Oakdale Car Accident Lawyers
Our Oakdale Car Accident Lawyers Help You Get Compensation
Car crashes are a common occurrence in Minnesota, and can result in major property damage, devastating injuries, and even death. Survivors struggle to recover from their injuries, while medical bills mount up, at a time they may not be able to work, and financial problems keep increasing.
If you or a family member has been injured or someone has died in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses through insurance or a lawsuit. However, Minnesota laws are complicated, making mistakes can be costly, and insurance companies and their lawyers will attempt to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. It is extremely difficult to come out ahead when you go up against them on your own.
Fortunately, with Tyroler Leonard Injury Law’s help, you can fight for a fair settlement. Attorney Isaac Tyroler and Rachel Sperling Leonard believe that clients come first, and, for this reason, they’ll spend as much time as needed to achieve the best result whilst making you feel comfortable. They are skilled litigators, and many of their clients are referred by other attorneys who trust them to represent the people who have come to them for help in court. We are aggressive when going after the negligent parties, while caring for the families we serve.
How Our Oakdale Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
We Handle All Investigations, Negotiations, and Legal Requirements.
Right after a car accident can be the most stressful time for someone who is injured. You may be wondering whether you can work, how you will pay medical bills, how you will afford a new car, and what you are supposed to do for medical treatment. You will be flooded with calls from the insurance company and requests to fill out paperwork, and if you say something that can be used against you, it may cost you the compensation you deserve.
Having an experienced Oakdale car accident attorney who is willing to handle your case all the way to trial lets the insurance company know you are serious, and will increase the chances they will negotiate in good faith for an optimal settlement.
When you have our lawyers on your side we will:
- Meet with you to discuss what happened, determine if you have a case, and estimate what a fair settlement should be.
- Make sure you get the medical treatment you need. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, you should seek medical attention as some injuries get worse over time, and everything should be documented.
- Investigate your case, gathering evidence from photos and videos of the accident scene, skid marks, damages to your vehicle, and police and medical reports, and interviewing witnesses and first responders.
- Hire experts to reconstruct the crash scene and provide testimony as to fault and how your injuries negatively affect your life into the future.
- Locate all potentially at-fault parties
- Take care of all legal matters, paperwork, filings, and court appearances.
- Handle communications and settlement negotiations with the insurance company and their lawyers.
- Build your case and take it to trial if necessary and present it in front of a judge and jury.
Compensation Our Oakdale Car Accident Attorneys May Recover
Your Settlement Award Should Cover Your Economic and Non-economic Damages
Under Minnesota personal injury law, we can help you win a settlement for your economic damages. These cover your financial losses such as:
- Past and future medical bills, rehabilitative expenses, and continuing care
- Past and future wage loss from being unable to work
- Property damage
Car Accident Attorneys in Oakdale, MN Must Prove Fault
To win your case, our car accident attorneys would have to show that another party was negligent and at fault for causing the accident. To prove fault legally, we would need to show the following elements existed:
- Duty — The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
- Breach — The defendant violated that duty of care by actions or failure to act.
- Cause – This violation was directly related to causing the accident.
- Damages — You suffered damages as a result.
Analyzing fault can be complicated, as there may be multiple parties responsible for the accident. For example, while a driver who hit you may be at fault, or the manufacturer of an auto part that failed, or a road repair company that left debris on the road may have also contributed to the accident. Our attorneys will name every potentially liable party in your lawsuit as they all may have insurance or assets that can go towards a settlement.
What Will My Damage Award Be?
Damage amounts can vary greatly in a successful car accident lawsuit, and may range from the thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the factors involved. If injuries are minor and you heal quickly, the case is worth less than if you wound up paralyzed from a major brain injury or spinal injury after a devastating crash with a large truck owned by a company with major insurance.
Factors which may affect a settlement amount include:
- Actual costs of your losses and expenses
- The extent and permanence of your injuries and whether you will require continuing care
- Lost earnings and whether you will be able to work in the future
- Your age, earning capacity, and family situation
- Whether a wrongful death was involved in the accident
- How much insurance coverage and defendant assets is available
- The individual jurisdiction, judge, and jury if there is a trial
- The skill and negotiating power of your attorney
Car Accident Lawyers in Oakdale, MN Answer Your Questions
After a car accident, you may be confused and unsure of what to do. Here are some answers to questions our Oakdale car accident lawyers are often asked:
Do I have a case?
Whether you have a case depends on two things: fault and injuries. The first question is whether you are at fault for the crash or if you are an accident victim. Sometimes that is an easy question. For example, someone who has been rear-ended is almost never going to have any fault, and the same goes for a passenger in car accident, but in other cases, assigning fault is more complicated.
What if I am partially at fault for the accident?
Minnesota is a “comparative fault” state, so each party’s fault is considered in determining a settlement amount. The law looks at whether each driver is negligent, meaning they did not act as a reasonable person would have, and assigns fault accordingly.
As long as you are 50% or less at fault for a car accident, you will have a claim against the other driver or their insurance. Your damages will be reduced by the percentage you are at fault, but our car accident attorney can still help you collect the amount that the other party was as fault. For example, if your case is worth $100,000 but you are 25% at fault for the car accident, you will recover $75,000.
Who pays my medical bills and wage loss after a car crash?
Minnesota is a no-fault state for insurance. Regardless of who is at fault for the motor vehicle crash, the injured person’s initial medical bills and wage loss are paid by their own car insurance under Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The Minnesota minimums for these benefits are $20,000 for medical bills and a separate $20,000 in wage loss. Wage loss benefits are payable at 85% of gross wages at a maximum of $500 per week.
Unfortunately, some people, especially those who have suffered serious injuries, incur more than $20,000 in bills or wage loss. If this happens, any additional bills or wage loss must be sought against the at-fault driver’s insurance at the end of the case, so it is especially important to hire an attorney if you exceed this $20,000.
How long does it take to get a settlement after a motor vehicle accident?
Each case is different and depends on two things: how long it takes to recover from the crash and whether the insurance company makes a fair offer.
An experienced personal injury attorney would always advise against trying to settle a case too soon. Doing so may let the at-fault driver’s insurer off the hook for medical bills and additional pain and suffering compensation that may result from additional diagnoses and treatment.
A settlement should occur at one of two points: either when you are 100% recovered from your injuries from the car crash, or when a doctor says that those injuries are permanent and can give a good opinion as to what medical care might be needed in the future.
If we can reach an agreement through negotiations, you will get a settlement sooner than if we have to take your case to trial.
Call Our Oakdale Car Accident Attorneys for Help
At Tyroler Injury Law, we will spend as much time as you need to help you understand what happens after you hire us. We discuss your individual situation and come up with a plan that is a collaborative relationship where we work together to achieve the best result. Don’t delay, as there are time limits for filing.
Attorney Isaac Tyroler
Attorney Isaac Tyroler has been a strong advocate for injured people his entire legal career. He has a passion for righting wrongs, and he deeply cares about representing injured clients who may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about how to navigate the legal system. He is compassionate toward clients and aggressive with insurance companies and defendants. He is on the elected Board of Governors of the Minnesota Association of Justice (MAJ), the top personal injury lawyers’ group in Minnesota. And is currently the chair of MAJ’s legislative committee. [ Attorney Bio ]
