As personal injury lawyers, we see the harms and losses resulting from unsafe cell phone use and texting. If you have been in a car accident and the other driver was talking on a cell phone or texting, you may have a personal injury claim and be able to hold the other driver accountable for their negligent behavior. A personal injury claim can also help recuperate the costs of the accident including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering (includes physical pain, disfigurement, disability, and emotional distress)
- Cost of care
- Other damages
Many of our most seriously injured clients owe their lifetime of disability to crashes caused by distracted drivers. Contact our car accident lawyers if a crash in Minnesota injured you or a loved one. You can use the form below or call 612-338-0202.
In one of our recent cases, a semitrailer truck driver stopped in middle of the road because he was using his cell phone, having a fight with is girlfriend. The operator of another big rig rear ended him and was killed. The family hired attorney Eric Hageman to represent them in a wrongful death lawsuit against the trucker and the trucking company. Eric obtained evidence from the cell phone provider regarding the conversation, proved it happened at the same time as the collision, and proved that the trucking company was also legally responsible. He won a large settlement for the family and held wrongdoers accountable.
Minnesota Attorneys Represent Iowa Man after Head-on Collision
Pritzker Hageman Law Firm attorneys represented a man who was seriously injured by a driver who was texting. Our client, a young man from Minnesota in his twenties, was driving down a rural highway in Iowa when he was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old who was texting. Our client sustained severe injuries, including a crushed pelvis. He was airlifted from Iowa to Minneapolis to be treated.
Distracted Driving Laws in Minnesota
Minnesota has put some restrictions on cell phone use while driving. The Information below is taken from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website.
Texting and Web Access
It is illegal for drivers of all ages to compose, read, or send electronic messages or access the Internet on a wireless device when the vehicle is in motion or part of traffic. This includes being stopped in traffic or at a light. The law does not apply to devices that are permanently affixed to the vehicle or global positioning or navigation systems (Texting and web access statute — M.S. 169.475).
Cell Phone Use and Texting
It is illegal for drivers under age 18 to use a cell phone, whether hand-held or hands-free — except to call 911 in an emergency (Permit and Provisional License statues–MS 171.05 and MS 171.055 Subd. 2(a)). Cell phone use is totally banned for school bus operators (School bus driver statute –MS 169.443 Subd. 9(b)).
Reckless or Careless Driving
Distracted drivers can be ticketed for reckless or careless driving when their actions demonstrate a disregard for the safety or rights of others (Reckless and Careless Driving Statute – M.S. 169.13)
Help with Your Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Claim
If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash and want to understand your legal rights, you can speak to a lawyer at Pritzker Hageman Law Firm about your personal injury or wrongful death claim by calling 1-888-377-8900.
For more information, please read the following:
- Driver Negligence
- How Much is My Case Worth?
- Failure to Yield Right-of-Way in Minnesota
- Injured Student Sues Texting Driver for Head-on-Collision
We are a national law firm with offices located in Minneapolis, MN. We will meet you at your home, the hospital, or at any location that is convenient to you.