Minneapolis Car Accident Lawyer

Common Types of Car Accidents

Car accidents may be characterized by the direction the vehicles were traveling in, the number of vehicles involved, the cause of the accident, or any other number of factors. Some common types of car accidents in Minneapolis include:

Rear-end Collisions

In a rear-end collision, the rear vehicle collides with one in front of it, and is typically caused by the rear driver failing to maintain enough distance from the car in front, or not paying attention and driving into the back of a stopped vehicle. 

However, there are times when the lead vehicle is at fault – such as when they suddenly stop or brake too quickly in unfavorable conditions.

Head-on Collisions

A head-on collision is, as the name suggests, when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide. This type of car accident is most often caused by a driver crossing into the wrong lane, meaning that proving liability in these situations is usually as simple as determining which driver departed their lane. 

These crashes can cause serious injuries due to the high force of impact with two vehicles colliding directly at such a high speed.

Side Impact (T-Bone) Accidents

These accidents happen when a vehicle hits another from the side, forming a “T” shape. These accidents often happen when a driver fails to properly observe traffic rules and yield at an intersection.

Since there is so much less structural protection on the side of a vehicle when compared to the front or rear, passengers on the side of the vehicle that was hit may sustain serious injuries.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents are some of the most deadly types of accidents in the United States because of the high likelihood of severe injury when occupants are thrown around as the vehicle rolls. 

When one vehicle rolls over, all of its occupants risk serious injury or death and may be thrown from the car, leading to not only injuries but also a risk of being struck by other vehicles and suffering secondary injuries from hitting other obstacles once ejected.

Multi-Vehicle Crashes 

Sometimes there are more than two vehicles involved, such as a multi-car pileup. These types of accidents are common when the roads are wet or icy, and an initial crash leads to a number of vehicles hitting their brakes, sliding, and colliding with another vehicle. As you can imagine, attempting to unravel questions about liability is complicated when there are multiple drivers involved, and may lead to claims against multiple parties.

Working with experienced car accident attorneys is important after any car accident, but one that is further complicated when there are multiple liable parties involved will definitely benefit from having a professional handle your car accident case.

Single Vehicle Crashes

There are instances when a single driver is involved in a crash, but even so, there may be other parties responsible for the crash. The collision may have been because the driver swerved to avoid someone veering into their lane, a tree may have fallen on the vehicle, or the crash could have been the result of a mechanical failure that the vehicle’s manufacturer is ultimately responsible for. These car accidents are also commonly associated with intoxicated driving.

Hit and Run Accident  

There are many (terrible) reasons why someone would flee the scene of an accident: an expired or suspended driver’s license, drunk driving accidents, a stolen vehicle, and even just sheer panic. None of these are justifiable, and can leave Minneapolis car accident victims suffering from damages that are much more difficult to recover when there is no liable party, and therefore no liability insurance.

Fortunately, car accident victims can still rely on their PIP (Personal Injury Protection) policy, which is required in the state of Minnesota, but this no-fault insurance policy only pays out a limited amount. They may also be able to work with their own insurance company to file a claim with their own uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage, which is meant to provide liability insurance coverage in auto accident cases where car accident injury victims are unable to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. 

Working with an attorney can help victims during an investigation phase before determining the best steps forward to recover the money they are rightfully owed after the frustrating, painful, and terrifying experience of auto accidents. Whether the best path towards financial compensation is through Personal Injury Protection or other liability coverage will be determined throughout the investigative process.

Sideswipe Collision   

A sideswipe collision happens when two vehicles traveling in the same direction slide past each other along their respective sides, usually due to the at-fault driver’s improper lane change. This type of car accident may result in one of the vehicles being forced into oncoming traffic or into another obstacle.

A collision like a sideswipe where both vehicles are moving in the same direction may make it difficult to determine exactly who caused the crash by using evidence, so things like eyewitness accounts (as well as your own personal account of the collision) will play an important role in the process of assigning liability.

Low-Speed Impacts

Common in parking lots, side roads, and in traffic conditions, low-speed impacts are still able to cause serious harm to victims. Car accident injuries like whiplash and airbag injuries are the most common in these types of crashes, but due to the seemingly-minor nature of a low-speed impact, victims can be taken by surprise when the severity of their injuries becomes apparent, and may feel uncomfortable addressing these injuries.

No matter how minor or major your accident seems to be, it’s important to connect with a personal injury attorney who is willing to fight for the compensation you deserve. A soft-tissue injury from a low-speed crash can have significant impacts on your life, and there is no reason that you should suffer the consequences of someone else’s driving without fair compensation.

Common Personal Injuries From Car Accidents

The injuries below are just a few of the many different injuries that victims may suffer as a result of their involvement in an accident. 

Whether or not you see your car accident injuries below, contact us right away to connect with an attorney who will help you make sense of your situation and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury that happens when the head is jerked forward, down, and back in a car crash, tearing and pulling the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the upper back and neck. After an auto accident, a car accident victim may not immediately realize their injury — or the extent of the injury — as it takes some time after the trauma for the injured area to swell and become inflamed. This is one of many reasons why Minnesota car accident lawyers implore people not to comment on their condition at the scene of the crash, or at all to the other driver’s insurance company adjuster.

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after a motor vehicle accident, and leaves car accident victims suffering from a variety of symptoms like a stiff neck, headaches, jaw pain, mobility issues, lost wages from time missed at work, and medical expenses while they work through physical therapy and potential surgery to recover.

Fractures

A bone will fracture when it is subjected to forces beyond its tensile strength. In plain terms, this is common in an auto accident when the passenger is thrown forward into a hard surface like a dashboard or vehicle door, causing the bone to break in a number of possible ways. 

Many car accident clients suffer from broken bones, but the impact of this type of personal injury goes well beyond medical bills: a fracture will lead to other hardships such as lost wages, a measurable loss of quality of life during the recovery process, and potential ongoing medical issues like nerve damage. Car accident lawyers understand how to gather and then quantify all of these impacts as they seek fair compensation for accident victims in a personal injury case.

Bruising and Lacerations

Minnesota car accident attorneys often work with car accident injury victims who have suffered serious bruising or laceration, each of which can cause serious issues whether or not they require significant medical intervention. 

Most bruises will resolve on their own, while lacerations may require medical attention and may need to be stiched or otherwise closed, leading to medical expenses and ongoing inconveniences or disruptions to a victim’s ability to live their life normally. 

Internal Bleeding

Many car accidents can cause internal bleeding as a result of the impact, which is a serious medical condition that must be examined by a doctor as soon as possible. If you are experiencing any discomfort after an auto accident but do not see any visible trauma, this may be an indication that you are dealing with an internal injury that can be fatal if not cared for immediately.

Some people will try to suffer through invisible injuries in the hopes of avoiding additional medical bills, but they will be able to recover these damages while working through the car accident claims process with the support of experienced personal injury attorneys.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the brainstem to the lower back. These nerves allow the brain to send signals to the rest of the body that control movement, sensory information, and autonomic functions. Depending on the severity of the injury, a spinal cord injury can lead to issues like sensation loss to full paralysis, and may be fatal.

Minneapolis car accident attorneys have the resources to identify and then calculate the long-term impacts of this type of serious injury as they seek compensation through a personal injury case. Victims and their family members will be left dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and significant decreases to their quality of life following this permanent injury, and these impacts must be accounted for while seeking justice from the at-fault driver and their insurance company.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are alarmingly common after Minneapolis motor vehicle accidents, and can range from mild headaches the days following the car crash to significant concussions or permanent brain damage. Many of these impacts can feel intangible and won’t necessarily have a dollar value appended to them, but Minneapolis car accident lawyers will be able to address each of these impacts as they seek fair compensation from the insurance company.

Historically, a traumatic brain injury was often dismissed, referred to dismissively as “getting your bell rung,” but as medical science evolves and brain scanning capabilities improve, it is becoming clear that even a mild concussion can have significant impacts on a victim’s life. If you experience even a headache after a motor vehicle accident, it is important that you consult with a doctor right away to make sure that you are getting the care you need in order to avoid long-term consequences that could have been addressed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Attorneys