A driver glances down to read a text. Three seconds later, they’ve crossed the center line without ever seeing it happen. On busy Des Moines roads like I-235, University Avenue, and Merle Hay Road, a few seconds of inattention can have devastating consequences. That inattention is often what causes a driver to run a red light and cause a side-impact crash at one of these intersections. In those cases, a Des Moines side-impact accident lawyer can make sure that you get rightfully compensated
Lowe Law Group is a Des Moines distracted driving accident lawyer team that holds inattentive drivers accountable.
Your consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win.
The numbers are specific, and they’re not shrinking fast enough. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, drivers distracted by a phone or other electronic device caused 933 crashes in Iowa in 2024, resulting in 464 total injuries and 9 deaths. The year before, distraction from a device caused 1,049 crashes and 474 injuries.
Those figures cover only crashes where device use was the confirmed cause. Distraction from eating, grooming, GPS use, or a conversation with a passenger isn’t always captured the same way, so the real number of distraction-related crashes in Iowa is almost certainly higher than what gets recorded.
For an injured person in Des Moines, the statistics matter less than what they represent: a driver made a choice to look away, and that choice changed someone’s life. As a distracted driving injury attorney in Des Moines, Lowe Law Group works to hold that driver accountable for what their inattention cost you.
Distracted driving is any activity that pulls a driver’s attention away from the road. The CDC groups distractions into three categories:
Texting combines all three at once, which is why it’s considered the most dangerous form of distraction. But a phone doesn’t have to be involved. Eating, personal grooming, programming a GPS, managing passengers, and even a loose pet in the car are all common causes of distracted driving crashes.
If a car accident lawyer in Des Moines can show any of these behaviors contributed to your crash, that’s grounds for a claim, whether or not a citation was issued.
Iowa’s distracted driving law recently got much broader. Under Iowa Code § 321.276, drivers can no longer hold, view, or manipulate an electronic device at all while driving, unless the vehicle is stopped off the roadway. This goes well beyond the state’s older texting-only ban and now covers nearly any handheld phone use behind the wheel. Hands-free and voice-activated use is still allowed.
A violation is a moving offense, and as of January 1, 2026, officers can issue citations instead of warnings only.
These laws matter for your civil claim. If the driver who hit you was cited under this statute, that’s strong evidence of fault. But a citation isn’t required. If the evidence shows a driver was using a device, or was otherwise distracted, that’s grounds for a claim as a distracted driving claim lawyer would pursue it, ticket or not.
Driver distraction can be harder to prove than impairment. There’s no roadside test for inattention, and by the time investigators arrive, the moment that caused your crash is already gone. A thorough crash investigation means moving quickly to preserve the digital evidence and other information that can show what the driver was doing.
Lowe Law Group pursues every available source of evidence:
Our forensic reconstruction team analyzes the physical evidence to establish what happened and push back against attempts to shift blame onto you.
Phone records disappear fast, and obtaining them requires legal process that needs to start immediately. Several of our attorneys spent years defending insurance carriers, so we know exactly how they’ll try to dispute a distraction claim, and how to counter it.
Every case is different, and the value of yours depends on the severity of your injuries and how they’ve affected your life. Compensation generally falls into two categories.
Economic damages cover losses with a clear dollar value: medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work.
Non-economic damages cover losses without a receipt: pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These can be substantial when injuries are severe or permanent.
Severity drives value more than any other factor. An injury that heals in a few weeks is worth far less than one requiring surgery or lasting treatment.
Iowa gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim under Iowa Code §614. That same two-year deadline applies to a Des Moines rideshare accident if a distracted Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash. Minors and people who are legally incapacitated have one year from their 18th birthday or the date their capacity is restored, under Iowa Code § 614.8
Don’t accept an early settlement offer before you know the full extent of your damages. Once you sign, you can’t go back.
What you do in the hours after a crash can shape your case.
Even if you feel fine, get checked out. Some injuries don’t show symptoms for hours or days, and a gap in treatment gives insurers a reason to dispute your claim.
Photograph vehicle positions, road conditions, and visible injuries. Get names and contact information for witnesses.
If you saw the other driver on a phone, eating, or otherwise not paying attention, tell the responding officer and write it down while it’s fresh in your mind
Don’t give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters may call soon after the crash. You’re not required to give a statement, and doing so before talking to our personal injury attorneys in Des Moines, IA can hurt your claim.
Distracted driving claims aren’t easy to win. Insurers dispute them aggressively, and without strong evidence, injured people often settle for far less than they deserve.
Several of our attorneys spent years representing insurance carriers before joining Lowe Law Group. They know how these claims get challenged, and they use that experience to build cases that hold up.
Our forensic reconstruction team establishes what happened before evidence can be lost or disputed. Our in-house medical director, Dr. Andrew Georgi, documents your injuries in a way that stands up when insurers question their severity.
We have a local Des Moines office and a track record of over $550 million recovered for injured clients across the region, with a 99% win rate. You pay nothing unless we win, and our 30-day risk-free guarantee means you can walk away in the first 30 days with zero obligation. We’re available 24/7.
Look for a firm with experience specifically in distracted driving claims, the resources to obtain phone records and other digital evidence, and attorneys who understand how insurers defend these cases. Lowe Law Group has a local Des Moines office, a forensic reconstruction team, and former insurance defense attorneys on staff.
Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Evidence like phone records and camera footage has a short window before it disappears, and the other side starts building its defense right away.
Yes. A distracted driving car accident lawyer in Des Moines can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault driver for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Any phone use that contributes to a crash can support a claim. We pursue all available evidence of distraction, not just texting.
We combine former insurance defense attorneys, a forensic reconstruction team, and an in-house medical director with a 99% win rate and over $550 million recovered for clients. You pay nothing unless we win.
Every day that passes gives the other side more time to build their defense and gives phone carriers more time to purge the records that could prove your case. Lowe Law Group serves injured people throughout Des Moines and Polk County, and your consultation costs nothing.
Your priority now is to heal. Ours is to win your case. Here’s our 3-Step Approach:
Let us listen to your story. We’ll provide a free, no pressure case evaluation.
Our team handles everything: the legal process, gathering paperwork, reviewing your medical treatment, and more.
We win your case and maximize your compensation or we don’t get paid, guaranteed.
I was hit on my MOTORCYCLE by a PODS TRUCK in June, yep, you read that right, PODS TRUCK. I was fortunate to walk away, but knew I needed a lawyer for an accident of this magnitude. Now, let me start by saying I don’t trust lawyers, never have. But had to put my differences aside and trust this GROUP of LAWYERS from a different state…
I was hit on my MOTORCYCLE by a PODS TRUCK in June, yep, you read that right, PODS TRUCK. I was fortunate to walk away, but knew I needed a lawyer for an accident of this magnitude. Now, let me start by saying I don’t trust lawyers, never have. But had to put my differences aside and trust this GROUP of LAWYERS from a different state to handle my affairs. RIGHT AWAY, from the beginning, MARISSA REED, WAS A ROCKSTAR!!! Made me feel at ease and answered all of my ridiculous questions like a VETERAN. Now, this has taken almost 9 months to complete, and it was well worth the wait. Marissa Reed took my settlement to a PLACE WHERE ONLY EAGLES SOAR BABY!! I GOT WAAAAY MORE than expected all thanks to the LOWE LAW GROUP AND FIERY MARISSA REED. Thank you Marissa, for ALL YOU DID FOR ME, AND ALL MY STUPID QUESTIONS. I’m alive, have a HEFTY settlement to spend and am more than thankful for these LAWYERS!! MY ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER ON THEM! HELL YA!!
-Christian W.
Washington
I was hit by a trailer that crossed the median while I was driving on the highway which not only destroyed my car, but I have had to deal with a concussion, neck and back pain along with other PTSD issues. Life happens, some events alter your life, and it can be difficult to adjust. Lowe Law Group is the absolute best. If you want someone who’s gonna be in your c…
I was hit by a trailer that crossed the median while I was driving on the highway which not only destroyed my car, but I have had to deal with a concussion, neck and back pain along with other PTSD issues. Life happens, some events alter your life, and it can be difficult to adjust. Lowe Law Group is the absolute best. If you want someone who’s gonna be in your corner and help you out big time. I HIGHLY recommend them. They made it so much easier, and they don’t care just about money. They want you to be able to get the help you need to recover. Specifically, James Brandenburg has been so helpful and relatable. Where other companies have made me feel just like a number, he has made me feel like a friend.
-Maia. C
Idaho
I have been working with Lowe Law Group since May 2023. I was in a terrible head on collision and have been undergoing coming up on 2 years of medical treatment. I have had 3 case managers throughout the 2 years and have been working closely with Cassi these last few months and she has been amazing. She keeps me updated on whats going on with my…
I have been working with Lowe Law Group since May 2023. I was in a terrible head on collision and have been undergoing coming up on 2 years of medical treatment. I have had 3 case managers throughout the 2 years and have been working closely with Cassi these last few months and she has been amazing. She keeps me updated on whats going on with my case and is doing everything in her power to ensure the best outcome. She has come up with ideas my other two case managers had not that will benefit me in the long run! Its so nice to be able to feel taken care of and having a team backing you.
– Hailey B. Washington
I was in my car waiting at a stoplight when I was rear ended hitting my head, giving me whiplash, and a concussion. It also reaggravated other injuries I was making progress on. Cyra at Lowe Law Group was great jumping right into my case. She was professional and did well in keeping me informed of the process and updating me as needed. There were some challe…
I was in my car waiting at a stoplight when I was rear ended hitting my head, giving me whiplash, and a concussion. It also reaggravated other injuries I was making progress on. Cyra at Lowe Law Group was great jumping right into my case. She was professional and did well in keeping me informed of the process and updating me as needed. There were some challenges in dealing with the culpable party but Lowe Law I believe was able to get me the best settlement possible given all the circumstances and would recommend to anyone who has been involved in an accident.
– Nick W. Colorado
I had a wonderful experience with Lowe law group after my accident. They were great and my case manager Cyra was an absolute ANGEL to work with!! Highly recommend.
I cannot say enough, good things about Heather at Lowe Law Group! From the very beginning, she was a beacon of kind…
I cannot say enough, good things about Heather at Lowe Law Group! From the very beginning, she was a beacon of kindness, compassion, and professionalism. She truly cares about her clients, and her empathy shines through in every interaction. Heather made a potentially overwhelming process feel effortless, guiding me with such care and attention to detail that I always felt completely supported and understood. It’s rare to meet somebody who combines such warmth with incredible expertise, but Heather doesn’t flawlessly. She’s truly a gem, and I am beyond grateful for everything she has done!
Giselle was always kind. I love how she always communicated with me through this whole process. If I didn’t understand…
Giselle was always kind. I love how she always communicated with me through this whole process. If I didn’t understand something , She would explained it in terms that I could. I give Giselle and Lowe Law Group a 5 star rating. I highly recommend this Law Group if you are needing one. Thank you to everyone for your time consuming and hard work.😀
After one of the worst things that has happened to my daughter or me, Harmony was able help me work throug…
After one of the worst things that has happened to my daughter or me, Harmony was able help me work through it in every aspect I needed. From the first day we spoke she worked was so kind, honest and she worked hard for us and went above and beyond. Giving me space when I needed it encouraged me to talk when I needed to. She helped me get medical information, check out the boxes of requirements, find a counselor, and More behind-the-scenes I don’t even know about. I NEVER FELT ALONE, it stopped being my battle and it became her’s.This whole process took maybe five months and at the beginning I guessed this would be over one year. I really appreciate her and because of her work! If I ever meet someone who has an unfortunate accident, I will give them the contact information for Lowe Law Group and song their/ Harmony’s praises! THANK YOU HARMONY!
Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very…
Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very stressful. I am so grateful for everyone at Lowe Law for helping me every step of the way. Kaitlyn kept me updated on the progress of the case and answered all the questions I had. Jason and Pete are very knowledgeable and explained each step and helped guide me throughout the process. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has been in a car accident.
Thanks to Ethan for his gentle persuasion and persistent efforts.
…
Thanks to Ethan for his gentle persuasion and persistent efforts. I am very grateful to have the burden shifted to the real professionals. I might even be able to ski this winter as I expect to be recovered from this accident by the time Powder Mountain has enough snow.
Thank You Olga Baranova ( I mention you first and foremost due to the fact you were my case manager, and whom I had prima…
Thank You Olga Baranova ( I mention you first and foremost due to the fact you were my case manager, and whom I had primary contact with.) And to all who worked for me, with me, & on my behalf. For the knowledge, expertise & professionalism applied .. I not only applaud you all .. I thank you all. Wishing Blessings Bountiful To All As well as Good Health, Good Fortune Kind Regards Marc Goulet & Family.
Marissa Reed IS AWESOME!! Took 1+yrs. Difficult client & case she made it look easy. A True Professional. Need more like Marissa!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I answered an advertisement for this law group. I had fired the first attorney. So I retained Lowe Law Group, and Maris…
I answered an advertisement for this law group. I had fired the first attorney. So I retained Lowe Law Group, and Marissa Reed was my contact person. She could not help me but pointed me in the right direction. No charge. Thank you Marissa. I very much recommend this Law Group.
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