Arden Hills isn’t immune to the problem of car accidents, just like any other city in Minnesota. Ever since the automobile was invented, there have been negligent motorists who have little regard for the safety of others. Their carelessness continues to needlessly cause severe, debilitating injuries and deaths throughout the country.
The Arden Hills car accident lawyers with Sand Law have years of experience standing up for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever due to the recklessness of negligent drivers. If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by another’s negligence, we’ll be ready to fight for you as well. We have helped clients throughout the state obtain maximum compensation, and we have the skill, resources and experience it will take to help you get what you deserve.
Get in touch with us as soon as you can so we can tell you more about what we may be able to do for you. Schedule a free evaluation of your case by contacting us online or giving us a call at 651-291-7263.
Common Causes of Arden Hills, Minnesota Car Accidents
The main cause of car accidents in Minnesota is negligence on the part of the at-fault driver. But that negligence can take many different forms.
Drunk drivers can be so disoriented that they wind up going the wrong way, resulting in a catastrophic head-on accident that will often lead to fatalities. Speeding can be just about as dangerous, however. When a driver is so laser-focused on getting to their destination, they will typically go far too fast. They won’t be able to react to sudden changes in the road as if they were going the speed limit.
Another common form of driver negligence is driving while distracted. When someone checks their phone, takes a bite of food, or even changes radio stations, that takes their focus off of the road. This can obviously result in disaster.
The Cost Associated with Common Car Accident Injuries
Two of the most horrible injuries that occur due to automobile accidents are spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. As you would probably expect, the costs associated with them are astronomical.
A spinal cord injury that results in permanent paralysis can cost as much as $1.1 million in the first year of treatment alone, and up to $200,000 each year after that. This doesn’t even include the other costs associated with this type of injury, such as lost wages, loss of quality of life, and others.
If someone suffers a severe TBI, they could be looking at costs of as much as $3 million over the course of their lifetime. To make matters worse, the unemployment rate for people with a brain injury averages 60% — and that’s two years after they’ve been diagnosed.
4 Steps to Take After a Car Accident
As you can see, the stakes can be incredibly high when a victim suffers a debilitating injury in a car wreck. That victim shouldn’t have to bear the burden of those costs, because they weren’t to blame. But in order to have the best chance of getting full and fair compensation, action must be taken – and taken quickly. Here are four of the most important things to do after an accident occurs.
- Get medical help immediately. You will need to call 911 to get medical attention, not only for you, but also any others involved in the accident. This will not only be critical to your health, it will also be critical to your case. If you don’t get help, the insurance company can claim that you’re not as badly hurt as you’re trying to get everyone to believe.
- Take pictures and videos of the accident scene. This could provide the critical evidence needed to win your case. But you should only do so if you’re physically able, and it’s safe.
- Talk to witnesses. You don’t have to interview them, just get their names, phone numbers and email addresses. Your attorney will take care of the interviews.
- Get legal help. Speaking of an attorney, you’ll need to hire one as soon as you can so an investigation into the accident can start. The faster that happens, the better the chances you’ll have the proof needed to have the strongest case possible.
The Arden Hills MN Car Accident Lawsuit Process
In most cases, the victim will hire a lawyer, who will gather the facts of the case. The lawyer will then demand that the at-fault driver’s insurance company pay a fair amount to cover the victim’s medical bills and other financial losses. Most cases settle out of court. However, a trial may be necessary if the insurer’s settlement offer isn’t fair.
Types of Damages in a Car Accident Claim
The financial losses mentioned above are called damages in legal speak. You’re filing a lawsuit to recover the damages you’ve experienced. These include economic, or tangible, damages, such as medical bills and lost wages. There are also non-economic, or subjective damages. Pain and suffering, as well as emotional and mental trauma, are two examples. It takes a very knowledgeable legal expert to be able to calculate non-economic damages.
How to Calculate My Car Accident Settlement?
There’s really no “one size fits all” method of determining how much an accident victim will receive. There are general guidelines, of course, but no ethical lawyer will promise anything until their investigation is complete.
In most cases, however, someone with a severe injury will receive more than someone whose injury will heal in a relatively short period of time. The reason is that their damages will be much higher.
Do I Need to Hire an Arden Hills, Minnesota Car Accident Attorney?
Anyone badly injured in an automobile wreck caused by someone else’s negligence will need legal help. Otherwise, they’ll basically have no chance of getting the compensation they truly deserve.
Contact Sand Law LLC to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Please don’t go it alone. Get in touch with Sand Law so you can focus on your physical recovery while we work to recover all of your current and future damages. Call 651-291-7263 or contact us online for a free consultation.