Sue a Negligent Driver after a Car Crash in Minnesota

Our lawyers can help you sue a negligent driver after a car crash in Minnesota. A lawsuit can help you get the money settlement you deserve.

Before our lawyers file a lawsuit against a driver, we look for evidence that proves the other driver caused the accident. We then make the case that the driver’s negligence caused the crash. If a commercial truck driver was negligent, we also gather evidence against the trucking company. Contact our car accident lawyers about a settlement using the form below.

How Was Your Life Impacted By the Negligent Driver?

A serious car accident can have a lasting impact on your life. If you were seriously injured, you might not be able to return to work, you might have lasting pain, and you might not be able to enjoy many of the parts of life that you did before your accident. Our lawyers understand this, and have helped hundreds of people in your situation get the help they need.

Our Lawyers Hold Negligent Drivers Accountable

You can sue a negligent driver if there is evidence that the person was at fault, even in part, for the crash and your resulting injuries. Our car accident lawyers, located in Minnesota, have handled hundreds of these cases. For example, one of our clients was t-boned at an intersection when he had the right-of-way. The other driver was reading a map and ran a stop light. Our client was badly hurt with a broken pelvis and head injury. Our crash legal team (612-338-0202) won a large settlement for this client.

Proving Your Case

A personal injury or wrongful death case is usually based on negligence, which means doing something in a careless way. To obtain compensation from the operator of a vehicle (actually, his or her insurance company), your attorney will need to prove 4 elements:

• The driver had a duty;
• That duty was breached (broken);
• This breach caused the accident;
• The accident resulted in damages to you (medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, etc.).

Minnesota Traffic Law

Under Minnesota traffic laws, the operator of a vehicle has “duties” under the law to passengers in his or her vehicle, people in other motor vehicles (cars, buses, motorcycles), people riding bicycles and pedestrians. Any of these people can sue the driver and his or her insurance company for compensation if they are injured because of carelessness, including texting, reading a map, eating, falling asleep or just daydreaming.

The operator of a motor vehicle has the following duties:

• Duty to exercise reasonable care
• If a bus or other “common carrier,” driver, the highest degree of care for the safety of the passengers
• Duty to follow the traffic laws:
  • Right-of-way (Minnesota Statutes, Sec. 169.20);
  • Speeding (169.14, subd.1);
  • Turning, changing lanes, u-turns and signaling (169.19, subd.4);
  • Not to use cell phone while driving if a young person or school bus driver (171.05 and 171.055; 169.443, subd. 9);
  • Not to text a message while driving (169.475);
  • Not to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs (169A);
  • General driving rules (169.18) – primarily regarding passing.

A violation of a traffic law is prima facie evidence of negligence, meaning it is considered negligence if the defendant fails to introduce evidence of an excuse or justification for violating the traffic law.