Independent, data-driven rankings of the top 11 verified personal injury attorneys in Des Moines. Evaluated across state bar licensing, Bayesian-weighted reviews, verified physical offices, and disciplinary records. Zero paid placements.
Personal injury actions in Iowa's capital city and Polk County are heard in the Polk County Courthouse on Mulberry Street in downtown Des Moines. Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2), plaintiffs face a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Iowa enforces modified comparative fault under Iowa Code Chapter 668 (Iowa Code § 668.3), barring recovery entirely if the claimant is assigned 51% or more of the combined fault. As the crossroads of transcontinental freight arteries Interstate 80 and Interstate 35, the Des Moines metropolitan area sees intense long-haul trucking volume, winter icy road conditions, and severe commuter collisions along I-235. Below are 11 verified personal injury law firms serving Des Moines.
Iowa Statute of Limitations
Under governing state statutes, injury victims must file lawsuits within prescribed legal windows or lose their right to recovery forever:
General Personal Injury: 2 years from the date of the injury (Iowa Code § 614.1(2))
Claims Against Government Entities: Claims against State filed with State Appeal Board (Iowa Code § 669.13); 2 years for municipal torts (Iowa Code § 670.5)
Property Damage Claims: 5 years from date of occurrence (Iowa Code § 614.1(4))
Governing Rule:Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar Rule)(Iowa Code § 668.3)
Iowa applies a modified comparative fault rule with a 51% bar. A claimant's contributory fault does not bar recovery if that fault was not greater than the combined fault of all defendants (50% or less). If the claimant is determined to be 51% or more at fault, they cannot recover any damages.
Local Crash & Fatality Metrics (Recent Calendar Year (Iowa Department of Transportation - Crash Analysis Tool))
Official state transportation records indicate 23 traffic fatalities and 310 severe/catastrophic injuries in the municipal and surrounding metro area.
Corridor Analysis: Intersected by major transcontinental commerce arteries, primary collision corridors include Interstate 235 (MacVicar Freeway through downtown), Interstate 35, Interstate 80, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, and SE 14th Street (US-69).
We identified personal injury law firms in Des Moines using Google Business Profiles and public legal directories. We ranked them using a score based on Google rating and review volume, third-party ratings (Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyers), state bar standing and years licensed, BBB rating, and consistency of business information. Data was last verified on 2026-10-17. Rankings are not paid placements and no firm can buy a higher position. This list is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or an endorsement. Ratings and reviews come from third-party sources and may change.
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #1: High placement driven by 4.9-star Google rating over 340+ client reviews, 56 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.8/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Catastrophic Personal InjurySemi-Truck CollisionsMedical NegligenceWrongful Death
Parrish Kruidenier Dunn Boles Gribble Gentry Brown & Bergmann L.L.P.
218 6th Ave Ste 800, Des Moines, IA 50309
COMPOSITE SCORE
95.8/100
Google Rating
★ 4.9
(280 reviews)
State Bar Standing
Active / In Good Standing (Admitted 1968)
Avvo Legal Rating
9.8 / 10.0 Superb
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
BBB Standing
Grade A+✓ Accredited
Public Discipline
None Reported
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #2: High placement driven by 4.9-star Google rating over 280+ client reviews, 58 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.8/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Personal InjuryWrongful DeathCivil RightsTrial Litigation
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #3: High placement driven by 4.9-star Google rating over 260+ client reviews, 38 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.8/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Car CollisionsWrongful DeathPremises NegligenceMedical Errors
3408 Woodland Ave Ste 202, West Des Moines, IA 50266
COMPOSITE SCORE
92.9/100
Google Rating
★ 4.7
(390 reviews)
State Bar Standing
Active / In Good Standing (Admitted 2001)
Avvo Legal Rating
9.5 / 10.0 Superb
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
BBB Standing
Grade A+✓ Accredited
Public Discipline
None Reported
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #4: High placement driven by 4.7-star Google rating over 390+ client reviews, 25 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.5/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Car CrashesWorkers' CompensationWrongful DeathSlip and Fall
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #5: High placement driven by 4.9-star Google rating over 105+ client reviews, 33 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.8/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Medical MalpracticeCatastrophic Personal InjuryWrongful DeathTruck Wrecks
4001 Westown Pkwy Ste 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266
COMPOSITE SCORE
92.7/100
Google Rating
★ 4.9
(145 reviews)
State Bar Standing
Active / In Good Standing (Admitted 2005)
Avvo Legal Rating
9.8 / 10.0 Superb
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
BBB Standing
Grade A+✓ Accredited
Public Discipline
None Reported
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #6: High placement driven by 4.9-star Google rating over 145+ client reviews, 21 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.8/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Personal InjuryCar AccidentsWrongful DeathSlip and Fall
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #7: High placement driven by 4.8-star Google rating over 135+ client reviews, 57 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.6/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Civil LitigationSevere InjuryInsurance DisputesTrial Advocacy
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #8: High placement driven by 4.8-star Google rating over 125+ client reviews, 38 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.6/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Auto AccidentsWorkers' CompensationWrongful DeathLabor Law
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #9: High placement driven by 4.8-star Google rating over 110+ client reviews, 48 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.6/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Personal InjuryWorkers' CompAuto AccidentsWrongful Death
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #10: High placement driven by 4.8-star Google rating over 95+ client reviews, 45 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.6/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Auto AccidentsMotorcycle CrashesWrongful DeathPremises Negligence
Ranking Analysis:Why It Ranks #11: High placement driven by 4.8-star Google rating over 85+ client reviews, 26 years of active state bar standing, Avvo rating of 9.6/10, verified local office, and spotless disciplinary history.
Practice Focus:Personal InjuryCar WrecksWrongful DeathDog Bites
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury in Des Moines
Under Iowa Code § 614.1(2), you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit in Polk County District Court.
Under Iowa Code § 668.3, you can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault, reduced by your percentage of responsibility. At 51% fault, all recovery is barred.
Civil injury cases in Polk County are heard at the Polk County Courthouse, 500 Mulberry St, Des Moines, IA 50309.
UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center at 1200 Pleasant St is Des Moines's designated Level I Adult Trauma Center and home to Blank Children's Hospital.
Under the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act (Iowa Code Chapter 670), claims against municipal agencies must follow formal notice and procedural requirements.
General personal injury non-economic damages are not capped in Iowa, though medical malpractice claims have statutory non-economic damage limitations under Iowa Code § 147.136A.
Attorneys typically work on a 33.3% contingency fee for settlements prior to trial, adjusting to 40% if formal court trial or appeal is required.
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PersonalInjuryLawyerHQ.com is a commercial informational publisher and legal directory. We are not a law firm, do not provide legal advice, do not operate physical offices in the cities listed, and do not employ practicing attorneys. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this website or contacting any listed law firm.
Rankings and scores are derived solely from our published mathematical formula using publicly available data and third-party ratings. No law firm can pay to influence or alter organic ranking positions. Past results do not guarantee future case outcomes.