When most people think of bicycle accidents, they imagine bikes being hit by vehicles, such as cars or trucks. While it is true that car-bike accidents are common and very dangerous, sometimes even fatal, for the bicyclist, there are other ways that the cyclist can sustain an injury while riding.

Improper Maintenance

Sometimes, failure to maintain one’s bicycle will lead to fracture of a vital part of the bike, either physical or functional. If the chain is not replaced in time, it runs the risk of snapping. If the pedals are not screwed on tightly, they can potentially fall off the bike while the rider is pedaling. If the brakes are not changed out when they should be, they are less and less effective at stopping the bicycle.

Obstructions on the Road

Obstructions on the road pose a potential threat to bicyclists who are going too fast or who are not paying close enough attention to the road as they ride. These obstacles include litter, potholes, and animals. Hitting any of these items can result in serious injury.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians do not always pay attention while they cross the road. Often times, they are watching for vehicles, such as cars, trucks, or even motorcycles. Many pedestrians also rely on their sense of sound to alert them of oncoming vehicles. Bicycles, however, do not make much noise as they approach, and they are more difficult to spot due to their smaller size. This puts them at a higher risk of colliding with an unaware pedestrian.

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If you have been involved in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of another individual, please contact Minneapolis personal injury lawyers Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. at 612-362-0000 today.

Shopping has become an everyday activity for many people. Whether one is in search of groceries, clothing, hardware, or even children’s toys, one will be engaged in this activity more often than they may realize. Merchandise is often times stacked high, especially when the consumer goods are in bulky packaging, such as in the grocery store or a toy store.

Too often, heavier items are placed higher up, either through stacking or on shelving systems and their collapse has rendered many individuals the victims of unnecessary and potentially serious injuries.

Over the past twenty years, tens of thousands of customers have sustained injuries from fallen goods that have been arranged in a dangerous and unstable manner. The number of these incidences increases greatly during the late fall and winter months due to overstocking for the holidays. Typically, injuries occur in the head and neck region, since items fall from above and impact the body at its highest point.

There are certain precautionary measures that can be taken in order to avoid becoming a victim of merchandise collapses. Be careful when moving around high stacks of materials. Sometimes merchandise is not secured properly, and these tall features are more likely to topple. Many times, goods that have been disrupted in some manner, whether through intentional or unintentional rearrangement, are more susceptible to falling.

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Remember, it is the duty of the store to ensure that all goods are arranged in a safe and stable manner. If you have suffered an injury from falling merchandise, please do not hesitate to contact a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. today at 612-362-0000.

The most accidents involving deer occur in November as hunting season is about to begin, and therefore the amount of wild deer is at its peak. Dusk and dawn are the most dangerous times of day.

There are deer whistles available for rural roads. They produce a high-pitched sound which is theorized to alert a deer from 500 to 750 feet away. The whistles are between twenty and forty dollars. However, experts warn that even with the whistle, drivers still need to be cautious.

It is recommended that high beams be used if possible. The light will enable you to see the deer’s eyes, so you can slow down. If you feel collision is the only option, brake but do not swerve. The deer will be confused and not know which direction to go. In addition, you could lose control of the car.

Be aware of deer crossing signs and slow down. Drive cautiously through typical deer habitats such as wooded areas and fields. If you do spot a deer, expect more. Deer are herd animals and are likely to be found in groups.

If you do hit a deer, report it immediately to the police. Do not touch the animal. If you or a loved one has been involved in a deer accident contact the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen today by calling 612-362-0000.

Aviation accidents, while more common among private pilots, may also occur in commercial airplanes. Plane crashes can result in physical injury, emotional scarring, or even death. These are some of the most frightening and potentially detrimental of all moving vehicle accidents because so many people are being transported within the same carrier, which is moving tens of thousands of feet above the ground. Very few people in the world are qualified to pilot these machines, so if anything happens in-flight, there is very little the common passenger can to do help fix the situation.

Causes of Aviation Accidents

Flying accidents can result from a number of different causes, including engineering flaws, material failure, and pilot error. The most common causes of plane crashes are the following:

• Pilot/Human Error
• Weather
• Mechanical Failure (including primary engineering flaws and negligent maintenance/care)
• Deliberate human destruction

Air safety is a high priority in most nations. There are required check-ups for planes after a certain number of miles flown, and pilots in the U.S. must comply with federal aviation laws that have been implemented by the government in an effort to decrease and even eradicate aviation accidents.

Comparatively speaking, commercial plane accidents do not happen very often. Advanced technology and engineering techniques, as well as strict pilot requirements and qualifications, have helped reduce the number of incidents in America. In 2007 and 2008, there were no fatalities in commercial air transport. Despite this, accidents do still occur, and victims include passengers of the plane and those with whom it may collide on the ground or in buildings.

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If you or someone you know has been a victim of an aviation accident, please do not hesitate to contact a Minneapolis plane accident attorney of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. at 612-362-0000.

Many victims of accidents feel bombarded by the pressures of the legal scene. It is hard to know which decisions to make. Selecting a good lawyer is an important step. However, it is first important to understand the associated fees.

Attorneys fees are charged in three ways: contingent, flat, or hourly. For most personal injury cases, contingent fees are utilized. This means no fees will be charged for services unless money is recovered for damages. The amount of money the attorney is paid for the case is a percentage of the judgment awarded. A typical percentage is between 30 and 50 percent. With this system, any person, regardless of their financial background, can access the judicial system.

Make sure you are aware of how the contingent fee will be calculated. Contingent fees normally do not cover extra expenses such as court costs. Therefore, ask the attorney if additional expenses will deducted from the settlement or not.

Flat fees can also be used. They do not cover additional expenses such as phone calls or photocopies, so make sure to investigate the costs thoroughly.

Hourly rates are another fee option. Be aware that there may be differing hourly rates for hours spent in court versus hours spent preparing the case.

Ask for a written agreement of the payment terms before you start working with an attorney.

If you or a loved one has been injured and is in need of legal assistance, contact the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen P.L.L.C. by calling 612-362-0000 today.

Amusement parks should be areas of great fun for individuals and families alike. Rides are in place to produce a source of pleasure and thrill for anyone who chooses to ride them. However, sometimes incidents do occur due to mechanical or human error. When this happens, it can be very frightening and has the potential to cause a great deal of harm to those involved.

Causes of Ride Injuries

The chances of an individual sustaining an injury while on a high-speed ride are very small. However, accidents are a possibility, and if they do occur, the results are typically quite severe.

Most roller coasters are operated at high speeds and the riders often find themselves in varying positions relative to the ground. This combination has the potential to cause a lot of harm if an accident occurs. Incidents in the past have been known to arise whenever there is a harness failure, when riders unbuckle themselves or stand up while the ride is in motion, hydraulics failure, or accidents that occur while workers are performing maintenance.

Each year, out of the hundreds of millions of people who opt to attend amusement parks, there is an average of four fatalities due to park ride incidents. There are also a reported 132 serious injuries that occur annually. Statistically, one’s chances of suffering a severe injury or a fatality are very low.

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If you or someone you know has suffered an amusement park injury, the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane, & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. can help you. Please call their law offices today at 612-362-0000 to set up an appointment.

There are many steps that you need to take right after a car accident occurs.

One of the first things that you need to think about is getting you and your family out of the car and into a safer place. Sometimes, a passenger might be stuck in the car, so you need to make sure that you get everyone out of the car as safely as possible. Sometimes the accident might have happened in the middle of a street, so you need to get everyone out of the path of traffic in a timely manner.

The next thing that you need to think about is calling the police. No matter what type of accident you have been involved in, you need to call the police to have them come out and make a report. While the police are there, they will issue any tickets that may be warranted under the circumstances.

The last thing that you need to do is to make sure that you get the information of the other party that was involved in the crash. Once you get their information, you will then be able to go ahead with any personal injury lawsuits that need to take place in order for you to receive compensation for all you have lost because of the crash.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a car crash, contact the Minneapolis car accident lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen at 612-362-0000.

The leading cause of death of young people ages 6-33 is motor vehicle accidents. Approximately 3,000 motorcyclists lose their life each year in accidents. Many other cyclists are often seriously injured when involved in a crash. The majority of crashes occur due to the poor visibility of a driver in a larger vehicle, rendering them unable to recognize where the motorcycle is.

If you are involved in an accident, it is important to remain at the scene. Call the police and file a report. It is a good idea to see a medical professional to make sure you have not suffered injuries. Exchange information with the other driver including license numbers, names, and insurance details. Legal assistance should be sought immediately.

It is common for motor vehicle accidents to result in shock, so your injuries may not be immediately apparent. However, if you do discover you are injured, it is imperative to seek treatment as soon as possible in order to be able to file for compensation. It is also important to obtain statements from witnesses who saw the event. The more evidence you are able to obtain, the easier it will be to claim proper reimbursement.

An experienced lawyer will be able to advise you on steps to take when acquiring compensation. Compensation can be awarded for physical or mental injuries, damage, medical expenses, loss of earnings, or any other expenses which resulted from the accident.

For a consultation on your case, contact the Minneapolis motorcycle accident lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. at 612-362-0000 today.

Our Minneapolis Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys represent victims of personal injury and motorcycle accidents in Minneapolis and throughout the state of Minnesota, including: Afton, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Cambridge, Champlin, Cokato, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Delano, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Falcon Heights, Forest Lake, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Lake Elmo, Lakeville, Lindstrom, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Maple Grove, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, North St. Paul, Oakdale, Plymouth, Princeton, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Roseville, St. Anthony, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Savage, Shakopee, Shoreview, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Vadnais Heights, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Woodbury, and Zimmerman.

Many individuals suffer from the faulty assumption that if they are in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance, or who has insufficient insurance, they will be forced to pay for the total cost of damages suffered out of their own pocket.

However, in many situations, this is not the case. Almost all insurance policies have an “uninsured motorist” or “underinsured motorist” clause as part of their coverage that can help an individual cover the cost of damages if in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

How it Works

To secure uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, an individual will have to pay a certain amount of money to include this clause in his or her insurance policy. A person who is then in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist can draw from their own insurance policy to pay for any damages suffered (up to an amount predetermined by the insurance policy).

Getting Your Money

If a person is in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, the individual will need to file a suit against the uninsured motorist and take them to court to assign fault for the accident before their insurance company will give them money to pay for damages.

If the court finds the uninsured motorist liable for the accident, that individual will have to pay whatever they can out of pocket, or from their insufficient insurance funds, to cover the damages of the accident. At this point, the victim’s insurance company will pay the difference between the cost of the accident and the amount that the liable party was able to pay up to an amount decided upon in the individual’s insurance policy.

Contact a Minneapolis Car Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, contact the Minneapolis car accident attorneys of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. today by calling 612-362-0000 to discuss your legal rights and options.