Stressful times can lead to poor decisions, like just trying to resolve a claim and accepting whatever the insurance company offers. Or taking the blame for something that wasn’t your fault. Being stuck with the choice to either accept less than what you deserve or draw out payment leaves many going with the first.
“Indecision can paralyze clients to the point that they miss deadlines and no longer have the option to get any compensation. Legal representation is vital for victims of personal injuries for this and many other reasons. The Bloomington personal injury lawyers at Florin|Roebig can assist you with filing paperwork and meeting deadlines. The initial call is free,” states attorney Chad K. Florin.
How Do Bloomington Personal Injury Claims Work?
Understanding the Bloomington personal injury claim process is key to avoiding missteps like filing the wrong paperwork and missing deadlines. You also want to ensure that your claim is valid under Minnesota personal injury laws.
Understanding Personal Injury Claims
The first thing to know about personal injury claims is that most of them require you to prove that the other party was negligent.
Proving negligence means that:
- The offending party owed you a duty of care;
- Which they breached by doing something they shouldn’t or not doing something they should’ve;
- Which led to your injuries and emotional distress;
- And that impact was significant enough to warrant filing a claim against them.
An exception to the negligence requirement is animal bites. If a dog bites you, the owner is strictly liable, so proving negligence isn’t required. In these cases, the owner would have to prove that you provoked the animal to offset strict liability charges.
Legal Framework And Eligibility Criteria
Minnesota personal injury laws outline specific criteria for filing claims. Your accident must meet certain thresholds to be eligible to pursue damages against the at-fault party. In addition to being the product of negligent behavior by another party, your injuries must meet the minimums for economic damages in receipts for medical treatment of one injured person and other related expenses. Non-economic losses must satisfy a minimum dollar amount or meet other required factors.
Being aware of these circumstances can save you a lot of hassle when filing a claim in Bloomington. If you need clarification on the laws and how they apply to your specific claim, please contact Florin|Roebig for help.
Step-By-Step Guide To Filing A Bloomington Personal Injury Claim
It’s important to lay a solid foundation before filing a personal injury claim in Bloomington. Insurance companies often push for you to file quickly because you may lack evidence or understanding of your legal rights. They take advantage of the situation and convince clients to take a much lower payout.
You should file soon after the incident that led to your injuries using these vital personal injury claim steps:
- Contact the Bloomington personal injury attorneys at Florin|Roebig for a free consultation.
- Once we’ve determined that you have a valid complaint, we’ll work to investigate your case further and collect any evidence you may have missed.
- When we’ve laid the groundwork for it, it’s time to file the claim. Some entities, like the city government, require you to file a notice of claim before the actual claim. This may have a shorter deadline than the statute of limitations.
- Negotiation occurs after all parties have been notified of your personal injury claim. We try to cut through a lot of the nonsense they may throw out and get to the real numbers.
- If the insurance company, property owner, manufacturer, or other responsible party is uncooperative, we move to litigation and a personal injury lawsuit against them. We know when we have a solid case supported by the evidence, and we don’t allow bad actors to shortchange accident victims.
At Florin|Roebig, our team is clear on the Bloomington legal process. We work with injury victims every step of the way to bring about justice and win fair compensation.
Common Types Of Accidents That Lead To Personal Injury Claims In Bloomington
Bloomington accident claims can vary based on cause and severity. Certain types of personal injury claims occur more frequently, with unintentional injury being the fourth highest cause of death in Hennepin County where Bloomington is located.
These are common personal injury accidents in Bloomington, Minnesota:
Car Accidents: Car accidents contribute to a high number of personal injury cases. Bloomington Police Department reported 389 crashes in 2023, with 267 injuries and four fatalities.
Slip and Fall Accidents: Uneven flooring, wet floors, lack of stair rail, and other unsafe conditions can cause a customer or guest to fall, leading to injury. Minnesota hospitals treated almost 80,000 falls in 2022.
Workplace Accidents: Non-fatal injuries in the workplace totaled around 60,000 for workers in 2022, which marks a slight increase from 2021. Unsafe working conditions can lead to costly injuries for employees.
Medical Malpractice: Healthcare providers who fail to take care of patients are responsible for their negligent behavior under Minnesota laws. Nursing home abuse falls into this category, with residents often receiving a low level of care from caretakers.
Product Liability: Companies and manufacturers are responsible for the products they release to the public. When they fail to properly vet a product or knowingly send a defective part, it can lead to serious injury.
What Injuries Qualify For A Personal Injury Claim?
Injury costs must exceed the minimums for Bloomington personal injury claims. However, the types of personal injuries can vary in the number you have and their severity.
Qualifying injuries for personal injury claims in Bloomington may include:
Physical injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, torn ligaments and tendons, and severe contusions and lacerations.
Emotional and psychological injuries, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression related to the accident, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Chronic and long-term injuries, such as permanent disabilities, disfigurement, chronic pain, amputation, and paralysis.
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What Damages Can Be Claimed In Bloomington Personal Injury Cases?
Bloomington’s personal injury damages can be economic and non-economic. Economic damages are direct financial losses, meaning you should show estimates or receipts for these.
Non-economic damages are experiential and must be translated into a dollar amount. These include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Spouses can file for loss of consortium when your injuries impact the ability to maintain a reasonable relationship with your spouse.
Punitive damages apply sometimes, but these types of damages in personal injury cases are rare. Compensation for injury claims with this requires proof of gross negligence. These claims are not included in the original filing but are added after the fact.
Best Personal Injury Lawyers In Bloomington
Personal injury lawyers in Bloomington should make your case easier. You shouldn’t have to hunt down your attorney every time you have a question or to get an update on your case. You should be confident that their law office can handle the demands of your claim.
Criteria For Choosing A Lawyer
Top personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success and are able to back that up with legitimate client testimonials. Look for a law firm with years of experience and specialized practice areas that match your personal injury claim.
If you’re not sure where to begin, we can ease the burden of your search.
Why Choose Florin|Roebig?
We think the best Bloomington personal injury lawyers work at Florin|Roebig because our legal team checks all the boxes. We can provide you with reviews by our peers as well as our past clients, and our track record includes over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
We put our expansive resources to work for our clients every day, as we’ve done for more than three decades.
For over 30 years, Florin|Roebig has helped with personal injury cases in practice areas such as:
- Auto accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Worker’s compensation
- Premises liability
- Elder abuse
- Animal bites
- Slip and falls
Chad K. Florin says, “Let Florin|Roebig personal injury expertise support you in your time of need. We’ll take care of your claim so you can take care of yourself and your loved ones. You’ll receive regular updates on your case status, you can call us anytime and reach a representative, and have the resources to tackle your claim.”
Practical Advice For After A Personal Injury
Improve the strength of your claim by following our advice after personal injury. Knowing what to do after an injury can support your claim while making mistakes can hurt it.
These are our top Bloomington personal injury tips for what to do after you’ve been injured:
- Go to the doctor: You need a medical assessment to show the specifics of your injury and establish its progression and treatment. Stick with the follow-up so your claims stay valid. Otherwise, you risk getting and keeping a fair settlement.
- Document, document, and document: The simplest things, like a prescription receipt you toss on your floorboard, can matter for your case. Keep all receipts, records, and statements related to any injury. This includes pictures and videos, car repairs, medical expenses, and normal household expenses.
- Keep your lawyer in the loop: Be transparent about your ongoing recovery and your struggles. Your lawyer may be able to help in real-time, and they may be able to use the information in defending your personal injury claim.
- Never apologize: You may or may not have contributed to your accident, but an apology will make it sound like you’re at fault. This can reduce or remove the validity of your claim.
- Never accept the first offer: Avoid speaking to your insurance company without your attorney, and do not indicate acceptance of their settlement offer. Ask your lawyer if it’s a reasonable amount. Better yet, let them handle the negotiations.
FAQs About Bloomington Personal Injury Lawyers
What is the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Bloomington?
The short answer is anywhere from two to six years. The long answer is that statutes of limitations vary heavily depending on what type of personal injury claim you’ve made, whether a government entity is an at-fault party, and if the case involves minors.
Sharing the specific details of your case with the experienced personal injury lawyers at Florin|Roebig will give you the answers you seek.
How long does it take to settle a personal injury case?
Anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. Most cases settle outside of court after a few weeks. Cases that take longer tend to have some combination of significant injuries, greater property damage, multiple parties on one or both sides and higher settlements.
Contacting Florin|Roebig Law Office about your case and discussing it with one of our representatives will help you understand how long your case might take and what compensation you might expect.
Do I have to go to court for my personal injury claim?
Not usually. Over 90% of personal injury claims are resolved without going to court. The more complex the claim, the more likely it is to go to trial.
What if I am partially at fault for the accident?
You may still be able to claim compensation if you’re partially at fault under Minnesota’s modified comparative negligence law. As long as you’re less than half at fault, you may be able to claim damages.
However, claiming a settlement when you share fault is complicated. Florin|Roebig’s law firm can help you clear things up.
How are personal injury lawyers paid?
On a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we secure a payout for you. Most personal injury law firms operate under this premise.
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How To Get Help From Florin|Roebig Attorneys
Because the initial consultation is a getting-to-know-you scenario, it’s always free. Our goal is to tell you whether you have a case and if we can win what’s needed to cover your medical bills and future needs. We are honest and up-front about any hurdles or holes in your case, and we won’t lie to you about your chances of winning.
The first meeting with Florin|Roebig helps us understand the parameters of your case, including:
- The scope of your injuries
- How they occurred
- The evidence you have to support your case
- What steps you’ve taken in the legal process
Once our legal team has this information, we begin tailoring our strategy to the unique details of your case and needs. Our personalized approach ensures that the focus is on reaching a fair settlement for you. The personal injury legal help from your Bloomington attorney consultation can assist in making an informed decision about your claim.
You have a few options to contact a Florin|Roebig Bloomington personal injury lawyer. You can talk with us via our online chat feature, send in our online form for us to contact you, or call us at the best phone number for your needs. Our Minnesota office is ready to serve you today.
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer in Bloomington is crucial. While you’re going through the personal injury claim process, it matters that you have professionals on your side. Florin|Roebig serves the residents of Bloomington and surrounding areas with years of experience in personal injury cases.
When you or a loved one have been injured due to negligence or you’ve lost a family member in a wrongful death incident, know that our team can help with your legal issues. Your suffering shouldn’t be made worse by working with inexperienced or uncompassionate lawyers. If you want the best possible outcome in your personal injury case, you should work with the best possible law firm, and that’s Florin|Roebig.
Get started with your free case evaluation by visiting our Contact Us page for more information. Our phone numbers, office information, and online chat are listed. We also provide a form that you can submit if you’d prefer we reach out to you.
