Author: Steve Terry

There is one major difference between car insurance and motorcycle insurance in Minnesota: personal injury protection coverage. Learn how this can affect you after a crash with another vehicle.

It is important to carefully consider the coverages and coverage limits you should purchase when buying insurance. If you do not purchase enough coverage, you may be stuck paying medical bills and other expenses out of your own pocket. Medical bills from an accident can be difficult to afford, particularly when you cannot work because of a severe injury.

If you are struggling to obtain compensation after a car crash, call TSR Injury Law to schedule a free consultation. We have helped numerous car crash victims obtain compensation after an accident.

Personal Injury Protection Insurance

Minnesota is a no-fault state, which means car accident victims must turn to their own auto insurance, under the personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, no matter who is at fault for the crash.  PIP will cover medical bills, wage loss, funeral costs and costs to hire someone to perform household activities.

Minnesota mandates a minimum of $40,000 ($20,000.00 medical and $20,000.00 wage) in (PIP), but many people purchase more than the minimum required by law.

Unfortunately, Minnesota does not require motorcyclists to purchase this coverage and in fact most insurance carriers do not even sell PIP for motorcycles  (There is a small substitute for PIP for motorcycles.  It is called Medical Payments coverage (medpay).  Medpay is only for medical bills and is sold from $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 in coverages.)  Insurers are only required to provide liability insurance for motorcyclists. Liability insurance is intended to provide compensation to victims of an accident that you cause. Even if you have PIP coverage on an automobile, you cannot use it if you were injured while riding a motorcycle you own.  There is an obscure loophole if you are a passenger on a non-owned motorcycle that TSR attorneys may be able to use for your case.

The legal rationale motorcycles do not require PIP coverage is because according to Minnesota’s No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act, a motorcycle is not considered a motor vehicle. The PIP insurance mandated by this law only apply to injuries or losses that arise from the use or maintenance of a motor vehicle.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

There is no telling how much insurance coverage the other driver who caused your motorcycle crash may have, or if the other driver will even have insurance coverage. Even though Minnesota requires drivers to have minimum coverage, many ignore this law. Some drivers forget to pay their premium and their coverage lapses, or they simply cannot afford insurance on top of a car payment.

No matter if you purchase medpay for your motorcycle, you should strongly consider purchasing uninsured motorist coverage to protect you if the other driver does not have insurance. (You should strongly consider purchasing both medpay and uninsured motorist coverage, as motorcycle crashes often result in significant injuries that require expensive treatment.)

Since you can only file a lawsuit for crash damages in certain situations, you may not be able to rely on filing a lawsuit to recover compensation. Even if you can file a lawsuit, if someone does not have insurance coverage, it is unlikely they will have many assets for your Minneapolis motorcycle accident attorney to go after.

Other Coverages You Should Consider

There are a variety of other coverages you can purchase for your motorcycle to help cover damages from a crash or other situation:

Collision

This provides compensation for damage to your motorcycle if you are involved in a crash with another driver or other hazards, like signs, trees or cars that are parked. You may also be able to obtain compensation to repair or replace your helmet if it gets damaged in the crash.

Comprehensive

In a no-contact accident, there might not be anyone to pursue compensation from, unless you can file a claim against the entity responsible for maintaining the road where you crashed. This is where comprehensive coverage comes in. You may be able to file a claim for compensation for a no-contact accident, such as a crash caused by falling debris or damage to your bike because of a pothole or vandalism.

Get Help Pursuing Compensation for a Motorcycle Crash

Our trusted attorneys are here to help crash victims who need compensation for the cost of medical care and other damages they may have suffered. The initial meeting with our lawyers is free of charge, as we know a crash can result in a financial crisis for many people.

Unless we recover compensation for your claim, there are no attorney fees. That means no risk to you in talking to us about your potential legal options.

Have questions and need help after a crash? Call us today at: (612) TSR-TIME

While everyone who is sharing the road needs to cautious, pedestrians need to be particularly careful because they have no seat belts, airbags or other safety measures to protect them in a crash. Pedestrians should not assume drivers see them and should stay hyperaware of traffic around them.

If pedestrians are not careful, they could not only get seriously injured, but also be found partially at fault for the crash. Below, learn more about liability in pedestrian crashes and why it may not always be so simple to determine who is at fault.

Responsibilities of Drivers and Pedestrians

As a pedestrian, state law requires you to take certain steps when you do things like cross the street. These measures are meant to reduce the risk of a dangerous crash.

For example, just like drivers, you are subject to the traffic-control signals at all intersections. If there is no signal at your intersection, drivers are required to yield to you when you cross the street in a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk.

When a pedestrian is crossing, the driver is required to remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed the lane where the vehicle is stopped. No cars behind the lead car can pull out and attempt to overtake the lead car while a pedestrian is crossing.

It is illegal for you as a pedestrian to suddenly step off the curb or another area of safety and walk or run into a vehicle’s path when it is impossible for the driver to yield.

If you cross the road outside of an intersection, you must yield the right-of-way to all approaching vehicles. However, it is illegal to cross between adjacent intersections that both have working traffic-control signals.

If you are walking along a roadway, or in a wheelchair along a roadway, you must, when it is practical, move on the left side of the roadway or shoulder giving way to oncoming traffic. However, it is illegal to walk along the road when a sidewalk is accessible.

Fault When a Crash Occurs

Pedestrian crashes are often caused by negligent drivers. For example, they may run a red light and hit a pedestrian crossing the street. Drivers could also hit pedestrians while making a right turn on a red light and failing to yield.  This scenario occurs often because drivers look left for oncoming traffic as they turn right.  The drivers fail to also look to the right before they proceed.

However, there are times when pedestrians could be to blame. Jaywalking, which refers to crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, could result in the pedestrian being found partially at fault. When crosswalks are available, pedestrians need to use them, as they are designed to get the attention of motorists to help prevent crashes.

Pedestrians should also avoid running out into the street, particularly from between two parked cars. It can be very difficult for drivers to see pedestrians and they may not have enough time to slow down or swerve to avoid a collision.

Even if you are not hit by a car, if the driver is forced to take evasive action to avoid a crash and he or she hits other vehicles or a fixed object, you could potentially be found partially liable for the driver’s damages.

Can At-Fault Pedestrians Seek Compensation?

It is very important to note you can still seek compensation if you are partially at fault for a crash. At the scene, be careful not to admit fault. If the insurance company calls you, avoid admitting fault.  The Minnesota rule is if you are less than %50 at fault you can be compensated for the injuries you receive.

Even though you may be somewhat to blame for the crash, it is better to let the investigation play out. If you say it was your fault from the start, it may be more difficult to refute this later.

The attorneys at TSR Injury Law are prepared to review your situation in a free consultation to determine if you may have been at fault and if you may still be eligible to seek compensation. Even if you have some fault, we are committed to building a strong case to try to prevent the insurance company from assigning you more fault than you deserve.

Injured in a Pedestrian Crash? Call TSR Injury Law for a Free Consultation

Your injuries could affect you for a long time – potentially the rest of your life. That is why talking to an experienced attorney is so important during this difficult time. He or she may be able to secure compensation for your medical treatment and other damages.

Our Bloomington auto accident lawyers offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation. That means there is no risk to you in reaching out to find out how we may be able to help. Our firm has recovered $1 billion in compensation on behalf of our clients.

We are not paid unless you get paid. Call (612) TSR-TIME today.

One of the first thoughts many car crash victims have in the moments after the crash is about calling the police. Victims want police officers at the scene to investigate, issue traffic citations and complete a report on the crash.

While it is true that it is important to call the police after a crash, particularly if you want to have a chance of obtaining compensation for your vehicle or body damages, there are limitations to police reports. Below, learn more about how police reports can help car crash claims and some of the limitations.

Our Bloomington auto accident attorneys offer a free legal consultation to discuss your crash and the damages you have suffered. We understand what car crash victims go through because we have helped so many obtain compensation for car crash damages. The consultation is free and comes with no legal obligations, which means no risk to you.

How a Police Report Could Help Your Claim

A police report provides an unbiased, third-party account of a crash, and police officers’ accounts of crashes are often considered reliable. People who witnessed the crash are also more likely to talk to police officers about what they saw because they often trust the police.  The witness’ recollection is also best right after the crash versus several weeks or months later.  The at fault party may also “admit” what they did at the crash scene, but later have a change of heart and start to forget or change their story.

Police reports provide basic details about the situation, including things like the weather, date, time, damage to the vehicles, road conditions in the area, traffic citations that were issued and contact information for witnesses. Sometimes police reports contain the responding officer’s opinion about who was at fault for the crash.

Police reports are often used in the insurance claims process, as they provide a lot of information that can be used in your demand letter for compensation.

While every insurance policy is unique, there may be a requirement to file a police report in order to obtain compensation. In fact, there are several Minnesota policies that will not allow a claim unless a police report is filed.  The State of Minnesota also requires you to file a police report when a crash fits certain criteria.

However, even if you are unsure if the crash fits these criteria, you should err on the side of caution and call the police anyway. Your injuries could be much worse than you initially realize. Crash victims have a tendency to minimize the severity of their injuries, unless there is a lot of blood or there are broken bones.   Even a basic description of an injury at the crash scene helps explain later pain and treatment that was needed.  Of course, medical records will have details about the injury, but the report can buttress the other records.

A police report helps to connect your injury to the crash. Without a police report, the insurance company is likely to question whether your injury happened in the crash or in another incident.

Limitations of Police Reports

Unfortunately, police reports generally cannot be admitted as evidence in a trial. These documents are considered hearsay, as the police officer has no direct knowledge of the crash. The report is not as reliable as an account from someone who was either involved in the incident or actually witnessed it.   However, the police report can be used to refresh an officer’s memory, so they can testify with a better memory of the events that usually took place years before.

While there are limitations to a police report, most car crash claims are resolved through an insurance company settlement. That means most crash victims do not need to go to trial to recover compensation for their damages.

Injured in a Car Crash? Call Today to Discuss Your Situation with a Licensed Lawyer

After calling the police and seeing a doctor, an important next step is talking to an experienced attorney about your crash. You may be eligible for compensation for damages as the crash may have been caused by another driver’s negligence, such as drunk or distracted driving.

Your free initial consultation is a chance to learn more about how we may be able to assist you during this difficult time. You are not under any obligation to hire our attorneys to represent you if we validate your claim. That means no risk to you in meeting with us.

Call us as soon as possible to set up a free legal consultation. Phone: (612) TSR-TIME.

While left turns are more dangerous, plenty of crashes occur when drivers turn right. One way this could happen is if drivers pull out into traffic at the wrong time, especially if the approaching driver is speeding.

The Minneapolis car crash lawyers at TSR Injury Law discuss who is at fault in a right-turn accident in Minneapolis. Many factors must be evaluated, including whether the driver in the oncoming car may be partially at fault.

Insurance companies like to blame victims of these crashes, which is why you need an experienced lawyer to manage your case. At TSR, our services come with no upfront fees. We are not paid unless our clients get paid.

Contact us after a crash to set up a free consultation. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

What is a Right-Turn Accident?

Right-turn accidents may occur when one driver attempts to make a right turn and collides with an oncoming car. These crashes usually happen at intersections, but they are also common in parking lots.

What Causes Right-Turn Crashes in Minneapolis?

Right-turn crashes are typically the result of a driver turning into oncoming traffic. While the driver may have checked for traffic, he or she misjudged the time needed to make the turn or the distance his or her vehicle was from oncoming traffic. Drivers may often make these mistakes when they are distracted or in a rush.

Even when drivers know oncoming traffic is a little too close, they may try to make the turn as fast as possible. Unfortunately, oncoming vehicles might not be able to slow down or stop in time. Some drivers make the turn and slowly accelerate, making it that much harder for oncoming drivers to avoid a collision.

Oncoming drivers may cause right-turn accidents because they are distracted or going over the speed limit. Sometimes an oncoming driver could cause a right-turn crash by changing lanes while a driver starts to turn. In this situation, the right-turning driver might not have seen the oncoming vehicle changing lanes in time to stop.

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, especially in blind spots, when pulling forward to make a right turn.

If a driver blocks a crosswalk, he or she could force pedestrians and bicyclists to move out into the intersection to continue crossing the street, putting them at risk of getting hit by oncoming cars.

Sometimes right-turning drivers look left for oncoming traffic but fail to also look right for pedestrians who are in the crosswalk.

Who is Usually at Fault in a Car Crash?

The driver who broke the rules of the road is often found at fault for a car crash. For example, maybe the driver exceeded the speed limit, ran a red light, violated another driver’s right of way, or followed another car too closely. If one of the drivers involved in a car is issued a citation by the police, that driver is probably going to bear most, if not all, of the fault for the accident.

How Does Minnesota Assign Fault For a Right-Turn Crash?

In Minnesota, fault for car crashes and other types of personal injury accidents is assigned based on negligence. The negligent at-fault party can be held liable for damages.

Negligence refers to a breach of a duty of care, such as the duty to obey the speed limit and other rules of the road. The breach of duty must be the cause of the crash. The crash must also be directly linked to the injuries and damages suffered by the victim.

It is important to remember that Minnesota is a no-fault state when it comes to car accident claims. That means victims first seek compensation from the no-fault coverage in their own insurance policies, no matter who caused the crash.

The other driver may still be at fault. However, victims cannot step outside of the no-fault system to file a liability claim or lawsuit unless their injuries and damages cross a certain threshold.

What You Need to Know About Fault For a Minneapolis Right-Turn Collision?

Many right-turn accidents happen when drivers attempt to turn right on a red light. The driver who was turning right is usually at fault because oncoming traffic has the right of way and turning drivers must yield. Turning drivers can also be at fault if they get into a crash while turning at an intersection where red light turns are prohibited.

These are the general rules about fault for right-turn crashes. However, there are exceptions when oncoming drivers may be at fault.

For example, if an oncoming driver was speeding, he or she might be partially at fault. If an oncoming driver changed lanes while in the intersection and crashed into a right-turning driver, he or she could be at least partially liable for damages.

Sometimes a driver turning right on a green light may get hit by an oncoming driver who ran a red light. In this situation, the red-light running driver could be held fully liable for the crash.

Oncoming drivers could also share fault for a right-turn crash if they were distracted. For example, maybe an oncoming driver was texting while going through an intersection. Even though the right-turning driver did not have the right of way, the distracted driver may be partially at fault.

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

In Minnesota, you can pursue compensation after a car crash if you are less than 50 percent at fault for what happened. In other words, if you are more at fault than the other driver, you are barred from recovering 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. An example of this is if a driver was found to be 10 percent at fault for a crash due to speeding. This individual would see any compensation awarded reduced by 10 percent.

Even if you believe you are partially at fault for the crash, you should discuss your situation 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 reduce the amount of compensation paid to crash victims.

What You Should Do After a Right-Turn Accident

If you were injured in a right-turn car crash in Minnesota, there are steps you should take for your health and safety, as well as your potential legal claim.

Dial 9-1-1

Tell the dispatcher what happened and that you need assistance. The dispatcher can help you determine if you need an ambulance to join the police at the scene. When the police arrive, they can help secure the area. That way oncoming traffic will not be too close to you or the other driver. The police can also investigate the accident, talk to you and the other driver, and draft an accident report.

Move Your Vehicle Out of the Flow of Traffic

If possible, move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic. The last thing you want is to get hit by an oncoming car. You may want to turn your hazard lights on to help alert approaching drivers to your stopped vehicle.

Be careful about exiting your vehicle. You do not want to be walking too close to passing traffic. You could get clipped by a car and suffer further injury.

Document the Crash Scene

This is not your highest priority. Your lawyer can gather evidence on your behalf. However, if possible, you can take pictures just minutes after the crash. You can also exchange information with the other driver, including insurance information. If there are any witnesses, you can note their names and contact information.

You should only take these steps if it is safe to get out of your car and walk around the crash site. You do not want to be up walking around if you think you might aggravate your injuries.

Go to the Hospital For Treatment

It is generally best to go straight to the hospital from the scene of the crash. You might think your injuries will heal on their own, but you could be wrong. For instance, severe internal injuries after a crash are extremely common. You should never take any car crash injury lightly.

Right-turn crashes can cause severe injuries, including:

You need to seek immediate medical treatment after your right-turn crash so your injuries can be diagnosed and stabilized. This is not only important for your health, but also for your potential compensation claim. Seeking immediate treatment demonstrates a connection between your injury and the crash.

Avoid Saying Too Much to the Insurance Company

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.

Contact an Experienced Attorney

Consulting with an attorney before giving an insurance statement could greatly benefit a crash victim. 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. We know how to assess whether you have a valid claim and whether you may be partially at fault for a crash.

We are prepared to seek maximum compensation for the damages you suffered in your right-turn crash, which could include:

Have Questions About 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. We welcome your call, and there is no risk to you.

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

Call (612) TSR-TIME or fill out an online form and we will be in touch shortly.

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.