Car accidents claim an average of more than 400 lives across Minnesota each year and cause an estimated 1,910 severe injuries, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. These injuries can cause catastrophic difficulties for people who have been injured, including ongoing financial struggles, lost income opportunities, and significant pain and suffering.
By working with a Hutchinson car accident lawyer after your auto crash, you can better understand the compensation you deserve and fight to protect your rights in the aftermath of the accident. Call the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Maschka, Riedy, Ries & Frentz for help today.
Whether a car accident occurs on Highway 15 or on the many back roads around Hutchinson, several common factors can increase the risk of a car accident, as an attorney can attest.
Distraction poses a severe hazard on the road, whether drivers are checking their cell phones, eating, changing the radio station, or being distracted by a passenger in the back seat.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety notes that around 1,200 accidents with injuries occurred because one of the drivers had consumed alcohol. Another 241 crashes with injury resulted from illegal drug consumption.
High rates of speed not only make it more difficult to control a vehicle, but the increased force can also increase the damage in an accident.
Aggressive drivers often try to push others off the road or ignore the rules of the road to get to arrive at their destination faster. Unfortunately, this behavior also increases the risk of an accident.
In poor weather conditions, drivers may need to exercise more caution on the road, including slowing down and allowing more following distance for other vehicles. Unfortunately, many drivers will push their rate of speed, even in snowy or icy conditions.
A problem with the vehicle can significantly increase the risk of an accident, whether that means windshield wipers that fail to clear away precipitation or a tire blowout.
Most often, liability for a vehicle accident will rest with one of the drivers. That means that the person injured in an accident will pursue a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company.
Minnesota drivers must carry personal injury protection insurance, also known as PIP insurance. PIP insurance compensates for the medical damages associated with car accidents, regardless of who caused the wreck in Hutchinson. This no-fault coverage can make it easier to get medical attention immediately after an accident without having to worry about its cost. Those who do not carry PIP insurance, including cyclists and pedestrians, may file a claim directly through the involved driver’s insurance company.
When the cost of medical care exceeds $4,000 or the injured person meets one of the other tort thresholds in Minn. Stat. 65B.51, Subd. 3, the injured person may bring a claim against the other driver.
When another party’s negligence leads to a car accident with injuries, make sure you fully understand your right to compensation. Even when filing a claim through your own insurance company, you may encounter difficulties.
A Hutchinson car accident lawyer can examine the damages you sustained, put together evidence of what caused the accident, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Reach out to Maschka, Reidy, Ries, and Frentz Law Firm today for your free consultation.
