Is Iowa a no-fault state?

No. Iowa is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.

What is Iowa's fault rule for a car accident?

Iowa follows modified comparative — 51% bar. You can recover only if you were 50% or less at fault; your award is reduced by your share.

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Iowa?

In Iowa the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 2 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

Iowa · Injury claims

Car accident injury claims in Iowa

In Iowa, an injury claim runs through the at-fault driver's insurer — and how much you can recover turns on the state's fault rule, coverage minimums, and a filing deadline that's easy to miss. Here's what shapes an injury claim in Iowa.

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Iowa at a glance

Fault rule: Modified comparative — 51% bar
No-fault state?: No
Minimum liability coverage: 20/40/15 ($20K BI per person / $40K BI per accident / $15K PD) under Iowa Code § 321.20B (compulsory financial-liability coverage) and § 321A.21. $20K BI per person is among the LOWEST BI minimums in the US (tied with LA). UM mandatorily offered at 20/40, UIM mandatorily offered, under ch. 516A. WATCH: SF 119 (2025-26) proposes 50/100/25 — still in committee as of 2026-05, NOT enacted.
Time limit for an injury claim: 2 years

How fault works in Iowa

Iowa Code § 668.3 — modified comparative fault with a '>50%' bar: contributory fault does not bar recovery unless the claimant's fault is greater than the combined fault of the defendants, but reduces recovery by the claimant's percentage. Plaintiff at >50% recovers $0; at exactly 50% recovers 50%; below 50% recovers reduced amount. Iowa is the 11th member of the >50%-bar cluster. Several liability under § 668.4 with a 50%+ joint exception for economic damages.

Paying for injuries in Iowa

Iowa is a pure at-fault state with NO statutory PIP/no-fault — it was never enacted. First-party medical coverage is via optional MedPay (carrier-offered), via UM/UIM where applicable, or via the health insurer (subject to make-whole/subrogation). No tort threshold — noneconomic damages recoverable from accident #1, gated only by the § 668.3 modified-comparative 51% bar. § 321.20B/§ 321A.21 mandate 20/40/15 liability.

How Moe handles injury claims in Iowa

Knowing the rule is one thing — applying it against a carrier is another. Moe builds your case to Iowa’s rules, drafts every letter for your approval, tracks the deadlines, and only pings you when there’s a decision to make.

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Iowa injury claims — common questions

Is Iowa a no-fault state?: No. Iowa is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.
What is Iowa's fault rule for a car accident?: Iowa follows modified comparative — 51% bar. You can recover only if you were 50% or less at fault; your award is reduced by your share.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Iowa?: In Iowa the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 2 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

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All Iowa accident-claim rules · Other states

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This page summarizes Iowa’s car-accident claim rules for general information — it is not legal advice, and the rules can change. What applies to your claim depends on your policy and the specific facts.