St. Cloud Personal Injury Lawyer - DUI

Drunk Driver Charged With Killing Buffalo Teen

Mike Bryant — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:17:00 GMT

Last week, I looked at the head on collision that killed a Buffalo High student on Wright County Road 35. At that time there were questions about how this could happen. The road is straight there. Why would a pickup cross the center line? Investigation has now disclosed that the truck was speeding, had no headlights, was in the wrong lane, and the driver had been drinking.

The Minneapolis Tribune captured the feelings of the family in the way you see so often in these case:

"It seems like each day we find out a little bit more about this," said Adam Hoglund, Kramnic's uncle. "It's hard not to be incredibly angry."

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(The) family is anticipating the next day in court. "We'll be there every step of the way to see he gets what's coming to him," Hoglund said.

The driver has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Drunk Driver Hit's Patrol Car

Mike Bryant — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Thanksgiving morning, State Trooper Sam Catlin was making a drunk driving stop along Highway 52 near Rochester. A speeding car being driven by a Rochester woman hit his sitting patrol car. The driver was cited for 3rd degree DWI and authorities say more charges could follow.

These are officers who are on the roads doing their jobs. Protecting society and doing their work in full uniform with lights going. I have had the honor on a number of occasions to represent some of Minnesota's finest. Usually, they are hit by cars going too fast and not giving them the room they need.

Minnesota law requires all cars to move over one lane when emergency vehicles are on the road. It's pretty simple to keep those actions in mind. While the law doesn't directly require a reduction in speed , it's the safe thing to do and it is taking into consideration the conditions at the time.

If it's wintry weather and the emergency vehicles are dealing with a car in the ditch, consider for a minute how the car got there. It's probably a case of the road itself being especially slippery in the very same area. A couple of times a year, we will be involved in layered car accidents where one car hits another and within the next ten minutes, two or three more impacts take place. A good look out and slowing down will make a difference. Also if you are in an accident, make sure you clear yourself and all passengers away from the dangers of oncoming cars.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Was It Alcohol? A Deer? Or Both That Caused SUV Rollover?

Mike Bryant — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:12:59 GMT

Wednesday night, a SUV rolled after leaving northbound Hwy. 169, north of Garrison. The driver and a passenger where injured. The driver told the State Patrol that a deer caused the incident. Initial reports are that alcohol was detected on the driver. The passenger was taken to the St Cloud Hospital.

While there is no liability claim for the driver of the car, passengers may still have a claim for liability depending on the facts of the collision. It is important that these case be investigated early by an Attorney who does this type of work. Hopefully, both of these people will heal up quickly.

The Minnesota Department of Traffic Safety's "Crash Facts 2007" indicated that there were 3,144 vehicle-deer accidents reported last year with 336 injuries and six fatalities.

The Duluth News Tribune recently published some helpful suggestions:

Rule 1: Treat every deer as if it’s going to cross in front of you. If you assume a deer feeding on the shoulder is going to hold its position until you have gone by, you’re just an accident waiting to happen.

Rule 2: Drive according to the conditions. If the night is foggy, rainy, or slippery, you might not be able to prevent a collision, but you can minimize the damage if you’re driving slowly enough. Don’t just speed along and hope nothing gets in your way.

Rule 3: Keep your eyes on the road at all times. You may only have a second or two to react to a deer crossing the highway. If you’re not an attentive driver, you can get hurt.

Questions as to what happened in this case will need to be answered.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Safe Holiday: Thanksgiving Weekend Let's Have No Drinking And Driving

Mike Bryant — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:33:00 GMT

In particular, the holiday weekends have been targeted as times that need the extra vigilance. To many people take to the roads after drinking. It is important that this not happen.

From 2005 to 2007, 23 people died in Minnesota traffic accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Thirteen were alcohol-related crashes. Therefore, it was identified by the State Patrol as the deadliest weekend.

Operation NightCAP is a federally funded program that puts overtime police officers on extra patrols in Minnesota’s 15 deadliest counties. The thought behind identifying the holiday increase is to get the word out so that drunk drivers may think twice about taking to the roads. “The goal here isn’t to stop people from having a good time,” State Patrol Lt. Mark Peterson said.” “The whole idea is for [drunk drivers] to believe that they’re going to get caught.”

In any drunk driving collision, there are a number of issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a past article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. Beyond the accident, there may be Dram shop issues that have to be investigated.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Hit And Run Intoxicated Driver Apprehended In St Cloud

Mike Bryant — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:26:00 GMT

Friday morning, a hit and run was reported in the 300 block of Seventh Avenue South. The driver was apprehended and was intoxicated and under the influence of a prescription drug, according to police. Officers also found a large amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Recent research indicates that deaths involving motor vehicles are down in Minnesota, but at the same time those deaths linked to drinking and driving have increased. The rules are simple and must always be followed:

Don't Drink and Drive
Use designated drivers
Always remember that the more you drink, the more your odds of making bad choices increase.
As drivers on the road: It's also worth keeping in mind, the deadliest roads in Stearns county to try to stay away from at night.

Stories about hit and run collisions are yet another reminder why your uninsured motorist coverage is so very important. It is what protects you and your family is the other vehicle is uninsured or runs away.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

DWI La-Z-Boy Isn't - Trademark Foul Kills E-Bay Auction at $43,500

Joe Crumley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:37:39 GMT

E-Bay officials pulled the auction of the infamous DWI La-Z-Boy, aparently after the LaZ-Boy company claimed a trademark violation.

Proctor police chief Walter Wobig got a fax Monday morning from a La-Z-Boy representative, and had what he called a "congenial" phone conversation later. He thought the issue was done, but later in the day noticed the auction had been pulled just 11 hours short of ending.

The Star Tribune reported:

The [LaZ-Boy] representative told the chief to just make sure the eventual buyer doesn't continue referring to it as a La-Z-Boy chair. "And good luck with the sale," he said, according to Wobig.

But all went afoul by nightfall when the chief noticed the chair auction was off the website. Earlier in the day, Wobig said he tried to e-mail and call the folks at eBay but said there was no way to do that.

All he can do now is repost the listing without the trademark name, begin the bidding at $500 once again and hope bidders will drive the price to former heights.

An autographed photo of the former owner, Dennis Anderson, sitting in his chair, fetched $710 on eBay. Anderson's family and friends said the money will be used to help pay legal fines and legal fees after he crashed his recliner into a parked car while driving drunk.

Wobig is a little tired of the whole thing:

Hoping that bidding will begin again today, Wobig said he'll end the auction after three days instead of the original five. He has fielded calls, letters and e-mails from some who love the auction idea and others who "want to string us up for taking the man's chair away."

"In the past four days I've done nothing but dealt with this thing," he said. "I can't go through that again."

The chair is agian up for auction, but the bids have not yet approached the $45,000 that was achieved on the first auction.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Crumley

DWI La-Z-Boy Attracts $$Thousands in E-Bay Bids

Joe Crumley — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:08:32 GMT

Update here: DWI La-Z-Boy Isn't - Trademark Foul Kills E-Bay Auction at $43,500

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A motorized La-Z-Boy recliner seized by police after being involved in a DWI is attracting large bids on E-Bay.

For details, more photos, and some interesting comments, take a look at my earlier article: Driver Guilty - Drunk Driving a La-Z-Boy?!

The La-Z-Boy was seized from its owner and builder, Dennis Anderson of Proctor, near Duluth, Minnesota. Anderson who was arrested August 31 after leaving a bar and crashing the chair into a car in the parking lot. He had a 0.29 blood alcohol, over 3 times the legal limit, and it was his second DWI. Minnesota law allow seizure of vehicles used in more serious driving while intoxicated offenses.

As of 11:30 PM October 31, the bid was $38,100. The item can be viewed at online aution site E-Bay.

The Star Tribune described the chair:

The chair runs on a converted gasoline-powered lawnmower engine and has a steering wheel, headlights, rear roll bars, a power antenna, stereo and cup holders. It can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Stickers on the back include a National Hot Rod Association logo and one that reads, "Hell yeah it's fast."

All the funds from the La-Z-Boy sale will be kept by the the police, state and the court system, according to the Duluth News-Tribune.

AHow high will the bidding go? Check back here, and I'll update the totals till the auction is finished Tuesday Night.

Anderson is selling an autographed photo of himself sitting in his La-Z-Boy to offset his legal fees, but that offering is getting substantially lower bids. As of 9:30 AM October 31, that bid was "only" $405, but there were apparently problems with those bids. By 11:30 PM, the top bids was $166.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Crumley

Drunk SUV Driver Hits Hayride Injuring Six

Mike Bryant — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:02:52 GMT

Saturday night, a SUV ran into a tractor pulling adults on a hayride in Sherburne County, The tractor driver and five passengers were injured. The SUV driver was arrested after the collision.

This is a case there the passengers will be treated like pedestrians and will be able to make a no fault claim to their primary policy. There may be other claims based upon liability issues and the results of the investigation.

If you are in an accident, make sure to get the names of anyone who indicates they saw what happened. If you witness an accident, check to see if everyone is OK and stay around or at least give the drivers your contact information. If you are injured, get care immediately and later seek the advice of an attorney who does that kind of work and who can explain your coverages and rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

St Cloud 1st Street Collision Sends Three To The Hospital

Mike Bryant — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:49:00 GMT

Friday night, a head on collision on 1st Street sent everyone involved to the St Cloud Hospital. The collision took place west of the 600 block of First Street North. A vehicle driving west lost control and hit a truck. Both of the drivers and the vehicles' passenger were injured. Investigation continues, but the police did suggest that the vehicle's driver will be charged. It will be interesting to see if it's the common issues of speed or drinking that were part of what happened.

If you are in an accident, make sure to get the names of anyone who indicates they saw what happened. If you witness an accident, check to see if everyone is OK and stay around or at least give the drivers your contact information. If you are injured, seek the advice of an attorney who does that kind of work and who can explain your coverages and rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Elk River Rollover Sends Driver To Jail

Mike Bryant — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:39:03 GMT

Thursday, a Elk River woman was arrested after the vehicle she was supposed to be driving rolled. It is unclear if she had one of five passengers. Also there are questions as to who was injured. Police did find that alcohol was involved.

Rollovers can lead to all sorts of horrible injuries. These are exactly the type of accidents, I blogged about with: Single Car Accidents: Is There A Claim? . Hopefully, whatever the number of passengers there were, they weren't hurt badly. but if not the help of experienced Personal Injury attorneys can make a difference in getting to the bottom of what coverages are involved.

If you are in an accident, make sure to get the names of anyone who indicates they saw what happened. If you witness an accident, check to see if everyone is OK and stay around or at least give the drivers your contact information. If you are injured, seek the advice of an attorney who does that kind of work and who can explain your coverages and rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant