Car Accident Lawyer Minneapolis MN

Few things can bring your world crashing down like a car accident. The unexpected bills, injury, and damage force you to put your life on hold and concentrate on recovering. When you are unable to work because you are hurt, it only adds more stress, especially if someone else is to blame. This is why you need our experienced car accident lawyer Minneapolis MN law firm on your side.

At Bye, Goff & Rohde, you can put your case in the hands of our experienced car accident lawyer Minneapolis MN law firm. Since 1974, we have fought to help the injured and the vulnerable obtain justice and the compensation they deserve. Contact us to arrange a free consultation and discover what we can do for you. 

Choose Bye, Goff & Rohde to Build a Powerful Car Accident Case

Our team of board-certified injury attorneys makes your welfare a priority. We have handled thousands of accident claims and understand the nuances involved in automobile wrecks. Our team has deep experience in negotiating with insurance companies and defense attorneys, always seeking the maximum compensation for you as quickly as possible. 

This does not mean we rush through your case and push you to take a low offer. Instead, we carefully investigate and analyze the evidence in your case, determine who is at fault, and calculate the full value of your damages. We then forcefully advocate for the financial relief you need for a full and comfortable recovery. 

We also take your cost concerns into account, offering free initial consultations so you get the answers you need without risk or obligation. From there, we work on a contingency payment plan so you do not pay our fees until we secure a settlement for you. Above all, we get results. We know that getting help for your serious injuries requires serious car accident lawyers who know the greater Minneapolis area. Bye, Goff & Rohde is here to help.

Human Error Is the Most Common Factor in Minneapolis Car Accidents

With our background in handling car accident claims, we have found that the most common cause of collisions is human error. Negligent, careless, or even intentional behavior puts others at risk and can leave you with devastating injuries. Most factors involve the driver, such as:

  • Driving while distracted by a cell phone or other causes
  • Disobeying the speed limit 
  • Engaging in “road rage” or aggressive driving
  • Weaving in and out of traffic recklessly
  • Tailgating other vehicles
  • Driving while exhausted or drowsy
  • Using drugs or drinking alcohol before driving
  • Disobeying traffic laws
  • Failing to maintain the vehicle

 

While the other driver is usually the at-fault party, there are many other individuals and companies that could be held liable. For example, a manufacturer that produces faulty vehicles or components, a repair shop that performs substandard work, or another driver who scatters debris on the highway. In some instances, you may even be able to file a claim against a government agency or road maintenance group that failed to keep the street hazard-free during winter weather. 

Identifying Those to Blame Requires Skilled Investigation and Research

The job of determining those to hold accountable is a primary task for your Minneapolis car accident attorneys. They must collect evidence, examine the facts, speak to witnesses, and prepare a reconstruction of what happened. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, we determine fault in a car accident through the following methods:

  • Collecting photos of the crash site, road conditions, and your injuries
  • Requesting video from traffic, security, and dashboard cameras
  • Acquiring the police accident report
  • Interviewing witnesses for their accounts
  • Collaborating with specialists in various fields
  • Assembling your medical records
  • Calculating how much your expenses and other damages are worth

Once we have a complete picture of the situation, it is easier to identify all liable parties and begin taking action against them. Suppose a negligent driver driving drunk swerves into your vehicle, causing you to slam on the brakes and get rear-ended. The drunk driver may be the actual at-fault party, even if the second driver was also following too closely and bears some fault.

Complications like these are why you will benefit from hiring a Bye, Goff & Rohde car accident attorney serving Minneapolis, MN.

Minnesota Is a No-Fault State for Most Auto Accidents

Unlike Wisconsin, which is an at-fault state, the Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act requires drivers to hold their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policies to pay for their injuries and damages for most crashes. These policies must provide a minimum of $40,000 in coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repair. After an accident, you will file a claim with your insurance provider and negotiate for a fair offer. 

The motor vehicle claims process is both straightforward and complicated when dealing with insurance providers. You will submit your documentation, but the company will investigate and determine if you played any part in causing the crash. Sometimes, they may say you are at fault simply because the crash happened, although this is not always true. 

At Bye, Goff & Rohde, even if you have already spoken to the insurance company, we can take over these conversations to push back and ask for a fair settlement offer. We work to limit any appearance of fault for you and try to prevent the insurer from taking advantage of you. When we come to the negotiating table for you, they know you mean business and will not back down. 

Minnesota Allows Some Exceptions to the No-Fault Process

The insurance company will only pay up to $20,000 for medical bills, and today’s healthcare costs mean you may use this amount up very quickly while still needing more. However, state law does allow you to initiate legal action against the other driver when your medical costs exceed $4,000, or the accident results in permanent injury, disfigurement, or death.

If the claim meets any of those criteria, our Minneapolis car accident lawyers can help you gather evidence to demonstrate who is to blame and hold them accountable. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for your full range of losses when you demonstrate liability by the other party. 

In the event of a wrongful death lawsuit, family members such as spouses, children, parents, siblings, and grandparents can act on behalf of their deceased loved one. If the victim had already begun a fault-based claim, your attorney can help you convert it to a wrongful death action and seek repayment for medical expenses and other costs. In this new case, you can also request coverage for burial expenses and the loss of the deceased’s income.

Fault-Based Car Accident Claims Rely on Demonstrating Liability Against the Other Party

If you qualify to begin a lawsuit against the other driver, you will need to establish the other party’s negligence or carelessness by presenting evidence. This may include police reports and citations, medical records, expert testimony, and other material that supports these four elements:

  • The Other Driver Owed You a Duty of Care: Each motorist must follow the laws and drive safely to protect others on the road.
  • The Other Driver Failed to Meet Their Duty: Using traffic citations and other evidence, your Minneapolis car accident attorney will show how the other party did not use reasonable care and failed in their duty to drive safely.
  • The Other Driver’s Actions Led Directly to Your Injury: By showing a direct connection between the other motorist’s failure of duty and your harm, your lawyer can demonstrate causation. 
  • The Other Driver Must Pay Your Losses: Causation allows your lawyer to then request payment from the other driver for all damages associated with your medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and subjective losses, such as pain and suffering. 

When possible, we will attempt to reach a settlement with the other side without going to trial, which can be more expensive and time-consuming. Yet, we are committed to the most satisfactory solution to your case and will advise you so you can make the most well-informed decisions. Above all, we care about our clients and want the best for them.

Comparative Negligence Law Can Complicate Your Accident Case

Whether you are dealing with an insurance company or another party in your case, the other side will likely try to claim you are partly at fault. They do this to reduce what they must pay, but they may exaggerate your responsibility.

Under Minnesota’s modified comparative fault statute, you can still claim damages as long as you are 50% or less to blame.

The downside is that your assigned fault percentage will reduce your settlement by the same amount. For example, if you seek $10,000 in damages but are found 20% at fault, you receive 20% less, or $8,000. To maximize your compensation, your attorney must present powerful evidence showing how the other side is more at fault.

Minnesota Roads Are Home to Thousands of Serious Car Crash Injuries Each Year

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS) reported 23,704 injuries from car accidents in 2022. Closer to home, the Minnesota Crash Statistics recorded 1,893 injuries in Minneapolis in 2024. The most common causes were speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drunk driving, and distractions. 

Victims in these accidents are prone to injuries such as:

  • Cuts, lacerations, and scrapes
  • Bruises and hematomas
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Neck and spine injuries, such as whiplash
  • Chest injuries, such as crushed ribs and internal organ damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Disfigurement and scarring from burns
  • Paralysis
  • Loss of limb

After the crash is over, medical first responders may care for you and transport you to the hospital for emergency treatment. If you walk away from your accident, it is still important to get medical care by seeing your doctor right away. They can diagnose the full range and severity of your injury and establish a connection between your condition and the collision. 

What Highways and Roads Are Most Dangerous in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, SafeRoadsUSA reports these city streets are at the highest risk for auto accidents:

  • Streets between Washington Avenue South, 12th Street South, 1st Avenue North, and 11th Avenue South
  • Hiawatha Avenue
  • Broadway Street
  • Lyndale Avenue
  • Franklin Avenue
  • Nicollet Avenue
  • Lake Street

According to the MDPS report above, more collisions happen in urban areas, yet the larger number of fatalities occurs on rural roads. Highway 169 is notoriously the most dangerous road in the Minneapolis vicinity, but highways such as I-394, I-35W, and I-94 between the Twin Cities saw 26,737 total accidents in 2022. 

We Fight for the Compensation You Need to Recover Quickly

Auto vehicle accidents bring an average cost of $14,126 in medical expenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Your PIP insurance will pay up to $20,000 for medical costs and $20,000 for lost income. Yet, when your car crash claim exceeds the $4,000 threshold, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver asking for payment for a variety of other damages, including:

  • Full costs of all your medical expenses and ongoing treatment
  • Repair and replacement bills for your vehicle and other personal property
  • All lost income, bonuses, promotions, and other work-related compensation
  • Prescription medications
  • Travel costs for attending medical appointments
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Loss of limb or amputation
  • Paralysis, disfigurement, or permanent injury

You should not have to take on the financial and other burdens because someone else acted irresponsibly and caused your accident. Instead, you can work with the skilled and compassionate Minneapolis car accident attorneys from our firm and get the robust legal representation you deserve. We will protect your rights and put your interests at the forefront of everything we do. 

Act Soon After Your Auto Accident to Preserve Your Right to File a Claim

With the pain and confusion that come after a collision, you may feel you cannot handle anything else. Yet, it is vital that you contact an attorney as soon as you can after your crash because the law does not allow much time.

You must file a PIP claim within six months, and delaying could open your case to scrutiny about the extent of your injuries from the insurance provider.

If you are able to file a fault-based personal injury lawsuit, Minnesota Statutes 541.05 sets the statute of limitations at six years, or you may forfeit your right to act. For wrongful death actions, the timeline is even shorter, allowing only three years.

Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Minneapolis MN Law Firm

You do not have to endure the consequences of another driver’s carelessness by yourself when you partner with one of our car accident lawyers serving Minneapolis. We have been Minnesota’s and Wisconsin’s personal injury powerhouse for over 50 years, and we stand ready to take your case as far as it needs to go. 

Take action now and arrange a free case review. Use our online form to contact us today. Our local law office is located in River Falls, WI near St. Paul and Minneapolis.