# Iowa car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim

> Iowa car accident claims: 2 years to sue for injuries, the 51% fault bar, seat belt and truck damage rules, government claims and crash reports.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/iowa/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

In Iowa you generally have 2 years from the crash to sue for injuries and 5 years to sue for vehicle damage. Iowa uses modified comparative fault: your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if your fault is greater than the combined fault of the people you sue. Iowa also lets a jury reduce your damages by up to 25% if not wearing a seat belt added to your injuries.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit deadline | 2 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
| Vehicle damage deadline | 5 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
| Wrongful death deadline | 2 years | From the date of the injury |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative: barred above 50% | Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a) |
| Lawsuit against a city or county | 2 years | Iowa Code § 670.5 |
| Minimum liability insurance | $20,000 / $40,000 / $15,000 | Per person / per crash / property |
| Fault system | At-fault | PIP: Not required |
| Traffic deaths in Iowa, 2024 | 356 | IIHS |
| State bar lawyer finder | Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | Iowa State Bar Association |

## Filing deadlines in Iowa

Iowa Code § 614.1 sets the statute of limitations for most crash claims. The injury deadline usually runs from the day of the crash. For wrongful death, the deadline runs from the date of the injury, so if a person dies some time after a crash, part of the time may already have passed.

| Claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
| Damage to your vehicle or other property | 5 years | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from the date of the injury | Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
| Lawsuit against a city, county or other municipality | 2 years after the injury | Iowa Code § 670.5 |
| Claim against the State of Iowa | Written claim within 2 years | Iowa Code § 669.13 |

**Injured children.** Under Iowa Code § 614.8, deadlines are extended for minors so that a child has at least until one year after turning 18 to file. This kind of extension is a form of tolling, and the law applies it to claims against cities, counties and the State as well.

**Claims against the government.** A lawsuit against a city, county or other municipality, or its employee, generally must be filed within 2 years of the injury. A claim against the State starts with a written claim filed with the director of the Department of Management within two years after the claim accrues.

> **Warning:** Insurance negotiations do not pause these deadlines. If a claim is still open as a deadline approaches, a lawsuit may need to be filed to protect it.

To compare Iowa with other states, try the [deadline lookup tool](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/).

## How fault is shared in Iowa

Under Iowa Code § 668.3, your own fault does not bar recovery unless it is greater than the combined fault of the defendants. A jury assigns each party a percentage, and your damages are reduced by yours. In practice, at 50% you can still recover half; at 51% you recover nothing.

> **Example:** On a gravel road in rural Iowa, you and an oncoming pickup both drift toward the middle on a hill, and the vehicles clip each other. A jury finds the pickup driver 65% at fault and you 35%. Your proven damages are reduced by 35%. Had the jury put your share at 51%, you would recover nothing.

Compare other shares of fault in the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/?state=ia&fault=20#fault).

## Insurance in Iowa

Iowa drivers must carry at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per crash for injuries, plus $15,000 for property damage. Iowa is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, pays. Iowa does not require personal injury protection (PIP).

- **Uninsured motorist coverage.** Included unless rejected in writing. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that 11.4% of Iowa drivers were uninsured in 2023, compared with 15.4% nationally.
- **Underinsured motorist coverage.** Included unless rejected in writing. It can pay the gap when the at-fault driver's limits are too low for your losses.

The Iowa Insurance Division takes questions and complaints about insurers at 515-654-6600. See [uninsured driver accidents](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/uninsured-driver-accidents/) for how those claims work.

## After a crash in Iowa

If a crash injures or kills anyone, Iowa Code § 321.266 requires the driver to immediately notify the county sheriff, the nearest State Patrol office or another peace officer near the scene. If the crash caused an injury, a death or at least $1,500 of total property damage, the driver must also send a written report to the Iowa Department of Transportation within 72 hours. That written report is not required when a law enforcement agency investigated the crash.

If the Iowa State Patrol handled the crash, you can view State Patrol crash reports free at accidentreports.iowa.gov for 15 days, or get older ones from a State Patrol district office. If a city police department or county sheriff responded, ask that agency for its report. Read more about [police reports](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/).

## Special rules in Iowa

**Seat belts can reduce damages.** In a crash lawsuit, not wearing a seat belt is not evidence of comparative fault, but if it contributed to the injuries a jury may reduce the damages by up to 25%. The defense must first introduce substantial evidence that the missing belt contributed to the injuries.

**A cap for big-truck cases.** In a lawsuit against the owner or operator of a commercial motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver's license, noneconomic damages are capped at $5,000,000 per plaintiff. The cap does not apply if the court finds conduct such as drunk or drugged driving, reckless driving, excessive speeding or using an electronic device while driving. See [truck accidents](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/truck-accidents/).

**Bars and drunk drivers.** Iowa's dram shop law allows a claim against a licensed seller that sold and served alcohol to a person who was visibly intoxicated at the time. Written notice to the licensee or its insurer is due within 6 months of the injury, and noneconomic damages against the licensee are capped at $250,000 per injury or death unless the jury finds that a substantial or permanent loss or impairment of a bodily function, substantial disfigurement or death warrants more.

## Crashes on Iowa roads

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety counted 356 crash deaths in Iowa in 2024, or 11.0 per 100,000 people, compared with 11.5 per 100,000 people nationally. Rural roads accounted for 64% of Iowa's crash deaths, and 20% were speeding-related.

## Finding a lawyer in Iowa

The Iowa State Bar Association runs Iowa Find-A-Lawyer, a [website](https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=Find-A-LawyerHP) listing participating lawyers, all ISBA members. They charge from nothing to $25 for up to 30 minutes of first consultation, and the bar suggests mentioning the program and asking about that fee when you contact one. The bar's office can be reached at (515) 243-3179. Before you hire anyone, use the Iowa Judicial Branch's [Office of Professional Regulation](https://www.iowacourts.gov/opr) to search Iowa attorneys and check for discipline. See [lawyer referral services](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services/) for questions to ask.

## FAQ

### What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Iowa?

Generally 2 years from the crash for injuries and 5 years for vehicle damage. Wrongful death claims have 2 years from the date of the injury. Lawsuits against a city or county must be filed within 2 years.

### Is Iowa a no-fault state?

No. Iowa is an at-fault state, and PIP is not required. You claim against the at-fault driver's liability insurance, or your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the other driver has too little.

### Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Iowa?

Yes, as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants, which means 50% or less. Your damages are reduced by your percentage. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.

### Can not wearing a seat belt reduce my claim in Iowa?

Yes. It is not treated as comparative fault, but if evidence shows it contributed to your injuries, a jury may cut your damages by up to 25%.

### Do I have to report a car accident in Iowa?

If anyone is hurt or killed, notify the sheriff, the State Patrol or a nearby officer right away. If no officer investigated, a written report to the Iowa DOT is due within 72 hours for crashes with injury, death or $1,500 or more of damage.

### Is there a cap on damages in Iowa truck accident cases?

Yes. Noneconomic damages against the owner or operator of a commercial vehicle that requires a CDL are capped at $5,000,000 per plaintiff, with exceptions for conduct such as drunk or reckless driving.

## Sources

- [Iowa Department of Public Safety, Home page](https://dps.iowa.gov/) — link to Iowa State Patrol crash reports
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 599.1 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/599.1.pdf) — minority ends at 18
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 614.1 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.1.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 321.445(4)(b) (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.445.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Supreme Court, Estate of Cataldo v. RCHP-Ottumwa, LLC, No. 24-1994 (Feb. 27, 2026)](https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/25292/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 668.3 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/668.3.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 670.5 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/670.5.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa State Bar Association, Ways to get legal help](https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=Waystogetlegalhelp), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 669.13 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/669.13.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 614.8 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.8.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 321.266 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.266.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa State Patrol crash reports](https://accidentreports.iowa.gov/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 668.15A (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/668.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 123.92 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/123.92.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 123.93 (2026 Code)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/123.93.pdf), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa State Bar Association, Home page](https://www.iowabar.org/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Iowa Insurance Division, Auto Insurance](https://iid.iowa.gov/consumers/insurance/auto), checked October 28, 2026
- [Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws](https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx), checked October 28, 2026
- [Iowa Insurance Division, Home page](https://iid.iowa.gov/), checked October 28, 2026
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state), checked June 1, 2026
- [Iowa Code 2026, Section 516A.1 (uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run coverage; rejection)](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/516A.1.pdf), checked December 12, 2025