Woodbury Car Accident Attorney
Each year in Woodbury, more than 700 car crashes take place, injuring more than 200 persons, leaving many of them with lifelong consequences.
After a car accident, you may find yourself reeling. What comes next? How can you protect yourself and your finances?
An experienced Woodbury car accident injury attorney can help guide you through your car accident claim and give you a better idea of how much compensation you might expect for your injuries. Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
Injured in Woodbury? Get Nicolet.
About Nicolet Law
Every day, Nicolet Law lawyers put their combined 108 years of experience to work for Woodbury residents and families facing the physical, emotional, and financial devastation of car accidents. Our team of skilled, experienced car accident injury attorneys fights to secure fair compensation for our clients' injuries and losses. From multi-car pile-ups on I-94 or I-494 to collisions at intersections on Valley Creek Road or Radio Drive, our Woodbury car accident lawyers are here for you after an unexpected car crash.
If an accident in Woodbury has disrupted your life, then contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to find out about your rights to compensation. Reach us online or call our Woodbury, Minnesota, office today.
We Help Woodbury Car Accident Victims Like You
During our 17 years in law practice, Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers has secured more than $250 million in total compensation for clients across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including in Woodbury.
Recent significant results we have achieved in car accident cases include:
- $1,200,000 for a young client who sustained burns in an auto accident;
- $815,000 for the victim of a drunk driving accident; and
- $572,000 for clients injured in a motor vehicle accident.
While we cannot guarantee that future car accident cases we take will achieve similar successes, our clients can take comfort in knowing that Nicolet Law enjoys a strong reputation in the Woodbury legal community. Our team of personal injury lawyers knows how to get results in even the most challenging car accident cases.
Proven Auto Accident Attorneys Serving Woodbury And The East Metro
Our Woodbury personal injury attorneys fight aggressively to obtain the maximum compensation available for our injured clients. This includes pursuing financial resources for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related damages. We fight to level the playing field with the insurance companies and get the best possible results for people injured in all types of car accidents, including:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
There are more than 200 crashes per day on average across Minnesota, and plenty of them take place locally on roads such as Interstate 94, Interstate 35E, Interstate 494, Interstate 694, U.S. Route 10, MN 5, MN 120, and MN 36.
A Note On No-Fault Insurance Coverage
The concept of no-fault insurance coverage in Minnesota is often misunderstood. It does not mean that no one can be at fault for a motor vehicle accident. It means that, in the immediate aftermath of a crash, the focus will be on getting medical treatment rather than sorting out where to send the bill. Insurance companies provide “no-fault” coverage for medical treatment after an accident; it's the one time when showing your auto insurance card instead of your medical insurance card will result in you getting the care you need.
Once liability is determined, the insurance company of the injured driver can go after the at-fault driver's insurance company to be reimbursed for the money they have shelled out through no-fault coverage. The most important thing for you to remember is that it is important to get checked out after an accident, even if you feel fine. It's essential to check for silent injuries such as internal bleeding and create a treatment record that can become part of a car wreck claim if one becomes necessary.
Lifelong Compensation For Lifelong Injuries
The complications from catastrophic injuries do not go away in a matter of months or even years. Many of them will remain with accident survivors for the rest of their lives. Treating these losses requires a personal injury settlement or verdict that provides lifelong compensation to match medical bills, rehabilitation costs, ongoing pain and suffering, in-home care, vocational training or lost earnings, and other injury-related damages. We will not settle for anything less than the financial resources you need now and for the rest of your days.
Where Can You Get Into Car Accidents in Woodbury?
Situated as it is on the outskirts of a major metropolis and at the confluence of two high-traffic interstate highways, Woodbury sees more than its share of serious car accidents. According to Minnesota State Police records, recent locations of fatal and injury accidents in Woodbury include:
- Westbound I-94 at Radio Drive;
- The I-94 and I-494 interchange; and
- I-494 at Tamarack Drive.
Of course, dangerous and deadly crashes in Woodbury are not limited to the area's highways. No matter where a collision happens, the team at Nicolet Law in Woodbury can help victims secure the compensation they need and deserve.
Woodbury Car Accident Injuries and Their Consequences
Severe injuries can leave you suffering from substantial, ongoing consequences.
In many cases, your car accident injuries can have lifelong impacts on your work, your leisure activities, and even your relationships.
- Traumatic brain injury. Victims with traumatic brain injury often find that their injuries impact their everyday lives in substantial, ongoing ways. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in your accident, you may notice trouble with focus and concentration, or find yourself struggling to remember the details of everyday life. Traumatic brain injury can also lead to severe emotional disruption.
- Back and neck injuries. The spinal cord not only supports your movements, it also serves as a vital messaging system that passes sensation, from heat and cold to pain, throughout your body. Injury to the back and neck can interfere with many of your movements or leave you struggling to get around. Spinal cord injuries can even leave you paralyzed. Some victims with spinal cord injuries end up confined to a wheelchair.
- Amputation. Some car accident victims suffer such severe injuries that they result in limb amputation. Often, amputees go through considerable physical and occupational therapy to help maintain independence despite the missing limb. Some victims also choose to use prosthetics, which may help increase mobility and independence but may pose a significant, ongoing expense.
- Burns. In many car accidents, especially if the accident compromises the gas tank, the car can burst into flames. Those flames can lead to severe burn injuries in their victims, which may cause lifelong scarring and disfigurement. Many victims find this disfigurement incredibly difficult to deal with.
- Broken bones. Broken bones can cause immense trauma to the victim. Multiple broken bones can cause substantial ongoing pain for the victim, even after the initial recovery. Broken bones can also interfere with the victim’s ability to engage in many tasks, including work and self-care tasks.
Determining Liability for a Woodbury Car Accident
You may assume that the other driver bears liability for your accident, especially if you know you did nothing to contribute to the accident. Before filing your claim, however, an attorney will carefully go over all the circumstances that led to the accident. Often, an attorney can identify multiple parties that may share liability for your car accident.
In some cases, identifying multiple liable parties can help increase the compensation you receive for your injuries.
- Was the other driver on the clock? If you had an accident with a commercial driver or someone working at the time of the accident, the driver's company may share liability for the accident and, therefore, for your injuries. Sometimes, the company may deliberately commit an act of negligence that leads to your car accident, including pushing the driver to ignore the rules of the road or failing to take care of needed maintenance on a company vehicle. In other cases, the company may bear liability due to a decision to hire or continue to employ a driver with a history of dangerous driving behaviors.
- Did mechanical failure contribute to your Woodbury car accident? Sometimes, mechanical failure can cause devastating accidents. A car's brakes fail, its engine cuts out, or its steering goes out at the worst possible moment. As a result, the driver may have little control over the vehicle. Sometimes, manufacturers share liability for these accidents, since they may have released vehicles that do not have adequate safety features or with failed parts. Other times, a mechanic who certified the vehicle as road-worthy, despite failing to complete needed repairs or causing damage to the vehicle, may share liability for an accident.
Determining the Compensation You May Receive After a Woodbury Car Accident
After a Minnesota personal injury accident, you may notice bills adding up fast. You need to take care of your medical expenses and pay your regular bills. Compensation for your car accident can, in many cases, make it easier to take care of those expenses. An attorney cannot guarantee the compensation you will receive for your injuries. However, they can help you assess the factors that may contribute to your claim and give you a better idea of how much compensation you can expect.
In most cases, car accident victims will include the same basic elements as part of their claims: compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Woodbury Car Accident FAQs
Following a car accident, especially one that results in serious injuries, you may have questions about your legal right to compensation and what you can expect in the aftermath of your claim. If you have questions about the specific terms of your car accident, contact an experienced car accident injury attorney as soon as possible.
How long after a car accident do I have to file a Woodbury car accident injury claim?
To receive compensation for your injuries, you must file a car accident injury claim before the statute of limitations runs out. The statute of limitations for your car accident may depend on several factors, including the age of the injured party at the time of the accident and who caused your injuries. Accordingly, you should contact an experienced car accident injury attorney as soon as possible to learn more about how long you may have to file a claim.
Can an attorney tell me how much compensation I should expect after a Woodbury car accident?
An attorney cannot promise how much compensation you will receive after a serious car accident.
An experienced car accident injury attorney can, however, help you evaluate the circumstances of your accident and give you a better idea of how much compensation you might receive for your injuries.
- Who caused your accident? To determine how much compensation you can expect for your accident, your attorney will start by taking a look at who caused your accident and your injuries. In most cases, drivers carry insurance policies designed to provide compensation for injuries sustained in an accident caused by that driver. The driver’s insurance policy may limit how much compensation you can receive for your injuries. Some drivers, including commercial drivers and rideshare drivers, carry higher-value policies that may offer more compensation.
- What injuries did you suffer? In most car accident claims, your medical bills will form the foundation of your claim. Depending on your injuries, you may have substantial medical bills, from emergency room bills for immediate care after your accident to the cost of physical or occupational therapy. Keep track of all medical expenses related to your accident so that you will know what costs you faced and how much compensation you should expect.
- What other financial losses did you experience after the accident? Your attorney will help you evaluate any other financial losses you experienced as a result of your injuries, including your lost wages at work. Many employers will want you to make a full recovery before bringing you back to work. Others may work with you, but your injuries may limit your hours or the duties you can take on. Those lost wages can cause immense financial difficulty during an already difficult time.
- How did your injuries affect your life? In addition to the actual financial losses you sustained, you may have found that your injuries had a substantial impact on other areas of your life, including your friendships and relationships or the activities you could enjoy. Most car accident injury claims include a category for pain and suffering. Your attorney can help you evaluate how your accident has impacted your life and give you a better idea of how much compensation you should ask for.
How should I pay my medical bills after a Woodbury car accident?
You will need to make financial arrangements to manage your medical bills after a car accident, whether that means setting up a payment schedule or using your medical insurance to pay for those expenses. Make sure you notify your medical insurance provider about your accident and ask any questions about your coverage as soon as possible, since the terms of your medical insurance policy may help determine your care plan.
As a Minnesotan, you must also carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Personal injury protection insurance provides immediate coverage for medical bills you sustained as a result of severe injuries in a car accident. You should use your personal injury protection coverage first if you suffer severe injuries in a car accident.
Finally, you can use the funds from your car accident injury claim to cover the cost of medical care. However, you should not expect the party that caused your accident to pay your medical bills directly. Instead, you will need to use the money from your claim to pay those bills.
Can I file a Woodbury car accident claim if my personal injury protection insurance covers most of the cost of my injuries?
Minnesota has a no-fault law that states that you cannot recover damages below the threshold of your personal injury protection insurance. In an accident with relatively minor injuries, each driver will claim compensation through their own policy. If you suffer more serious injuries and, therefore, greater overall expenses, you can turn to a car accident injury claim to cover many of those expenses and provide you with the compensation you deserve.
If the other driver’s insurance company offers me a settlement for my injuries, should I take it?
Talk to an experienced Woodbury car accident injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer, especially one that arrives shortly after your accident. In many cases, the insurance company will try to convince you to accept a low settlement offer, rather than waiting for the compensation you actually deserve for your injuries. If you accept that settlement offer, it may let the insurance company off the hook and leave you with substantial expenses you cannot pay. Talk to an attorney to learn how much compensation you really deserve for your injuries.
Will my Woodbury car accident claim need to go to court?
Most car accident claims settle out of court. The insurance company does not want to have to face the added expense associated with litigation and will often come to a settlement agreement. However, some car accident claims do have to go to court. You should have an attorney on your side from the beginning to help make your claim easier to manage.
How long will it take to settle my Woodbury car accident claim?
Each claim proceeds at its own rate. If you have severe injuries, you may need to wait until your doctors can accurately predict your prognosis before filing a car accident injury claim. Your attorney may need time to investigate. You may also need to go through several rounds of negotiation before reaching a settlement agreement.
You Can Call Our Woodbury Car Accident Attorneys Anytime
Did you suffer serious injuries in a Woodbury car accident? Woodbury-area car accident victims need experienced, steady legal guidance to support them through the difficult period after a crash inflicts injuries and losses. Nicolet Law's team of award-winning lawyers takes pride in helping our friends and neighbors in Woodbury secure fair compensation to help them regain their health and rebuild their lives.
If a car accident in Woodbury injured you or a loved one, then contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers online, or call us at (651) 815-0017 for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights and options.