Your vehicle will probably not be your only loss after being in a car accident.
Medical bills and time off from work will affect you as well.
Serious traffic injuries remain a concern in Minneapolis. The city states that between 2017 and 2025, there have been roughly 160 deaths or serious injuries per year.
This article will go over:
- Your no fault insurance benefits
- Financial and non financial damages
- Factors that can increase or decrease your settlement
- Proving your injury
Start With Minnesota’s No-Fault Insurance
Since Minnesota has no fault car insurance, many injured people may seek no-fault benefits after an accident. These benefits can be collected from your insurance company, regardless of who caused the accident.
You are required to carry a minimum of $40,000 in Personal Injury Protection benefits (PIP) for each person who is injured.
The minimum $40,000 in PIP coverage is split into two categories with separate limits:
|
Type of benefit |
Amount |
|
Medical expenses |
$20,000 |
|
Lost wages, household services, and other expenses |
$20,000 |
Just because you have no fault insurance does not mean all of your bills will be paid. There are limitations and exclusions to know about.
Your no fault benefits will also not pay for your vehicle repairs.
After you have been in an accident, make sure to report your accident and keep all notices from your insurance company. Make sure to know what bills are going to your no fault benefits.
Depending on your situation, your no fault benefits may come from a different policy than the one you think. If you were a passenger or pedestrian, you may need to collect from a different insurance company.
Your car accident attorney in Minneapolis can help you figure out what your no fault benefits will pay for. An attorney, such as those at Meshbesher & Spence, can also help you determine if you can collect additional damages from the at fault driver.
Medical Expenses, Including Future Treatment
Your medical bills will not end once you leave the hospital. You may need to see specialists, go to physical therapy, buy medications, or even need surgery.
There may be times when you are receiving treatment even after your car has been fixed. You will want to keep these future medical bills in mind when collecting on your injury claim.
A lawyer may seek reasonable injury-related expenses recoverable beyond applicable no-fault benefits, supported by treatment records and coverage details.
A final settlement and release may prevent further recovery for that injury, even if treatment costs increase later. This is why it is important to know what medical treatment you will need in the future.
Always ask your doctors how long it will take you to recover from your injuries. Your current medical bills may not reflect what you will need in the future.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Ability
If you have been hurt, you may have lost wages while you are healing from your injuries.
Your no fault benefits can cover some of your lost wages, depending on what your policy says. There are other forms of economic damages you can collect that your no fault benefits do not cover.
You may also collect for decreased earning capacity.
This is different from lost wages because it will look at your ability to earn money in the future. For instance, you may no longer be able to lift heavy objects after a back injury and can only collect less money working somewhere else.
You can use your pay stubs, taxes, and other records to show how much money you have earnt in the past. You will also want to have documentation for your future loss of income.
If you are self-employed, you can use your invoices, jobs that you have not been able to do, and past taxes to show your losses. Medical documentation of any actual work restrictions may help support your claim.
Help at Home and Other Everyday Costs
You may not think about this, but if you are injured you may not be able to do your normal household chores.
If you break your leg, you may need to hire someone to cook for you or clean your house. Your no fault insurance can pay for some of these replacement service benefits. You will not be able to collect for the day of the injury or the next 7 days.
If you need to travel to see a doctor or have other expenses that can be attributed to your injury, you may be able to collect for these as well. It will depend on what type of claim you are bringing and your available coverage.
Make sure to keep all of your receipts and write down what you needed help with. Once things start to go back to normal, you may forget these small expenses.
Pain, Suffering, and Changes to Daily Life
Not everything you lose can be put on a piece of paper.
If you suffer from pain, fear of driving, lack of sleep, or are no longer able to enjoy life, you may be able to collect for these damages. These are called non economic damages.
There are certain requirements that must be met before you can collect for non economic damages in a car accident in Minnesota. You must have suffered from:
- Permanent injury or permanent disfigurement
- Disability lasting 60 days or more
- Qualifying medical expenses exceeding $4,000
- Death
When using the $4,000 medical expense requirement, there are some medical expenses that are excluded. Under this law, disability means being unable to perform all usual daily activities substantially.
Having these types of injuries does not mean you will receive a set amount for your pain and suffering. There are many factors that can go into how much you collect.
Your medical records will be helpful, but you should also keep a diary of how your injury has affected you. What have you been unable to do, how long do your symptoms last, and who has had to help you.
Vehicle Damage and Losses After a Fatal Crash
As stated earlier, you will not be able to collect your property damage under your no fault insurance benefits. Depending on fault and coverage, you may seek reasonable repair costs or the vehicle’s value if it is a total loss.
You may also be able to collect for towing fees and other related expenses.
If your loved one died as a result of the accident, a trustee appointed by the court can bring a claim on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin. Damages may include the survivors’ pecuniary losses and certain losses suffered by the deceased before death; funeral expenses are also addressed by the statute.
Make sure to know the statute of limitations for wrongful death.
What Determines the Amount Recovered?
There is no set amount that you will collect for your car accident claim. Every accident will be different, just like every person who is hurt in an accident.
You will want to know how much fault you may have played in your accident. Minnesota uses comparative fault. Partial fault can reduce damages, and recovery against a defendant may be barred if the injured person was more at fault than that defendant.
If you are found to be more at fault than the defendant, you will not be able to collect from that person.
There are many things that your attorney will look at when determining your settlement.
- Who was at fault for the accident
- Your injuries and medical records
- Your lost wages and medical bills
- Your available insurance coverage
With all of this information, your car accident attorney can help you collect for your losses.
Wrapping It Up
You may be able to collect many things after being in a car accident in Minneapolis, MN. Depending on the facts and legal requirements, recoverable losses may include medical bills, lost income, replacement services, property damage, pain and suffering, or losses following a fatal crash.
Just remember to document your injuries, expenses, and how your life has been impacted by your injuries. An attorney can assess which losses Minnesota law and the available evidence may support.