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Minnesota Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers
Helping accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve if a driver causes an accident and flees
Drivers in Minnesota have a legal and a moral duty to stop and provide assistance after a car accident – if anyone is hurt or there is any property damage. It’s unconscionable not to provide help. Tragically, victims of hit-and-run accidents are left alone, or to the kindness of others to help them and to contact the police. Victims also have to worry about who will pay their bills when a hit-and-run driver flees.
Fortunately, at Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, we understand how hit-and-run accident victims can receive compensation if a driver can’t be found or doesn’t have insurance. Our lawyers can explain how to file a personal injury (or a wrongful death claim) through your uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) policy. We’re here to help you obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage.
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How can we help you?
- What Minnesota law governs providing assistance after an accident?
- Why do drivers hit-and-run in Minnesota?
- What should I do after a hit-and-run accident?
- Can I use my insurance policy after a hit-and-run accident in Minnesota?
- Does UM/UIM insurance apply to non-policy owners?
- Do you have a Minnesota hit-and-run accident lawyer near me?
What Minnesota law governs providing assistance after an accident?
Minnesota law requires that any driver who is involved in a collision shall “Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the collision, or as close to the scene as possible, and reasonably investigate what was struck.” If the driver has reason to believe another person has suffered an injury or died, the driver should stay at the scene of the accident (without unnecessarily obstructing traffic). Drivers who are involved in an accident that causes property damage (after a reasonable investigation) should also safely stay at the scene of the accident.
The driver who has a duty to stop should give their name, date of birth, mailing or email address, and the registration number of their vehicle to the injured person/vehicle owner. On request, the driver should also show their “driver's license or permit to drive to any peace officer at the scene of the collision or who is investigating the collision.”
The driver shall also “render reasonable assistance to any individual injured in the collision.”
Within 72 hours, the driver shall also provide their vehicle liability insurance information to anyone involved in the accident or the officer investigating the accident.
There are also additional duties if a driver hits an unattended vehicle.
If someone suffers injury or death, the driver should also contact the “local police department if the collision occurs within a municipality, to a State Patrol officer if the collision occurs on a trunk highway, or to the office of the sheriff of the county.”
Violations of this statute can include a felony conviction, imprisonment, and fines; depending on whether a victim dies, suffers great bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or any other type of harm. Violations that involve property damage are generally misdemeanors.
Why do drivers hit-and-run in Minnesota?
At Bradshaw & Bryant, PLLC, our Minneapolis-St. Paul car accident lawyers understand the reasons why drivers commit hit-and-run accidents. With very rare exceptions, no reason is excusable. In fact, they’re usually so horrible that if we (or the police) can locate the hit-and-run driver, we may file a claim for punitive damages.
Some of the reasons drivers commit hit-and-run include the following:
- A driver operates their car while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Impaired drivers may not know they’ve hit a car (that lack of knowledge is no excuse). Impaired drivers who do know are likely to flee, so they’re not charged with a DUI offense.
- A driver is not insured. All drivers in Minnesota must have minimum liability insurance. Drivers who cause an accident while uninsured can face criminal charges, loss of their driver's license, and a civil personal injury complaint – all of which may cause the driver to flee.
- A driver whose license is or may soon be suspended. A driver is likely to hit and run if they are driving on a suspended license or their license is likely to be suspended due to a traffic violation and/or an accident.
- A driver with pending or possible criminal charges. A driver may not render assistance if they are facing arrest, on probation, or likely to face immigration charges.
What should I do after a hit-and-run accident?
Your first priority is your health. If you have severe or catastrophic injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage, then, ideally, someone (such as the police) will arrange for emergency medical care. If you are able, you should promptly have a local emergency physician or your family doctor examine you.
To the extent you or someone with you can, you should:
- Identify the car and driver, if possible. Try to remember and write down the make, color, model, and any other characteristics about the car that struck you. If you can remember anything about the driver, you should write down or record that information too.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Witnesses may have pictures or videos of the accident. Our investigators will speak with local residents and businesses to see if they have any videos, too.
- Contact the police. You should contact the police. The sooner they arrive at the accident site, the faster they can help you if you have injuries, and the better they can investigate what happened and obtain information about the driver and the driver’s car.
- Call our Minnesota hit-and-run accident lawyers. We can work with the police and conduct our own investigation to try to locate the driver. Our attorneys can also explain your rights, including the right to file a UM/UIM complaint with your own insurance carrier.
Can I use my insurance policy after a hit-and-run accident in Minnesota?
Drivers in Minnesota must purchase UM/UIM insurance when they buy the state-required liability insurance. The liability coverage requirements are $30,000 for bodily injury to one person and $60,000 for bodily injury to more than one person in one accident. The UM/UIM minimum is $25,000 for bodily injury to one person and $50,000 for more than one person in one accident.
Our car accident lawyers will file a UM/UIM complaint with your insurance company if we (and the police) cannot locate the hit-and-run driver. Your UM/UIM policy does cover hit-and-run accidents.
Many hit-and-run accidents involve rear-end accidents where a driver behind you slams into your car and then drives off. Hit-and-run accidents can occur with other types of accidents as long as the hit-and-run driver’s car is operable after the accident. We have 50 years of experience showing how accidents happen and who is responsible.
When we file a UM/UIM claim, we claim the same damages that you could have filed against the hit-and-run driver if that driver had stopped and had insurance. We demand compensation for all your current and future damages (provided you meet the threshold requirements for filing a fault claim):
- Medical bills of every nature
- Income loss including permanent disability damages
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Property damage
- Other damages, including loss of bodily function, inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, and loss of consortium.
Does UM/UIM insurance apply to non-policy owners?
Generally, the named insured, resident family members, and certain permissive users may qualify for UM/UIM benefits, depending on policy language and the facts of the accident. Pedestrians and bicycle operators can sometimes file a UM/UIM claim through their own UM/UIM policy – if they have that type of coverage.
Our Minnesota hit-and-run accident lawyers can explain if you qualify to file a UM/UIM claim.
Do you have a Minnesota hit-and-run accident lawyer near me?
Yes. Our car accident lawyers meet accident victims and families at our offices at 1505 Division Street in Waite Park, Minnesota. We also consult with clients by phone and through online consultations. We’re able to make alternate arrangements if your injuries prevent you from traveling.
We’ve helped many car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accident victims obtain strong recoveries.
Speak with our respected Minnesota hit-and-run accident attorneys now
Don’t assume you don’t have a case if you’re hurt in a hit-and-run accident. At Bradshaw & Bryant, we’re prepared to fight aggressively to locate the driver or the owner of the car that struck you. If we cannot find the driver, we can explain your right to file a UM/UIM claim.
Call us or fill out our contact form today to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to assert your rights now. We represent clients in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and the nearby suburbs. Our lawyers also fight clients across Central Minnesota, including St. Cloud, Brainerd, and Alexandria, and Stearns, Sherburne, Wright, Morrison, and Benton counties.