A rear-end collision can cause severe injuries and medical conditions, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a rear-end collision in Minnesota, contact a car accident lawyer at Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. Our compassionate team can evaluate your case to determine whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties. If you are eligible, we can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
The average settlement for a rear-end collision varies from case to case in Minnesota. Many factors can affect the settlement you receive, including the severity of your injuries, whether you can work, how much emotional pain you go through due to your accident, whether you used seatbelts, and whether you were responsible for the accident.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a rear-end collision in Minnesota, talk to an attorney at Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. Our award-winning personal injury lawyers can determine your eligibility for filing a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for your losses. If you are eligible and your lawsuit is successful, we can calculate the damages you deserve. Depending on the facts of your case, you may recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
What Causes Rear-End Collisions in Minnesota?
Like other types of car crashes, rear-end collisions can have many causes. Common causes include:
- Speeding extends the distance required to stop safely and reduces a driver’s reaction time.
- Distracted driving includes any activities that keep drivers from focusing on the road, such as eating, talking, texting, daydreaming, or talking to passengers.
- Tailgating happens when a vehicle follows too closely behind another vehicle. This can cause a collision if the leading vehicle suddenly stops.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol interferes with drivers’ motor, visual, and cognitive abilities.
- Driving while fatigued can impair a driver’s ability to drive safely.
What Kind of Injuries Can Rear-End Collisions Cause?
Rear-end crashes in Minnesota can cause severe and fatal injuries. Rear-end crash victims often suffer:
- Bone fractures are cracks or breaks in bones that happen when strong forces are exerted against bones and may include bone fractures on hips, wrists, and ankles.
- Whiplash is an injury to your neck that happens when your neck is forcibly bent forward and backward or vice versa.
- Abrasions, puncture wounds, lacerations, and contusions can happen when occupants come into contact with shattered metal, glass, or the steering wheel.
- Internal injuries such as collapsed lungs, ruptured organs, and internal bleeding can happen when occupants collide with car parts.
- Spinal cord injuries happen when any part of the spinal cord is damaged, often causing permanent changes in sensation, strength, and other body functions below the site of injury. Those with severe spinal cord injuries may require wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
- Traumatic brain injuries result from violent blows to the head and can cause various long-term problems, such as blurred vision, changes in the ability to smell, memory or concentration problems, mood swings or changes, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, loss of balance, and speech problems.
These injuries must be diagnosed and treated immediately. Many conditions appear mild, only to worsen over time. For example, many traumatic brain injury symptoms do not appear for hours or days after the accident. Immediately call 911 after an rear-end collision to ensure prompt treatment.
Who Is Responsible for a Rear-End Collision in Minnesota?
Several parties may be responsible for a rear-end crash in Minnesota. These include:
- The trailing driver may be responsible if they cannot stop their car in time to avoid colliding with the leading vehicle, regardless of weather or road conditions,
- The leading driver may be responsible if their vehicle rolls backward, drives erratically, drives while under the influence, or stops abruptly.
- A driver’s employer may be responsible if a driver causes a rear-end accident while operating a work vehicle. The employer may also be responsible for failing to train their driver properly or keep the vehicle in a safe working condition.
- Others on the road, such as work crews, pedestrians, and cyclists, may also be responsible if they are under the influence or come to any sudden stops.
Proving Negligence in Minnesota
Under Minnesota law, rear-end collision victims must prove another party’s negligence to file a personal injury lawsuit for rear-end collision damages. In other words, they must demonstrate the following:
- The defendant—the person sued—failed to fulfill their legal duty to operate their vehicle safely. For example, the leading driver failed to follow the rules of the road by driving erratically or stopping too suddenly.
- The defendant’s failure caused the rear-end collision.
- The rear-end collision caused the victim to suffer damages, such as injuries, property damage, and emotional complications.
A qualified Minnesota car accident lawyer can prove negligence by gathering and preserving relevant evidence, including dash cam footage, physical evidence such as bloody shirts and car parts, and expert witness testimonies from car accident reconstructionists.
What Damages or Compensation Are Available in Rear-End Collisions?
Rear-end collision victims generally receive the following types of compensation:
- Economic damages compensate for objectively verifiable losses such as medical costs, funeral expenses, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
- Non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and disfigurement.
In rare cases, courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant. Punitive damages are only available if the injured party proves the defendant deliberately or recklessly disregarded others’ safety and rights. Revisions to the Minnesota statutes outline penalties related to bodily harm.
What Factors Impact Rear-End Collision Settlements?
What is the average settlement for a rear-end collision? The answer depends on the facts of your case. Several factors affect rear-end collision settlements, including the following:
- Types and extent of injuries: Severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, usually have higher payouts.
- Effects on ability to work: Injuries that affect your ability to work may result in higher settlements. For example, someone paralyzed may receive a much higher settlement than someone with a broken ankle.
- Effects on daily activities: If your injuries impact your daily activities and you need assistance, you may receive a higher settlement.
- Emotional suffering: The more emotional pain you go through, the more you may receive. For instance, you may receive a higher settlement for post-traumatic stress disorder than mild depression.
- Usage of seatbelts: Parties who did not use seatbelts during the accident may receive lower settlements than those who did. Failing to wear a seatbelt is considered contributory negligence, which means you are partially to blame for the severity of your injuries.
- Fault for the accident: You may receive a higher payout if multiple parties were responsible for the car accident, you may receive a higher payout.
- Comparative Fault: Minnesota has a modified comparative negligence law. You may recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, you must not be more responsible than the defendant for the accident. You are barred from recovering any damages if you are more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. If you are 50 percent or less at fault, the court will reduce your total compensation by the percentage of your fault.
There is no precise formula for determining how much you can get for your case. Contact a Milavetz Injury Law so a personal injury attorney can evaluate your case.
Contact Milavetz Injury Law, P.A. For Legal Help
Finding a knowledgeable, trusted Minnesota personal injury lawyer can be challenging, especially when dealing with severe injuries and trauma.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a rear-end collision, call Milavetz Injury Law. Our lawyers have helped Minnesotans in Minneapolis and St. Paul since 1963 and obtained results in the millions, including $15,500,000 for a trucking accident.
We will determine whether you can file a personal injury lawsuit. If you are eligible, we will work diligently to secure maximum compensation and justice so you can focus on healing and restoring your life.
Contact us at 763-560-0000 for a free evaluation of your rear-end car accident case.
