Rodney Peterson, a 77 year-old man, was just out driving his tractor, pulling a baler and 2 flat racks, on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, when he was rear-ended by a semi tractor trailer truck. The impact rolled the farm tractor and Peterson reportedly died at the scene.

The accident happened on Highway 86, mile marker 20, under a blue sky, near Lakefield, Minnesota, at 1:30 p.m. The Minnesota State Patrol was called to the scene.

A 15 year-old passenger on the tractor was taken to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The semi truck driver, a 66 year-old from Fairmont, Minnesota, was not seriously injured in the semi truck crash.

Minneapolis Semi Truck Accident Attorney

At a time like this you need a Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorney working for you, calming your fears, handling the insurance adjusters. Our Minneapolis Semi Trailer Truck Accident Attorneys are aggressive, ethical lawyers with years of experience in Semi Truck Accident litigation and Wrongful Death Claims. Our partners are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and regularly secure million dollar compensation packages for victims. Partner Chuck Slane has received further recognition by being named to the Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys. Our Minneapolis Tractor Truck Accident Attorneys will answer your questions, handle all of your paperwork, and file your claim.

A 60 year-old man was killed while riding his bicycle on Jefferson Street NE Wednesday afternoon. A 32 year-old woman was driving the car and is cooperating with police as they continue to investigate the fatal accident.

The accident happened about 4 p.m, as both the bicyclist and motorist drove southbound in the 131st block of Jefferson. Police from Spring Lake Park and Blaine were called to the scene. The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids, where he was pronounced dead.

Three departments will be involved in the ensuing investigation: Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Blaine Police Department.

Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorney

A Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorney can answer your questions, help you through the legal maze, handle all of your paperwork, and file your claim. In wrongful death claims, you can receive compensation for:

• Funeral Expenses
• Burial Expenses
• Medical Expenses
• Potential Wage Earnings of Deceased
• Loss of Advice, Loss of Companionship, and Loss of Protection

Call our Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorneys at 612-362-0000. They are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine. Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, and Rich Ruohonen are aggressive, ethical attorneys with years of experience handling Minneapolis Wrongful Death Cases with exceptional results. Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorney, Rich Ruohonen recently recovered a $3,750,000 settlement for the victim of a recreational vehicle accident.

July has started out with a serious pedestrian accident in southeast Minneapolis, about 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The pedestrian was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and is listed in serious condition

A man tried to dash across Hiawatha Avenue at E. 46th Street. A southbound car, which had a green light according to police, struck the pedestrian at a speed of about 35 – 40 m.p.h. There were skid marks on the street and damage to the windshield of the vehicle.

There was no evidence of alcohol on the test given to the driver. No charges were filed. The name of the pedestrian has not been released.

Minneapolis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Our Minneapolis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers are skilled, dynamic litigators with years of experience in pedestrian accidents, car crashes, truck crashes, and motorcycle crashes. Our partners are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Law & Politics. In addition, Chuck Slane has been distinguished further by being named to the Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys. We have a reputation for excellent recoveries for our victims. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.

The term “no-zone” refers to the areas on or around a large commercial truck where smaller automobiles are not visible to the truck driver. It is important for ALL DRIVERS (not just truck drivers) to realize where these areas are and the dangers these areas can create.

The no-zone areas of a truck make driving next to it, especially at high speeds on a highway, very dangerous. Frequently, because of the size of the truck, they are not able to slow down as quickly as other vehicles, and so truck drivers and other drivers near trucks on motorways need to be extra defensive in order to avoid accidents.

Where are the no-zones?

There are several different no-zones on large trucks.

• Side no-zones—the side no-zones are the largest and most notorious blind spots on a truck. Most of the area on either side of the truck can be part of its no-zone. To ensure that you are not caught in one of these blind spots, keep this simple rule in mind: If you can see the driver of the truck in the truck’s side mirrors, then the driver can see you. If you cannot see the driver of the truck, the driver cannot see you.
• Front no-zone—the cab on a commercial truck is very large and high, and so it is possible for smaller vehicles to fall out of sight if they are located too close to the front of the cab. Make sure to drive a safe distance in front of a large truck so that the truck driver is sure to see you in front of the cab.
• Rear no-zone—most large trucks have a rear no-zone as well. If driving behind a large truck, make sure that you are far enough behind the truck that the driver can see you in the side mirrors.

Highway safety is the responsibility of all drivers, and so truck and smaller automobile drivers alike must act courteously and responsibly to keep our roadways safe for everyone.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an car crash or truck crash, contact the Minneapolis truck / car accident lawyers at Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. today at 612-362-0000 to schedule a free consultation. Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, and Rich Ruohonen are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Law & Politics. They have years of experience in personal injury law with excellent results.

It is always an extremely painful and difficult time when you have lost a loved one, especially if their death was not the result of natural causes. When someone dies due to negligence on the part of another person, this is defined as “wrongful death.” If someone is wholly or partially responsible for the death of another individual, even unintentionally, he or she is liable to be accused of wrongful death. While the deceased cannot press charges for this, the survivors of the victim may collect monetary damages.

Several components must be present in order for a wrongful death case to be brought to trial. All of the following items must have happened:

• Someone must have died
• Negligence must be the cause of death
• The surviving family of the victim must seek monetary damages

Many actions qualify as negligence. The most common of these include:

• Medical malpractice
• Vehicular accidents
• Exposure to hazardous materials while at work
• Criminal behavior
• Death while participating in a supervised activity

Often times, witnesses are necessary to validate the fact that the deceased was, in fact, a victim of wrongful death. It can be hard to prove that negligence was the cause of death, so a strong attorney is necessary to ensure that you win your case.

Minneapolis Wrongful Death Attorney

If someone you love has suffered a wrongful death, you are entitled to retribution. Remember, even if there were no malicious intentions involved in the fatality, your loved one was still a victim in the incident and you deserve to collect damages for your loss. Do not hesitate to contact the Minneapolis wrongful death attorney of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, at 612-362-0000. We have years of experience and are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Law & Politics.

Battery is a legal term referring to injury or unwanted physical touch brought by one person against another. It is often grouped together with the charge of “assault,” which describes the intent to cause physical injury, but differs from battery in that battery describes the actual physical assault, rather than the intent of the aggressor.

Simple Battery

Under the definitions of common law battery, the following elements must all be present in order for a case to qualify as simple battery. The case must include:

• The unlawful application of force
• To the person of another
• Resulting in either bodily injury or an offensive touching

Again, a prosecutor must be able to prove all three of these elements beyond reasonable doubt for the charge of simple battery to apply.

Other Types of Battery

However, there are more forms of battery beyond “simple battery”. Variations on battery can elevate the severity of the charge. Simple battery is handled as a misdemeanor, but other types of battery charges are treated far more seriously.

Examples of other types of battery include:

• Sexual battery—Sexual battery involves one individual touching the intimate parts of another person without consent.
• Family violence battery—Family violence battery specifically describes instances of battery that occur within familial relationships.
• Aggravated battery—Aggravated battery is a far more serious charge than simple battery in that aggravated battery is treated as a felony. This type of battery usually applies to cases where the act of battery results in permanent disability or disfigurement to the victim of the battery.

Call a Minneapolis Assault and Battery Lawyer

Battery is a very serious crime and cases of battery must be handled by a qualified and experienced legal professional. If you have been a victim of battery, contact the Minneapolis battery defense lawyers of Terry & Slane, P.L.L.C. at 612-362-0000 today.

If you have been injured due to someone’s wrongdoing, you are not only in pain but under a high amount of stress. When you are suffering, it is hard to manage all of the financial burdens caused by the incident. It is important to contact an experienced Minneapolis personal injury lawyer, so that you are able to rest and recover knowing you have a capable lawyer handling restitution.

Upon meeting your lawyer for a free consultation, he will sit down with you and analyze all the details and recommend the best course of action. In tort law, many attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, where they receive no payment unless they successfully recover damages for their client.

There are several types of damages which one can seek in personal injury law. The two most common are compensatory and punitive.

• Compensatory damages are the most direct. They are reimbursement for costs related to the injury and are very easy to calculate since they are based on paperwork. These include lost wages, medical bills, physical therapy, etc. Pain and suffering damages are awarded to help compensate for the trauma a person has been through due to another’s negligence; this amount can be highly variable. In addition, loss of companionship damages are given for the plaintiff’s inability to spend quality time with a spouse or family due to their injuries. This compensation is also referred to as consortium.
• Punitive damages are reserved for extreme cases. They are used in situations in which a reckless act was committed intentionally, and the damages are viewed as a way to punish the offender.

Do not continue to shoulder this burden alone. Contact the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, at 612-362-0000. They will take care of the legal aspects of your case, handle the paperwork, and file your claim.

Sometimes when a person is injured by another person’s negligent actions, someone other than the individual that caused the injuries is liable for the injury. When this situation occurs, the person that is liable is said to be vicariously liable for the actions of the other, or the person that caused the injury.

Vicarious liability is a form of liability in torts that makes an individual that is in charge of or employs another liable for the actions of that charge or employee. The situation is most common in instances where a person is hurt by an employee and then his or her employer is found liable.

In order for a person to be liable for the actions of another, the action that was the cause of the injury must have been part of the person’s job or been a direct order of some sort. For instance, if a person is hit by a UPS truck that is speeding, UPS may be liable if the person was driving the truck for UPS at the time of the accident. An instance where UPS would not be liable exists if an off-duty driver, driving their own car, hit someone while going to or from work.

Parents can also be held vicariously liable for the actions of their children. There is a certain degree of control that one expects a parent to have over their children and so when the child does something to injure another person, the parents could be found liable. This frequently depends on the age of the child that hurt another.

Contact a Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured by an individual’s negligent actions and would like to discuss your legal options, please contact the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen at 612-362-0000. Our partners are skilled, ethical litigators with years of experience in cases stemming from car crashes, truck crashes, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian accidents.

Traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly in individuals under the age of 45. When an individual sustains some sort of injury to their brain, the damage can be extensive or minor depending on the nature of the accident that caused the injury.

The sources of traumatic brain injury can vary widely, and the treatment options for injured individuals can be equally varied. In many cases, treatment can successfully restore an affected individual to the quality of life they knew before his or her accident.

Levels of Treatment for TBI

Some of the most important treatment that a traumatic brain injury victim will receive is the treatment that will take place at the scene of the accident. TBIs have the ability to worsen the longer they go untreated, so speed is a critical factor in treating brain injuries.

Paramedics, who are usually the first individuals on the scene of an accident, will meet the victim’s immediate needs, which typically includes:

• Restoring a proper oxygen supply
• Maintaining adequate blood flow
• Controlling blood pressure

Since there is the possibility of a spinal cord injury, the patient will usually be strapped to a back-board and put in a neck brace to prevent further injury to the brain or spinal cord. Once a victim is stabilized, they can be transported to a medical facility to receive more specialized treatment. In the hospital, they will check the patient’s:

• temperature
• pulse
• breathing rate
• pupil size and response to light
• level of consciousness
• neurological functioning

Lowering Intracranial Pressure

A common problem in individuals with traumatic brain injury is dangerously increased intracranial pressure. An important part of TBI treatment is monitoring the brain of an injured individual for increased intracranial pressure and alleviating this rise if it occurs. There are a number of procedures and treatment options available to help reduce intracranial pressure in TBI victims.

Surgical Options

The patient may need surgery either as an emergency care option, corrective option, or preventative option. Brain surgery is required if they need to:

• remove blood from the skull cavity if there has been internal bleeding
• repair a skull fracture
• remove damaged tissue to make room for healthy brain tissue

In extreme cases where there is excess swelling or extensive tissue damage, a portion of the skull may be removed to release pressure. When the swelling of the brain subsides, the section of the skull will be replaced.

Minneapolis Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you know has suffered from a traumatic brain injury, contact the Minneapolis brain injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. today at 612-362-0000 to schedule a consultation. Our partners are experts in the field of traumatic brain injury cases, writing articles and lecturing on the subject — and winning many cases for the victims of TBI. Here is a synopsis of one of their cases:

Josh was hit, as a pedestrian, by a vehicle after Josh and the driver exchanged words. Josh was knocked to the ground and hit his head on another car and the pavement. He suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result. The driver left the scene and was turned in by the passenger a couple of days later. The driver accused the passenger of driving the vehicle but later plead guilty to an offense involving driving the vehicle. Josh spent four weeks in the hospital. A large piece of his skull was removed in order to receive special treatments in a hyperbaric chamber involving direct oxygen on his brain and then the piece was replaced a few weeks later. Josh experienced a remarkable recovery. He was left with only mild traumatic brain injury residuals. The case settled for a total of $600,000.

People get injured all the time. Most of the time, however, it is something small and easy to treat right in your own home. It is important to remember that you cannot treat everything on your own. Knowing what you can and cannot do is a very important skill.

When it comes to cuts, you can treat many of them fairly easily. Wash the area around the cut to get any debris away to clean it. If it is still bleeding, you should apply light pressure to the cut until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding does not stop after a minute or two, you should probably go to the hospital as the cut may be too deep for you to treat on your own. If the bleeding does stop, you can take the pressure off and coat the cut with an antibacterial ointment, then cover the wound.

As far as burns go, there are a lot of different things that you can do. Soaking the burn in milk for a few seconds can be helpful as can covering it in aloe vera. You should also try elevating the burn to reduce the sting and help it heal. Also, try to stay away from ice. Instead use cool water to soothe your burn. The ice will only make it worse.

Just remember, most people do not have first aid training. This limits their ability to treat more serious wounds. Even people who do know first aid, however, may still need to take a trip to the hospital. Some injuries are very serious and can have long term repercussions.

Speak with a Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been injured, contact the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, PLLC at 612-362-0000.