MN LAW REQUIRES COMPENSATION FOR NEGLIGENT ACCIDENT INJURY
Our personal injury lawyers are asked why Minnesota law requires money compensation to people injured in an accident. Here is the basic answer: Allowing lawsuits for injury compensation when one person is accidentally injured by another promotes justice and a peaceful society. Knowing you can hire an accident injury attorney and sue the person responsible makes people less likely to take matters into your own hands. In other words, civil justice reduces the desire for personal justice or revenge.
The right to sue for an injury caused by another person is part of the MN Constitution. This was adopted when we became a state on May 11, 1858. Article 1, section 8 of the Minnesota Constitution provides that every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the law for all injuries or wrongs.
HISTORY OF INJURY LAWSUITS
The right to sue for injury compensation is also part of the common law. It goes back to laws established in England long before the United States was formed. The United States adopted the common law in the late 1700s. Every democracy in the world has a legal system allowing those injured in an accident to sue for compensation.
Suing for compensation after being injured in an accident falls under the category of ‘tort’ law. A tort is a civil wrong or breach of a legal duty that does not arise because of a contract. Therefore, personal injury lawyers, or accident injury attorneys, focus primarily on tort law. This includes many types of accident injuries such as car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and defective product injuries. Also, dog bites, snowmobile and boat accidents. Of course, there are many other activities where one person not paying proper attention could negligently injure another person.
INSURANCE COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT INJURY
Fortunately, most people purchase insurance that will pay compensation to anyone they have accidentally injured. The insurance will also defend against a lawsuit. An insurance company will basically step in to the shoes of the person who caused the accident. They will defend the case and pay any required compensation to the injured person. When the insurance company takes the claim, they can deny their insured was at fault. They can also argue that the injured person’s injuries are not that bad. That is why most of the cases our MN attorneys handle are against an insurance company.
At our law firm, much of the work of our personal injury lawyers focuses on helping people get fair and complete compensation for their injuries after an accident. We focus on two things: Proving the other person was negligent, and proving the extent of our client’s injuries. If you have been injured in an accident, call us to discuss your case in more detail. The initial consultation is free. In addition, we never charge anything unless you receive compensation.