Keeping Track of Your Medical Costs After Being Involved in a Minneapolis Crash

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on February 28, 2024 in Auto Accidents

It is only natural to feel overwhelmed after getting injured in a car crash. The collision itself is a traumatic experience that leaves many people in a state of shock. The weeks and months following a car crash are often physically, financially, and emotionally taxing.

Keeping things organized, such as your medical expenses, can be a challenge. At TSR Injury Law, we know what crash victims go through. We have decades of experience helping people through the legal process and securing the compensation they need to move forward.

Below, our Minneapolis-based car accident lawyers discuss the importance of tracking car crash medical expenses and provide tips on how to keep your bills and receipts organized. If you were injured by another driver’s negligence, call us to learn how we may be able to help.

No upfront costs. More than $1 billion recovered for clients. Phone: (612) TSR-TIME.

Why Crash Victims Should Track Their Medical Expenses

While there are some exceptions, you should be able to seek compensation for all your crash-related medical costs. However, you are going to need documentation of these expenses to include them in your claim for compensation. The insurance company is not going to pay for undocumented expenses or medical care.

Accurate documentation of your medical costs and care also helps to prove the severity of your injuries and enhances your credibility. A paper trail shows the insurance company you are taking the situation seriously because you are following through on your treatment and are taking the appropriate steps to make the best recovery possible.

Insurance companies love to claim victims are trying to inflate their damages, so they can get more money than they need. It is much harder for them to make this argument when your lawyer can present a detailed record of reasonable medical treatment.

What Medical Expenses Should You Track?

Crash victims may have a wide range of medical expenses. It is imperative to track every cost, no matter how small, including, but not limited to:

Emergency room visits: This includes bills for initial treatment and stabilization of your injuries.
Hospital stays: Charges for overnight or prolonged hospital admissions.
Surgical procedures: There are numerous expenses associated with surgery, as various medical professionals and tests may be involved.
Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter drugs may be necessary, such as medications used to manage pain or prevent infection.
Physical therapy or rehabilitation services: For example, some victims need physical therapy to rebuild their strength and improve their mobility.
Specialist consultations: Victims may incur fees for seeing specialists, like orthopedists or neurologists.
Chiropractic care: Many people find chiropractors helpful in addressing neck and back pain following a crash.
Mental health counseling: Crashes are traumatic experiences that can leave lasting psychological and emotional scars. Counseling can help victims work through these issues, helping them to improve their quality of life.
Medical equipment: These costs may include things like crutches, braces, wheelchairs or home modifications.
Follow-up care: This includes charges for ongoing treatment and checkups. It is important to note that victims should do their best not to miss appointments. If something comes up, reschedule the appointment. Skipping appointments affects your credibility in the eyes of the insurance company.
Travel expenses: Victims may be compensated for costs associated with getting to and from medical appointments when doctors are a significant distance away from where victims live.
Cost to hire a caregiver: Some crash victims may need to hire a caregiver. This could be a short-term expense or one that lasts a significant amount of time.

How To Track Car Crash Medical Expenses

Efficient tracking of medical expenses requires organization and diligence. However, there are various ways to track expenses.

For example, you can keep everything together in one folder to avoid losing anything. This includes medical bills, receipts, correspondence from the insurance company and payment records.

You could maintain a diary of your medical care that includes documentation of your expenses. In the diary, you could provide more information about each doctor’s visit. You can also explain how your injuries affect you each day. This narrative can be invaluable in personalizing and substantiating your claim.

There are smartphone apps that you can use as well, as they are specifically designed to allow you to track medical expenses. These apps may allow you to filter and categorize your expenses. Also, paper records could get lost or thrown away by accident. Digitizing your medical documents may be better for data security.

Keeping the above information in mind, the easiest way to keep track of your medical expenses is to hire an experienced attorney at TSR Injury Law. Our team of lawyers and paralegals can track your medical expenses for you throughout your case, making sure the right parties are paying those bills as you work on getting better. We will also be in contact with your medical providers to ensure they know who to bill, so you don’t get stuck with unpaid medical bills.

Let TSR Injury Law Take on the Insurance Company. Call for Legal Assistance

At TSR Injury Law, we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the complexities of the post-crash recovery process. Our firm is committed to securing full compensation for your damages to help you and your family move forward.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash in Minneapolis or elsewhere in Minnesota, reach out to TSR Injury Law to find out how we may be able to help. There are no upfront costs for our services, and we do not get paid unless our clients are compensated.

We are ready to take your call: (612) TSR-TIME.

Debunking 10 Common Myths About Car Accident Claims in Minnesota

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on February 12, 2024 in Auto Accidents

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about filing a car crash claim after a crash in Minneapolis. These misguided beliefs can cause crash victims to make bad decisions that hurt their chances of recovering favorable compensation.

Below, TSR Injury Law debunks 10 of these myths, explaining some of the things crash victims need to know about their legal options.

At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis-based car crash attorneys understand the confusion and stress that victims face. Our goal is to provide clarity and support throughout your legal journey. We represent crash victims on contingency, which means there are no upfront costs for you to pay.

Call us to find out if you have a case and learn how we may be able to help you.

TSR Injury Law. Experienced lawyers with a proven record of success. (612) TSR-TIME

Myth: You Do Not Need an Attorney for a Car Insurance Claim

Some crash victims mistakenly believe they do not need a lawyer unless they are filing a lawsuit. However, most car crash claims are resolved through an insurance settlement, and victims who hire lawyers often recover more compensation from the insurance company.

An experienced lawyer can also manage the process on your behalf. This means you do not need to worry about building a case, interpreting state laws or the many other aspects of the legal process for a car crash case.

Myth: You Do Not Have Enough Money To Hire an Attorney

Many people do not know that most injury lawyers, including those at TSR Injury Law, work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if they win your case, either in the courtroom or through an insurance settlement.

This approach makes legal representation accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

Myth: You Need to File a Lawsuit To Secure Compensation

A significant number of car crash claims are settled through negotiation, without ever needing to file a lawsuit. Insurance companies would like to avoid the extra time and expense of going to court. They also do not want to leave the case in the hands of a jury, which might award more compensation than the insurance company could have paid to settle the case.

However, it is important to hire an experienced lawyer, as he or she will have a much better chance of resolving the case through a settlement.

Myth: You Can File a Claim Any Time After a Collision

In Minnesota, the statute of limitations for filing a car crash claim is generally six years from the date of the crash. Once those six years pass, you will not be able to seek compensation.

You may think that six years gives you plenty of time to call a lawyer, but it is best not to wait. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner he or she can investigate and start building a case, assuming you have a valid claim.

The insurance claims process can take several months or longer. Contacting a lawyer soon after the crash gives him or her plenty of time to pursue insurance compensation and file a lawsuit if the insurance company denies or undervalues your claim.

Myth: You Do Not Need To File a Claim For Minor Injuries

Sometimes crash victims think they have a minor injury only to later discover it is much more severe than they realized. For example, you may think soft-tissue injuries are not as severe as broken bones. However, soft-tissue damage can lead to months or years of pain and discomfort that require ongoing treatment.

Myth: You Cannot Recover Compensation if the Other Driver Is Uninsured

Minnesota mandates uninsured motorist coverage on all auto insurance policies. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, you still have a valid claim for recovery through your own auto insurer. However, sometimes it may be necessary to file a liability claim as well.

Myth: You Cannot Claim Compensation if You Are Partially at Fault

There are a handful of states where this is true, but Minnesota is not one of them.

Under Minnesota law, even if you are partially at fault, you may still be eligible for compensation, provided you are not more at fault than the other party. In other words, any victim who is 50 percent or less at fault, can seek compensation for damages.

It is also important to consider if it is true that you are partially at fault. The insurance company may have told you that, but you should be careful taking their words at face value.

Myth: If You Reject the First Settlement Offer, You Will Not Get Compensation

First offers from insurance companies are typically starting points for negotiation. You are entirely within your rights to reject an offer, and the idea that rejecting an offer means you will not receive any compensation is false.

However, you should hire an experienced attorney to manage your negotiations. At TSR Injury Law, we have been negotiating with insurance companies for decades and have a proven history of securing favorable compensation for our clients.

Myth: The Insurance Company Will Offer a Fair Settlement

The insurance company’s primary goal is to pay as little as possible. They routinely offer less than the full value of a claim.

An experienced attorney can assess if an offer truly covers all your damages, including future medical expenses, emotional distress, and more.

Myth: The Only Thing I Need To Prove My Claim Is the Police Report

Police reports are certainly important in a car crash case, and it is important to call the police after any crash, even if you think it is not that big of a deal. However, police reports often do not capture the complete picture of a crash, nor are they admissible as evidence.

Gathering additional evidence, such as witness statements, photos of the scene, and medical reports provides additional proof and insight about how your crash occurred, and it can significantly strengthen your claim.

Injured by a Reckless Driver? Contact Us For Legal Assistance

The information provided here is just a starting point. For personalized advice and representation, our Minneapolis-based attorneys are here to assist you every step of the way.

At TSR Injury Law, we understand the challenges and uncertainties that come with car crash claims in Minnesota. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash in Minnesota, you do not need to navigate the legal process alone. Contact us to set up a free consultation.

Have legal questions following a crash? Contact us today: (612) TSR-TIME.

Understanding Causation in Minnesota Personal Injury Claims

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on February 1, 2024 in Personal Injury

Causation is a central aspect of a personal injury case. Causation connects an injury to the actions of another person, such as a driver or property owner.

In this blog, the experienced lawyers at TSR Injury Law provide a detailed explanation of this legal concept. We also discuss the challenges of proving causation and the evidence that can be used to support a personal injury claim.

At TSR Injury Law, we have been advocating for Minnesota injury victims for more than 25 years. During that time, we have obtained more than $1 billion in compensation over a wide variety of cases. Our knowledgeable Minneapolis personal injury lawyers represent clients on contingency, which means no upfront costs for you.

Schedule a free legal consultation to learn if you have a case. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

What Is Causation in Personal Injury Law?

Causation in personal injury law refers to the link between someone’s actions and another person’s injury. Essentially, one person breached a duty of care, and the breach resulted in an injury to another. A duty of care is a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps or precautions to prevent an injury to someone else.

Establishing this connection is crucial for a successful personal injury claim. You can think of causation as the linchpin of a personal injury claim, without it, there is no case. There needs to be an unbroken chain between the actions of the at-fault party and your injuries.

What Are the Two Elements of Causation?

Causation has two parts: cause in fact and proximate cause. This is sort of like a two-part test for establishing whether causation exists in an injury claim:

Cause in fact: This can be referred to as the “but for” test. In other words, your injuries would not have happened without the actions of the defendant. For example, say that a pedestrian got hit by a car whose driver ran a red light. The crash would not have happened if the driver had not run a red light. The driver’s actions were the direct cause in fact of the pedestrian’s injuries. One of the challenges of proving cause in fact is being able to counter if the insurance company tries to argue that something else likely caused your injuries.
Proximate cause: Proximate cause is about foreseeability. It determines whether the injuries were a foreseeable result of the negligent action. For instance, if a property owner neglects to clear ice from their sidewalk and someone slips and gets injured, the owner’s negligence is the proximate cause of the injury. Foreseeability is based on the reasonable person standard. That means if a reasonable person could have expected his or her actions would result in harm, the injury was foreseeable. For example, it is reasonably foreseeable that and result in injuries.

Evidence That Can Be Used to Prove Causation

Proving causation requires concrete evidence. This might include:

Medical records: This documentation is pivotal in linking the injury directly to the accident. Detailed medical records also provide your diagnosis, a timeline of your treatment and explain the severity of your injuries.
Expert testimony: Experts can help establish the cause-and-effect relationship between the defendant’s actions and your injuries. They use their advanced knowledge and experience to provide detailed insight into what occurred. For example, medical experts can explain exactly how a crash caused an injury.
Accident reconstruction: Sometimes, reconstructing a crash can provide a clearer picture of how the events unfolded and led to the injury. Accident reconstruction experts can provide a visual and scientific explanation of what happened in the collision. They can explain the chain of events, including how the other party’s negligence led to your injuries.

At TSR Injury Law, we understand the complexities of proving causation in personal injury cases. Our lawyers and legal staff are adept at gathering convincing evidence for a variety of cases. We also know how to counter the liable insurance company’s arguments about what caused your injuries or whether a reasonable person could have foreseen what would happen.

Contact TSR Injury Law for Post-Injury Legal Help

Causation is a critical element of personal injury claims, and understanding it is key to securing fair compensation.

If you are an injured victim in Minneapolis, reach out to TSR Injury Law. Our experienced lawyers and legal team are here to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process. We are committed to securing the justice and compensation injury victims need.

We do not charge any upfront fees for our services. The initial legal consultation is always free.

More than $1 billion recovered. Call today: (612) TSR-TIME.

Month: February 2024