St. Paul Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers | Tyroler Leonard Injury Law

No matter how safety-conscious you are, there are other drivers who will continue to drive while impaired by alcohol or other substances. The damage caused by these motorists is almost impossible to underestimate. Our car accident lawyers have years of experience helping those injured by drunk drivers.

At Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, our St. Paul drunk driving accident lawyers are ready to help if you or someone you love has been hurt or killed by a drunk driver. We will fight tirelessly to get you justice and financial compensation for your losses.

Why Partner With Tyroler Leonard Injury Law?

Though we are skilled, aggressive attorneys, the team at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law puts “people” first. Yes, we are dedicated to winning your case, but not just for the sake of the win. Our success is your best outcome, and we truly want the best for our clients. Drunk drivers take away so much from victims. They steal physical abilities, cognitive function, independence, financial security, relationships, emotional peace, and lives. We want to restore, to the greatest extent possible, what victims have lost. Our clients’ own words show we accomplish these goals.

How We Can Help

We put the full power of our experience, legal acumen, and resources into every case. By investigating your situation extensively, we will work to find convincing evidence to support your claim and prove the drunk driver’s negligence. Though we cannot heal your injuries and emotional suffering, we can fight for the resources you need for continued access to medical care, counseling, financial stability, and other resources to restore your quality of life. Our results show our capability, and we look forward to adding your successful case outcome to our history.

Drunk Driving Statistics and Laws

The effects of alcohol and drugs on the brain and a person’s ability to drive are well-documented and well-publicized. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), driving while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other mind-altering substances prompts numerous deficiencies:

Slower reaction times
Impaired decision-making and processing abilities
Compromised coordination and reduced ability to steer safely
Distorted perception
Diminished capacity to react to emergency situations
Diminished ability to stay in lane and use brakes appropriately.

Every driver who consumes alcohol or drugs and gets behind the wheel puts every other driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, or other road-sharer at risk.

Minnesota Driving While Impaired (DWI) Statistics

Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) show that, despite state and national efforts to curb incidents of DWI, impaired drivers still choose to operate vehicles. Statewide numbers for the most recent year of data collection show these facts:

There were 24,324 DWI arrests.
An estimated 1 in 7 Minnesotans has a DWI on their record.
2,228 victims sustained injuries in DWI-related accidents.
74 victims lost their lives in DWI-related crashes.

These dangerous effects of alcohol and drugs on driving ability and the tragic statistics showing the outcomes of DWI are why Minnesota and all other states have instituted laws against drunk driving.

Minnesota’s Impaired Driving Laws

Under Minnesota law, it is illegal for a person to “drive, operate, or be in physical control of any vehicle anywhere in the state” if that person . . .

Is under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or an “intoxicating substance” provided the person knows or should know that the substance can impair
Has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher while driving or within two hours of driving
Has “any amount or the metabolites” of schedule I or II controlled substances (other than marijuana) in their body.

For commercial vehicle drivers, the BAC limit is .04%, and for drivers under the legal drinking age, there is zero tolerance. Any trace of alcohol or drugs can incur penalties for this population. Wisconsin law has additional specifications for drivers with prior offenses.

Convictions bring a host of consequences. Depending on their history of offenses and the damage they caused, offenders face criminal charges, loss of driving privileges, fines, implementation of ignition-lock devices, jail or prison time, and other penalties.

Still, despite knowing the dangers and laws against DWI, some drivers continue to get behind the wheel when impaired, and the criminal justice system will address the illegality of their behavior. When their selfish and reckless decision causes harm to you or someone you love, though, you have the right to demand accountability and justice. The team at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law will fight to get those outcomes.

Compensation for Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Victims of DWI accidents often sustain serious losses. Because drunk drivers lack reaction time and may not judge their own speed or your speed properly, collisions can be violent. Physical injuries from car crashes can take just about any form but often include:

Spinal cord damage, which could lead to total or partial paralysis
Trauma to the head and brain, potentially affecting physical abilities, cognition, and personality
Complex bone fractures
Amputations or deep lacerations
Burns
Damage to muscles, nerves, tendons, and other soft tissue
Internal organ damage.

Physical pain, diminished abilities, and the event of the accident itself produce significant emotional trauma. This stress only compounds with mounting financial concerns incurred by medical costs and lost income as victims need time away from work to recover and, in some instances, may never recover enough to return to work.

Participating in events, gatherings, vacations, or hobbies may no longer be possible for victims, prompting depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Victims may not be able to care for their daily needs independently. These factors reduce the enjoyment of life substantially.

A St. Paul drunk driving accident lawyer from our team will evaluate your situation carefully, noting every detail of your losses. From there, your attorney will calculate a settlement demand and send it to the at-fault party’s representatives, handling all communication on your behalf.

Damages Available Under Minnesota Law

Victims of drunk driving in Minnesota can pursue economic damages, a monetary award covering their financial losses. Economic losses typically include medical expenses for both current and anticipated future care, wage loss and future lost income and benefits for those unable to return to work, property damaged in the event, and any other expenses resulting from the accident.

Non-economic damages, an award covering losses that do not come with a clear value, are given under certain conditions. These damages acknowledge the victim’s pain and suffering, as well as reduced quality of life. Victims can seek non-economic damages only if one of the following conditions applies:

Out-of-pocket medical costs exceed $4,000
The victim is permanently disfigured
The injury is permanent
Someone is killed, in which case the surviving family could partner with the St. Paul wrongful death lawyers from Tyroler and Leonard Injury Law
The injury disables the victim for 60 or more days.

Punitive Damages

Economic and non-economic damages are compensatory. They aim to restore what the victim has lost. Punitive damages are not compensatory but are designed to punish offenders for their behavior. They incur an additional financial penalty, which is intended to deter a re-offense and send a warning to potential offenders.

Minnesota Statute 549.20 allows victims to collect punitive damages if they present “clear and convincing evidence that the acts of the defendant show deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others.” Wisconsin has a similar law on the books.

DWI offenders know the dangers and the laws but disregard them. Our St. Paul drunk driving accident attorneys will work to gather comprehensive evidence proving the offenders’ disregard for your rights and safety so you can receive a measure of justice.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Victims of drunk driving accidents often have concerns about pursuing a lawsuit. If you do not see your question answered here, please reach out by phone or electronic message so we can give you the answers you need.

Can I afford to partner with a drunk driving accident attorney in St. Paul?

If you partner with Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, you most certainly can. We offer free case consultations and work on a contingency basis. We do not accept any payments until you receive your settlement, and a percentage of your settlement covers our fees.

When should I connect with a St. Paul drunk driving accident attorney?

Connect as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner we can start collecting evidence, the better. Further, prompt access to your case ensures we can file all required legal claims and documentation within the Minnesota or Wisconsin statute of limitations for personal injury cases.

What amount can I expect to collect in compensation?

Since every case is unique, it is not possible – or ethical – to predict a settlement amount. The severity of your injuries and their consequences to you and your family, your ability to earn, the extent of the drunk driver’s negligence, and other aspects of your case all factor into your settlement amount. However, you can depend on us to fight for the highest amount possible.

Exceptional Representation and Maximum Results

Drunk drivers need to be held accountable to their victims and to society at large. As the victim of a drunk driver, you deserve justice. By seeking financial compensation for your losses, you work toward justice and send a message that drunk driving will not be tolerated and offenders should expect to pay for their unconscionable actions.

The St. Paul drunk driving accident lawyer from Tyroler Leonard Injury Law will manage your case with deep respect, communicating with you at every step. We provide exceptional representation so you can see maximum results. To get your free consultation, call 651-259-1113 or send a message today.

Attorney Rachel Sperling Leonard

A partner of Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, Ms. Sperling Leonard practices exclusively in personal injury and wrongful death claims. Specifically, she specializes in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, dog bites, dog attacks, slip and falls, trip and falls, sexual assaults/abuse and other assaults. Some representative cases of Ms. Sperling Leonard’s in the last few years include: a $1 million settlement for an individual injured in a car crash, a $750,000.00 for a man injured when he slipped and fell, a $455,000.00 settlement for an individual injured after falling, and multiple $250,000.00 settlements for individuals injured in motorcycle and auto accidents, among many others. She frequently turns insurance company denials into fair-value offers.
[ Attorney Bio ]