order to determine if a negligent party may be held liable for your child's injuries, an investigation of the equipment and accident scene needs to take place. An experienced child injury attorney can help you during this tragic event. If you child was injured in an Iowa playground accident, contact the Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers at Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277.

The sad fact is that cancer does need to be caught in time in order to have a fair chance of fighting it. If your Iowa doctor confirmed that you didn't have cancer even though you showed symptoms, you most likely believed him, since he is the skilled professional that you entrust your health to.

However, doctors have been known to be wrong. They may rely on only one test to determine their verdict, misread the test results, fail to conduct other tests or biopsies, or fail to order other scans. Doctors may be liable for your damages if they demonstrated a poor standard of care and were negligent in their actions.

If your doctor's mistakes delayed your cancer treatment due to cancer misdiagnosis, you may have an Iowa medical malpractice lawsuit. If you have been a victim of cancer misdiagnosis in Iowa, please call a skilled Cedar Rapids medical malpractice attorney in order to seek justice against your negligent physician.

Contact the law office of Brady Preston Gronlund at (319) 866-9277 for your free legal consultation today.

Unfortunately, identity thieves do prey on the elderly. There are many reasons why this occurs. The elderly typically are not set up with computers to monitor their checking accounts, savings accounts and credit cards closely. Most of the time seniors get all their personal information sent to them in the mail, which can be easily stolen.

Identity theft in Iowa does occur in nursing homes, as many workers in nursing homes take those positions to gain access to senior citizens in order to take their social security numbers and gain access to their bank accounts, healthcare coverage and more. Sometimes, money is not stolen and bank accounts are not even touched, as the identity thief is more interested in gaining access to the social security number for healthcare or employment needs. These other types of crimes are considered medical fraud and employment fraud, which sometimes go hand in hand with identity theft.

If your mother has been a victim of identity theft in Iowa, it is a good idea to call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund to talk with a Cedar Rapids consumer and financial fraud attorney today to find out your rights. You can reach our office at (319) 866-9277 for your free legal consultation.

Sadly, there are many elderly drivers who shouldn't be driving anymore due to their slower reflexes, poor eyesight, and difficulty determining how fast other cars are traveling in the distance. Elderly drivers shouldn't be driving anymore when they have trouble turning, they lane drift, and they have a hard time seeing things correctly.

Children of elderly parents can have discussions with their aging parents to explain the dangers of them continuing to drive and the possibility of them getting injured or injuring someone else in a Cedar Rapids car accident. Additionally, it is important that seniors have their eyes examined on a regular basis.

If your loved one causes an Eastern Iowa auto accident, their driving days and life may be over. Don't wait until it is too late. Start the conversation today that may save your parent's life and other innocent motorists sharing the road with them.

If you or someone you love was injured in an Iowa car crash caused by a negligent driver, you may have rights to financial compensation. Call a knowledgeable Cedar Rapids accident attorney today at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277 and find out more.

As a courtesy to you, please request a FREE copy of our book: Answers to Iowa Car Crash Victims' Top 10 Questions.

We are extremely sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, and hope you find this answer helpful.

Farming accidents in Iowa and throughout the nation are typically catastrophic in nature, as farming involves hard work, heavy machinery, and toxic chemicals. In fact, farming is one of the deadliest industries in the U.S.

When a farm accident occurs, many things may have caused the accident, including: human error, defective equipment, equipment that was not maintained properly, lack of training, and improper storage of hazardous chemicals.

In order to determine if there is another party that should be held responsible for the death of your loved one, a farm accident investigation needs to be conducted as soon as possible. For example, if the accident involved a tractor or other heavy equipment, pictures of the equipment need to be taken and engineers and other industry professionals need to visit the site and inspect the equipment and accident scene.

A skilled lawyer will be able to arrange an accident inspection and determine if you have a legal case and who should be held responsible for the death of your family member. Equipment manufacturers, farm owners, and other workers at the farm are just some of the parties that may be liable for your loss.

Contact a the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today and speak with an experienced Iowa farm accident lawyers today at (319) 866-9277 to find out if you may be entitled to financial compensation. Also, read A Guide to Wrongful Death Claims in Iowa, a FREE book provided by Brady Preston Gronlund.

There are serious risks of winter driving for not just truckers, but all motorists alike. Truck drivers cannot stop driving during the winter months; however, they can be smart about safe winter driving. When truck drivers find themselves in icy and snowy conditions, it can be dangerous and deadly for them as well as innocent motorists sharing the roads with them.

When wintery conditions affect Iowa roads, there are many car and truck accidents in Eastern Iowa because people do not prepare ahead of time for the winter driving period. Truck drivers are included in this, and need to prepare accordingly for harsh driving conditions.

Things that truckers could do to minimize their risks for an Iowa truck crash include:

• Winterize their rigs.
• Put extra distance between themselves and vehicles traveling ahead of them.
• Slow down during harsh conditions.
• Drive according to the road conditions.
• Know where the closest truck stop is in case the weather gets ugly.
• Know when to stop and pull off the road.

Even experienced truckers need to take preventative measures to protect themselves, their rigs and others traveling around them during bad weather conditions.

If you or anyone you love has been injured in a Cedar Rapids truck accident due to the negligence of a truck driver, you may have legal rights to compensation. Contact an experienced Cedar Rapids truck accident attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation today at (319) 866-9277.

After you find out you were deceived, you are most likely working through some difficult emotions. You probably feel violated, defeated, and scared about how to function financially after just being ripped off.

We are sorry to hear that you were victimized. Although you most likely want to find these criminals and punish them, you should let the proper authorities handle them. Certain things you can do include:

• Contact your local police who can file a complaint with Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint.
• Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to file a complaint.
• Contact the attorney general and other government agencies to file a complaint.
• Contact an attorney who specializes in consumer and financial fraud in Iowa.

It will help you to talk through these feelings and find out if you have any rights. By speaking with a skilled Cedar Rapids financial fraud lawyer, you will be able to determine your options and how to pursue a legal case. Call today to schedule your free consultation at (319) 866-9277.

A class action lawsuit is a civil lawsuit that occurs when many people have suffered harm and have been affected by the same claim. Class action suits are typically claims of injury from harmful products, such as defective drugs, pharmaceutical medications, and defective automobiles, among others.

In order to have a class action lawsuit, certain criteria need to be met. First, a victim (also called a Lead Plaintiff) has to have a viable case and file a lawsuit claiming harm against a defendant(s). He or she has to show the court that there are many other people with the same claim, and it would be in the best interest of the court to certify the case as a class action. In order for the courts to certify this case, the following are required:

• A legal claim against the defendant.
• A large group of people who have similar damages and side effects from the same product.
• The Lead Plaintiff and attorneys have a reasonable plan that represents the class members appropriately.

The drunk driving laws and penalties that affect Iowa motorists are similar to other states. It is considered a crime when a driver age 21 or over tests at a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) level. Drivers who are under 21 are considered drunk if their BAC is 0.02 or more, and commercial truck drivers are considered legally drunk if their BAC is 0.04 or higher.

There are different penalties for drunk drivers in Iowa depending on if it is the driver's first offense or if the driver is a second- or third-time offender. Some Iowa drunk driving penalties include:

First Offense:

• Fines of up to $1,250
• Prison term between 48 hours and one year
• Driver's license revocation from 180 days up to one year

Second Offense:

• Fines of $1,875 to $6,250
• Prison term between seven days and two years
• Driver's license revocation for up to two years

Third Offense or More:

• Fines can be between $3,225 to $9,375 for repeat offenders.
• Prison term can be up to five years.
• Driver's license can be revoked for up to six years.

If you or a family member has been injured in a Cedar Rapids car accident caused by a drunk driver, you need to have a lawyer on your side who can hold that negligent driver accountable for their actions. Call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today to schedule a free legal evaluation at (319) 866-9277.

Trade secrets are a company's confidential information. A trade secret may be a product, recipe, design, or any piece of secret information that makes one company different from another. Typically, companies invest a large amount of money in their businesses to perfect certain methods such as the manufacturing and distributing process, purchasing habits, sales methods, advertising techniques and more.

Also, trade secrets could be a company's client list or list of suppliers. If another competitive business got a hold of any of these items, it could cause a company to lose market share and dominance and allow the other company to capture some of their business.

Companies should always have their employers and vendors sign a non-compete agreement and a non-disclosure contract. If you need help learning how to protect your company's information, contact one of our experienced Iowa business litigation attorneys at the law firm of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal evaluation.

Consumer fraud and financial fraud in Iowa and throughout the rest of the nation is increasing due to this tough economy. What type of consumer or financial fraud you were a victim of will determine what steps you take. Stay vigilant during this time.

It is wise to contact several authorities to issue complaints, which include:

• Federal Trade Commission
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Better Business Bureau
• Iowa Attorney General
• Local police
• And others

Because most of these agencies do not seek to pursue a recovery for your damages - they simply record your complaint - you will need to speak with a skilled Cedar Rapids consumer and financial fraud attorney to find out your rights.

An Iowa consumer fraud lawyer will be able to protect your interests and go after your recovery aggressively. Call the law firm of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation.

As experienced Cedar Rapids accident attorneys, we know firsthand how much pain truck accident victims suffer. Additionally, we know you will be concerned about the expenses of medical bills and your damaged vehicle.

There is not a set amount of money that truck accident victims collect, because no two truck accidents in Iowa are exactly alike. However, damages you can seek include compensatory damages and punitive damages.

The compensatory damages are your actual damages you have incurred in medical bills, lost wages due to time off work, and your property damage for your wrecked car. Punitive damages are compensation a trucking company should pay you if a court decides to punish the trucker for reckless driving.

In order for us to give you more accurate information on your case, please call us to discuss your accident details. Our knowledgeable Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers will provide you with a free, no-obligation discussion of your case. Call the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund at (319) 866-9277 to schedule a free legal consultation today.

Distracted driving is a big buzzword in today's society. It is really defined as anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road, mind off the activity at hand, and hands off the steering wheel. If even one of these three activities is entered into, distracted driving has taken place.

Texting while driving is considered to be the worst distraction for drivers, as their minds are not paying attention to the road, their eyes are off the road, and their hands are not on the wheel. There are many other distractions that a driver can enter into while driving, including:

• Texting while driving
• Talking on handheld cell phones
• Emailing or using the Internet
• Using navigation systems
• Changing radio stations, Mp3 players or iPods
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to friends and passengers in the vehicle
• Grooming

If you have been injured in an Iowa car accident due to a distracted driver, contact the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today and speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids auto accident attorney today. Call (319) 866-9277 for your free consultation today, or fill out this page online to send us an email.

In most cases, the executor of the deceased person's estate or another legally designated representative may bring a claim on their behalf. Such claims are for "wrongful death" and any damages recovered without go to the deceased person's heirs.

A breach of contract is when one or more people in a binding agreement fail to honor their part of the contract. If one side does not honor their promise by non-performance, a breach occurs. A contract can be breached entirely or in part. This can occur for many reasons, including:

• One party does not fulfill the contractual promise
• One party interferes with the others performance
• One party is unable to perform the contractual promise
• One party does something against the intent of the contract
• One party refuses to fully perform the contract

To make sure your contract is enforceable, it is always wise to have the contract in writing. If the other party did not fulfill their end of the contract, you can point it out and give them the opportunity to fix it. If they still refuse, then you should seek the advice of an attorney.

Call the Iowa business litigation attorneys at Brady Preston Gronlund to see if your contract is enforceable. We will sit down with you and provide you with a free evaluation to determine if there was a breach of contract in your case. Call us today at (319) 866-9277.

Generally, an employee signs a covenant not to compete contract along with their new hire paperwork when starting a job. This formal agreement protects the employer when the employee quits his or her job. The contract will usually stipulate that the employee is not to perform a similar job for a certain period of time after termination.

A covenant not to compete, also known as a non compete agreement, with an employer is usually enforceable. The reason for these contracts is that a business doesn't want their trade secrets, highly sensitive information, and customer lists shared with their competition. Also, if an employer trained and developed an employee, they don't want another company to reap the benefits of that trained and skilled worker.

Each state has different laws regarding covenants not to compete. These contracts need to be reasonable and not give the employer too much power or else the state courts may rule them unenforceable. To determine if you have a case, contact an Iowa business litigation attorney at Brady Preston Gronlund. Call (319) 866-9277 for a free consultation with one of our experienced Cedar Rapids business litigation lawyers today.

Robo-signing is a term that has been associated with signing off on foreclosure proceedings without properly verifying documents. This has occurred because of bank employees and mortgage loan servicers trying to get through their mounds of foreclosure paperwork quickly.

When bank employees are robotically and rapidly signing off on these documents without checking the accuracy of the paperwork, an illegal process has taken place.

Each Iowa foreclosure, as well as nationwide foreclosures, requires substantial paperwork, in which a bank employee is required to sign an affidavit testifying that their organization owns the note. This is sworn testimony in front of a notary. When this is not done correctly and is signed automatically as revealed, many banks across this nation have been identified as committing illegal activities.

If you have been a victim of robo-signing in Iowa, please call Cedar Rapids financial fraud attorneys for legal advice today. Contact the law office of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 for your free legal consultation.

There are several advantages of class action suits. The biggest advantage is that they lower the cost of litigation for the individual because of the large group of people involved. A class action lawsuit is good for individuals who might have a minimal case in which it would not be worth it for that individual to bring it to court. For example, if the losses are too small to justify an individual trial, a class action suit would be beneficial. In addition, class action suits can increase the efficiency of the legal process. For example, a class action suit will eliminate witnesses, testimonies and exhibits from being repeated day after day. Also, a class action eliminates different court rulings for the same issue, and the outcome will be divided fairly between all plaintiffs involved, if the case is won. This provides protection for all members of the class. Class action lawsuits in Iowa are valuable to the legal system as these suits are fair and efficient when large numbers of parties are involved or harmed.

The spinal cord runs from the bottom of the brain, down the center of the back and stops at about the waist. It is approximately 18 inches long and is a bundle of nerves that relays impulses from the brain to the rest of the body. When severe damage is done to the spinal cord, a victim will experience a loss of sensation and mobility, which results in spinal cord injury. The spinal cord does not have to be detached for loss of function to occur. The majority of victims that suffer from spinal cord injury in Iowa sustained the injury in a catastrophic car accident and kept their spinal cord intact. However, the damage is so serious that it results in a loss of function and mobility.

If you or someone you love has experienced a spinal cord injury, contact the experienced Iowa catastrophic injury lawyers at the law firm of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal evaluation.

If you believe that you were a victim of mail fraud in Iowa, you should report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) via the mail, phone, going into your nearest Postal Inspection Service office, or by filling out a mail fraud complaint form online. The U.S. Postal Inspectors will investigate your matter to determine if there have been other complaints of a similar nature. If there is evidence of mail fraud, the Postal Inspectors may look to prosecute the person responsible; however, they cannot guarantee that you will be refunded the money you lost in the fraudulent scheme. You can also contact your local police department, the Federal Trade Commission, and your attorney general to file complaints. However, if you are looking to receive the money that you were conned out of, you will need to talk with a financial fraud attorney. In order to seek damages, speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids financial fraud lawyer to find out how to pursue a legal case against the responsible parties. Call today to schedule your free consultation at (319) 866-9277.

If you suspect your child may have been exposed to lead, it is extremely important for you to take your child to see a doctor immediately. Your son or daughter will need to have a blood test in order to find out if he or she has lead poisoning. The nurse or doctor will draw blood from your child's arm or finger and have the lab test a sample to verify if lead levels are found in the blood and how much it contains.

In Iowa, these tests should be completed if your child is anywhere between the ages of six months to six years and is starting day care, preschool or kindergarten. These facilities require a blood lead test to assess each child for Iowa lead poisoning.

If your child's level is 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher, then their blood lead levels are unsafe, and you will be instructed by your health care provider that your child will need follow-up testing. Your doctor will provide you with further instructions if your child is found to have high blood lead levels.

If your child has lead poisoning in Iowa, you should call a knowledgeable Cedar Rapids child lead poisoning attorney at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 to find out your rights, and request a copy of our FREE book, Get the Lead Out.

There are dram shop laws in place in Iowa to help protect innocent people from intoxicated drivers on the road. Typically, dram shop cases involve a bar, tavern, or restaurant that serves a customer too much alcohol. These businesses have a duty to provide a level of care and should know or should have known that the person was drunk or would become intoxicated if they continued to serve him alcohol.

The businesses that are generally not liable in dram shop cases are grocery stores, gas stations or liquor stores that sell alcohol but do not serve it on their premises. The Iowa dram shop laws are intended to regulate alcoholic beverages served on a seller’s property for immediate consumption, and therefore do not apply to places that merely sell alcohol.

The liability occurs when that customer leaves a bar or establishment and drives drunk. If a Cedar Rapids car accident happens, that establishment could be liable for damages and injuries the intoxicated person caused.

To learn more about dram shop laws, or if you were injured by a drunk driver and do not know if you have an Iowa dram shop case, please call the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277. You can speak with an experienced Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer in a free legal consultation at your convenience.

To understand the answer to this question, we must first define "dramshop." A dramshop could be a restaurant, sports bar, or other business or social host that gives or sells alcoholic drinks to an already intoxicated person.

The liability occurs when that intoxicated person leaves the establishment, drives drunk, and gets into a car accident in Iowa. The restaurant or person responsible could be held liable for serving too much alcohol to an intoxicated person.

Some states like Nevada do not have this law and will not hold the establishment liable; however, others like Illinois have even stricter liability rules regarding dramshop cases.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 and speak with experienced Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyers for a free legal evaluation.

If you have been harmed by a defective household product, prescription drug, toy, or consumer product, most likely you are not alone. If you are an employee who has been discriminated against or injured due to wrongdoing by your employer, there may be other employees who have experienced the same complaint. Class action lawsuits should be considered when a group of people have been similarly wronged or injured.

You should consider filing a class action lawsuit in Iowa and throughout this nation when you want a company to get the message loud and clear that they harmed a group of people, and they can't get away with it.

When you decide to pursue a class action lawsuit, you are bringing a suit on behalf of a group of people against a company or organization whose actions have harmed people in the same way. You can either start the class action as the class proponent on behalf of everyone, or join the suit as a class member after the action has been started.

To find out more about class action suits or to find out if your case may be eligible for a class action lawsuit in Iowa, call the skilled Cedar Rapids class action lawyers at Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277. We will provide you with a free, no-obligation legal consultation.

Most experts believe that the best time test a child to determine whether they have been injured as a result of lead poisoning is after they are at least 4 years old. It may be best to wait until your child is at least four years old in order to determine whether or not to bring a claim on their behalf; however, you should contact an attorney to discuss your claim as soon as possible after learning of the lead poisoning so that the attorney can gather and preserve all of the records available and interview witnesses, while the issues are still fresh in their minds.

Often a lead poisoning case can be pursued against a landlord who failed to eliminate lead based paint hazards from the rental property where a child resides. Sometimes claims can also be brought against realtors and sellers of property who failed to disclose the presence of lead based pain hazards or manufacturers of dangerous products containing lead.

Often the manufacture of a dangerous product can be held liable in a products liability lawsuit if a product that they made was dangerous and caused an injury. Sometimes a distributor, seller or promoter of the product can also be held responsible for injuries caused by the defective product. If you have been injured by a dangerous product, an attorney investigating your claim can help to determine whether or not you have a claim identify who should be sued.

Lead poisoning cases can be pursued against several different parties depending upon the specific situation. Some of the liable parties can include:

• Landlords of apartment buildings
• Owners of rental homes
• Sellers of homes and real estate agents
• School and day care facility owners
• Manufacturers

When landlords and owners of older apartment buildings, single family homes, day care centers and schools fail to eliminate the lead-based paint from their properties, they can be held responsible for lead paint damages to children as well as adults.

If someone sells their home and the real estate agent or the homeowner does not disclose that there is lead based paint in the home, they could be held liable. In addition, manufacturers of products who fail to disclose that lead-based paint was used can also be responsible for lead poisoning.

If you believe that your child has been affected negatively by lead-based toys, products, or by paint in your child's school or home, you may have an Iowa lead poisoning claim. Call the experienced Cedar Rapids child lead poisoning attorneys at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277, or visit our website and request a copy of our FREE book Get the Lead Out.

If you are thinking about remodeling, repainting or renovating your home that was built before 1978, it may have lead-based paint. If contractors or painters have to work with this type of paint, they may charge you more money because of all the requirements, set up time and all the work that is involved.

New EPA regulations called the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule went into effect in April 2010, and require contractors, workers, handymen, painters and other remodelers to get certified in working with lead-based paint.

Making sure the home is properly taped off and set up requires additional time, which could mean more money. It is important to hire a certified safe lead contractor to work on your home for the sake of your own health.

If you have been exposed to lead-based paint and you believe you have a legal case, contact the experienced Iowa lead poisoning attorneys at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277, or visit our website and request a copy of our FREE book Get the Lead Out.

Although SUVs are being made safer than they ever have been in the past, they still have a narrower track width and a higher center of gravity than other passenger cars on the roads, making them easier to flip over and be involved in a Cedar Rapids rollover accident.

Owners of SUVs need to understand that there are higher chances of rollover crashes in these vehicles. However, the vehicle should still be safe upon impact, especially the roof. SUV manufacturers should design and build an SUV with the necessary roof support so that in the event of a rollover, a roof failure won't occur.

When a roof caves in on occupants of a vehicle, the roof was most likely not built or designed well, and victims of these accidents can pursue damages from the vehicle manufacturer.

If you have been injured in a rollover accident and roof failure in Iowa, call the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation at (319) 866-9277. If your injuries prevent you from coming to our Cedar Rapids law firm, we can travel to come visit you.

You can file a class action lawsuit if you have suffered injury, harm or a side affect caused by a defective product. Typically, class action lawsuits in Iowa and throughout the nation occur when a defective drug or pharmaceutical medication causes health concerns. Recently, this occurred with the diabetes drug Avandia. This drug was linked to heart disease, stroke, heart attacks and more negative health concerns, and is at the center of product liability suits and class action lawsuits.

Before a lawsuit can be a class action lawsuit, it has to be certified as a class action suit. When several people have the same concern, type of claim, or similar injury, the court will most likely certify a case as a class action lawsuit.

In order to find out if your case may be eligible for a class action lawsuit in Iowa, call the experienced Cedar Rapids class action attorneys at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277. You may be entitled to financial compensation. Call today for a free legal evaluation.

Because car accidents in Eastern Iowa and throughout this nation are the number one reason for traumatic brain injuries, it may seem like auto manufacturers are not doing anything to prevent brain injuries. However, some of them are taking steps in the right direction.

Many companies have looked at ways to reduce injuries to the head and brain in auto accidents. This is one of the reasons why seatbelts and airbags were designed over the years; however, auto makers are still conducting research on head trauma and studying ways they can help reduce brain injuries in crashes in Iowa and around this nation.
Toyota Motor Corp. was recently honored by the Brain Trauma Foundation for the research they and their research partners are conducting on head injuries that occur in motor vehicle accidents. They are hoping that this research will help them develop better safety restraint systems and more safety technologies to help reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries in automobile accidents.

Although this research is taking place, there have been safety mechanisms in cars that have proven to be defective, causing injuries to occupants. If you feel like your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in an Eastern Iowa car accident due to a defect in the car or due to another driver’s negligence, please call a skilled Cedar Rapids accident attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund for a free legal consultation today at (319) 866-9277.