Minnesota Car Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Minneapolis Car Accident Law Firm : Brown Law Offices : St. Paul, Twin Cities MN

Every year, more than 40,000 people are killed in auto accidents in Minnesota and around the country. Those statistics have been on the decline for a few years now, as law enforcement authorities and transportation agencies have collaborated to lower those numbers. But, we still lose thousands of people in preventable accidents caused by negligent or reckless driving.

It is estimated that 1 out of every 100 people in the US will be involved in an auto accident in any given year. Very often, these accidents are caused by the negligence of motorists. Neglectful or reckless driving by another motorist, speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and other behaviors may place a motorist’s life at risk. Accidents may also be caused when no motorist is at fault, because of a defective road design, poor highway maintenance, or motor vehicle defects that contribute to an accident. In most of these accidents, a Minnesota car accident attorney with our firm will conduct a full investigation to identify the parties responsible for injuries in the crash.

Very often, auto accident injuries reflect the severity of the collision. Accidents that result from speeding or head-on collisions, may result in extremely severe injuries or instant death. Most of the millions of car accidents that are recorded in the US every year, involve minor to moderate injuries, but in the few that involve catastrophic injures, victims may suffer fractures, broken bones, internal damage, blunt force trauma injuries caused from severe impact, crushing injuries where a part of the body is squeezed or crushed during impact, head injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputation, back injuries, neck injuries, whiplash, and herniated disc injuries.

Minnesota laws allow motorists injured in an auto accident to recover compensation for losses from the other entities involved in the accident. Compensation may include, but is not restricted to medical expenses, income loss because of the accident and pain and suffering. In fact, under Minnesota laws, you may be eligible for compensation even if the accident was partially your fault. In order for recovery however, a Minnesota auto accident lawyer must prove that another motorist, agency or entity was negligent.

In an auto accident claim, our attorneys will determine liability by considering several entities that may have contributed to the accident. These include:

• Other motorists;
• Commercial truck and bus drivers;
• Motorcyclists;
• Automobile manufacturers;
• Automobile part manufacturers, like tire manufacturers;
• Bars, pubs, restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages to a visibly drunk driver, who then goes out and causes a crash; and
• State and local agencies responsible for designing and construction of highway roads and bridges.

Have you or a loved one been injured because of an auto accident? Contact a Minnesota auto accident attorney with the Brown Law Office, P.A. We offer free consultations at your home, work, hospital or at one of our six Twin Cities metro offices. Contact us by calling (612) 789-2100, or submit an inquiry through our online consultation form. We don’t charge a fee unless we obtain a settlement on your behalf.

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One of the many options for recovery that a Minnesota auto accident attorney may use in a drunk driving accident is to seek recovery under Minnesota's dram shop laws. Under Minnesota’s dram shop laws restaurants, pubs, clubs, and liquor stores that illegally serve or furnish a person with alcohol, may be held liable for any injuries from a resulting accident.

A drunk motorist, who causes an accident, very likely, purchased a drink at a liquor establishment. The establishment may therefore be held accountable for its negligence in any accident caused by a drunk driver who bought his alcohol at the venue or facility.

For a victim of a DUI accident, it may be important to examine all options for compensation, because injuries resulting from drunken driving accidents tend to be extremely serious. These include fractures, blunt force trauma injuries, brain injuries, spinal injuries, and other serious injuries that may require extensive medical care, hospitalization, physical therapy and other aids.

Minnesota’s law allows for two types of liability for people who illegally provide alcohol to a motorist. While dram shop laws offer injured victims one option to hold the establishment accountable, there are also social host liability laws laid out in Minnesota statutes that allow persons who provide alcoholic beverages to persons below the age of 21 in a social, non-commercial setting to be held liable.

It’s important to understand that these laws won’t cover the intoxicated person, but will only apply to victims of an accident. Minnesota dram shop laws may apply in case of:

• Establishments that sell alcoholic beverages to persons below the age of 21;
• Establishments that sell alcoholic beverages to visibly drunk patrons;
• Establishments that sell alcoholic beverages after hours or on a day on which sale is prohibited by law; and
• Establishments that sell alcohol to guests or non-members at a club.

Do you have questions about dram shop or social host liability? Contact an MN dram shop attorney at the Brown Law Office, P.A. We offer free consultations at your home, work, hospital or you may arrange to meet with us at one of our six Twin Cities metro offices. Contact us by calling (612) 789-2100 or submit an inquiry through our online consultation form. We don’t charge a fee unless we obtain a settlement on your behalf.

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Driving an automobile can be dangerous not only because of the millions of other cars that use the roadway, but also because of defects in, or poor maintenance of, roads and bridges. The Minneapolis bridge collapse in August of 2007 is a prime example. Even if all drivers operate their car in a safe manner, dangerous conditions beyond any auto operator's control can lead to serious injury or death.

It is the responsibility of the government to maintain public streets, roads, highways, freeways and bridges. Unfortunately, agencies at the federal, state, county or municipal level often neglect their obligation to do so. Here are some roadway defects that can lead to a serious accident:

• Excessive Drops in Shoulders;
• Water Accumulation;
• Unrepaired Potholes;
• Unlevel Payment;
• Poor Signage;
• Poor (or no) Guardrails;
• Debris in the Road; and
• Construction Materials

Municipal negligence can be very difficult to prove, given the immunity issues that apply. These immunity rules provide that a government actor engaged in a "decision making" function is immune from suit. On the other hand, a government actor merely performing a previously described duty in a careless manner may be held accountable for negligent acts.

Have you been injured because of a roadway defect? Speak with a Minneapolis Car Accident Attorney with the Brown Law Offices, P.A. Our lawyers have handled many car accident cases involving governmental immunity issues. Please call (612) 789-2100 or submit an inquiry through our online consultation form. We offer free consultations at any of our six Twin Cities metro offices. Or, we'll come to you. No fee unless we win.

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Each year over 500,000 patients are treated for serious burn injuries in the United States. Surprising to some, car accidents are a major source of burn injuries. Burn injuries are categorized in severity by "degree," including first-degree burns, second-degree burns and third-degree burns.

First-degree burns are the least serious of all burn injuries and involve minimal tissue damage to the epidermis (outer layer of skin). Symptoms include redness, swelling, a few days of mild pain and peeling of the skin. First-degree burns usually require little or no treatment, except for common over-the-counter pain medications. Common first-degree burns include routine exposure to the sun and sudden flashes of heat upon the skin.

Second-degree burns are more serious than a first-degree burn. These burns will cause damage to the skin's outer-layer (the epidermis) and a deeper layer of skin (the dermis). Symptoms of a second-degree burn include redness of the skin, intense pain, swelling and blisters. Second-degree burn injuries often affect not just the skin, but also hair follicles and sweat glands. Second-degree burn injuries are usually caused by contact with flames, scalding water or brief contact with a hot object.

Third-degree burns are the most serious of all burns and affect all three layers that make up the skin: the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. Charring of the skin is common and numbness to the burned area may result because damage to the nerves. Significant medical attention will be required if you have suffered a third-degree burn.

Burns typically arise from two scenarios in a car accident: direct contact with fire and airbag deployment. There are two ways that the inflation of airbags causes burn injuries. First, an airbag may perforate, resulting in the release of sodium azide or sodium hydroxide, which results in chemical burns when brought in contact with the skin. Second, the rise in temperature during inflation of the airbag often causes thermal burns.

Burns are some of the most horrific injuries a car accident survivor can suffer. Significant scarring and permanent impairments often result. If you have suffered a severe burn injury in a car accident it is important to speak with a lawyer you can trust to handle your case. The car accident attorneys with the Brown Law Offices, P.A. offer skilled, resourceful advocacy. Our lawyers are focused on helping through a difficult time and maximizing the compensation you receive for your burn injuries. You may reach us by calling (763) 323-6555.

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The discs in the spine are circular and rest between the of vertebrae in your back. They act like shock absorbers, providing a cushion when you bend, twist, jump and exert other pressure on your spine. Discs are often described as resembling a filled donut, with a tough exterior and a thick liquid center. Sometimes accident victims will suffer some slippage or bulging of a disc. These terms are synonomous with a herniation of a disc.

When the disc comes in contact with the nerves in the spine, you may feel severe pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. Pain may not be limited to the back itself and will sometimes radiate down the arms or legs. The location of the radiation varies depending upon on where the herniated disc is located.

With a symptomatic herniated disc, pain is not felt in the area the disc is located. Instead, the bulging disc pinches a nerve in the spine, causing radicular pain (pain that shoots through your body, usually to one area, such as one arm or one leg). This phenomenon occurs because each nerve in the spine is connected to a particular area of our bodies.

In terms of diagnosing a bulging disc, it usually takes a while. They are rarely detected immediately following a car accident because x-rays taken at an emergency room are unable to detect herniations; they only provide images of bones. If pain persists following an accident, your doctor will likely order an MRI or CT scan. While these two methods can detect objective signs of a herniated disc, the amount of pain felt by the injury victim bears no relationship to the MRI or CT scan. Herniated discs affect everyone differently.

Back injuries, especially a herniated disc, may leave a person in pain for the rest of their lives. Many of our clients try a number of methods to resolve the pain before electing to undergo back surgery, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, traction, and cortisone shots. If none of these treatments work, a spinal fusion may be performed.

Because disc injuries involve such serious pain, the value of these cases tends to be higher than a case limited to soft tissue injuries. As a result, the insurance carriers devote substantial resources to the defense of herniated disc cases. One common strategy of the attorneys working for insurance carrier is to point out degenerative problems with the injured party's spine that pre-date the accident itself. Our job is to prove that a particular injury was caused by the accident, and is not due simply to prior stenosis or arthritis, That's where the treating doctor plays a critical role. He or she will provide us with a written opinion as to cause of your injury.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, contact a MN car accident lawyer with the Brown Law Offices, P.A. Our lawyers have years of experience and will work hard to obtain the maximum possible recovery on your behalf. Contact us by calling (763) 323-6555 or submit an inquiry through our online consultation form.

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No reputable lawyer will promise you anything up front. It is simply impossible to offer a specific dollar figure just days after an accident. At best, an attorney may be able to gage the severity of your case and offer a range of recovery based upon their experience. There are literally dozens of factors that play a role in your recovery. A few of them are discussed below.

At the onset, no demand should ever made until the full extent of your injuries is known and you have had adequate time to recover from them. You only get one chance at resolving your claim. Unfortunately, many clients do not ever fully recover, and their injuries are permanent in nature. A permanent injury is valued much higher than a temporary condition, usually.

Another important aspect of your claim involves the amount of insurance carried by you and the at-fault driver. Sometimes, there is adequate coverage to compensate you. Other times, unfortunately, there is not. The value of your recovery can be limited by the amount of insurance available.

Yet another aspect of how much you may be compensated involves who the insurance companies are. Some companies will negotiate in good faith and make meaningful offers to settle claims. Others, however, will attempt to pay out as little as possible and make injury survivors fight for every dollar. The latter is much more typical, and can result in a lower net recovery.

Finally, one of the golden rules in injury cases is that a case is worth what a jury says it’s worth. Juries today are very unpredictable. Every client has a story to tell. The best way to receive fair compensation for your loss is to retain a skilled advocate to explain your situation to a group of jurors.

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Brain injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the US, and the leading cause of death in people under 40 years of age. Just as the rest of the body is susceptible to bruising and breaking, the brain too can endure serious trauma. According to the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, 100,000 Minnesotans live with a traumatic brain injury.

It is estimated that nearly 500,000 head injuries are sustained each year in the United States, at a rate of about 200 per 100,000. These statistics involve injury victims who have been admitted to a hospital. A recent study has suggested that all head injuries (both unreported and reported) total nearly 8 million annually across the country.

There are three broad categories of traumatic brain injuries:

• Blunt trauma involves a blow to the head from a heavy object. Whether or not the skull is penetrated, some amount of the kinetic energy from the strike is transmitted to the brain and other cranial contents through of pressure waves. These signals cause a neurological balance within the brain.
• Penetrating trauma from a bullet or other projectile produces by far the most destructive concussive-compressive injury. Damage results from both the object itself, and the impact forces crushing the brain tissue.
• Acceleration-deceleration  forces may also cause injury. The most common example of an acceleration-deceleration injury is seen in the victims of motor vehicle accidents. Damage occurs as a result of the inertial forces, and tends to be more severe and widespread.

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