Category: Personal Injuries
When Should I Give My Statement of an Auto Accident?
January 30, 2017 | Adriel B. VillarrealAuto accidents are one of the most stressful situations in this life. You car has sustained minor or major damages, you and your passengers may be injured to different levels and you have to deal with your insurance company talking to the other person or people involved in the accident. What a hassle! If you find yourself in a significant auto accident, you may need to enlist the services of a car accident attorney. As stressful as the auto accident is, there are several things to keep in mind when it comes to making your statement about the accident itself. In most cases, you will absolutely not want to make a statement about the accident to anyone without the advice of your car accident attorney. If you are approached by the police after an accident, you are required to give the officer your driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of your insurance. You may choose to make a statement, but in most states, this is not required of you. If you do choose to give the officer a brief account of what happened, keep it very short and state only the facts. After the accident, you may receive a call from the insurance adjuster for the other vehicle involved asking for a brief…
Read MoreWhat is Legal Causation in Minnesota?
January 30, 2017 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you are involved in a personal injury case, you know how stressful the legal aspects can be. You are already experiencing the pain of the injury itself, while at the same time navigating medical bills and court dates. With a skilled personal injury attorney on your side, you’ll be able to better navigate the challenges and map out the strengths of your case. For your personal injury case, it is very important to know about what legal causation is in the state of Minnesota. Not every case is able to recover damages for the injuries sustained. This is often due to the inability to prove legal causation. Legal causation refers to extent to which the defendant knew that what he or she was doing had the likelihood of resulting in harm to the plaintiff. Legal causation is different from actual causation, which refers to the actual cause and effect of the accident itself. So, it may be determined that a defendant did cause an accident (actual cause) but was not aware of the likelihood of their actions to cause harm (legal or medical causation.) Legal causation is also different from negligence. Negligence refers to being held liable for actions not taken, like failing to provide adequate safety measures. Since Minnesota law places…
Read MoreHow to Shield Yourself from Common Personal Injury Suits
April 28, 2016 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you are in a car accident and feel you may be at fault, you may find yourself facing a personal injury lawsuit. What can you do to shield yourself from common personal injury suits and protect your financial interests? Here are some steps to take to protect you from legal repercussions in the wake of an accident. Exchange Information Immediately– When you are in a car accident, the first thing you should do is stop and exchange insurance and license information with the other driver or drivers. It is a criminal offense in every state to leave the scene of an accident, and can be used against you in a civil case as evidence of negligence. Never admit fault– Do not admit liability and try not to apologize for the accident, as this can be seen as claiming responsibility. Just ask if everyone is OK and don’t try to explain what happened. Take pictures– Regardless of who is at fault, you should take pictures of the accident scene and vehicle damage. Take close-up pictures and long range pictures, as well as photos of any skid marks, stop signs or traffic lights. If you believe road conditions or partially-obscured signs or traffic signals may have taken part in causing the accident, take photos…
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