Iowa Personal Injury Laws, Deadlines and Local Guides

Personal injury claims in Iowa

This is the Iowa hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 271 Iowa communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Iowa gives injured people two years to file most personal injury lawsuits (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (two years). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Iowa is an at-fault auto insurance state with minimum liability limits of 20/40/15. Injury cases are tried in the District Court of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer within 90 days of when you knew or should have known the injury was work-related (Iowa Code § 85.23).

Iowa injury law at a glance

Personal injury deadline: two years from the injury (Iowa Code § 614.1(2))
Medical malpractice deadline: two years (discovery-rule exceptions)
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance: At-fault
Minimum auto liability: 20/40/15
Trial court: County District Court
Workers' compensation: Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation
Workers' comp claim deadline: About two years

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Iowa injury guides by county

Every Iowa county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.

Largest communities in Iowa

More Iowa city guides: Mason City, IA, Ottumwa, IA.

Iowa cities with the most fatal crashes, 2019-2023

These Iowa communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2019 through 2023. Each community page breaks down its own numbers by year, time of day and road.

Iowa claims by injury type

Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Iowa?

Generally two years from the date of injury (Iowa Code § 614.1(2)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within two years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Iowa?

Iowa applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.

Is Iowa a no-fault state?

No. Iowa is an at-fault state; the negligent driver's liability insurance (minimum 20/40/15) is the primary source of compensation.

Where are injury lawsuits filed in Iowa?

In the District Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.

How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Iowa?

Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Iowa.

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Ready to share what happened in Iowa?

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Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.