Car Accident Lawyer Minnesota

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’re entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. If you’re concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer to file a personal injury claim, you will find it comforting to know that the Minneapolis car accident lawyers in the 1-800-Injured attorney directory work on a contingency basis. 

That means all consultations are free, and you never have to pay out of pocket. These Minnesota car accident lawyers only receive a payment if you receive a settlement or court award. Call immediately to discuss your case with an experienced Minneapolis car accident lawyer today!

Proving Negligent Driver Claims

During your initial consultation with a Minneapolis car accident lawyer in our network, your attorney will review your case details to determine whether it meets the criteria for a personal injury claim. In order to have a viable car accident injury claim, a car accident lawyer must be able to prove the following four elements. 

1. Duty of Care 

All drivers operating vehicles on Minnesota roadways have a duty of care for other individuals using the roadways. That means they are obligated to operate their vehicles safely and per state laws. 

2. Breach of Duty 

When a person violates their obligation to the safety of others, it’s referred to as a breach of duty. With regard to a car accident, the breach of duty can come in the form of a traffic violation, failure to properly maintain the vehicle, careless driving, drunk driving, etc. 

3. Causation 

Car accident lawyers must be able to establish that the breach of the defendant’s duty of care was responsible or partially responsible for the motor vehicle accident. For example, if a car runs a red light and t-bones another vehicle that had the right of way, a personal injury attorney can argue that the defendant’s failure to stop at a red light was the cause of the auto accident. 

4. Damages 

Damages, to some degree, exist in nearly all accidents. Even when accident victims fail to seek medical attention for their car accident injuries, they still have damages. Damages include not only physical damage to your property but also physical and emotional injuries. 

When you speak to a Minneapolis car accident lawyer from the 1-800-Injured directory for the first time, they will ensure that your traffic accident qualifies for an auto accident claim. If it does, they can offer immediate legal representation. Call today to speak to a personal injury attorney representing car accident victims. 

Different Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents 

As a major metropolitan city, Minneapolis experiences all manners of car crashes and other types of motor vehicle collisions. These are the categories of auto accident cases that our network attorneys handle. 

Car Accidents 

Because of the ubiquitousness of personal vehicles, car vs. car accidents is the most common type of auto accidents. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, 54,264 personal vehicles were involved in auto accidents in 2021.

Truck Accidents

Commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and are often transporting hazardous material. Because semi-trucks are dangerous at any speed, truck drivers have an enhanced duty of care. This includes obtaining special licensing and training, following mandatory guidelines for driving hours, and more. 

Commercial truck owners must also ensure that their rigs are safe for operation on the roadways. Minnesota car accident lawyers are familiar with state and federal guidelines that affect the trucking industry. If your car crash involved a commercial vehicle, you need to speak to car accident lawyers who are familiar with the legal nuances involved in this type of case.

Motorcycle Accidents 

Motorcycles operate at high speeds and have very little physical protection for the rider. That’s why so many motorcycle vs. car accidents result in death and permanent injury for the motorcyclist. A personal injury law firm in our network can help you get maximum compensation for your motorcycle accident. 

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents 

In 2021, 12 percent of all pedestrian crashes ended in fatalities. About 35% resulted in serious injuries. The statistics are not much better for bicycle accidents and other non-motorized personal transportation accidents. If you were struck by a motor vehicle while walking or riding your bicycle, a Minnesota car accident lawyer could help you get the compensation you deserve.    

Mass Transit Accidents 

As is the case with commercial trucks, smaller vehicles almost never fare well in a mass transit auto accident. However, mass transit passengers also frequently sustain injuries from sudden stops, erratic turns, and rapid acceleration. Regardless of how they sustained their injuries, mass transit accident victims are entitled to compensation. If you’re an accident victim, you’re entitled to fair compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages, and more. 

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Minnesota

These are some of the most common causes of car accident claims. If you’re unsure if your car accident case qualifies, talk to one of the Minnesota car accident attorneys in the 1-800-Injured directory.

• Distracted Driving – With the proliferation of cell phones and in-car consoles, many drivers take their eyes off of the road for extended periods of time. Car accident attorneys have the ability to subpoena phone records and car data to determine whether or not there is evidence of distracted driving at the time of the accident. 
• Drugged or Drunk Driving – The Office of Traffic Safety reported 3,922 alcohol-related crashes in 2021, but there were close to 24,000 DWI arrests that year.
• Weather Conditions – Insurance companies know that ice and snow frequently contribute to personal injury claims during the winter, but weather presents a constant danger to drivers.

Common Injuries in Car Accidents 

Car accident injuries run the gamut from minor scrapes and bruises to catastrophic injuries to death. These are some of the insurers that Minneapolis car accident lawyers in our network frequently see. 

• Whiplash (common in rear-end collisions)
• Cuts and abrasions
• Road rash (common with motorcycle accident victims)
• Bleeding
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Traumatic Brain Injuries and concussions
• Severed limbs
• Internal hemorrhaging
• Facial injuries (commonly from airbag deployment)
• Catastrophic and permanent injuries
• Death 

You might believe that your injuries are too minor for an accident claim, but you should always make a Minnesota car accident report. If your injuries turn out to be worse than you first believed, you will require this documentation. 

Types of Damages in Car Accident Cases

Under Minnesota personal injury law, there are three types of damages available to plaintiffs. Economic and non-economic damages are frequently referred to as compensatory damages, while punitive damages are non-compensatory. 

Economic Damages 

As a car accident victim, you are entitled to recover compensation for all medical expenses, damage to your car, lost income from work, and any other expense that you incur as a result of the collision. These financial costs are referred to as economic damages.

Non-economic Damages

Car accident victims are also entitled to damages for their physical pain, emotional trauma, and inconvenience. Minnesota car accident lawyers refer to non-economic damages as “pain and suffering” because they seek to compensate the accident victim for their physical and emotional discomfort. For Minnesota car accident claims involving wrongful death, these damages may also include loss of companionship for the survivors. 

Punitive Damages  

When one of the drivers involved in a car accident has demonstrated egregious recklessness or intended to do harm, the courts will often order the defendant to pay punitive damages to the plaintiff. 

There are no caps on damages in the state of Minnesota, which means that personal injury lawyers can pursue full and fair compensation for a car accident claim. 

What You Should Do After a Car Accident

The minutes and hours after a car accident are critical for your car accident case. The following information may be useful to car accident victims. However, if you fail to take any of these measures, you can still contact a car accident attorney from a law firm in the 1-800-Injured directory to discuss your case. 

• Move to a Safe Location – In many car accidents, the safest place is in your vehicle, but if you are in any danger, it’s important that you get out of harm’s way. 
• Call 911 – It’s essential to get first responders on the scene. Try to remain calm when speaking to the dispatcher. They will need to know the location, direction of travel, the number of injured parties, the nature of the injuries, and a description of the vehicles. If you are unsure of your exact location, look for road signs or nearby businesses that can help the police and EMTs to find you. 
• Get Witness Information – Witnesses tend to leave accident scenes as soon as they know that first responders are on their way. However, you may need their testimony when you’re trying to pursue damages. Ask witnesses to wait for the police or get their contact information. 
• Take Photos – You’ll want to document the accident scene, visible damage to the vehicles, road signs, etc. 
• Allow EMTs to Examine You – Even if you feel fine at the moment, it’s important that you allow paramedics to examine you. You may be in shock, have an undetected traumatic brain injury, or have some other issue that you’re unaware of. If they recommend that you go to the hospital, allow them to transport you. In any event, follow up with your doctor as soon as possible.  
• Don’t Negotiate with the Insurance Company – In many cases, an insurance adjuster will contact you to “help” you file a claim. That’s because they realize that if you talk to a lawyer about your personal injury case, their payout will be much higher. Car insurance companies are notorious for offering to give accident victims quick payouts. The problem with that is that you won’t really know the extent of your injuries or the cost of your damages until some time has passed. If you accept a settlement, you will have to sign a waiver of liability, which will prevent you from pursuing damages. 

Call 1-800-Injured before accepting any settlement from an insurance company. A professional car accident lawyer can review the settlement and your claim for free.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota Car Accidents 

The following are commonly asked questions by individuals who have been hurt in an accident. Call 1-800-Injured to ask an attorney questions about your claim.