A Minneapolis Car Accident Can Be Extremely Expensive
On average, over 200 motor vehicle accidents occur in Minnesota every day. In 2015, for example, there were over 74,000 car crashes. These 74,000 auto accidents left almost 30,000 Minnesotans injured and 411 people dead. The total estimated economic impact of motor vehicle accidents in Minnesota was over $1.7 Billion. A significant portion of these motor vehicle accidents occurs in Minneapolis and St. Paul or the surrounding metro areas. Hiring a Minneapolis car accident attorney can help you to navigate the mess created by a car accident.
The total impact of traffic accidents on Minnesota as a whole is huge. However, the impact on each individual involved in an accident is also very significant.
Drivers that are injured in motor vehicle accidents (whether that be in a car accident, motorcycle accident, or some other vehicle) can incur massive damages. Many people experience these types of damages after a car accident:
- Damaged vehicle repair
- Rising insurance premiums
- Direct medical costs
- Lost wages work
- Missed work
- Experience setbacks in their education
- Diminished earning potential in their careers
- Pain and suffering
Unfortunately, some serious motor vehicle accidents cause injuries that lead to permanent disability.
Obtaining compensation for the total, long-term costs resulting from a Minneapolis car accident requires an analysis of both the current costs and damages of the accident; and the anticipated future costs of the accident, like future surgeries, medically necessary equipment, etc.
Common Causes of Minneapolis Car Accidents
Car accidents are frequently caused by driver error or negligence. Negligence refers to any act committed without malicious intent. For example, when someone runs a red light, they don’t think about potentially injuring someone. However, they still deserve to be held liable for their actions, whether they were malicious or not. Common examples of driver error or negligent acts include:
- Cellphone use while driving or other distractions
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Lack of awareness
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Merging or changing lanes without looking
- Backing up without looking
- Failing to properly maintain their vehicle
Injuries Associated with Minneapolis Car Accidents
A car accident can, unfortunately, cause a wide variety of different injuries. Injuries can range from minor to severe or even life-threatening. Common types of car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Amputation
- Burns
- Cuts
- Bruises
And unfortunately, in some cases, a car accident can lead to death. Death may occur at the scene of the accident or because of complex or complicated injuries.
Insurance Issues with Minneapolis Car Accidents
Often, filing an insurance claim for car repairs is only the beginning of a long process to recover costs and losses arising from a car accident. Because Minnesota is a “no-fault” state, finding the right insurance company to hold responsible can be difficult.
Depending on the details of the incident and the injury, primary coverage will almost always come from your own insurance policy, even if the accident was the other driver’s fault. This seems convenient at first, as your initial expenses are likely to be paid without much hassle.
However, with Minneapolis car accident-related injuries, insurance policy limits are quickly reached. Many injuries require ongoing treatment, including surgery and physical therapy. Your insurer may cover the cost of initial treatment. But you could be left on your own to cover medical care and surgeries exceeding the policy. Plus, future medical expenses or lost wages.
In some cases, you may need to initiate legal action against your insurer to get the compensation you deserve. In other cases, you may need to file a suit to motivate the at-fault driver’s insurer to cooperate. Additionally, it is not unheard of to also file a lawsuit against a third party, like the maker of the car, tires, or another defective part.
How Do I Find the Best Car Accident Attorney Near Me?
There are a lot of different car accident attorneys in Minnesota, especially in big cities like Minneapolis. However, some are better than others, and some have more resources than others. Finding an experienced and qualified personal injury attorney relies on the best tool ever invented for researching a business’s credentials: the Internet.
Check out their reviews, check the attorney’s status on the Minnesota Bar website, and read a few of the articles online to see if they know what they’re talking about. You can also view their profile on AVVO, Super Lawyers, Better Business Bureau, and other similar sites.
How Much Does a Minneapolis Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Sand Law works on something known as a contingency fee basis. This means that if we accept a case, we do so with the understanding that we will probably be able to get the client a settlement or court-awarded compensation. The “contingency” part means that our fee is contingent (or depends) on whether or not we get money for our client first.
However, if, for some unseen reason, the client doesn’t receive any financial compensation, then we do not charge that client a fee of any type. That client would literally pay nothing.
Of course, that is not the desired outcome for the client or their attorney; in fact, it is only the desired outcome for the other party’s insurance company.
So what is our fee? Well, Sand Law charges the same fee that all personal injury firms in Minnesota charge, which is 33% to 40% of the client’s settlement amount.
We charge:
- 33% if we settle the claim out of court; or
- 40% if the case goes to trial.
Why Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Hire a Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance companies want you to think that hiring a personal injury attorney is not necessary. They will tell you that an injury attorney will just take a chunk of your money and that if you pursue the claim on your own, you would get to keep 100% of it. The reason insurance companies don’t want you to hire an attorney is that that improves their odds of not paying injury victims maximum compensation for their damages.
But a study by IRC, or the Insurance Research Counsel, found that, on average, accident injury victims who had the same exact injury that decided to hire a personal injury lawyer had settlements that were 3.5 times more than injured parties who handled their claim on their own.
Looking at the 3.5 times figure, we find that:
- If you got $10,000 on your own, you would walk away with $10,000, but
- if your attorney got you $35,000 (3.5x more), then after their 33.3% fee, you would walk away with $23,310.
That means that even after paying the attorney, you would still make more than twice what you would have on your own.
Insurance companies want you to represent yourself for this exact reason: they will have to pay less, increasing their profits, if you don’t have an attorney.
Our Attorneys Have The Experience You Need On Your Side
Sand Law’s personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in litigating motor vehicle accident claims in the Twin Cities and around the state of Minnesota. We will ensure that your claim is handled efficiently and expeditiously.
Insurance companies tend to rely on complications and paperwork to avoid paying full compensation. By engaging an experienced attorney, you can cut through the red tape and bureaucracy and get the compensation that you deserve.
Compensation for a Minneapolis Car Accident Claim
In addition to the measurable monetary damages from your car accident, like the cost of
- medical treatment,
- missed work, and
- other costs,
you may be entitled to compensation for
- pain and suffering, and
- permanent injuries,
- and loss of enjoyment of life, among others.
Any offer you receive from an insurance company will not include compensation for these types of damages. Pain and suffering damages can be equal to or even greater than the actual medical expenses.
Our lawyers can also work with you to reduce the amount of money you owe your healthcare providers after you receive a settlement or jury award. Insurance companies have a right to recover costs that they have already paid, and you can bet they will try to claim their share of your settlement.
Contact an Experienced Minneapolis Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or anywhere in the metro area, contact Sand Law today to discuss how we may be able to help you. It is important to act quickly and to document all details related to your accident and your injury. We understand that the most important thing for you to do following an injury is to focus on your recovery. With our representation, you can focus on what matters most and get back to full health.
You can contact Sand Law LLC by filling out our online contact form or by calling 651-291-7263 today. We look forward to hearing from you.