Even if you are an experienced and careful driver, it’s impossible to know in advance whether you are going to get hit when you use a busy interstate highway like I-94. All it takes is an inattentive driver making an error of judgment when changing lanes or merging.
Merging accidents can cause serious injuries because they involve a collision at high speed. If your vehicle has been hit by another driver and you have been injured, you may be able to claim compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver at fault. Talk to a personal injury attorney as soon as your injuries allow you to do so.
Interstate-94 in Minnesota
I-94 is one of the longer interstates, connecting Billings in Montana with Port Huron in Michigan, on the Canadian border. The western terminus is connected to a junction with I-90 which then extends to Seattle. The section of I-94 in Minnesota is 260 miles long.
I-94 in Minnesota passes right through and connects the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and at the same time crosses the Mississippi River. The highway enters Minnesota from North Dakota at Fargo and leaves on the eastern boundary at a point between Lakeland MN and Hudson WI.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-94
Minnesota is a “no-fault” state for vehicle accidents. That means that unless you are seriously injured, or your expenses for medical treatment are more than $4,000, you are expected to claim compensation from your own insurance company. One benefit of no-fault insurance is that you don’t have to prove who was at fault.
If your injuries are severe and last more than 60 days, or your medical costs are more than $4,000, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. The amount of compensation must be higher than the amount you could obtain from your own insurance.
The statute of limitations in Minnesota is two years from the date of the injury or 180 days if the driver who hit you while merging was a government employee. The state has a modified comparative negligence rule which prevents you from claiming if it is judged that you were more than 50% to blame for the accident, but if your percentage fault was less than 50% you may be entitled to a proportional percentage of compensation claimed.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-94
If you do need to sue the driver who hit you, you will need convincing evidence which shows who was to blame. You may be able to collect evidence while still at the crash scene if not taken to hospital immediately.
Useful evidence includes photos taken of the vehicle damage, witness statements or at least their contact details, the police report made at the scene, and any documentation which provides confirmation of how much medical treatment cost you and lost earnings. The vehicle damage also needs to be documented so the cost of repair or replacement can be submitted either with your insurance claim or a personal injury claim.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
The chance of winning a personal injury claim after a merging accident on I-94 in Minnesota would be much higher if you use an experienced personal injury attorney to provide legal advice and help with negotiating with the defendant’s insurance adjuster. Fill out the evaluation form on this page to be connected with a personal injury attorney who may be able to help you with your claim.
