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Minnesota Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
50 years of experience fighting for injured pedestrians and families
It’s lovely to walk in Minnesota in the warmer seasons and even in winter. Walking is a great form of exercise. Many children walk to school. Adults walk to run local errands or navigate the Twin Cities and other urban areas. Drivers should know to be careful when pedestrians use crosswalks, walk to their cars, or walk for any reason. At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we hold drivers accountable when they harm pedestrians of any age. Many pedestrian accidents cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Our Minnesota pedestrian accident attorneys demand compensation for your financial damages and personal losses.
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How can we help you?
- How often do pedestrian accidents happen?
- What Minnesota laws and regulations protect pedestrians
- Where do pedestrian accidents occur in Minnesota?
- Why do pedestrian accidents happen in Minnesota?
- What types of injuries do pedestrians suffer when a car strikes them?
- Who do your Minnesota pedestrian accidents hold liable?
- What damages can I receive for a pedestrian accident in Minnesota?
- When do I need to file my pedestrian accident case?
- Do you have a Minnesota pedestrian accident lawyer near me?
How often do pedestrian accidents happen?
Nearly 225 pedestrians die or suffer serious injuries in Minnesota every year. According to the Governors Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 7,300 pedestrians were struck by vehicles and died nationwide in 2023.
What Minnesota laws and regulations protect pedestrians
Driving laws and regulations
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, drivers must stop for pedestrians at every crosswalk. They should “treat every corner and intersection as a crosswalk, whether it’s marked or unmarked, and let pedestrians cross.”
Drivers in Minnesota need to stop when school buses are picking up or dropping off passengers, especially when school buses are involved. Drivers also need to slow down in residential neighborhoods and school zones.
Drivers should also be careful when visibility is a problem, such as when driving at night, and when braking is a problem, such as when the roads are wet due to rain, snow, or ice.
Pedestrian laws and regulations
Pedestrians do have a duty to obey traffic control devices, including traffic lights, barricades, and signs. Walkers should walk where the lighting is good so they can see and be seen, and should wear visible clothing when walking at night.
What types of pedestrian accidents are common in Minnesota?
At Bradshaw & Bryant, we represent pedestrians and families (if a loved one dies in a pedestrian accident) when accidents happen at:
- Intersections – when pedestrians cross marked or unmarked crosswalks.
- Parking lots – at Minnesota’s Mall of America, any retail store, restaurants, apartments, professional offices, the Vikings or other sporting venue parking lots, and anywhere a business or organization may have a parking lot. Shoppers generally focus on their purchases, not moving cars.
- Railroad stations – where pedestrians need to cross the tracks to get to their cars, get on the train, or get home.
- Residential neighborhoods – where family members, including children, may walk to socialize, play games, or for other reasons.
- Other locations – including walking on the side of the road or crossing in the middle of a street in city or rural settings.
Why do pedestrian accidents happen in Minnesota?
At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we work with our investigators, who will examine the accident site, speak with witnesses, and question local residents and businesses to see if they have any images or video of the accident. We also formally question the driver and any other witnesses about every part of the journey, especially the moments before the accident.
Some of the common causes of pedestrian accidents in Minnesota include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Driver distraction, including texting, using a mobile phone, eating, or drinking.
- Speeding.
- Driving too fast for weather conditions or traffic conditions.
- Looking at a GPS or trying to understand where to drive.
- Driver fatigue.
- Driving through yellow lights.
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian.
- Turning improperly.
- Backing out without looking.
What types of injuries do pedestrians suffer when a car strikes them?
Pedestrians often suffer catastrophic, permanent, or serious injuries when a car strikes them because the human body is simply no match for the size, weight, and metal of a car. Many pedestrian accidents are fatal.
Our Minnesota pedestrian accident lawyers handle all types of serious injuries, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Paralysis, herniated discs, and other types of spinal cord damage
- Loss of limb/dismemberment/traumatic amputation
- Broken bones/fractures
- Organ injuries and internal bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve, ligament, tendon, and muscle damage
- Back, shoulder, and neck pain
- Heart failure
- Dental injuries
- Scars and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Death
Who do your Minnesota pedestrian accidents hold liable?
Our Minnesota car accident attorneys hold everyone responsible for pedestrian accidents. The defendants may include:
- A driver.
- The employer of the driver.
- The owner of the car, if the driver and owner are not the same, such as when teenagers drive their parents’ car.
- A seller of alcohol – if the driver causes an accident due to their intoxication, and the sale of the alcohol is illegal (the person drinking the alcohol was obviously intoxicated or was a minor). Social hosts may be liable if they serve alcohol to a minor who later causes a pedestrian accident.
- The Minnesota Department of Transportation and other government agencies and entities for faulty road design.
- Manufacturers of defective brakes, horns, and other car parts.
What damages can I receive for a pedestrian accident in Minnesota?
Generally, if a pedestrian has available PIP insurance through their own policy or someone in their household, they should use that policy first. PIP insurance should pay up to $40,000 in medical and certain non-medical expenses (such as lost wages, but not pain and suffering) regardless of fault.
Pedestrians can file a personal injury claim for pain and suffering and all their damages over and above the PIP amount if they have $4,000 or more in medical expenses or a qualifying injury. At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we can explain if you qualify. Personal injury damages include all your future and current damages (over and above the PIP amount) for:
- Medical bills of every nature.
- Lost income and benefits including permanent disability benefits.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering.
- Property damage.
- Loss of bodily function, life’s pleasures, and consortium.
- Scars and disfigurement compensation.
If your close family member dies in a Minnesota pedestrian accident, we can help you get compensation for the funeral and burial costs, the loss of financial support, and the loss of personal support (including love, comfort, society, and guidance).
When do I need to file my pedestrian accident case?
You generally must file your pedestrian accident claim within six years of the date of the accident. Shorter time limits apply if there is a governmental claim. You must file for PIP benefits within six months.
We strongly suggest that you contact us as soon as possible.
Do you have a Minnesota pedestrian accident lawyer near me?
Yes. Our personal injury and wrongful death lawyers meet clients at our offices located at 1505 Division Street in Waite Park, Minnesota and 701 Xenia Ave. S., in Golden Valley, Minnesota. We can meet you at your home or a nearby health facility if you are physically unable to travel. Our lawyers also review cases by phone and through online video platforms like Zoom.
We’ve helped thousands of clients like you. We’re here to prepare you for each phase of your claim.
Contact our Minnesota pedestrian accident lawyers now
At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries. We work with experts who can help evaluate the value of a wrongful death claim. Our lawyers have the experience and resources to hold responsible drivers and others liable for your damages. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent clients in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs.