Injuries from a car collision in Northfield can significantly impact a person’s life. Dealing with expensive medical bills or missing time from work can lead to extreme financial difficulties for the injured individual and their family.
If a crash is caused by another driver’s negligent actions, you should consider hiring an experienced Northfield car accident lawyer. Our firm’s dedicated personal injury attorneys can help you when you need us. Call today to schedule a free consultation.
Unlike many states, Minnesota has a no-fault auto insurance system that will impact how and when you can pursue a monetary recovery for injuries sustained in a car accident. All drivers in the state are required to maintain no fault, also known as personal injury protection, coverage for their vehicles.
If you sustain injuries in an auto accident, Minnesota Statutes Annotated § 65B.51 requires that you first pursue recovery by filing a claim with your own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault.
The minimum amount of no-fault coverage required is $40,000, which includes $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical expenses.
If the expenses or damages from an accident meet a specified threshold, the party who was not at fault can pursue a claim or lawsuit against the other driver.
Under the no-fault system, you can only file a personal injury lawsuit if the amount of medical expenses exceeds $4,000 or the injury resulted in at least one of the following:
To prove negligence in a personal injury lawsuit, you must show that the defendant breached a duty of care. For example, if the at-fault party was cited for a traffic violation, this evidence can help prove they breached a duty of care to other drivers.
The breach of the duty of care must have directly led to your injuries and you must have suffered actual damages.
Economic damages are intended to compensate a person for measurable financial losses, such as medical bills or lost wages. Noneconomic damages refer to immeasurable harm, like emotional distress, pain, and suffering.
A Northfield car accident lawyer can explain how a court may limit damages if the plaintiff is found to have some comparative fault that caused the car accident.
The state has a general six-year statute of limitations for negligence claims stemming from personal injuries under Minn. Stat. Ann. § 541.05.
However, the statute of limitations varies depending on the circumstances and some lawsuit deadlines are even shorter. For example, a deceased party’s surviving next-of-kin only has three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Minn. Stat. Ann. § 573.02.
A Northfield car accident lawyer is ready to fight on your behalf if you were injured in a crash. The initial meeting with an attorney to discuss your case is always free.
Our Southern Minnesota legal team is trusting, understanding, and compassionate. Let us help restore order to your life.
