Traffic Accidents

Many Minnesotans spend a great deal of time on the road each day.  Depending on the weather that Minnesota is famous for, road conditions can range from safe to extremely hazardous.  Because we spend so much time in our cars, traffic accidents are almost inevitable.  It is no surprise that millions of Americans are injured or killed in traffic accidents each year.  The injuries sustained in these traffic accidents range from soft tissue whiplash injuries to brain injury or spinal cord injury.  I can help you obtain the compensation you deserve if you have been injured in a traffic accident.

Medical Malpractice

Due to the risks involved in undergoing a medical procedure, society places its trust in medical professionals to provide quality medical care.  While most medical professionals provide competent service, others do not.  When a medical care provider fails to provide adequate care, he/she may be liable for any injuries caused by their negligent conduct.  Medical malpractice actions are not limited to physicians; nurses and other hospital staff that provide medical care may be liable as well.  Medical malpractice can stem from the failure to diagnose a disease, unsanitary or unclean conditions, hospital or surgical mistakes, and negligent care.  It is important to note that all unsuccessful medical procedures do not constitute malpractice.  Therefore, if you believe that you are the victim of medical malpractice, I recommend you call me for a free consultation.

Social Security Disability

Social Security offers various types of benefits, including social security disability and supplemental security income.  If you have been denied Social Security benefits, you will need to appear at a hearing to appeal.  Prior to the hearing, your attorney will need to conduct an investigation to evaluate the specific facts of your case.  During the hearing, your attorney will need to present evidence on your behalf, including evidence of your inability to work, the severity of your disability, the type of impairment you suffer from, whether your impairment affects your ability to work, and other types of work you are able to perform.  Due to these complex issues involved, it is highly recommended that you contact me to represent you. 

Premises Liability

Under premises liability law, a person who exercises possession and control over land and/or buildings must maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition.  If the premises are not maintained in a safe condition, the owner may be liable to someone who sustains injury due to a dangerous condition that exists on the premises.  The duty that the property owner owes the visitor depends on the visitor’s status.  Shopkeepers owe the highest degree of care to their customers.  Invited guests and trespassers are owed a lesser duty. 

Premises liability claims can arise from a wide range of events.  If a shopkeeper fails to sweep and mop the floor, causing someone to slip and fall, the shopkeeper may be liable to the customer.  If a property owner observes an invited guest or trespasser approach a cliff on his/her property and does nothing to warn the trespasser of the impending danger, the property owner may be liable to the victim if the property owner’s failure to warn the victim was the cause of the victim’s injuries.

Wrongful Death

The loss of a loved one is emotionally and financially devastating.  When the negligent or wrongful actions of another results in the unexpected death of a family member, the loved one’s family suffers emotional devastation and significant financial burdens.  Financial burdens come in all forms, including funeral expenses, medical bills, and lost income.  Wrongful death actions are usually associated with some type of wrongdoing.  For example, wrongful death can occur as a result of a collision caused by a drunk driver, medical malpractice committed by a surgeon, or a dangerous product defectively manufactured.  A grieving family can bring a wrongful death action against a person who acted negligently or wrongfully to offset significant financial burdens they face.

Dog Bite

An animal attack, particularly an attack by a pit bull or other dog, is a particularly frightening experience.  Animal attacks can result in serious injuries that include cuts, abrasions, scars, blindness, or permanent disfigurement.  The losses that a victim of an animal attack may experience include present and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, and possibly plastic surgery.  If you or a loved one has been the victim of an animal attack, I will work hard for you to establish the pet-owner’s negligence and get you a full and fair settlement or jury verdict.

Back / Spinal / Neck Injuries

Injuries to the back, neck or spine are very serious injuries that typically occur as a result of various incidents that I discuss in other sections of this webpage.   These injuries can result in function loss, including paralysis, numbness, or other devastating symptoms.  Spinal cord injuries typically affect people for their entire lives and possibly involve lifelong medical bills, permanent disability, psychological problems, and other negative consequences.  Considering the financial burdens that a spinal cord injury brings, it is important to contact an attorney that can help you seek compensation for your tremendous loss.

Whiplash

Whiplash commonly results from car accidents, when the head and neck are jolted about.  Whiplash can cause painful and disabling soft tissue injuries, including extreme stretching, sprains, strains, and compression.  These injuries can be worse if the victim was not aware of the impending collision.  Victims that are unaware that their vehicle is about to be struck are usually not prepared for the collision and fail to brace themselves.  In other words, if the victim is relaxed, a whiplash injury can cause the muscles in the head and neck to stretch and possibly rip to a greater extent.  Whiplash injuries do not appear on X-rays and can be hard to prove.  If you suffered a whiplash injury, it is recommended you seek immediate medical attention and speak with an attorney who specializes in traffic accidents.

Defective Medical Devices

Under the law, every medical device must be free from hidden defects that make it unsafe when it is used for its intended purpose.  Products liability law requires manufacturers to make medical devices that are engineered and manufactured so they are safe to use and labeled with all applicable safety warnings.  When a patient uses a medical device for its intended purpose, reads all warnings that came with the device, and becomes injured when using the device, he/she can bring a claim against the manufacturer and possibly others to recover monetary compensation for his/her medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.  If you have been injured by an unsafe medical device, please contact me for a free consultation and case evaluation. 

Defective Drugs

Every year, many new drugs that are approved by the FDA are sold in Minnesota.  Examples of such drugs include Fen-Phen, Vioxx, and Fosamax.  Over the years, the FDA has responded to industry pressure by making its process for testing the safety of these products less rigorous.  Although a majority of the products that the FDA approves are completely safe, a few products that the FDA approves have extremely harmful side effects (including the products previously mentioned).  These products are accidentally approved by the FDA for a variety of reasons, including insufficient testing, suppressed data concerning the product’s safety, and inadequate instructions or warnings concerning the use of the drug.  Litigation involving defective drugs is expensive and complex.  Successful claims against the companies that manufacture defective drugs require extensive investigation and the ability to obtain the testimony of experts in the medical field.  For these reasons, if you believe that you have been injured by a defective drug, you should call me for a free consultation and case evaluation.