Have a Legal Question?

Get Free Answers From Experienced Lawyers!

Lawyers, increase your visibility by answering questions and getting points. Answer Questions
Minnesota Personal Injury Questions & Answers
3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: What happens after reporting an assault with charges but no arrest yet?

I reported being assaulted, and the person responsible has been charged with second-degree assault but has not yet been arrested despite attempts by law enforcement to locate them. There were no witnesses, but there is surveillance footage, and I sustained injuries that required hospital treatment.... View More

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on Jul 8, 2025

Not much is going to happen until the suspect is located. Once the suspect is located, the court process will begin. How long the process takes is partially up to the suspect. It will depend on if the suspect choses to plead guilty or proceed to trial. I would expect that the court process will... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: What happens after reporting an assault with charges but no arrest yet?

I reported being assaulted, and the person responsible has been charged with second-degree assault but has not yet been arrested despite attempts by law enforcement to locate them. There were no witnesses, but there is surveillance footage, and I sustained injuries that required hospital treatment.... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Jul 8, 2025

After a criminal charge is filed with the court, the court will either issue a Summons to appear or an arrest warrant. If the Defendant is sent a Summons and fails to appear, the court will issue an arrest warrant. If a criminal case is in warrant status, court proceedings will be put on hold... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Charged with assault and minor in a bar after altercation with bar owner's wife.

I was at a bar known for allowing minors and underage individuals inside, so I wasn't aware of any age restrictions there. While there, I was asked for identification, which I didn't have on me. As I waited for my friends to give me their car keys to fetch my belongings and leave, the... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Jun 26, 2025

It's a good practice to avoid speaking about an incident related to a pending criminal case, other than with a lawyer in a private conversation. If this happened in North Dakota, discuss with an attorney licensed there. Based on the hypothetical facts laid out in the question, in Minnesota... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Can I use body cam videos verbatim in my defense for a collision-related misdemeanor charge following a police report submission?

I was involved in a collision on August 8, 2024, while driving, and I am now facing a misdemeanor charge for following too closely. The police report submitted to the prosecutor includes body cam video with narratives from both me and the other driver explaining the incident. I have obtained copies... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Jun 23, 2025

The question is unclear, due to wording. The question appears to be: "Can I use police body cam video in my defense, even if the video records a witness not present in court." The answer is "it depends." A few legal issues often arise when asking a judge to admit police body... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Injury question. I let my sister drive my pontoon. I was with her. She plowed into our dock and totaled out the pontoon,

I have ongoing medical issues that Medicare and BCBS paid for but we are out over $100k for replacement of pontoon lift dock and tarp. Is her insurance liable. I live in MN.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 16, 2025

A Minnesota attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. I'm sorry about your accident and the ensuing medical issues. From your post, it isn't clear how your sister's insurance would cover your pontoon boat accident. If you have a standard marine insurance... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Injury question. I let my sister drive my pontoon. I was with her. She plowed into our dock and totaled out the pontoon,

I have ongoing medical issues that Medicare and BCBS paid for but we are out over $100k for replacement of pontoon lift dock and tarp. Is her insurance liable. I live in MN.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 16, 2025

Addendum: You could consider reposting with the added category "Admiralty/Maritime." In giving further thought to your post, it isn't clear if you're on Lake Superior or a non-navigable inland waterway, such as a landlocked lake. The Great Lakes are "navigable waters"... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: I fell into an unmarked 6-ish inch deep hole on the public sidewalk while carrying groceries. Tripped and fell.

I was carrying groceries from my car on the street, up to apartment and stepped into an unmarked hole in the sidewalk that would have normally housed a tree. I scraped up my knees pretty horribly and received a small puncture from the edge of the grate which covered the part of the hole where the... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Dec 20, 2024

A Minnesota attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. I'm sorry for your accident and your ordeal with the injuries. Your courage is admirable, but there's nothing wrong with seeing a doctor, simply as a means to make sure that you're okay internally and... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for Minnesota on
Q: Can my company be sued if a patient leaves children in her car and something happens to them?
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 8, 2024

It could possibly depend on additional details. A local attorney should advise on any state-specific aspects. But as a general matter, if you mean your company is a medical office and a patient comes in while leaving their children in a car, the short answer is that it is something outside your... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: both husband and wife involved in car accident where our car was hit from a car that did not yield the right of way.

Our car was totaled and we both sustained injuries from broken arm to hematomas and chest bruising among other

consequences to our body.. Are we entitled to pain and suffering from these injuries?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 6, 2024

An attorney who practices in your state could offer you the most definitive and accurate guidance. You posted a week ago, so until you are able to arrange a free initial consult with a Minnesota attorney, the short answer is that it's possible you could. If you have a basis for a case under... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: both husband and wife involved in car accident where our car was hit from a car that did not yield the right of way.

Our car was totaled and we both sustained injuries from broken arm to hematomas and chest bruising among other

consequences to our body.. Are we entitled to pain and suffering from these injuries?

T. Augustus Claus
PREMIUM
T. Augustus Claus pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 2, 2024

If you sustained injuries in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver who failed to yield the right of way, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for pain and suffering. Minnesota is a no-fault state, which means that your insurance typically covers medical expenses and other economic... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: I live in MN and I was detained by the city police for assault in the third degree presumable evidence of injury..

The person who is claiming I injured them roll down a flight of stairs and broke a rib was that being said he told the police I pushed him when he tripped and rolled.. The first paper I received in jail nothing is filled out on it and everything is blank or there should be dates time and names and... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Jan 1, 2024

If a person is facing a criminal charge, it's time to get help from a criminal defense attorney - either public defender or private criminal attorney. Once that happens, your attorney will have access to police reports, videos, etc, as well as legal papers related to the case. At that point... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: I live in MN and I was detained by the city police for assault in the third degree presumable evidence of injury..

The person who is claiming I injured them roll down a flight of stairs and broke a rib was that being said he told the police I pushed him when he tripped and rolled.. The first paper I received in jail nothing is filled out on it and everything is blank or there should be dates time and names and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 1, 2024

In Minnesota, the legality of your arrest depends on whether the police had probable cause at the time of the arrest. Probable cause refers to a reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed. If the police had probable cause to believe you committed third-degree assault at the... View More

View More Answers

3 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: I live in MN and I was detained by the city police for assault in the third degree presumable evidence of injury..

The person who is claiming I injured them roll down a flight of stairs and broke a rib was that being said he told the police I pushed him when he tripped and rolled.. The first paper I received in jail nothing is filled out on it and everything is blank or there should be dates time and names and... View More

Sarah Gad
Sarah Gad
answered on Jan 1, 2024

In Minnesota, they do not actually have to charge you to arrest and hold you in jail. If the police officer believes they have probable cause to make an arrest (probable cause is a very low standard), they can hold you in jail for up to 48 hours without charging you. If they do not charge you... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Why is so hard to sue the airports l was in a airport on October 2nd and fell in the bathroom at terminal H4

I was flying back to Florida from Minneapolis Minnesota Oct second got through check in and everything then l decided to go to the bathroom in the airports bathroom when l entered the floor was wet l fell to the left and hand was still engaged in the handicap chair and it snapped the top of my left... View More

Robert Kane
Robert Kane
answered on Dec 28, 2023

Like any business, a personal injury law firm must make a profit. The firm will evaluate your situation based on its criteria and determine whether you have profitable case. Personal injury law firms don't take risks.

Write down a clear and concise description of the events to present...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Medical Malpractice, Civil Rights and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Hospital ER gave wrong form for mental crisis; denied crisis center admission. Seeking policy change and compensation.

I visited a hospital ER in Minnesota for a mental health crisis. I was given an incorrect admit form, meant to be filled out by a doctor, and told to fill it out to the best of my ability. Subsequently, I was released and instructed to attend a crisis center days later, against the immediate... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 10, 2025

What you went through sounds both painful and frustrating, especially when you were trying to get help in a moment of real vulnerability. Being handed the wrong form and then sent away with incorrect instructions shows a breakdown in care that no one in crisis should experience. When that misstep... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Risk of workers' comp benefits while planning to quit due to hostile boss demands.

I have been out of work for 4 days due to illness and have called in each day, taking it as vacation time. My boss sent a hostile text stating that I need a doctor's appointment and note, and if he doesn't hear from me, he would assume I quit. I've been with the company for nearly 4... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 5, 2025

To protect your workers' compensation benefits, you must avoid doing anything that could be interpreted as a voluntary resignation. If your employer assumes you quit and reports that to the workers’ compensation insurer, it could trigger a review or denial of ongoing benefits. Even if... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Daycare provider's husband claims I owe money at my workplace.

I have an agreement with a daycare provider regarding payments. However, her husband came to my workplace while I wasn’t there and told my colleagues that I owe them money. He also threatened to go to the business owner about it. There are witnesses to this incident. What should I do in this... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 5, 2025

What the daycare provider’s husband did was inappropriate and potentially unlawful. Coming to your workplace to publicly accuse you of owing money may rise to the level of defamation if what he said was false, or even harassment if it was intended to intimidate or shame you. Even if you do owe a... View More

Q: Is it ethical to warn Company B about Company A's unethical practices?

I worked for Company A for over 15 years, and now I'm employed by Company B, which purchases components from Company A to use in medical devices. I've witnessed unethical behavior at Company A, including falsification of R&D tax credits and altering of official paperwork, and I have... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 1, 2025

A Minnesota attorney could advise best, but you posted last week. I picked up your question because it was under the "Personal Injury" and "Product Liability" headings. However, employment and corporate attorneys could have stronger insight into some of the points you raise... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Workers' Compensation, Employment Law and Personal Injury for Minnesota on
Q: Workers' comp dilemma: resigning or being fired to keep benefits?

I returned from a workers' compensation injury to my previous job on temporary partial disability. However, my workplace has become extremely hostile, and I've decided not to return. I am on the upcoming schedule. Should I resign or not show up and be fired to ensure I keep my... View More

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 25, 2025

Do not resign if you want to preserve your workers' compensation benefits. Voluntary resignation can be interpreted as a break in the employment relationship, which may allow the insurance carrier to argue that you’ve removed yourself from the labor market and are no longer entitled to wage... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for Minnesota on
Q: Can I seek compensation for pain and suffering due to improper catheter placement resulting in infection?

I am seeking advice on whether I can be compensated for the pain and suffering my husband and I endured due to a catheter being inserted incorrectly because he was not circumcised. This occurred in December, and he developed a severe infection that caused him immense pain. Despite receiving a... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jun 18, 2025

I'm very sorry for the loss of your husband. It sounds like it could have the makings of a difficult case, in terms of reconstructing past pain and suffering. But the only definitive way to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of such a case would be to reach out to Minnesota attorneys.... View More

View More Answers

Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.