I was injured in a car accident in Minnesota. How long do I have to make a claim?

Automobile Accident Information and Attorney, St. Paul Minnesota

Statutes of limitation are laws that limit how long victims of car crashes have to file a lawsuit.  The general rule for automobile accident injuries in Minnesota is that victims have six years to bring an action.  Minn. Stat. Sec. 541.05. 

There are exceptions to this rule.  The most notable is that a minor’s claims may be tolled (delayed).  A minor has until she turns nineteen to start a lawsuit, but is guaranteed a minimum of six years.  So, a ten year old has until she turns nineteen to start litigation.  A seventeen year old, however, still gets the minimum of six years from the date of the accident (the statute of limitations would expire when she is twenty-three).  Minn. Stat. Sec 541.15.

 The time limit to bring a contract claim for uninsured motorist benefits against your insurer is six years from the date of the accident.  Minn. Stat. Sec. 541.05, Subd. 1(1).  An underinsured motorist claim must be brought within six years from the date of resolution of the underlying tort claim.  Oanes v. Allstate, 617 N.W. 2d 401 (Minn. 2000).

 These time limits usually provide ample time to prepare and file a claim.  There are many pitfalls, however, to waiting.  Some cases may involve city, state, or federal defendants, in which case notice must be provided.  Other cases require an investigation soon after the accident to ensure facts are obtained before evidence is destroyed or witnesses forget.  In other words, don’t wait six years just because the law allows it.

Statutes of limitation can be complex and confusing.  There are more than twenty-five different statutes, rules, and notice provisions to follow for Minnesota personal injuries. If you need help or are in need of an attorney, contact Champion Law. St. Paul: 651-766-5886. Minneapolis: 612-743-4918

Product Liability Attorney, Twin Cities MN

People who have been hurt by a dangerous product need an experienced lawyer to hold the manufacturer responsible.  The lawyers at Champion Law have handled product liability cases in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and all over the country – all the way through trial.  Some of the cases we have handled include the following types of products and cases:       

• Automobile or SUV rollover crashes;
•  Automobile crashworthiness;
•  ATVs;
•  Snowmobiles;
• Personal water craft and boats;
• Drugs and medical devices;
• Dangerous food;
• Semi truck defects;
• Ladders;
• Landscaping equipment;
• Construction equipment 
•  Deer stands and harnesses;
•  Motorcycles; and
• Defective tires;
• Power tools and saws.           

If you have been injured by any kind of dangerous product, contact Champion Law.  If we aren’t the best lawyers to handle your case, we will put you in touch with the best lawyers for your case.  St. Paul: 651-766-5886. Minneapolis: 612-743-4918

 

Product Liability Explanation and Ruling in Minnesota. Experienced Liability Attorney

Product Liability 101 for MN

When any of us uses a product, we assume that the manufacturer has looked out for our well-being and safety in designing, testing and making the product. Tragically, this isn’t always the case. Some manufacturers are more concerned with the bottom line than with the impact an unsafe product can have on its user.  The end result is dangerous and unsafe products that lead to personal injuries. 

 
Product liability laws exist to hold manufacturers and sellers of unsafe and dangerous products responsible by compensating injury victims.  But proving a manufacturer was negligent – or did or didn’t do something they should have – can be difficult.  So most states, including Minnesota, have adopted ”strict liability” laws to help level the playing field.  Under strict liability, the focus is on the product rather than the manufacturer’s conduct.  In other words, no matter how much care a manufacturer took in making a product, if the product is “unreasonably dangerous”, the injured person does not have to prove the manufacturer acted negligently.  In Minnesota, for example, to collect on a product liability claim, an injured person only has to prove that:

1. 1)      The product was defective and in an unreasonably dangerous condition;
2. 2)      That the defect existed when the product left the manufacturer or seller’s control; and
3. 3)      That the defect in the product was the proximate or substantial cause of the injury. 

If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective product, contact an experienced product liability attorney at Champion Law.  Our lawyers have handled product liability cases in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and across the country.  Call us in St. Paul at 651-766-5886 or Minneapolis at 612-743-4918. 

 

What Is A Contingency Fee?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingent fee basis.  This means they don’t get paid by the hour.  Instead, they only get paid if they get a recovery for you.  The attorney works on your case from beginning to end without knowing exactly how much money he will earn.  This allows the victim to pursue her rights with top notch legal assistance she might not be able to afford otherwise.  This method also gives the attorney incentive to get the best results possible:  the greater the recovery, the greater his fee.  It also helps prevent the court system from being overwhelmed.  An attorney is less likely to pursue a case on a contingent fee basis if he doesn’t see any likelihood of recovery.  The standard fee is between one-third  and forty percent of the settlement or verdict.

  Wikipedia includes a historical discussion of the concept:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingency_fee

 Champion Law  handles personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis.  If we don’t get a recovery for you, we don’t get paid. St. Paul: 651-766-5886 or Minneapolis: 612-743-4918

 

Should I Hire An Attorney for My Automobile Accident? Twin Cities Minnesota

Allstate and Other Insurance Companies Taking Advantage of Victims In Automobile Accidents, MN

You recently were in a car accident and are trying to decide if you need a personal injury attorney. Consider this:  According to documents from Allstate, the insurance company pays 50% less to an injured person than they do if that victim has an attorney.  Allstate trains its adjusters on how to pay unrepresented victims less money.  They have a script that they follow and try to pay as little as $500.00 to settle the claims early.  They save money by getting to the victims before they have a chance to hire an attorney.  Don’t let Allstate or any other insurance company push you into an early and unfair settlement. 

Discuss today your claim with an experienced attorney at Champion Law and then decide what’s best for your case. Saint Paul: 651-766-5886. Minneapolis: 612-743-4918

 

Automobile Accident Attorney For Minneapolis and St. Paul Metro, MN

Lawyers for Car and Truck Crashes in Minnesota

The statistics of deaths from automobile accidents are scary, but they do not even compare to the number of injuries. More than 6 million people are injured in accidents each year, resulting from things such as weather, malfunctioning mechanics, and poorly built bridges. But many are caused by other means, like careless drivers, drunk drivers, or sleep deprived drivers.

At Champion Law our goal is to help you recover physically and financially. We investigate the crash, and to see if it could be prevented. We know the laws and science of crashes, and will help bring you justice.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been hurt or killed in an accident, contact Champion Law today, and let us be your Champion. 651-766-5886