Justice For The Injured
Minnesota Injury Lawyers
Protecting your rights across the North Star State
At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, our Minnesota personal injury lawyers represent people facing some of the most challenging moments in their lives. We take on a wide range of cases involving severe and catastrophic injuries caused by traffic accidents, falls, animal attacks, defective products, and more.
Our experienced trial attorneys also handle wrongful death cases when someone tragically dies because of another person’s negligence and criminal defense matters for those accused of a crime.
If you are facing any of these struggles, it’s important that you know you don’t have to fight for your future alone. Learn more about our dedicated team and our work to support people across Minnesota.
Why choose Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC
At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, our team takes pride in our track record, which spans over 30 years. Our attorneys have earned many accolades from prestigious organizations like Minnesota Super Lawyers and Minnesota's Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. But that’s not what we’re most proud of – what matters most to us is the relationships we’ve developed with our clients and the reputations we’ve built among our peers. We’ve earned the respect of those we’ve fought for because of our dogged determination to achieve justice for ordinary Minnesotans, not for large corporations or powerful insurance companies.
We are recognized statewide for the important work that we do from our offices in central Minnesota and the twin cities metro. If you are facing a crisis like a serious injury or criminal charges, we’re just a phone call away.
Minnesota personal injury lawyers
Personal injury cases start with a crash or a critical error. No one expects these things to happen, but they suddenly upend a person’s life, leaving them with expenses, pain, suffering, and incredible losses. Here are some of the types of cases we often handle for injury victims in Minnesota.
Minnesota car accident claims
Minnesota uses a no-fault insurance system, which requires drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This system is meant to provide for medical expenses and lost income for those injured in a car crash. The state requires limits of at least $40,000 per person per accident. That amount is divided between medical costs ($20,000) and other expenses like childcare or lost wages ($20,000). In the case of fatal crashes, the PIP policy covers $2,000 in funeral costs. While this might sound like it would cover the losses in most accidents, this is not always the case. Medical bills add up quickly.
On average, a person will stay in the hospital for 4.6 days if injured in a severe accident. The cost for that stay averages out at over $13,000. If the patient needs surgery, the costs can quickly jump to over $100,000.
Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries in car accidents in Minnesota that lead to costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. It’s not uncommon for people to exceed their PIP coverage. Additionally, PIP doesn’t cover damages for pain and suffering. Speaking to a Minnesota car accident lawyer is the best way to determine how much your claim is truly worth.
Truck accidents in Minnesota
Truck accidents, like car crashes, tend to cause severe injuries that often land victims in physical pain and financial hardship. These claims also tend to be more complex than the average car crash case. For instance, there are often multiple responsible parties, including drivers, manufacturers, and the drivers' employers. With so many potentially at-fault parties, it’s critical to speak to an attorney and to determine all those who may be liable.
Wrongful death claims Minnesota
Wrongful death claims often stem from car and truck crashes but may involve other incidents as well. These tragic cases allow families to recover compensation while holding those responsible for the loss of their loved one accountable. Damages in wrongful death claims help the family with financial losses resulting from the death, such as medical expenses prior to the death, funeral costs, and lost income. They also allow damages for the loss of companionship. Families who’ve suffered losses in these types of cases should speak to a lawyer right away to learn whether they might have a claim.
Sexual abuse cases in Minnesota
Our firm handles sexual abuse cases, often those involving abuse by members of the clergy or school officials. The devastating impact such abuse can have on a child can last a lifetime. The law acknowledges these long-term effects and has recently increased the amount of time victims have to file their claims. Holding abusers accountable through civil claims is one of the most important ways of preventing future abuse. Our compassionate attorneys are here to listen to victims and to fight for them.
Dog bites in Minnesota
More than one in three homes in Minnesota has a dog. Sadly, not all of those pets are loving, gentle creatures. Sometimes, dogs bite or even viciously attack. The injuries from dog attacks can be extreme. They may require stitches or surgery and could leave victims with permanent injuries or disfigurement. In Minnesota, dog owners are responsible for the damage caused by their pets as long as the animal attacks a person without provocation. In fact, the state’s laws employ the policy of “strict liability” for unprovoked dog attacks. This means that if you are injured by a dog, you don’t have to prove that the owner was negligent to hold them liable. However, the owner might fight the claim if there is evidence that a victim was harassing or provoking the animal, leading to the attack. It’s important to have a lawyer who can protect your interests.
Defective products Minnesota
If a product is defective and causes injuries to a person, it may be possible to hold the manufacturer liable and collect damages. Product liability claims are based on strict liability, so it’s not necessary to prove that a manufacturer was negligent when they created the product that caused harm. All the victim must prove is that the product was defective and that the defect caused the injuries.
Some examples of defective products include:
- Defective auto parts: Takata recalled over 67 million airbags due to a risk of shrapnel injuries and deaths.
- Dangerous medical devices: Exactech knee and hip implants were recalled due to early wear and bone loss.
- Defective household products: Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play sleepers were linked to at least 100 infant deaths.
- Toxic or contaminated foods: Salmonella-tainted peanut butter from Jif and other brands caused illness.
Common types of personal injuries
Personal injury claims often involve life-changing harm to the victim. At Bradshaw & Bryant, we’ve handled a wide range of injury claims across Minnesota. Some common injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): These can result from car crashes, falls, assaults, or sports-related accidents. Victims who suffer brain injuries may experience memory loss, cognitive impairment, mood changes, and loss of motor function. Tens of thousands of people in the US die because of TBIs every year.
- Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, making them entirely life-altering. Car crashes are one of the major causes of these serious injuries. Those who experience a spinal cord injury may face first-year medical costs of over $1 million, making it more important than ever to pursue all available compensation.
- Broken bones and fractures: Slip and fall and motor vehicle accidents are all potential causes of fractures. In severe cases, a fracture might require surgery and long-term physical therapy.
- Burn injuries: Car fires, chemical exposure, or defective products can all lead to burn injuries. The treatment for these injuries may include skin grafts and rehabilitation. Burns are also extremely painful.
- Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, whiplash, and torn ligaments are all common injuries related to car crashes and other accidents. These injuries may not be readily apparent, but they can cause debilitating pain.
- Emotional and psychological injuries: Car crashes and other injury-causing incidents can lead to severe emotional harm, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Catastrophic injuries: Catastrophic injuries are those that cause permanent, life-changing harm to the victim. Some examples include amputations, permanent disfigurement, organ damage, or loss of sight/hearing. These injuries come with extreme costs for care, making legal representation vital for the victim, their family, and their future.
If you suffered any of these personal injuries or other harm in Minnesota, our injury lawyers are here to fight for you and your family.
Filing your claim on time
Minnesota has strict deadlines for filing your personal injury claim. The state’s statute of limitations will bar you from pursuing compensation if you wait too long. For many claims, the statute allows you six years to file. But there are exceptions. For instance, the statute has shorter limits for certain types of claims, including those based on strict liability, which have a four-year statute of limitations.
Those deadlines sound like a long time, but that doesn’t mean you should wait. There are plenty of reasons to contact a lawyer right away. One issue people underestimate is the loss of memory, which occurs faster than we might expect. Witnesses, defendants, and even the injured person might not remember the details after months pass, let alone years. Other evidence can also disappear as time goes by, like video footage, which may only be saved for a short while. And remember, it will take time to build your claim. The sooner you talk to a Minnesota personal injury lawyer, the better chance they will have to create a strong strategy, collect critical evidence, and build the best case possible.
How can hiring a Minnesota personal injury lawyer help me?
Suffering a personal injury can lead to severe physical, emotional, and financial consequences. It leaves you in a vulnerable position, especially if you’re facing aggressive insurance companies and opposition who want to downplay your injuries or place blame on you.
Hiring an attorney means having an advocate who is on your side, fighting for you and your interests. Some of the many things they can do for you include:
- Negotiating with insurers on your behalf
- Investigating the claim and locating critical evidence
- Helping you understand the actual value of your claim so you don’t settle for less
- Create a case strategy that may include support from expert witnesses
- Being ready to take your case to trial if negotiations fail
Most attorneys handle personal injury claims on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay attorney fees unless you win, in which case, it comes out of your award. The benefit of this system is that you don’t need to have money to pay your lawyer up front. You can pursue a claim even if you’re struggling financially.
Minnesota criminal defense lawyers
Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC also practices criminal defense law. Our attorneys represent clients facing various charges, including:
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
- Drug offenses
- Assault and violent crimes
- Domestic violence
- White-collar and computer crimes
Facing criminal charges is a frightening experience and one that can have devastating impacts on your future. If you are being accused or charged with a criminal violation, contact our experienced Minnesota criminal defense lawyers right away.
Do you have a Minnesota personal injury lawyer near me?
Our firm’s main office is conveniently located at 1505 Division St, Waite Park, MN 56387. If you are unable to come to our office, we can make alternative arrangements to meet with you. Our attorneys can schedule a phone call or video consultation with prospective clients.
Contact Bradshaw & Bryant today
If you have a legal matter that you need to address, you shouldn’t wait to contact an attorney. Time is of the essence when it comes to filing personal injury claims, collecting evidence, and protecting yourself from criminal charges.
At Bradshaw & Bryant, we are committed to protecting the rights of individuals across Minnesota. To learn more about working with us, call today or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.