Being injured in a car accident can lead to serious complications that have life-changing consequences. If your injuries exceed what the minimum insurance policy covers, you may face significant out-of-pocket costs while trying to recover or return to work. If another driver caused your injuries, you might be able to file a third-party lawsuit to recover damages beyond what minimum insurance policies provide.
At Milavetz Injury Law, P.A., our car accident attorneys bring more than 60 years of experience securing compensation for injured clients. Our Minnesota legal team is dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable and pursuing the full compensation you need to recover.
What Does Minnesota PIP Cover and Why It May Not Be Enough After a Car Accident
Minnesota requires drivers to have personal injury protection, liability insurance, and coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists. The minimum insurance includes $40,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). This coverage provides $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical costs, such as lost wages.
PIP doesn’t cover property damage, like your vehicle, pain and suffering, non-economic losses, and medical expenses above the policy limit. PIP coverage is strict in its limits, and if you need more for medical expenses than for lost wages, you cannot allocate the non-medical costs to it. Additionally, Minnesota is considered a no-fault state, which means you must use your PIP coverage first to pay for your medical bills.
Medical costs can escalate quickly if you need surgeries, hospital stays, or ongoing rehabilitation such as physical therapy. Depending on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident, your expenses may exceed PIP limits. Any remaining bills would then need to be paid through health insurance, a third-party claim, or even out of pocket.
If your insurance doesn’t cover your losses and someone else was responsible for the accident, you may be able to pursue a claim against the other driver for further damages, even if they are uninsured.
When You Can Sue a Third Party for Additional Compensation
You can file a lawsuit against a third party for extra compensation beyond PIP coverage after a car accident that injured you if the other party’s negligence caused the crash. If someone’s negligence led to your accident and injuries, you must meet the legal standards to claim damages beyond PIP to pursue a lawsuit in Minnesota.
In Minnesota, you must meet the tort threshold. The extent and seriousness of your injuries must meet a certain standard to qualify for compensation beyond typical insurance.
The tort threshold requires you:
- Have over $4,000 in medical expenses from your injury
- Have an injury that results in permanent disfigurement, injury, death, or disability for over 60 days.
In a third-party lawsuit, you can sue the negligent party or file a claim against their insurance to continue seeking damages. In this case, the other driver would be the third party, a manufacturer of a faulty brake component, or a business a delivery driver works for.
Minnesota’s statute of limitations for car accidents gives you six years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some exceptions may apply depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Missing the statute of limitations can mean losing eligibility to sue or receive compensation. If you have been injured in a car accident in Minnesota, it’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible so your lawyer can start preparing your case and gathering evidence quickly.
What You Can Recover in a Third-Party Lawsuit
After being injured in a car accident that was caused by another’s negligence, like a drunk or distracted driver, you can pursue compensation that goes beyond what PIP coverage provides.
With the minimum coverage, Minnesota PIP provides up to $20,000 for medical expenses and another $20,000 for lost wages and related costs. Benefits include coverage of medical bills up to the policy limit, wage loss of up to $500 per week, replacement services of up to $200 per week, and survivors’ benefits for funeral and burial expenses. Replacement services can help pay for tasks such as cooking or housecleaning if your injuries keep you from doing them.
If your vehicle is totaled after an accident, your PIP coverage does not cover any damage to your car. If you file a car accident lawsuit, you can recover economic and non-monetary damages. Economic damages cover financial losses, while non-economic damages address losses beyond finances that affect daily life.
Some damages you can receive beyond PIP include:
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Remaining medical expenses not covered by PIP
- Future medical expenses
- Full lost wages and loss of earning potential
- Other non-monetary losses
In Minnesota law, there is no limit to the damages a car accident victim can pursue.
How Milavetz Injury Law Can Help You Recover Beyond PIP
With over 60 years of experience fighting for injured Minnesotans, our team at Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. will establish fault and fight for every dollar you are owed from the negligent party so you can focus on healing. We take pride in dedicating ourselves to our clients and have positive results with car accident lawsuits.
Our award-winning team of attorneys, like Alan S. Milavetz, has years of experience providing successful results in third-party lawsuits after PIP funds are exhausted. We want nothing more than to make recovery easier for you, and hope to provide relief, advocating for you and guiding you through the legal process.
We know how to investigate and gather the evidence you need for your case, no matter the complexity, and we will take on insurance companies on your behalf to pursue the maximum compensation you should receive. With our car accident attorneys, you’ll receive our unwavering commitment to stand up for you.
Contact Milavetz Injury Law Today
Acting quickly after a car accident in Minnesota is important since your PIP coverage might not cover all your medical expenses. Working with our experienced Minnesota car accident attorneys at Milavetz Injury Law, P.A., gives you the legal support you need to meet deadlines and get the compensation you deserve.
Our team offers free consultations and guarantees you won’t see any legal fees, unless we win your case. Contact us today or call one of our offices below to schedule your free consultation. If your PIP coverage isn’t enough, we’ll hold the at-fault party accountable for the rest.
- Brooklyn Center: (763) 560-0000
- Coon Rapids: (763) 323-7777
- Delano: (763) 415-7762
- Eagan: (651) 894-4775
- Forest Lake: (651) 464-2663
- Minneapolis: (612) 339-0140
- Minnetonka: (952) 295-4004
- Monticello: (763) 754-0000
- St. Cloud: (320) 202-7777
- St. Paul: (651) 645-7777
