If you have received a traffic ticket and are injured in an accident, you may wonder if having a ticket on your driving record will affect your ability to seek compensation. While insurance companies may request full access to your information, such as medical records or police reports, it is important that you understand your rights and what you should avoid doing after an accident. At Knutson + Casey Law Firm, our attorneys are experienced and specialize in personal injury and car accident law. Continue reading to learn more about Minneapolis traffic tickets and car accident claims.
Insurance companies typically have access to your driving record, and indeed have full access for Minnesota driving records. Other states may have different rules and requirements. If your driving record includes citations, you may be wondering if those will be used against you if you are injured in an accident. In a personal injury trial, your driving record may or may not be admissible, depending on how the court rules. In Minnesota the police report or accident report is usually not admissible in court, although an Officer may testify as to what they contain.
Insurance companies frequently ask for releases for your medical records, to interview you by recording, and for accident reports and wage loss documentation. While this information can be necessary for the insurance company to assess your claim, it is best to speak to an attorney before disclosing these documents, getting recorded, or signing releases. about injuries stemming from your accident. It is essential that you seek professional legal representation and have a lawyer help you determine what information you should sign releases for a car accident case.
A traffic ticket that is paid, or where you plead guilty or admit the charge, can affect your case. If you were driving with a suspended license, under the influence, or broke other laws behind the wheel, you run in to other issues with the law. Your skilled lawyer can help you gather the information needed to process a claim and go through the lawsuit process in your injury case.
An essential part of personal injury claims is gathering proof and valid information on the case. Insurance companies may request more information than they are legally allowed to in order to counter your claim. They may try to use prior accidents, traffic tickets, and other factors related to your driving to discredit your current injuries and damage on a claim. With a car accident attorney, you will not fall victim to common insurance tactics or unknowingly sign any release forms that are unnecessary for your case.
In most cases, every injured person in Minnesota has the right to seek compensation within two years of an accident but often up to 6 years for many claims. While a previous driving record or being given a traffic ticket may not affect the value of your claim, other factors are used to determine the value and necessary compensation owed to you. In Minnesota, it is beneficial for any injured individual to seek professional legal representation and refrain from handling a case independently. Skilled lawyers understand the law, liability, negligence, components of compensation recovery, and insurance tactics.
Factors that affect the compensation recovery in your case include:
Your case is lined up to succeed with a skilled negotiator and responsible lawyer. Don’t deal with the stress and frustration of negotiating, representing yourself, and going back and forth with insurance adjusters. It is crucial that you receive the proper amount of compensation owed to you so that you may fully recover. If you have any questions regarding the value of your claim or the factors that you are concerned may affect your compensation, don’t hesitate to seek a skilled attorney.
Knutson + Casey Law Firm has helped thousands of clients in Minneapolis and Southern Minnesota. We are eager to continue helping injured individuals when they have experienced a car accident and require legal support from our car accident lawyers in Minneapolis, MN. Call us at (507) 344-8888 or fill out a contact form to schedule a free consultation at our law office.