One of the dangers of driving in Minneapolis is getting caught in a rear-end collision. Depending on the crash’s severity, you could face damage to your vehicle as well as physical and emotional trauma. In some instances, these accidents are fatal.
If you suffered losses after someone crashed into the back of your vehicle, consider working with a Minneapolis rear-end collisions lawyer. They can assist you in filing a claim and getting compensated.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, has personal injury attorneys ready to provide legal support. You can call the team at (844) 730-0233 for more details.
Parties at Fault in a Rear-End Collision
A rear-end car accident usually happens when a driver tailgates another vehicle, preventing them from safely stopping in time to avoid a collision. However, there are also cases where the motorist who was rear-ended is at fault. They may have hit the brakes for no discernible reason or drove a car with defective brake lights. Such scenarios would make it difficult for the rear driver to brake in time, even if they were at a reasonable distance.
There might also be other parties directly or indirectly responsible for the accident. For instance, there could have been another driver that was driving recklessly and forced the front vehicle to brake suddenly.
A personal injury lawyer can investigate the accident further to determine if there are other liable parties. They can assist in reviewing police reports, searching for witnesses, and checking traffic camera footage. The attorney can also ascertain if the other driver’s actions were intentional, which could mean harsher penalties.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end collisions lawyer serving Minneapolis, call (844) 730-0233
Getting Your Accident Expenses Covered in Minneapolis
Victims of a rear-end collision typically end up with damage to their vehicle’s trunk, taillights, bumper, muffler, and chassis. They often suffer head trauma, back injury, and whiplash, all of which can be costly. After assessing the extent of your damages and gathering supporting evidence, a Minneapolis rear-end collisions lawyer can calculate how much compensation you will need to pay for your treatment and other losses before requesting it in a claim or lawsuit.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can help you get compensation. Call the legal team today for a free, no-risk consultation of your case.
Minneapolis Rear-End Collisions Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
No-Fault Rules for Insurance Claims
Minnesota operates under a no-fault system when it comes to filing insurance claims for car accidents. This means you must first use your Personal Injury Protection or PIP insurance to cover your expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. However, this insurance coverage will only help pay for injury-related costs, such as hospital bills and income lost while recovering. It will not compensate you for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering or loss of consortium.
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When Third-Party Claims and Lawsuits Become an Option
There are circumstances where you can file a claim with the liable party’s insurance provider. Since PIP insurance only covers a limited amount, you might need the other driver’s required liability insurance to pay for your car repairs and other costs. The required amount of coverage for PIP in Minnesota is $40,000, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. You can use $20,000 for medical bills and $20,000 for other losses.
If your losses exceed this amount, that means you could file a personal injury lawsuit. Instead of dealing with the insurers, the court will decide your receivable damages after reviewing your and the other party’s defense and evidence.
While insurance claims use the no-fault rule, civil cases use a modified comparative negligence system. If the court deems you partially at fault for the rear-end collision, they can reduce the amount you can recover based on how much liability you share. For example, if your total damages initially amounted to $100,000, you will only get $90,000 if they declare you 10% responsible for the accident.
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Damage Caps for Government Injury Claims
You can also file a claim against city or state agencies if a public-owned vehicle happened to rear-end your car. However, unlike typical Minnesota accident cases that do not have damage caps, the law limits how much compensation you can receive from the government. The state will only award up to $1,500,000 for one incident, according to Minnesota Statutes § 3.736 subdivision 4(g).
Aside from finding evidence, a Minneapolis rear-end accident lawyer can also help compile records of your expenses, such as hospital and car repair bills. It will help accurately compute your total compensatory damages.
Follow Your Filing Deadline
The deadline or statute of limitations for your lawsuit depends on the types of claims it involves. Because car accident cases usually include property damage claims, a rear-end collision lawsuit will likely have a six-year deadline if you did not suffer injuries. However, if your lawsuit only has a personal injury or a wrongful death claim, you have up to two and three years, respectively.
Determining the time allowance is not always clear-cut. For example, if the liable driver is not in Minnesota, the state may only resume counting the time once they return. Having a lawyer can help in computing your deadline and ensure that you can finish all your case’s requirements in time to file it.
You Can Find Justice in Minneapolis
While you could file a rear-end collision claim or lawsuit on your own, for many, going this route is a stressful undertaking, especially if you are dealing with severe injuries. Having a Minneapolis rear-end collisions lawyer assist you with legal procedures can make the process easier for you and allow you to spend more time recovering.
The office of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, handles civil cases in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and throughout the U.S. We work on a contingency basis and do not charge any fees unless you win the case.
If you have inquiries regarding our firm, you can contact us at (844) 730-0233 for your free, no-risk consultation to see if you have a case.
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