Minnesota Law Blog

Get ready for winter weather-related car accidents

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Friday, November 15, 2019.

Winter is here; there is no doubt about it. It is something that Minnesotans typically deal with, but it doesn't mean they are experts at driving in the snow and ice -- despite what some might think. Every winter, weather-related car accidents affect numerous people, but the weather is not fully at fault for these events. Drivers have a responsibility to adjust their driving habits when the weather turns.

There are numerous things drivers can do to make sure they drive safely this winter. If safe drivers get in accidents with unsafe drivers, they may have legal recourse. The state allows victims of negligent drivers or -- in the event of fatality -- their surviving family members to seek compensation for their losses.

Dog bites down, but not for everyone

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

Dogs can be wonderful companions for all ages, but they are also unpredictable, as are all animals. A bite from a dog can cause excruciating pain, debilitating injuries and disfiguring scars. Dog bites frequently become infected, causing even more medical challenges for the victim.

The good news is that dog bites across the country have dropped in the past year. However, that's not the whole story. If you live in Minnesota, you may be more likely to suffer a dog bite than in most other states. If you have a child, especially one who is a toddler, you have even more reason for concern.

How will you cope with paralysis caused by crash injuries?

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Friday, October 4, 2019.

If you spend a lot of time driving on the busy roads of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, you might have concerns about your safety and how you would manage if you suffered a life-changing injury in a car accident. It is a valid concern because accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, often with devastating consequences. Along with the trauma of a crash and the injuries you suffered will come the financial impact.

Authorities say, along with sports accidents, knife wounds, gunshots and falls, car accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, damage to your spinal cord could cause permanent disability.

Avoid post-divorce problems when kids go back to school

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Monday, August 26, 2019.

If a life-changing event occurred in your child's life over the summer, especially a stressful one such as divorce, it's always best to inform his or her teachers ahead of time. This way, when your son or daughter returns to school, the faculty is aware that this particular student is dealing with some personal life issues at home that may adversely affect his or her academic performance.

Working closely with your co-parent during back-to-school season can help your children adapt to their new lifestyle in a healthy manner. It may also help you avoid child custody or other legal problems. No matter how willing to cooperate and compromise you are, if the other parent is not equally putting forth effort, back-to-school season may be difficult to navigate. That's why it's important to build a strong support network from the start.

New Minnesota law hopes to reduce distracted driving

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

According to TrueMotion – a company that studies cellphone use – about 15% of a driver’s trip on Minnesota roads is spent talking on the cellphone. And about 60,000 crashes between 2014 and 2018 were a result of distracted driving. Now Minnesota is trying to reduce those numbers.

The hands-free law in Minnesota is official. As of August 1, 2019, holding a phone while driving can lead to a ticket. Lawmakers and police hope to reduce the distracted driving happening on Minnesota roads.

Pointers for parents on child passenger safety: 3 things to know

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Friday, July 26, 2019.

As a parent, you may be unsure about what car seat to get for your kids or how long they are supposed to ride in back.

In this post, we will inform you about three points that will help you take care of your kids with the right seating arrangements based on their ages.

Minnesota's dram shop law makes bars liable for accidents

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Monday, July 22, 2019.

The sad stories come to us all the time via the news or social media. A drunk driver's been arrested, sometimes having caused an accident that's injured or killed someone. We might not ordinarily stop to wonder where the alcohol came from.

But there's a good chance many bar owners all over the Twin Cities Metro feel a twinge of more personal worry. Minnesota law includes a provision allowing a person injured by a drunk driver to sue the bar or restaurant that served overserved the driver. The law is called the Dram Shop Law.

Drowning in debt? Bankruptcy could help.

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Many Americans have struggled financially at some point, and while unexpected bills might make money tight for a while, many times, you can find a way to get back on track.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some situations merit filing bankruptcy, but do you know when you might seriously consider that as an option for your circumstances?

Are off-highway vehicles such as ATVs becoming more dangerous?

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Friday, July 5, 2019.

There are many ways to enjoy Minnesota’s beautiful outdoors, maybe none more exhilarating than on an off-highway vehicle such as an ATV. Zipping through some of the region’s most stunning locales can be an ideal way to spend a nice day.

Unless something goes wrong. A defective vehicle can lead to devastating results for riders and their loved ones, even if they took all safety precautions possible. And the number of problematic vehicles appears to be rising.

The importance of slowing your speed in construction zones

On behalf of Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz PA on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

When the weather begins to warm up in Minnesota, we begin to think of summer days on the lake and bonfires in the evening. Then, before you know it, you’re snapped back to reality by orange construction signs, traffic cones, and workers wearing hard hats. While it’s true that warm weather means enjoying your favorite summer activities, it also means construction season.

Driving in construction zones is no one’s favorite summer past time but is a necessary evil of living in our state thanks to the long winters. Nearly 1,100 car accidents occurred in Minnesota construction zones in 2017, totaling one percent of all car accidents for that year in the state.