TSR Injury Law Support Hunger Solutions Minnesota During COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 27, 2020 in Community Involvement

Our firm is supporting Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which is the only anti-hunger organization providing services in every county in the state. Organizations like these are critical right now, as millions are unemployed or are unable to work and may be struggling to provide food for themselves and their families.

As our social safety net is challenged because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunger Solutions Minnesota and other organizations like it become extremely important.

About Hunger Solutions Minnesota

Hunger Solutions Minnesota works with the state and federal government to support programs tackling hunger on a large scale. This includes working with food banks that distribute food. This organization also works to connect hungry people with local help.

Thank you to these organizations and the individuals on the front lines during this crisis.

Supporting World Central Kitchen During the Pandemic

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on in Community Involvement

Charities and non-profit organizations are very important during a large-scale crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, World Central Kitchen is working to safely distribute fresh meals to communities that need support.

TSR Injury Law is proud to support this organization’s efforts to help provide food to communities in need. Safety nets, like school feeding programs, city services and food banks, are struggling mightily during this crisis. This is where charities and non-profits can step in to help make a difference for seniors, hospital workers and others in need.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is working in dozens of cities providing more than 160,000 fresh meals each day. This organization is also providing jobs to restaurant staff who are out of work. WCK has committed to buying one million meals from local restaurants and delivering those meals directly to those who need them.

TSR would like to thank World Central Kitchen, and the other people and organizations working to help everyone through this difficult time.

Traffic Deaths Have Increased Over the Last Month in Minnesota

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on in Auto Accidents

Even though the stay-at-home order issued last month has resulted in a huge decline in the amount of traffic on our state’s roads, there has been a troubling increase in fatal crashes.

Between March 16 and April 9, there were 24 fatal crashes, resulting in 28 deaths. There were just 12 fatal crashes during the same period last year, and 13 during the same period in 2018.

There has been an increase in drivers speeding all over the state because of less traffic, says State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank. Half of the deaths during the period in question were related to speeding or reckless driving, according to Minnesota’s Traffic Safety office.

All of this has happened despite traffic levels being significantly lower – the level of traffic has been between 34 percent and 55 percent lower every day since March 28 when the stay-at-home order happened. In fact, on April 6, traffic was 47 percent less than the average for Mondays in 2019. Statewide, there was 50 percent less traffic on April 6 compared to last year.

The traffic safety office released a statement saying less traffic does not mean drivers can speed or be extra aggressive. Drivers need to take precautions to help make sure hospital beds are available for those infected with COVID-19.

The total number of traffic deaths this year is 10 percent more than it was at this point last year. As of April 9, there were 76 traffic deaths compared to 69 at this point last year.

Despite these alarming statistics, drunk driving arrests have significantly decreased since restaurants and bars were ordered to shut down, except for delivery or carryout.

Injured in a Car Crash? See How an Attorney May be Able to Help You

Our Minneapolis auto accident attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss legal options after a car crash. We have recovered millions in compensation on behalf of crash victims in Minnesota.

The consultation comes with no obligation to take legal action. That means there is no risk to you. We also do not charge for our services unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

You can call us anytime to set up your free legal consultation. Phone: (612) TSR-TIME.

Liability in Right-Turn Car Crash Claims

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 23, 2020 in Auto Accidents

Many car crashes happen when cars are making left or right turns. The turning driver needs to make a sound judgment about the speed of the approaching cars so he or she can complete the maneuver safely. If he or she pulls out into traffic at the wrong time, a dangerous crash could occur, especially if the approaching driver is speeding.

Assessing fault for these crashes can be complicated, as many factors may need to be considered. Below, learn more about fault in these types of crashes, including what may happen if you are found to be partially at fault.

The car accident lawyers in Minneapolis at TSR Injury Law have in-depth knowledge of how fault is assessed after crashes, including how insurance companies try to blame victims or assign them too much fault for what happened.

What Causes Right-Turn Crashes?

These situations are often the result of a driver making a turn when he or she did not have enough time to pull out into oncoming traffic, which usually has the right of way. If you made a right turn on a red light at an intersection where this is prohibited, you could be found at fault for the crash.

That said, if an oncoming driver was speeding, he or she may be found partially at fault for the crash. If a driver changed lanes while in the intersection and crashed into a driver who made a right turn, he or she could also share fault for what happened. If a driver was making a right turn on a green light and was hit by an oncoming driver who ran a red light, the driver running the red light may be found entirely at fault for the crash.

Right-turn crashes could also be the result of distracted driving. For example, maybe an oncoming driver was texting while going through an intersection. Even though the right-turning driver may not have had the right of way, the distracted driver may be partially at fault for what happened.

While victims in right-turn crashes are often drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists could also get hit by a car making a right turn. Drivers must look for bicyclists and pedestrians when pulling forward to make a right turn. If they block a crosswalk, they could force pedestrians and bicyclists to move out into the intersection to continue crossing the street, putting them at risk for getting hit by oncoming cars. A common crash is the right-hand turning driver looks left for oncoming traffic but fails to also look right for pedestrians who are in the crosswalk. It seems like common sense, but drivers have to look both ways before turning.

What Happens if the Parties in a Crash are Partially at Fault?

You can pursue compensation after a car crash if you are less than 50 percent at fault for what happened. In other words, you cannot be more at fault than the other driver and receive compensation for your injuries or vehicle damages. If you are found partially at fault, but less than 50 percent, the total value of your compensation will be reduced according to the percentage of fault you are assigned. A driver found to be 10 percent at fault, such as for speeding, would see his or her compensation award reduced by 10 percent.

Again, anyone found to be more than 51 percent at fault will be prohibited from pursuing compensation for his or her damages not matter how injured they are. This is due to Minnesota’s modified comparative negligence law.

While you may be partially at fault for the crash, this is something you should discuss with a licensed attorney. You should not rely on the insurance company to make an accurate assessment of your fault for a crash. Insurers often try to assign more fault for a crash than should rightly be assigned. Insurers are for-profit businesses and will look for any way to avoid paying out compensation to crash victims.

If the insurance company calls you after a right-turn crash, you should avoid revealing too much. You can write down what you remember about the crash as soon as possible and discuss things with an attorney before talking to the insurance company. If you wait to write down what you remember, you could easily forget. Consulting with an attorney before giving an insurance statement is often the number one rule. Since the consultation is free, there is no reason not to seek legal help before talking to an insurance company.

The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have many years of combined experience helping victims of a variety of crashes and know how to assess whether you have a valid claim and whether you may be partially at fault for a crash.

Have Questions About Your Legal Options? Call TSR Injury Law Today

We understand crash victims often have a lot of questions about the legal process. We have helped numerous crash victims over more than 20 years in practice, recovering millions in compensation on their behalf.

There is no cost or obligation to meet with us to discuss your crash and whether you may have a valid claim for compensation. That means there is no risk to you, and we welcome your call.

Even if you were partially to blame for a right-turn crash, you may still be eligible to pursue compensation.

Reach us today at (612) TSR-TIME or fill out an online form and someone from our firm will be in touch shortly.

Should I Expect a Delay in My Injury Claim Because of the Coronavirus?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 20, 2020 in Personal Injury

There are many unknowns with the coronavirus and the many ways it has affected the economy, along with businesses and public services like the courts. Injury victims may be concerned about delays in being able to pursue compensation.

Below, learn more about how the pandemic could cause delays in your insurance claim or court case. While there is uncertainty, it is still important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. First and foremost, an attorney can help determine if you have a valid case. If you do, your attorney can get to work investigating, which takes time.

Possible Delays with Insurance Companies

While you may not think of an insurance company as a business the same way you would a restaurant or grocery store, insurance companies still need to make a profit to stay in business. As businesses and individuals are strapped for cash and may be struggling to pay their premiums, insurance companies are not in a rush to pay claims.

Insurance companies may also drag their feet on processing claims, hoping victims will end up accepting a lowball settlement offer out of desperation. Many people are unemployed or working fewer hours because of the pandemic, and they are becoming increasingly desperate for money the longer they are under stay-at-home orders in their states.

However, you should not delay pursuing insurance compensation, even if the process may be delayed because of the pandemic. Starting the process quickly helps connect your injuries and damages to the accident.

Our lawyers are prepared to manage the entire insurance claims process on your behalf. This includes filing the claim and communicating with the insurance company on your behalf to protect the value of your claim. TSR Injury Law is set up to start and prosecute your injury claim without meeting face to face.

Can I Still Receive Medical Treatment?

Hospitals are still treating patients for conditions besides coronavirus. If you are concerned about possibly contracting the virus at the hospital, contact them to find out what you can do to help reduce your risk, such as wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others as much as possible.

If there are delays, it is important to remember that they are not your fault. Be sure to document appointments with doctors, including when you had to reschedule an appointment to refute insurance company arguments about gaps in your medical care. This includes virtual meetings with doctors through Skype, Facetime, Zoom or other platforms. Even though you are not physically in the room with the doctor, you can discuss your symptoms so they can be documented in your medical records.

As you may struggle to obtain all the treatment you need, it may take longer to reach the point of maximum medical improvement. This could delay the settlement of your claim. However, it is best to wait until this point to settle, if you can afford to do so.

This is a complex issue you can discuss with one of our Bloomington personal injury lawyers in a free legal consultation.

Are the Courts Still Open?

Public access to the courts has been limited because of the coronavirus. Access to these facilities will be subject to conditions set by county officials.

However, no jury trials can begin before May 4 or until further order of the court, whichever happens first. Unless a proceeding is required to occur in a courtroom, court proceedings must be done by ITV or remote technology that permits attorneys and parties to appear without actually being in the courtroom.

District and appellate courts will continue accepting filings of all case types. These filings may need to be done electronically.

Call Today to Set Up Your Free, No-Risk Legal Consultation

Our firm has a proven track record of recovering over $1 billion on behalf of our clients. We have extensive knowledge of Minnesota laws and the legal process, and a legal team ready to aggressively pursue maximum compensation for your damages.

Our licensed attorneys do not charge legal fees unless we recover compensation. The consultation is also free and there is no obligation for you to take legal action. As we are practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we can do the consultation over the phone and manage your case remotely, so you do not need to come into the office.

Call today to learn more about how we assist injury victims in their time of need. (612) TSR-TIME

How Can Evidence be Preserved After an Accident

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 16, 2020 in Personal Injury

There is often a lot of uncertainty after a personal injury occurs. Victims may have many questions: Will I ever fully recover? How will I pay my bills while I am out of work? Could the injury have been prevented? Is someone else at fault?

Accident victims may also have questions about what they can do to protect their potential claim for compensation, such as preserving evidence. While each situation is unique, there are steps many injury victims can take that may help strengthen their potential claim.

Below, learn more about preservation of evidence, including things attorneys can do. The Minneapolis personal injury lawyers at TSR Injury Law have decades of combined experience building robust cases on behalf of Minnesota injury victims. Learn more about our experience and results by contacting us to schedule a free consultation.

What You Can Do Right After an Accident

Your health and recovery are the top priorities after an accident. However, if it is safe to do so and you will not be making your injuries worse, take out your smartphone and take pictures at the scene. After you leave the scene, things may be altered or cleaned up, depriving you of the chance to document what things looked like in the moments after your injury occurred. You could easily forget how things looked days or even hours later.

Take as many pictures as you can. Take pictures of the hazard or dangerous condition that led to your injury (damaged road, missing handrail on a staircase, pothole in a parking lot, etc.), along with any vehicle property damage that resulted. The other vehicle may have damage that later gets denied, so gathering proof of the damage is easy and necessary.

If your injuries are visible, take pictures of them. If your clothes were damaged, take pictures of them and keep them as they may be used as evidence later.

Were there any witnesses? At a minimum, get their names and phone numbers to be contacted later. Even if the police say they will collect the information, if you are able get the information yourself. Sometimes the police reports do not document the names even when they are supposed to.

You can also record videos of your conversations with witnesses, if you ask them and they agree to be recorded.

Whenever possible, file an official police report. After a car crash, contact the police so they can file an official crash report. When another type of accident occurs, such as a boat or snowmobile crash, you may be able to file a different type of police/accident report. If you were injured on another’s property, such as in a retail store, ask the property owner or a manager or supervisor to complete an official accident report.

It can also be important to write down what you remember about the accident as soon after it happens. Try to answer general questions someone else might ask you about the accident:

What were you doing before you got hurt?
What caused you to become injured?
What was the at-fault party doing?

Documenting Pain and Suffering and Your Treatment

In order to recover maximum compensation, you need to keep track of your medical expenses. Keeping them all together in one place could save the stress of having to look for things later.

While the progress of your treatment will be documented in your medical records, it could also be helpful for you to keep a journal where you discuss how treatment is going in your own words. You can talk about the pain you are experiencing on a daily basis and how your injuries have affected various aspects of your life.

Writing these things down on a regular basis helps show the severity of your injuries and could help your attorneys calculate your pain and suffering when it is time to negotiate a settlement.

What if the Other Side Destroys Evidence?

The at-fault party, the insurance company, or attorneys representing the other side may not want certain evidence to come to light. There have even been cases where the other side has taken steps to get rid of evidence.

However, the other side could be punished for this by the courts. As this is a complex issue, you should strongly consider meeting with a licensed attorney to discuss.

Schedule Your Free, No-Obligation Legal Consultation Today

It is never too soon to speak to an attorney about a crash. There is limited time to take legal action and an attorney can determine if you may have a valid claim while answering your questions.

Learn more about how we may be able to assist you by calling or completing a Free Case Evaluation form to schedule your free consultation. There is no obligation to take legal action if we find you have a case. There are also no upfront fees for our services.

Our phone lines are open 24/7: (612) TSR-TIME. A representative of our firm is ready to speak with you and set up a free meeting with a licensed attorney. TSR Injury law employs retired police to help investigate cases, so allow us to lock down documentation that can help you later.

Hit-and-Run Crashes in Minneapolis Rarely Result in Arrests

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on April 9, 2020 in Auto Accidents

The police responded to more than 4,000 hit-and-run complaints in 2019 alone, unfortunately, data from the Star Tribune shows arrests were made in less than one percent of cases. The Fifth Precinct in southwest Minneapolis had the lowest arrest rate for these crashes, while all five had similar percentages of arrests.

According to police department officials and city council members, the low number of arrests is partly because of the absence of a dedicated traffic unit for high-collision areas and drunken or distracted driving or speeding. Unfortunately, the council voted down a proposal to apply for a $1.3 million federal grant to help the city with traffic enforcement.

There is an ongoing debate about whether installing traffic cameras and working to engineer safer roads would be better for increasing safety than simply adding more police officers to enforce laws.

Police Policy on Hit-and-Run Crashes

In 2012, the Minneapolis Police Department instituted a policy that hit-and-run crashes should only be investigated if there were serious injuries or fatalities. Staff cuts had forced the department’s traffic unit to focus only on the more serious crashes.

Star Tribune data shows the police arrested a suspect in just 31 of 4,234 cases, a rate of 0.7 percent. Over the past five years, the police made an arrest over a hit-and-run crash in approximately seven percent of cases. If there were injuries, the arrest rate was 10 percent.

Minneapolis PD has just four traffic investigators – for comparison, they had 24 in the late 90s. These investigators are tasked with looking into hit-and-run crashes, police pursuits and crashes involving police and other city vehicles.

However, minor hit-and-run crashes and other minor crashes are usually managed by patrol officers. All five police precincts have traffic response cars for complaints about hit-and-run crashes, drivers ignoring stop signs, or speeding in areas where children commonly play.

There has also been a shift in the approach of police officers. They are trying to be more data driven in making traffic stops. Between 2010 and 2017, traffic stops declined by about 70 percent, going from 92,400 to just 29,150.

Reasons for Hit-and-Run Crashes

According to research, alcohol and drugs are common reasons why crashes happen and why drivers may decide to leave the scene.

In some cases, those who leave may be afraid they have more to lose if they wait for the police to get there. This may be particularly true if the driver has a suspended license, arrest warrant, or lapsed insurance policy.

Some of the other reasons people may flee the scene include, weather, traffic or whether there is a nearby location for drinking alcohol.

City Campaign for Traffic Safety

Our city has started a campaign to promote traffic safety, not just for drivers, but bicyclists and pedestrians as well.

In March, city officials revealed the speed limits on arterial and residential streets will be reduced next year as part of the Vision Zero program, which has a goal of eliminating all traffic deaths by 2027 using education, traffic enforcement and improved street design. Next year, the speed limit on arterial streets will be reduced to 25 miles per hour and the speed on residential streets will be reduced to 20 miles per hour.

Injured in a Hit-and-Run Accident? Call TSR Injury to Discuss Legal Options

Whether the police investigate the crash or not, you may be able to obtain compensation for your damages through an insurance claim. As these claims can be quite complicated, it is important to contact a trusted Minneapolis car accident lawyer.

At TSR Injury Law, we offer a free legal consultation to hit-and-run crash victims to discuss if you may be eligible for compensation for damages. We have extensive knowledge of Minnesota insurance regulations and coverages for hit-and-run crashes.

We charge no upfront fees for representing our clients. Call (612) TSR-TIME today.

FDA Requests Recall of Zantac and All Other Ranitidine Products

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on in Consumers Alerts

On April 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was asking manufacturers of all Zantac products to do a full recall because of an unsafe level of a potential cancer-causing impurity in these drugs. This includes all prescription and over-the-counter products.

This is the latest in a series of recalls related to the impurity N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a probable human carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance. Now the FDA has determined the amount of this impurity increases over time when products are stored at higher than room temperature.

In summer 2019, the FDA found out about independent laboratory testing that revealed NDMA in ranitidine. While small amounts of this substance are commonly found in food and water, sustained exposure to large amounts of this substance could increase your risk of developing cancer.

This led the FDA to issue a warning to the public in September 2019 because they did not have enough evidence to determine whether it was safe to continue taking these medications. The FDA advised the public to consider alternatives to this medication.

New tests done by the FDA found NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions. Also, testing showed the older a ranitidine product is, the higher the level of NDMA it is likely to have.

The FDA sent letters to all manufacturers requesting the withdrawal of these medications. The FDA advised consumers to stop taking over-the-counter ranitidine products, dispose of them properly, and not buy more. Those taking prescriptions should speak to their healthcare provider about alternatives before they stop taking this medication.

As we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA is telling patients and consumers not to take these medications to a drug take-back location but follow specific disposal instructions in the medication guide or package insert.

Schedule a Free Consultation if You Developed Cancer While on Zantac

TSR Injury Law offers a free consultation to those who developed bladder or stomach cancer while taking Zantac or other ranitidine medications. Research has linked these medications to a higher risk of cancer because of a harmful impurity.

Our Bloomington defective product lawyers may be able to pursue compensation for the costs of medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you may have suffered.

Our firm has recovered over $1 billion on behalf of our clients, and we have extensive knowledge of relevant laws and deadlines. Our goal is to obtain maximum compensation for your damages. No upfront fees for our services.

We are ready to take your call 24/7. (612) TSR-TIME

Month: April 2020