The aftermath of a serious accident can be overwhelming and confusing. How will you pay for your medical bills? Can you get your personal property repaired or replaced? Can you file a lawsuit? Under Minnesota personal injury laws, you may be able to sue the person or party responsible for your accident and get compensation for your injuries and other expenses. A Minneapolis personal injury lawyer can guide you through the process.
Basics of Minnesota Personal Injury Law
You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota civil court if:
- The party you’re suing, known as the defendant, owed you a duty of care, or had a legal responsibility to try to avoid injuring you
- The defendant — which can be a person, company or government agency — violated their duty of care and you were hurt as a result of their negligent, reckless or intentional behavior
- You suffered damages, or financial losses, because of of the accident and your resulting injuries
There is a deadline (known as the statute of limitations) to file a personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota, and it will vary depending on the specifics of your case. In the case of defective products, for example, you have just six months to file a claim, wrongful death cases must be filed within three years and medical malpractice cases must be filed within four years. Talk to your Minnesota personal injury lawyer to learn how much time you have to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries.
How Much Does a Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
If you’ve already spent a lot of money on doctor’s bills and other accident related expenses, you may be wondering if you can afford to hire a lawyer to handle your personal injury case. Good news! Minneapolis personal injury law firms typically charge plaintiffs in personal injury cases what is known as a contingency fee. That means you only pay your lawyer if your case is successful. If you don’t recover any money in court or through out-of-court settlement negotiations, then you owe your lawyer nothing.
If your case is successful, you’ll owe your Minneapolis personal injury attorney a percentage of any money you receive. You’ll also probably have to reimburse your lawyer for any out-of-pocket expenses he or she incurred in preparing and trying your case. For example, these might include the cost of filing the lawsuit or hiring an expert witness to testify on your behalf in court.
