St. Cloud Personal Injury Lawyer - lawyer

20-year-old Eagan Woman Killed By Passing Car In St. Paul

Mike Bryant — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:18:40 GMT

Monday night, a 20 year old woman from Eagan was stepping on to W 7th street in St Paul when she was stuck and killed by a passing car. Sympathy goes out for all of those involved. Cause was still being determined by the St Paul Police.

A number of Injuryboard members have discussed pedestrian accidents and the issues that are often involved.

As with any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are a number of issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic. In all of these cases sorrow for the families of those involved goes out.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

I-35 Collision Kills Two

Mike Bryant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:50:30 GMT

This morning, I-35 was shutdown in Washington county near Forest Lake. The crash involved two vehicles and happened in the southbound lane of I-35 at Hwy. 8. The state patrol have reported that a 19-year-old driver of a Chevy pickup lost control heading north on Interstate 35 and hit a car head-on. Two passengers, including a child in the southbound vehicle were killed. Everyone else involved was taken to North Memorial Hospital.

The crash happened on a stretch of interstate in Forest Lake that lacks a physical safety barrier in the median that is designed to prevent cross-over crashes. I have written about the value of the cables in preventing these kinds of tragedies. Sorrow for the family of the child and all of those involved goes out.

As with any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are many issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic.

This past month many of my fallow writers C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi here at the Injuryboard have been looking at what has been happening on I-35. Here are some blogs worth the time on the topic:

9 Reasons Why People Get Injured on I-35 in Iowa, Steve Lombardi, October 31, 2009 8:05 AM

I-35 Blog Pack - The Importance of Client Communication, Jeremy Thurman, October 29, 2009 3:36 PM

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident, Steve Lombardi, October 18, 2009 11:33 PM

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?, Mike Bryant, October 20, 2009 7:11 AM

Injured in an I-35 Accident? Real Life Reasons You Need an Attorney, Jeremy Thurman, October 22, 2009 2:26 PM

What Does The Department Of Transportation Think Of I-35? , C. Brooks Schuelke, November 6, 2009

I-35 Collision Kills Two, Mike Bryant , November 08, 2009 9:50 PM

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Guess What: The U S Chamber TV Ad Attack Really Did Need A Closer Look

Mike Bryant — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:27:00 GMT

Yesterday, I wrote about the U S Chamber's hypocritical attack on TV ads. What I didn't cover was a closer look at what was underlying the press release which went out to all of their conservative outlets. The numbers show that the US Chamber of Commerce study tracked spending on ads and actually shows that the spending has remained almost unchanged since 2006. There was a jump earlier in the decade. But get this, the number of spots have actually dropped since 2006.

So google these stories and you will find the implications that :

Oh my god lawyers are adding to the claims
Look lawyers know the gravy train is ending and are going all out
Look see this is the problem.

It's kind of funny how many of the "comments" actually say the exact same thing. But, the underlying support just isn't there. Yes, the study says the numbers are going down. So when do we hear that apology or maybe the turning of their growth theories on their head? Are the lower numbers actual proof that there is no problem?

The American Association for Justice, also pointed out that no matter the ad numbers the the National Center for State Courts shows an 8 percent decrease from 1997 to 2006 in states' civil caseload related to medical malpractice. "As usual, the Chamber is willing to bargain away injured patients' legal rights to protect the profits of their insurance and drug company financiers," Ray De Lorenzi, a spokesman for the association, said in a statement.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Now The U S Chamber Is Attacking TV Ads

Mike Bryant — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:23:00 GMT

What do you think that members of the US Chamber spend each year on TV? I would guess it's billions and billions looking at the annual TV advertising numbers. Well apparently, like the courthouses , they want the airways to only be for them.

Proof is the recent study they are touting, which shows that ads are up for medical malpractice in the country. So what? The claim is that it's creating more claims? If you define "creating" by informing people of their rights , then maybe. But, their implication is that these claims are simply made up or sprung from the lawyer's mind.

With the number of deaths that have been reported in American hospitals and the amount of people who come out sicker than they went in, it seems that more people need to know they have a claim. This is just a ridiculous example of how they love to bash lawyers.

But, lets get serious about their claim for a moment. How about a ban on all advertising? Or maybe a limit on the number of ads that anyone can run about anything? I bet their members might get a little concerned about that. I bet they would even say something about the First Amendment.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Another Motorcyclist Killed After Bike Leaves The Road

Mike Bryant — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Seems like there have been a lot of single bike collisions with resulting deaths this year. The St Cloud Times had the story of another one today:

A Clearwater man died this afternoon when his motorcycle went off Minnesota Highway 24 north of Annandale.

Our sympathies go out to his family and friends. Hopefully, the investigation will uncover what happened and help with the prevention of more loses like this.

While the numbers for motor vehicle deaths has dropped over the past two years, deaths from motorcycles have tripled, from a record low of 24 in 1997 to recent high of 72 in 2008. That is the highest number of fatal crashes in past 24 years. So far this year is on pace to meet that number. The steady rise in motorcycle crashes has become a top concern of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said Secretary Mary Peters, who broke her collarbone a few years ago when she crashed her Harley-Davidson Road King at 40 mph.

To address the problem, the Transportation Department is developing national standards for entry-level riders and has launched an educational campaign on the importance of wearing helmets and other safety gear. Congress has also become involved, authorizing $2 million to study crash causes.

For every driver and rider it's important that the following be kept in mind:

1. Yield the right-of-way.

2. Start seeing motorcycles.

3. When on a motorcycle, make sure people see you.

4. When just starting to ride, make sure you have the correct training.

The road is big enough for everyone.

A recent Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial got a number of comments after it made the following suggestions to deal with the increase:

Increased training of new drivers.
More emphasis on sober riding.
The Increased use of safety equipment.
Drivers paying more attention on the roads.

The discussion about helmets dominated most of the responses. Clearly, this is one there may not ever be an agreement on, but as to the other suggestions, they really make a lot of sense. Every new driver needs to get the all important training that riding a motorcycle isn't like a bike or a car.

As an attorney who has represented a large number of riders, I've seen the devastation caused by car/bike collisions. As with any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are a number of issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Separate St Cloud Collisions Send A 77 and A 88 Year Old To The Hospital

Mike Bryant — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:54:18 GMT

The St Cloud Times had two intersection collision stories in the paper today:

A 77 year old woman was making a left turn onto southbound 33rd Avenue when a eastbound vehicle on 12th Street hit her car. A third car was then hit by the careening vehicles.
A 88 year old woman was attempting a left turn from 33rd Avenue to First Street South when a northbound vehicle on 33rd Avenue hit her.

The police are still looking at the cause of each accident. Hopefully, all involved will heal quickly. Turning vehicles are required to yield the right away, although early investigation does look at the speed of each vehicle.

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

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

The Wintry End Of I-35 Is Already Seeing Weather Issues

Mike Bryant — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:24:00 GMT

The I-35 blog pack is already at work providing traffic accident information concerning the areas covered by the highway. C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi are all covering the collisions taking place from end to end. On the Minnesota end, I expected at some point that we might be talking, some, about the winter conditions for us. Sure, each of the other states see their storms, but we keep the Ice Box of America up here for a reason.

What I did not expect was to be talking about these conditions in mid October. Hopefully, we will still be using our outside Twins stadium this time next year. It would be great if my beloved Red Sox were in town. But, that's next year.

This past week we saw accidents across Minnesota caused by snow, ice, and that great excellerent speed. Saturday morning marked 15 collisions in Duluth alone. Most of the accidents happened near the 21st and 27th avenues west exits off of I-35. State Representative, Roger Reinert was in one of the crashes, and in the 40 minutes he waited for the the tow truck to arrive he saw more than six more vehicles get in accidents at that spot.

It is never too early to be safe and review the winter road tips from DPS and MnDOT :

Always use seat belts.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly on icy/snow-covered roads to retain traction and avoid skids.
Do not use cruise control.
Do not “power up” hills, which may cause wheels to spin. Build momentum before reaching a hill and do not stop while traveling uphill. Reduce speed before going downhill.
Know your brakes. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of the foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Give yourself plenty of travel time. Do not put your schedule before safety.
Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake lights and directional signals.
Headlights must be turned on when it is snowing or sleeting.

Most police officers say the key is usually to Just Slow Down.

To keep up with the blog pack read some of the great stuff posted so far:

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident, Steve Lombardi, October 18, 2009 11:33 PM

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?, Mike Bryant, October 20, 2009 7:11 AM

Injured in an I-35 Accident? Real Life Reasons You Need an Attorney, Jeremy Thurman, October 22, 2009 2:26 PM

For questions you have about these collisions contact:

Steve Lombardi, 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Tel: 515-222-1110 Fax: 515-222-0718

Noble McIntyre, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Jeremy Thurman, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Schuelke, C Brooks, 1717 W 6th St # 375, Austin, TX (512) 476-4944

Or me, Mike Bryant, 1505 Division Street | Waite Park, Minnesota 56387 | T: 320.259.5414 | F: 320.259.5438

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?

Mike Bryant — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:11:00 GMT

The Blog Pack with C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi started another series this week. This one will center around collisions in and around Highway 35. The highway that splits into 35W and and 35E though Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Twin Cities here in Minnesota, but cuts across the country as I-35. The series will get the perspective from each of the states that are intersected:

Steve Lombardi kicked things off yesterday with :

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident , October 18, 2009 , 11:33 PM EST

Today I will look at that issue a little more with the question: why to hire a lawyer:

There are collisions each day along I 35. If you are in an accident, we encourage you to see an attorney. As an example, we assisted a client in a situation where months after an accident, his family was facing bankruptcy, only to find he had an actionable claim. Valuable evidence is often lost when there is a delay.

Insurance companies have teams of defense lawyers to help them minimize your compensation. You need an experienced and effective advocate on your side, dedicated solely to protecting your interests.

Immediately after a personal injury, it’s critical to see a doctor and to file a police report.

Experienced personal injury lawyers regularly represent clients suffering from serious and catastrophic injuries. They have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and litigating personal injury and wrongful death claims. Whether you were injured in an auto or truck accident, in a collision with an insured or underinsured driver, or in a car accident involving alcohol, you need someone that will go to work for you immediately to seek the financial compensation you need and deserve.

For questions contact:

Steve Lombardi, 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Tel: 515-222-1110 Fax: 515-222-0718

Noble McIntyre, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Jeremy Thurman, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Schuelke, C Brooks, 1717 W 6th St # 375, Austin, TX (512) 476-4944

Or me, Mike Bryant, 1505 Division Street | Waite Park, Minnesota 56387 | T: 320.259.5414 | F: 320.259.5438

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

The Lies Of The Heath Insurance Debate

Mike Bryant — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:01:41 GMT

It was interesting to listen to President Obama's speech yesterday about the debate going on over the health care bill. He spoke of the "deceptive and dishonest" efforts of health insurance companies.

I ran across this poster from the past today:

Many of the writers here at the IB have been covering the claims of death panels, that Republicans will be targeted, that the premiums will go up. Just small examples of the many ways the health care bill is being opposed.

It's political and it's a long line of opposition by companies that put profits over people. Injuryboard member Wayne Parsons, did a great job covering the history with his piece on the history of tort reform. The whole piece is well worth a read, but the point I want to take a minute with today is:

The conspiracy consists of a seemingly independent organizations. “The CALA [Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse] Files – The Secret Campaign by Big Tobacco and Other Major Industries to Take Away your Rights,” shows that, since its inception in the 1980s, the industry-funded tort reform movement has pursued a strategy of creating and funding numerous seemingly-independent advocacy organizations that push tort-reform arguments, work to discredit opponents, and use marketing methods to change underlying public attitudes over the long term. Well-known tort reform organizations include the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) – “a coalition of more than 300 major corporations and trade associations,” according to “The CALA Files” – and its numerous state Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) organizations, as well as several state Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LAW) organizations

The above poster is an example of how it is done. Sure today it looks ridicules, but at the time it was presented as a legitimate claim. The sad irony is that there are probably many health insurance companies that denied the claims of the people that believed the poster.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant