Dedicated Auto Accident Lawyers Serving Minneapolis-Area Clients
Automobile accidents are often life-changing events. One minute, you are on your way to work or the store, and the next you are fighting to overcome a serious injury. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, it is important to know that you have legal rights, and that you don’t have to exercise those rights alone.
Automobile accidents are often life-changing events. One minute, you are on your way to work or the store, and the next you are fighting to overcome a serious injury. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, it is important to know that you have legal rights, and that you don’t have to exercise those rights alone. Accidents caused by a negligent driver may cause permanent injury, disfigurement or disability. Most automobile accident claims involve the Minnesota No-Fault statute as well as liability, underinsured motorist and uninsured motorist claims. To work through these issues, it is important to have an experienced car accident lawyer. Your lawyer needs to be able to gather the important evidence and present it effectively. The lawyer needs to understand all of the relevant releases and settlement methods available to the injured client. We understand the complexities and operation of insurance policies to ensure full access to available coverages and benefits.
A Proven Approach to Auto Accident Cases
As soon as you retain our services, we being building your case and pursuing compensation using a proven step-by-step process:
INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT
The first and most crucial step in the claims process is investigating the accident and the events immediately before the crash. This includes photographing the scene, interviewing all available witnesses, reviewing accident reports, taking a statement from the responding police officers and working with accident specialists to reconstruct the events leading to the crash, if necessary.
CONTACTING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES
Your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver involved in the crash play a large role in covering your losses. We handle the process of contacting all insurance providers and beginning discussions relating to compensation of your losses.
GATHERING MEDICAL RECORDS
Official documentation of your injuries and treatment is needed to file a Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation claim. We work with your medical providers to gather all documentation related to your care to prove the type and extent of injuries—ranging from airbag and seatbelt injuries to whiplash and more severe injuries—you have suffered.
NEGOTIATING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES
The negotiation of a settlement is a viable strategy for some accident victims. Our team conducts assertive negotiations to secure a settlement that covers all your current and future losses. We will never advise you to accept a settlement that does not address all your financial and emotional losses.
PROVING YOUR CASE IN COURT
A settlement is not always possible or the right strategy. If a settlement cannot be reached, or is against your best interests, we take your case to court to pursue a judgement in your favor.
Throughout the legal process, we make sure to help you understand what you can expect from your proceedings, and the steps you should take to protect your health and legal rights.
MINNESOTA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS
Car crashes are the leading cause of injuries in the U.S., resulting in the death of 42,000 people per year. In Minneapolis alone, over twenty people die in fatal car accidents every year. If we could reduce the number of car accidents in our country by just twenty percent, we would save thousands of lives and millions of dollars per year. That is why we have helped prepare this information on how everyone can do their part in reducing the number of car accidents. As a Minneapolis car accident attorneys, we have seen it all. We can assure you, a small effort to drive safer can lead to a major improvement in everyone’s overall safety on the road.
One easy way to reduce the number of car accidents is for everyone to focus more while driving. Distracted drivers are the number one cause of car accidents in America. Distractions come in all shapes and sizes, but include using a cell phone, applying makeup, eating, changing the radio station, rubbernecking and more. Statistics show that around 98% of car accidents involve at least one distracted driver. Perhaps the most dangerous of all of these distractions is rubbernecking -the act of looking at what’s going on with other vehicles on the road, usually due to an accident. When drivers do this, they almost always reduce their speed unintentionally, causing a hazard for vehicles behind them. If you were injured by a distracted driver, contact the Minneapolis Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Coughlin Law today.
Another easy way for people to reduce the number of vehicle crashes is to stop driving while tired. Driver fatigue is highly dangerous and can be even more deadly than driving under the influence of alcohol. Tired drivers often swerve between lanes and have too slow of a reaction time to appropriately deal with street signs and road hazards. If a driver falls asleep behind the wheel, then their driving becomes completely unpredictable. As Minnesota Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation lawyers, we have seen numerous car accidents caused by someone falling asleep while driving. Let us tell you, these auto accidents are never pretty.
Of course, we all know how dangerous driving while intoxicated can be. Not only can drunk driving result in major legal penalties, it can also leave you with the haunting knowledge that you took an innocent person’s life. Every 22 minutes someone dies due to a DUI car accident. After working as a Minnesota auto accident lawyers for over 75 Years’ combined experience, we can’t tell you how many people we have seen ruined emotionally and financially after one night of partying turned into years of regrets.
Lastly, it is important to drive defensively and not speed. Aggressive driving not only leads to road rage, it also results in dangerous driving. Speeding is even more dangerous and it is a factor in over 30% of all auto accidents. An easy way to reduce your aggression and speed on the road is to leave the house earlier to allow yourself more time to reach your destination. Additionally, check the traffic report before you get on the road in order to prepare an alternate route if necessary.
While we can’t avoid all dangers on the road -such as bad weather, poor driving by other vehicles, mechanical failures or animals in the road- defensive, alert driving can help keep you safe. After all, the earlier you see a hazard, the more time you have to respond to the problem before it results in an accident. Speeding, driving distracted, drinking and exhaustion can all greatly reduce your reaction time, making you far more likely to be involved in an accident, even if the crash is not your own fault.
Of course, some accidents are completely unavoidable no matter how well you drive. If you were involved in a crash due to no fault of your own, contact the Minnesota Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation attorneys at Coughlin Law. You will be properly represented and receive all necessary care and assistance to get back to your life before the accident.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Minnesota auto accident attorney, contact our office today.