After a collision, injured drivers might question what steps to take within the next several days following the accident. Whether seeking compensation for damage solely through your insurance company, or pressing additional charges by filing a personal injury lawsuit, seeking legal guidance through your claim can help secure the fair compensation you deserve. If you’ve reached this page in search of legal guidance through your car accident claim, or to answer any legal questions before speaking with your insurance company, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Knutson + Casey provide exceptional legal services to the Mankato area of Minnesota. We help our clients build their case in a thoughtful, meticulous manner, while remaining hands-on in our services. Our investigation process involves combing through all forms of evidence available at our disposal: police reports, eyewitness interviews/testimony, insurance reports, and any evidence you bring forth to support your claim.
When investigating your claim, we use our experiential knowledge to address factors law enforcement can overlook. We have a keen eye when looking for evidence of distracted driving or other reckless driving practices of the other driver who contributed to your injury. Moreover, we handle all correspondence with insurance companies, further decreasing the stress associated with the claims process. Getting legal help even in insurance-based claims lets the insurance company know you mean business.
Minnesota is what’s known as a “no-fault” state, which has advantages and disadvantages. For example, you don’t need to determine who’s at fault before pursuing personal injury damages; however, no-fault states have more stringent limits on the amount of damages you can pursue. To pursue compensatory damages above and beyond what’s covered by insurance, there are some conditions:
Assuming one of these conditions is met, you’re free to pursue damages against the driver at fault for the incident.
Minnesota operates under a no-fault statute. This means every registered driving is responsible for meeting the minimum insurance requirements and buying additional insurance via personal injury protection (PIP). In an accident, each party’s insurance is responsible for paying some medical costs and lost wages until it reaches a cap. Some states require drivers to reach this cap before pursuing legal action against the other driver, but Minnesota sets its own guidelines regarding personal injury claims. A driver can file a claim if the accident caused:
Minnesota exercises rules dictated by contributory negligence. This means the court assigns each party a fault rating that designates their portion of blame. Individuals who want to file a claim must receive a rating of less than 50%. Plaintiffs who receive higher ratings cannot press charges because they are more to blame than the other party.
The wisest time to call an attorney after a collision is right after leaving the scene of the accident, or emergency room if your injuries were severe. Though you might think you should call your insurance company first, they often ask for a statement of the accident that goes on record. Call an attorney first to obtain their advice, establish a firm account of the accident, and then contact the insurance company. Knutson and Casey offer the service of contacting insurance companies for you, reducing your post-accident tasks by one.
If you qualify to file a personal injury claim, the damages you’ve acquired contribute to the total compensation awarded to you after the case. Some damages you can claim are:
Both physical and mental/emotional damages are viable when claiming personal injury. An attorney will help you determine which damages to claim that best encompass your specific case. They can even help calculate an acceptable range of compensation that accurately reflects your damages. This helps in settlement negotiations because it gives you a general idea of what a fair figure would be.
Car accidents can be life-changing events that leave you with multiple types of damage. If you meet Minnesota’s requirements for filing a personal injury lawsuit, contact Knutson and Casey to evaluate your case.
If police are called to the scene, it’s standard operating procedure for them to conduct their own investigation into the accident and file a report. Insurance companies will do the same, but if you’ve been injured in a car accident, call a legal team to conduct one on your behalf. These will be the only people truly invested in protecting your best interests. Here’s how Knutson+Casey will go to work for you:
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and wrongful death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported some troubling car accident numbers in 2014:
As you can see, vehicle crashes are a common factor of life. In fact, if you haven’t already been involved in a motor vehicle accident, chances are likely you will at some point in your life.
Unfortunately, it’s not always immediately clear who’s at fault in a car accident. Police officers are committed to making sure everyone is safe and closing the case, and insurance companies are focused most on paying out as little as possible.
Whether you’ve been rear-ended, sideswiped, or injured in another type of motor vehicle accident, you have rights. If you’ve incurred excessive medical expenses or missed work due to an injury, you’re entitled to compensation – and you don’t need to go through insurance negotiations alone. Don’t let these companies bully you into accepting a payout that’s less than you deserve. You should never have to suffer under the weight of lost wages and medical bills simply due to someone else’s negligence.
Hire the experienced and compassionate legal team at Knutson+Casey to work for you. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation into the accident, keep the insurance companies accountable, and do everything in our power to get you back on your feet again.
Call our firm today to set up a no-risk evaluation. We’ll review the specifics of your accident and determine how we can help you. If there’s a limit to how much you can collect or any potential problems that may affect your claim, we’ll let you know immediately. Contact one of our experienced lawyers today to get started.