Detroit Lakes Car Accident Attorney

Choose Our Firm to File a Car Accident Claim

In 2018, more than 79,000 traffic accidents were reported to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). 381 people lost their lives in those accidents, and another 27,800 or so were seriously injured. Put into other terms, more than 200 crashes happen each day in Minnesota, and about one person will lose their life each day due to a traffic collision.

With so many car accidents happening in Minnesota – a harrowing figure especially when compared to the state’s overall population – insurance companies are constantly refining their abilities to challenge and deny claims. If you need to file a car accident claim of your own, then you should take the initiative by teaming up with an experienced law firm.

Maring Williams Law Office in Detroit Lakes is here to support and guide you if you need to file a car accident claim. We have taken on virtually every major car insurance provider for our clients throughout Minnesota. With our extensive experience and history of successful case results, you can trust us to do what is right for your claim.

Discuss the details of your claim as soon as possible. Call (218) 228-6332 today.

Common Causes of Car Accidents & Traffic Collisions

The other driver that hit you must have done something wrong to cause the crash. What did they do, though? The question is not always easily answered. Our Detroit Lakes car accident lawyers know where to look for evidence of wrongdoing and liability, so we can figure out the cause of your crash and prove that you are not responsible for it.

A few common causes of car accidents in Minnesota are:

• Distraction: Even though hand-held use of cellphones is illegal in Minnesota, an unknown yet assumedly large percentage of drivers in the state use their cellphone each time they get behind the wheel. Driver distractions of all sorts – not just cellphone use – are extremely dangerous.
• Intoxication: Approximately 20% of all car accidents in Minnesota are believed to be caused by or involve an intoxicated driver. Proving that the other driver was drunk when they hit you can strengthen your claim.
• Speeding: Reckless driving habits like speeding are far too common on the roads of Minnesota. Other than speeding, unsafe lane changes and merges are among the top worst offenders.

What to Do & Not Do After a Car Accident

Proving liability is the underlying goal of any car accident claim. While most of the work to establish liability can be done by your lawyer, there are crucial moments immediately after a crash that may change liability or at least how others perceive liability to be.

Three things you should do after a car accident are:

• Take photographs of the scene, including vehicle damage, injuries, and road conditions.
• Talk to eyewitnesses and get their contact information if they want to give you a statement.
• Call the authorities to get police officers, fire rescue crews, and paramedics to the site.

Three things you should not do after a car accident are:

• Leave the scene before you can exchange contact and insurance information with all parties.
• Assume you are fine; you should always see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Apologize; saying you are sorry can be misinterpreted as an admission of guilt.

Minnesota Car Insurance Laws

Minnesota is one of a few states that have “no-fault” car insurance laws. In such states, drivers buy personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that will automatically provide lost wages, medical bills, and repair costs for yourself and other family members in your car after a crash. PIP claims are filed against the policyholder’s own insurance provider, not that of the other driver.

In order to file a claim against another driver after a crash, you must have required medical treatments valued at $4,000 or more, or you must have suffered permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, or a disability for at least 60 days. If one or both of these prerequisites are met, then you can consider filing a car accident claim in pursuit of additional damages. Since most car accidents that require a lawyer’s intervention and guidance are quite destructive, it is common for these prerequisites to be met.

What is a Good Settlement Offer After a Car Accident?

A "good" settlement is one that takes into account a variety of different damages that were incurred as a result of your accident, including: medical expenses, missed work or lost wages, pain and suffering, any permanent disability or change in quality of life, damaged property, any other expenses associated with your accident. Because of these variables, every settlement will be different. By having a lawyer on your side, you can help ensure that you receive a fair settlement from the insurance company.

Have More Questions? We Have Answers

You can depend on our Detroit Lakes car accident attorneys the moment you need some legal and moral support following a crash. We take pride in making things simpler for our clients by giving them reasons to be confident about their future wellbeing. While we work on your case, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

Tell us about your crash during a free initial case evaluation.