Auto Accidents

A fatal accident occurred Sunday morning about 11 a.m. on I-35 and Highway 8, near Forest Lake, Minnesota (Washington County). A Chevy pick-up truck was northbound when the driver lost control and started to roll. It rolled into a southbound Toyota Camry. The car flipped and landed upside down.

The two people from the car were pronounced dead at the scene. They were James Holland, 45, of Chanhassen and his son, Jude Holland, 4.

The driver of the pick-up truck, Eric Sprouse, 19, was ejected from his truck and sustained critical injuries. He was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital where he later died from his injuries. The passenger, Dustin Covey, 20, sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Fairview Hospital, Wyoming.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, and Forest Lake Police Department were all on the scene. Interstate 35 was completely shutdown for two hours. A medical helicopter landed on the freeway to assist and transported the driver of the truck. Traffic was rerouted to Highway 61. The northbound lanes were reopened about 1 p.m. Southbound lanes were finally cleared and opened about 4 p.m.

Alcohol is not suspected in the accident.

At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis auto accident attorneys understand that trauma that accident victims and their families may encounter following a serious crash. We can help to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.

Free Consultation – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Three people from one family were killed Saturday night in a head on collision. The accident occurred about 7 p.m. on County Road 50, near Kenwood Trail, Lakeville.

The crash involved a Hyundai Elantra, driven by Debra Buhmann, and a Chevy Silverado, driven by a 17-year-old from Dundas, Minnesota. It was reported that the Silverado was being driven with its lights off and went over the center line, crashing head on into the Elantra.

The car was carrying three generations from one family; Shirley Iverson, 71, Debra Buhmann, 34, and Alexis Iverson, 8. They all lost their lives in the crash that occurred just miles from their homes. The driver of the pickup truck was airlifted to HCMC, his condition unknown.

Lakeville Police and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating the accident. Alcohol is not suspected.

What Can The Victims’ Families Do?

In this type of car crash, if the truck was being driven with its lights off, there is a strong case for a wrongful death suit due to negligence. A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed by a family member and brought to court by a trustee. The compensation is limited to financial losses suffered by the surviving family members and includes: loss of companionship; loss of assistance, advice, and protection; and loss of monetary contributions the deceased would have made had they lived.

The laws dealing with a wrongful death suit are complex. Therefore, it is important to retain an experienced, knowledgeable law firm to represent you in your Minnesota wrongful death claim. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of combined experience. We will fight for justice in your case. Contact a Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorney at (612) TSR-TIME.

Nate Bjerke and Patrick Kranz just tried a case in Hennepin County involving a young woman who was 16 at the time she was hit by a semi-truck 5 years ago. The trucking company and driver did not want to take responsibility for the crash or the injuries they caused, but Nate and Patrick crushed them every step of the way. The jury provided justice after a 5-day trial in the amount of just over $360,000 which was over four times the last offer by the trucking company!! Great job guys!! Could not have done it without the help of their assistant Lynn Mausolf. And congrats to this wonderful young woman!

Congratulations to this wonderful young woman

The accidents were prolific Saturday morning due to patchy ice and snow. State Patrol reported more than 100 crashes around Minneapolis-St. Paul from 3 a.m. – 11 a.m. Bridges froze over and roads had patches of ice that were covered with a dusting of snow. MnDOT was out treating trouble spots with salt.

Around 8 a.m., a 45-year-old woman, from Cedar, MN, went off the road in Forest Lake after spinning out on a patch of ice on 35 W North. She left her car to check on another accident victim, was struck by a car driven by a Pine City woman, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident involved three cars that had spun out on northbound 35W near the Forest Lake split. The drivers of vehicle 1 and vehicle 2 got out of their cars to help the third driver, who had rolled his car. It was at that time that a fourth car came onto the scene and fatally struck the woman from Cedar.

Those involved in the accident were: William Franks, 58, of Chaska; Tirrell Corgard, 70, of Roseville; and Maria Wilson, 34, of Pine City; and the unidentified woman from Cedar. The accident is under investigation.

Legal Help Is Available

Minnesota state law allows the spouse and next of kin to recover monetary damages when there is a wrongful death in a fatal car crash. Damages allowed include medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost potential earnings, and loss of companionship. In a wrongful death case, the court appoints a trustee to represent the spouse and next of kin.

If you have any questions about a car accident case, contact a Minneapolis auto accident attorney at TSR Injury Law. We care and we will help. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

On September 11, the lives of four individuals were lost in a very tragic car accident in Pine County near Askov, Minnesota.

The victims were Brett Larson (21), Arden Edwards (58), Catherine Peterson (20) and Felicity Jenson (17).

All four victims died as a result of their pickup truck swerving into oncoming traffic and colliding with a semi truck.

Larson, Edwards, and Jenson all died at the scene of the accident. Peterson died later of her injuries after being airlifted to an area hospital. One 21-year-old man who was in the pickup did survive and he remains in critical condition at a hospital.

The lone survivor of the auto accident was also the driver of the pickup truck and been identified as Nikko Jensen, the brother of Felicity Jensen. Edwards, uncle to the Jensens, was seated next to the passenger door and was the only victim not ejected from the pickup. Although Peterson had been ejected from the truck, she was still alive when the officers arrived on the scene, prompting them to take life saving measures.

The semi truck driver, Dennis Sostak of Askov, was driving an empty gravel hauling truck and was not injured. The Pine County Sheriff’s office and the Minnesota State Patrol are still investigating the accident. At this point in the investigation, Sostak has not been found of any wrong doing and is not expected that he will be.

A Minneapolis woman, who may have been under the influence of alcohol, drove into a pedestrian and a Metro Transit bus shelter early Sunday morning. The pedestrian was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with massive head injuries and probable traumatic brain injury.

The pedestrian has been identified as Christopher S. Iverson, 48. He was standing at a bus stop on East Lake Street at 39th Avenue just after midnight.

The driver, a 49-year-old Minneapolis woman, was taken to the Hennepin County jail on pending criminal vehicular injury charges. Police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer suspects this accident was alcohol related. The exact blood-alcohol concentration will not be available for a few weeks. The speed of the car has yet to be determined.

Minnesota Drunk Driving Statistics

In 2008, a government study revealed that Minnesota has some of the most dismal drunk driving statistics in the United States. 23% of Minnesota drivers reported driving under the influence of alcohol in 2007 – the third highest percentage among all 50 states.

Drunk drivers in Minneapolis cause an unbelievable amount of pain and suffering, killing or injuring dozens of innocent people every year. The Minnesota Drunk Driving Attorneys of TSR Injury Law are dedicated to helping those who have been hurt – or who have seen their loved ones hurt – because of someone’s irresponsible decision to drink and drive.

Accidents involving pedestrians are often disputed by insurance carriers. Often the only witnesses are those involved in the accident. You need an investigator to inspect the scene of the accident for physical evidence that may help prove what happened. It is in your best interests to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Successfully filing a Minnesota personal injury suit against the responsible party can win you compensation for:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses
• Wages lost to medical leave or loss of your job
• Your current physical and emotional suffering

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our personal injury attorneys are consistently named Super Lawyers by their peers and Chuck Slane has been voted one of the 2008 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys have years of experience with personal injury cases, have a stellar reputation, and have secured millions in compensation for our clients. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

A family is devastated to find out that the main factor in a crash that killed their daughter and possibly caused injuries to others was the fact she was texting while driving. This revelation has proven to be an even greater nightmare to her parents seven weeks after they lost their daughter.

It was the first day of D.J. Logan’s senior year of high school, but she made a poor decision on a stretch of County Road 5 that brought her dreams for the rest of her life to a sudden halt.

D.J. ran into the back of a stopped school bus, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff. When emergency crews arrived, they tried to rescue the 17-year-old, but they could not do so. Her death then resulted in a lot of questions from her friends, family, and her community. Unfortunately, the answers are not easy for anyone to hear.

It turns out that D.J. was typing a text message while she was driving. It is believed that this caused a distraction and is the main cause of the accident. The task caused her to take her eyes off of the road and it was most likely too late to stop by the time she saw the bus.

D.J.’s family does help that the story of her accident will help others to understand why texting while driving is not a good idea. They spent a day at Byron High School talking to the students in hopes they could save some lives. They have also provided the students with a bracelet that reminds them to of D.J. and what led to her death.

The family did issue a public statement regarding how devastating it was to learn the results of the investigation. It has been devastating to all who knew her, but they cite her error in judgment as a teenager that caused her to pay the highest price. They said they would much rather be grounding her than not being able to hear her laugh.

The family has warned individuals that cellular phones are a distraction while driving and that parents need to educate their children by setting an example, such as not using the phone while driving and pulling over if it can’t be avoided.

If your loved one is injured in a collision that was caused by a texting driver, the family of that victim may be eligible to file a damages lawsuit. For more information, contact a Bloomington car accident lawyer at TSR Injury Law for a free consultation.

No Upfront Fees. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Tragedy struck again in Hugo on Thursday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 59-year-old Carolyn Anderson was stopped on Hwy 61, near Hugo, waiting to turn left, when she was rear-ended by a semi truck. Ms. Anderson died at the scene and an 88-year-old passenger, Rose Bongiovanni, died after being taken to Regions Hospital. A third person in the minivan, Marlene Wanner, 72, is in critical condition at Regions Hospital.

Hwy 61 was closed, in both directions, for three hours. The impact pushed the van into the ditch and the semi truck was angled across the highway. It is still too early to tell if the accident was driver negligence, mechanical malfunction, or speed-related.

The 32-year-old semi truck driver was not injured. He had a clean driving record. The accident is under investigation and charges may be filed.

Accident Victims Have Rights

Our Minneapolis truck accident attorneys are skilled, dynamic litigators with years of experience handling wrongful death cases. Our partners are consistently named Super Lawyers and have a reputation for large settlements, including a $3.75 million settlement. In a wrongful death case, it is vital to contact an attorney quickly so that evidence can be preserved and witnesses interviewed while the details are fresh. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

TSR Injury Law, or you may know us as Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, has a stellar reputation in Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota. We receive many cases by referral from past clients and from other attorneys — that speaks highly of our integrity and ability. We have an excellent staff of seasoned veterans ready to serve you and win justice in your case.

This is the deadliest weekend on record in years. The state has an average crash fatality of 2-3 per weekend. There have been 11 killed this weekend and it is only half over. Officers are lamenting the lack of responsibility and the needless loss of life.

The most lives were lost in the 2-vehicle car accident in Olmsted County. A minivan was broadsided and spun around by a Silverado, leaving 4 dead. The cause of the accident is alcohol-related according to police. There was another drunk driving fatality involving an underage driver. The victim in that accident was only 17 years old. In total 4 of the 7 crashes involved alcohol.

Our hearts go out to the grieving families. TSR Injury Law is a proud supporter of MADD Minnesota and received the 2008 MADD Choice Award. The Minneapolis auto accident lawyers at TSR Injury Law represent those whose lives have been changed forever by the drunk driving negligence of others. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

It has been nearly a year since an injury paralyzed Jack Jablonski. During these months, he has made physical progress that has been described as remarkable. He has even rejoined gone back to school and rejoined his classmates. His family also had a renovation done to their home so that they could better accommodate his disability.

Jablonski, also known as “Jabs,” was the recipient of the CBS Courage in Sports Award. The award is given to an athlete who has an inspiring story. He won this award because thousands of people submitted votes through Facebook. He got to watch the CBS program with his friends and family at the Minnesota Wild headquarters.

Basically, Jabs has taken a devastating injury and turned it into something positive. He was left paralyzed when he sustained a hit while playing hockey. He had to be tutored all summer while working on his recovery, but he is back with his school mates at Benilde St. Margaret’s and is doing well.

It took 9 months for him and his family to be able to move back into their Minneapolis home where they had to make changes. One major renovation was an elevator for Jabs so he could have use of the entire house.

Currently, he has to undergo therapy at the Courage Center as a part of their Able program. This is therapy that costs his family $18,000 every three months. Insurance will not cover it. Currently, the therapy is covered by online donations. The donations go into a fund that is set aside specifically for these medical expenses.

Despite the cause of Jabs’ injuries, however, he and his family continue to love hockey and they have taken their experience to push for tougher penalties at the high school and youth levels, especially for the type of hit that led to Jabs becoming paralyzed. Had the hit had a much stricter penalty, Jabs may not be paralyzed today.

While Jabs’ paralysis can be considered horrifying, it has not kept his brother, Max, off of the ice. He plays within the youth hockey lead and wears Jabs’ number 13 jersey.

On May 20th, at 7:40 am, life came to a stand still for Dennis Dumm, 31, as his bicycle was hit by a semi-tractor truck pulling a dump truck box. Dennis commuted to work in Minneapolis every day, wearing a helmet, using the bike lane, and carefully obeying the laws.

The semi-truck driver was on a one-way street, making a wide left turn; as he crossed the bike lane he struck and killed the cyclist. The driver will not be given a citation in the accident.

This is a reminder that accidents happen to law-abiding, hard-working, ordinary people. It is vital at a time like this to seek professional help by contacting a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer. A truck accident attorney will provide legal representation and help you receive a fair settlement from your insurance company. TSR Injury Law handles truck accidents and bicycle accidents with skill and compassion. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

A bicycle hit-and-run in the early morning of March 30 resulted in the death of the bicyclist and now the driver of the vehicle that hit her has been arrested.

Sgt Bill palmer of the Minneapolis Police states that officers responded to a call around 2:15 a.m. stating that someone had been injured. The individuals who called 911 said that the victim was Elyse Mary Stern, 28, who was severely injured and that the offending vehicle had fled.

When officers arrived at the scene, it was obvious that a female bicyclist had died on the scene.

Witnesses were able to give officers a description of the vehicle involved in the car-bicycle accident, which was found just minutes later. Officers said that Stern was riding east on Lake Street while the driver of the car was traveling west. Somehow they crossed paths. He drove off, but not before someone was able to get a good look at the vehicle.

Witnesses described the vehicle as having a considerable amount of damage and was said to be a green Monte Carlo. This description led to the vehicle being found within 10 minutes and it was found on Franklin Ave. East and Bloomington Ave. South. This resulted in the arrest of Juan Ricardo Hernandez-Campoceco, 27.

The driver did show signs of intoxication at the time of his arrest, so he was processed for DWI.

Now, Hernandez-Campoceco is being held. The charges include DWI and criminal vehicular operation. It is very possible that he really didn’t see Stern.

It was said in the report that Stern was not wearing a helmet and that the bicycle did not possess the proper lighting equipment.

Palmer said that the accident serves as a lesson for cyclists that they need to be proactive when biking at night and any time of the day. The bikes should have the right lighting equipment and bicyclists should wear helmets.