Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Prior to 1974, people injured in automobile accidents were paid for their medical bills and their wage loss only when their case was resolved, which often took several years. Since many of the automobile crash injury victims were unable to work due to their injuries, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Minnesota No-Fault Act in 1974 in order to provide more timely benefits. [Minnesota Statutes 65B.41-65B.71]
The Act provides that persons suffering injuries "arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle," regardless of their fault or innocence, could quickly and easily recover "economic loss" benefits from their own insurance company. No-fault insurance provides for payment of up to $20,000 in reasonable and necessary medical expenses and up to $20,000 in wage loss and replacement services. No-fault medical/wage loss benefits coverage is used for passengers, pedestrians, and drivers who are or are not at fault in an accident.

Click the links below for more information regarding specific no-fault claims.
1. No-Fault Medical Expense Benefit.
2. No-Fault Wage Loss Benefits.
3. No-Fault Replacement Services Benefits.
4. No-Fault Survivor's Benefits.
5. No-Fault Termination of Benefits.

This is insurance that requires "fault" to be found. If you are in an accident and it is not your fault, or a loved one has been injured or killed by someone else's careless driving, you have a right to make a claim against that driver's liability insurance. Before you are allowed to make that claim, you must meet one of five thresholds. A bodily injury claim is filed against the insurance company of the driver found to be at fault, or negligent, in the accident or against the at fault driver individually. These claims cover any injured party, including the at-fault driver's passengers, pedestrians, or occupants of another vehicle involved in the crash.

In Minnesota, all drivers must buy liability insurance of at least $30,000 for injuries to one person and $60,000 for injuries to two or more people and $10,000 for property damage. Injured parties can be reimbursed for the expenses incurred from the liability insurance and or the at-fault driver's assets including past and future medical bills and lost wages; permanent injury; and past/future pain and suffering.

Often, bodily injury claims are settled out of court, but other times they are brought before a jury. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Lord + Heinlein have helped thousands of clients get settlements they deserve, and to get their lives back on track.

If an uninsured driver injures you, your own insurance provides coverage for your bodily injury damages (such as pain and suffering and permanent injury) through the uninsured motorist coverage portion of your own automobile insurance policy. Similarly, if the at-fault driver's insurance policy does not provide adequate coverage to compensate you adequately for your injuries, you can be compensated through your own underinsured motorist coverage to make up the shortfall.

The required minimum amount of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage you must have under Minnesota law is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash, but we strongly recommend you buy at least $100,000 to $300,000, if not more, in uninsured motorist insurance. Increasing this coverage is relatively inexpensive and it ensures that you and your family are protected if an uninsured motorist injures you.

Yes. This is called a Dram Shop Claim. Under Minn. Stat. § 304A.801, a liquor establishment (usually a bar, restaurant, or liquor store) can be held liable for injuries stemming from the intoxication of the drunk driver, if the sale was illegal.
Generally, illegal sales include:
1. Sales to a minor.
2. Sales to an obviously intoxicated person.
3. Sales made during a prohibited time of day/day of the week.

More information on Dram Shop claims can be found here.

Under Minnesota social host liability laws, adults who serve or provide alcohol to minors can be held liable if the minor person who was provided alcohol kills or injures another person. Minnesota does allow a civil cause of action against a social host who provides alcohol to those who are under 21..  Priscilla Lord was part of the Robert Wood Johnson sponsored study group that wrote the Social Host laws.  She helped to lobby the legislature that resulted in the passage of the Social Host law. in 2000.