AUTO HIJACKINGS AN INCREASING PROBLEM

The Rochlin Law Firm has recently been getting calls about car jacking incidents in Minnesota. Our lawyers have 25 years’ experience taking calls from thousands of people in car accidents. However, only this year have we started getting calls about carjack incidents. The problem is not limited to Minneapolis. We have also been hearing from people car-jacked in the suburbs.

According to the Star Tribune, carjackings in Minneapolis went up 537 percent last year, and were up another 40 percent so far this year. This trend is consistent with many other areas across the country. Hennepin County recently hired an advocate to help carjacking victims.

INSURANCE COMPENSATION FOR CARJACKING

Our lawyers recently took a call from a woman who was carjacked at gunpoint. Fortunately, she was not physically injured. However, she was quite traumatized and now needs mental health therapy. The question is, who will pay for the treatment? It will probably not be the carjacker. So far, in most of these cases, the carjacker is never caught. Even if law enforcement catches them and you sue, you would probably not collect anything. Prosecutors can prosecute them, and the judge can order restitution.

Under Minnesota No-Fault law, your auto insurance must compensate you for injuries related to a car. Unfortunately, this only applies to physical injuries. The law is generally skeptical of psychological injuries. In this situation, that skepticism is misguided.

Our lawyers represent people injured in car accidents. Unfortunately, there is very little we can do in a carjacking case. Nonetheless, we are willing to spend a few minutes with anyone who has been a victim of this crime. We can at least talk through your options with you, and possibly refer you to some helpful resources. When you call our office for an auto accident injury, the initial consultation is always free.