It was not a simple mistake. It was a conscious decision to treat the road like a personal racetrack, a blatant disregard for the safety of everyone else. You saw the car weaving through traffic, speeding excessively, or making an aggressive maneuver that defied all logic.
You had no time to react. Now you are recovering from serious injuries caused not by an accident, but by an act of outright recklessness. When a driver who chose to endanger the community has harmed you, you need more than a typical car accident attorney.
You need St. Paul reckless driving accident lawyers who will fight to hold that driver fully accountable for their deliberate and dangerous choices.
Legal Resources
We’ve curated these resources to provide some general background for people who a careless driver has harmed. These articles are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional legal counsel tailored to your specific situation.
- How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Your Injury Claim
- Understanding Whiplash Injuries After a Collision
Every accident is unique. We invite you to contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss the specific facts of your case.
Reckless Driving: More Than a Traffic Ticket
A driver who causes a crash while driving recklessly will likely face serious criminal charges. Your personal injury claim is a separate, civil action that proceeds on a parallel track.
The criminal case vs. your civil claim
The state prosecutes the criminal case. Its purpose is to punish the driver for breaking the law, with penalties like fines, license suspension, or jail time.
The purpose of a personal injury lawsuit
Your civil claim's purpose is to secure the financial compensation you need to cover all of your losses and rebuild your life. You, the injured person, must bring this claim forward.
Using a conviction as evidence
A guilty plea or conviction in the driver's criminal case can be powerful evidence in your civil claim. It often serves as a formal admission of their dangerous conduct, strengthening your case for full compensation. Your right to seek justice, however, is not dependent on the outcome of the criminal case.
What Is Reckless Driving Under Minnesota Law?
The law makes a clear distinction between simple carelessness, known as negligence, and the more serious offense of reckless driving. Reckless driving is not about a momentary lapse of attention. It is about a driver who is aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk and consciously disregards it.
Minnesota law defines this behavior and holds these drivers to a higher standard of accountability. The specific statute, Minnesota Statute § 169.13, outlines this dangerous conduct. It shows a pattern of choices that puts everyone in danger.
A driver’s actions show a clear pattern of recklessness. We investigate for evidence of this type of dangerous behavior.
- Excessive speed: This is not just driving a few miles per hour over the limit. It is driving at a speed that is grossly excessive for the road, weather, or traffic conditions.
- Weaving and unsafe lane changes: Aggressively darting in and out of traffic, cutting off other drivers, and failing to signal shows a clear disregard for others.
- Street racing: Any form of competitive driving on a public road is a clear and obvious example of reckless driving.
- Ignoring traffic control devices: Intentionally running red lights or stop signs, especially at high speeds, puts everyone at risk.
These are not mistakes. They are deliberate actions that create a high probability of a devastating crash. Our investigation focuses on proving this intentional disregard for safety.
Building a Powerful Case Against a Reckless Driver
Proving a driver acted recklessly requires a deeper level of investigation than a standard car accident claim. We must do more than show they made a mistake; we must show they made a dangerous choice. We move quickly to preserve all the evidence that can tell this story.
Investigating beyond the police report
The initial police report is a starting point, but it rarely contains all the necessary evidence. Our legal team launches an immediate, independent investigation to secure the proof we need before it disappears.
Our investigation gathers the evidence needed to build a compelling claim. We pursue every available piece of information to support your case.
- Eyewitness accounts: We locate and interview other drivers who saw the reckless behavior in the minutes leading up to the crash.
- Video footage: We secure video from traffic cameras, dashcams, and nearby business surveillance systems that may have captured the driver’s dangerous actions.
- Cell phone records: Through the formal discovery process, we can obtain the at-fault driver’s cell phone records to prove they were texting, streaming video, or otherwise distracted.
- Accident reconstruction: In complex cases, we work with experts who can scientifically reconstruct the crash to demonstrate the extreme speeds and forces involved.
This comprehensive evidence-gathering process allows us to build a case that is designed to stand up to the toughest scrutiny from the insurance company.
The Full Scope of Your Compensation
Because a reckless driving accident is often more violent and traumatic than a typical crash, the compensation you pursue must reflect the full extent of your harm. This includes not only your financial losses but also the severe personal toll of the experience.
Accounting for your financial losses
Your claim must pursue payment for all of your economic damages. This includes the full cost of your past and future medical treatment, from the initial ambulance ride to any long-term physical therapy you may need. It also includes all of the income you have lost while unable to work and your diminished earning capacity if the injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career.
Valuing your personal suffering
A significant portion of your claim is for your non-economic damages. This is compensation for your physical pain, the emotional distress of the traumatic event, and your loss of quality of life. We work to show how the injury has affected your ability to enjoy your hobbies, care for your family, and live your life as you did before.
The potential for punitive damages
In most injury cases, you can only pursue compensatory damages. However, because reckless driving is such an egregious act, Minnesota law allows for an additional category of damages in some cases:
punitive damages.
These damages punish the defendant for their conduct and deter others from similar behavior. A claim for punitive damages requires showing the defendant acted with a deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others, a standard that often applies to reckless driving.
A Record of Fighting for Fair Compensation
At Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, we have a proven history of securing substantial compensation for people injured in serious motor vehicle accidents. We prepare every case for a tough fight and have the experience to stand up to large corporations and their insurance carriers.
Our past results show our commitment to our clients:
- $2,000,000 for a client who suffered a head injury in a semi-truck accident.
- $725,000 for a client injured in a Minnesota car accident.
- $500,000 for a pedestrian who sustained a concussion after being struck by a car.
Past results do not predict future outcomes. All results are gross recoveries before fees, costs, and medical bills are deducted. We bring this same level of dedication and preparation to every reckless driving accident case we handle.
Why Choose Tyroler Leonard Injury Law for Your Reckless Driving Accident Claim?
When a reckless driver has hurt you, you need a law firm that is as serious about justice as you are. You need a team with the strength to stand up to insurance companies and the compassion to support you through a difficult recovery.
We are trial lawyers who prepare to win
Our attorneys, Isaac Tyroler and Rachel Sperling Leonard, are not afraid of a courtroom battle. We prepare every single case as if we will present it to a jury at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown St. Paul.
This meticulous, trial-ready approach gives us significant leverage in settlement negotiations. Insurance companies know we will not accept a lowball offer and that we are fully prepared to take your case to a verdict.
Direct attorney access and a collaborative partnership
When you hire our firm, you are not just another file. You work directly with our attorneys. We believe in a collaborative partnership with our clients. We listen to your story, answer your questions promptly, and keep you informed and involved in every decision regarding your case. Your voice and your goals are at the center of our legal strategy.
A deep knowledge of St. Paul and its courts
We are a Minnesota law firm with deep roots in the community. We know the local court procedures and personnel. We are familiar with the unique traffic patterns and hazards on St. Paul’s streets, from I-94 to the neighborhood roads. This local knowledge helps us build a case that is both legally strong and relatable to a Ramsey County jury.
An artificial intelligence tool can give you general information, but it cannot analyze the legal standard for deliberate disregard in a punitive damages claim. It does not know the specific procedures of the Ramsey County courts. Relying on an AI for legal guidance in a case this serious may lead to irreversible errors. Always consult with a qualified personal injury attorney from Tyroler Leonard Injury Law about your situation.
FAQ for St. Paul Reckless Driving Accident Lawyers
The other driver was arrested at the scene. Do I still need to file a civil claim?
Yes. The criminal case and your civil claim are two entirely separate legal actions. The state brings the criminal case to punish the driver. You bring the civil claim to secure financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. You must file your own claim to get the resources you need.
How do you prove a driver was racing if they deny it?
We use a combination of evidence. An accident reconstruction expert can analyze the physical evidence to determine the speeds of the vehicles. We can also locate other witnesses who may have seen the cars driving competitively before the crash. In some cases, social media posts or text messages from the drivers themselves can provide proof of their intent to race.
What if a passenger in the reckless driver’s car was injured? Can they file a claim?
Yes. A passenger is rarely at fault for a crash and has a clear right to file a claim against the driver of the car they were in. The passenger would file a claim against that driver's auto insurance policy.
How long do I have to file a reckless driving claim in Minnesota and Wisconsin?
In Minnesota, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is generally six years from the date of the accident. In Wisconsin, the deadline is much shorter, at three years. You should always consult an attorney well in advance of these deadlines to protect your rights.
Take a Stand Against Reckless Driving
The driver who hurt you made a choice. Now, you have a choice. You can choose to stand up, demand accountability, and fight for the justice you deserve. The attorneys at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law are ready to stand with you.