Fatal car accidents in Minnesota cut short the lives of too many individuals, leaving a tsunami of grief, loss, and financial hardship in their wake. Even more troubling to the families who will never see their loved ones again is that many of these accidents are preventable. Unfortunately, the same holds true for Wisconsin. These states share a commonality in these tragic events.

Families impacted by wrongful death resulting from fatal car accidents have fearless advocates in the Minnesota wrongful death attorneys at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law. Care and compassion are never more critical in a time of loss. We work to right the wrongs resulting from negligence and focus on personal injury and wrongful death to assist when families need it most. Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, Minnesota personal injury lawyers, provides the guidance and tools you need to navigate the legal system during one of the most uncertain times in life.

How Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Can Help You

Wrongful death is described as a death attributed to an omission or unfair act by a person or corporation where the deceased, had they survived, could have filed a personal injury lawsuit. Proving your loved one’s injuries is our focus. Our wrongful death lawyers in Minnesota will:

• Thoroughly research and document the cause of a fatal car accident
• Prove negligence resulted in the death of your loved one
• Serve as a mediator between your family and the insurance company
• Pursue all the damages your loved one experienced, including pain and suffering
• Work to reach a fair settlement with the insurance company
• Fight for fair compensation and your future in court.

Recent Minnesota survivorship laws now allow families to seek total damages for the loss of a loved one, which includes the pain and suffering, distress, and other tragic non-economic damages your loved one experienced. Tyroler Leonard Injury Law also assists Wisconsin families in filing survival actions (§895.01).

Why Choose Our Team

When you must trust the skills of Minnesota personal injury lawyers to guide you through the legal process, look for a team that is a part of the community. Tyroler Leonard Injury Law believes in giving back to the community surrounding them. Here’s what you’ll find when you work with our outstanding team of Minnesota personal injury attorneys:

• Open and honest communication from the start
• One-on-one contact allowing us to learn all we can about the impact of your loss
• A multilingual staff striving to support the needs of every client
• A team informed about the community, as well as local and state government
• A proven record of results, fighting for Minnesota and Wisconsin personal injury victims.

Fatal car accidents leave the people we serve in a state of constant searching, trying to find the answers for how to live without the people they love. We see you as more than a client. We see your hurt, pain, and anger. We translate your loss into legal terms to quantify the depth of your loss, giving you time to heal while we fight for your compensation.

Many Minnesota Fatal Accidents are Preventable

Minnesota’s annual fatal accident statistics demonstrate that more than three-quarters of the wrongful death accidents in the state may likely have been preventable. Unnecessary human error continues to impact drivers on the highway and change the course of many lives. Here is Minnesota’s fatal annual accident statistics reported by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:

• 444 roadway fatalities occurred in one year
• 130 deaths were speed-related
• 86 fatalities resulted from a drinking and driving incident
• 22 deaths were caused by driver distraction.

Wisconsin Experiences Similar Fatal Accident Statistics

Minnesota is not the only state that suffers from preventable fatal car accidents. Since 2018, Wisconsin’s highway death toll has continued to climb, mirroring similar statistics to that of Minnesota, according to the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation’s final year-end crash statistics:

• 595 annual highway fatalities occurred
• 403 fatal accidents involved drugs, alcohol, or impairment
• 162 of these deadly accidents involved speed.

Reports demonstrate that many of these fatal driving behaviors overlap, compounding driver actions that often result in fatalities.

Speeding

Across the U.S., speeding was a factor in 29% of annual fatal car accidents, leading to the deaths of 12,330 people. The number of accidents resulting from speeding equaled 11,057. Speeding is a multi-layered cause of fatal car accidents resulting in:

• A reduction in the driver’s response time to dangerous situations on the road
• An increased distance to stop a car
• A reduction in the protection provided by highway safety features, such as highway dividers, guardrails, concrete barriers, and other safety structures.

Driving Too Fast for Conditions

Not only is speeding a cause of fatal car accidents, but driving too fast for conditions is cited in the report above as a factor of fatal crashes. Even driving the speed limit may cause significant danger under deteriorated conditions. According to the report, the percentage of a deadly accident increases as road conditions decrease:

• Dry roads: 18%
• Wet roads: 22%
• Slush or snow: 32%
• Ice or frost: 33%
• Moving or standing water: 38%
• Dirt, gravel, or mud: 43%

In Minnesota, speed is a leading cause of fatal car accidents, putting everyone using highways at risk of a fatal car accident.

Impaired Driving

Even with a decrease in impaired driving in Minnesota since 2011, fatal accidents due to impairment continue to impact the lives of Minnesotans. DWI arrests dropped by 23% in ten years. Fatalities related to drinking and driving have fallen by over 40%. Still, people in Minnesota continue to needlessly die from 100% preventable causes of fatal car accidents.

The state of Wisconsin is significantly impacted by individuals choosing to operate a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). Recent annual convictions of OWI reached almost 23,000. Every two hours in Wisconsin, someone is injured or killed in an OWI driving accident. As noted above, over 400 fatal accidents in Wisconsin resulted from some form of impaired driving.

Distracted Driving

Eight percent of all annual fatal accidents in the U.S. were the result of distracted driving. Fatal yearly accidents attributed to distracted driving reach 3,522 deaths. According to the Traffic Safety Marketing Campaign, distracted driving accidents have an annual economic impact of $98 billion. Cell phones, texting, scrolling, or any other interaction with a phone are still significant causes of accidents. Other distractions that lead to Minnesota fatal car accidents include:

• Conversations with passengers
• Talking on a cell phone
• Eating and driving
• Using GPS or navigation systems
• Distractions outside of the car
• Poor concentration and lack of focus.

Cell phone records, camera footage, and passenger and witness statements may be used to prove these potentially fatal actions.

Vehicle Malfunctions

While driver negligence is a significant contributing factor to highway accidents, malfunctions resulting from defective vehicles and parts may result in the fatal loss of a loved one. Businesses and manufacturers owe a duty of care to individuals who buy and use their products. Defective parts can impact:

• Tires
• Braking systems
• Steering components
• Hauling features
• Lighting and other safety features
• Suspension.

When wrongful death results from a manufacturing or design error, our defective product lawyers can help. Cases involving defective products and the laws that govern them are complex. Car malfunctions may also be the result of a mechanic’s negligence. Investigating the cause of a fatal accident caused by defective parts or a mechanic’s negligence is a task we take seriously at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law.

Dangerous Road Conditions

Weather events can significantly impact a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. However, other factors contribute to the safety of the roadways. Local and state governmental agencies are responsible for the management of roads to provide infrastructure that meets the needs of commuters. Additionally, construction can lead to confusion on the highway when proper signage and speed limits are absent. Other factors that contribute to dangerous road conditions include:

• Uneven pavement or asphalt
• Potholes
• Unfinished surfaces
• Cluttered signs or visual barriers.

In many cases, the condition of Minnesota’s roads is not as dangerous as the activities that may occur on these roads. Speed and alcohol-related crashes increase on rural highways in Minnesota. Also contributing to these accidents are poor lighting, an increased risk of crashes with wildlife, and fatigue that accompanies long distances.

Steps to Take Following a Minnesota or Wisconsin Fatal Accident

Confusion and a complete sense of loss are common feelings following a fatal accident resulting in the death of a loved one. You need time to process what has happened without worrying about taking legal action. Contact Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, and let us take the vital steps to protect your financial future. Minnesota’s personal injury statute of limitations impacts your ability to pursue compensation.

We understand the tremendous impact of loss due to wrongful death and its ability to transform the financial trajectory of life unless legal action is taken. Schedule a no-obligation free case evaluation online or call (651) 259-1113. Our team is here for you when you need us most.

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