8 New Case Results Have Been Added to the TSR Website

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on April 20, 2023 in Firm News

We have added eight new case results to the case results page of the TSR Injury Law website. The results are detailed below.

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by negligence, we may be able to help you seek compensation for your damages. Visit our case results page to learn more about some of the cases we have worked on and the results we have obtained.

Our firm has recovered more than $1 billion on behalf of our clients and there are no upfront fees with our services.

Work Injury – Confidential

TSR obtained an eight-figure confidential settlement for a person who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a workplace accident.

Personal Injury – $12,000,000

Rich Ruohonen represented an individual in his 40s involved in an accident whose injuries resulted in amputation of his leg for a settlement of $12 million.

Truck Accident – $4,000,000

Partner Rich Ruohonen obtained a $4 million settlement for a woman who suffered a dominant arm injury caused by a crash with a commercial semi-truck.

Truck Accident – $875,000

Maria was seriously injured when she was stopped at a light and a garbage truck caused a crash in which it deflected off another vehicle and hit her stopped vehicle. Her vehicle was destroyed in the crash. The crash resulted in injuries including a broken leg requiring open reduction fixation surgery and a severe hematoma to the leg which required surgery to draining the hematoma. Partner Rich Ruohonen obtained a $875,000 settlement for Maria.

Car Accident – $325,000

Ben was injured when he was on his way to a job site and his van was rearended at a high rate of speed. He ended up having injuries including a cervical disc herniation resulting in neck pain and mild traumatic brain injury. Ben received several injections for the pain in his neck and therapy for his brain injury. Partner Rich Ruohonen was able to obtain a settlement for $325,000 for Ben.

Personal Injury – $1,000,000

N.R. suffered a severe, traumatic brain injury while under the care of commercial daycare provider. She is believed to have been shaken while at the day care by one of the workers. There were no cameras at the daycare to show what occurred. When she was picked up by her parent, she seemed lethargic and a police investigation ensued, and it was narrowed down to two workers that cared for her that day as being the cause of what occurred. Neither would admit that anything unusual occurred. Medical doctors confirmed this type of brain injury usually only occurs in the event a child is shaken. Partner Rich Ruohonen is well-known for representing children who are injured as a result of daycare provider negligence and was hired to represent N.R. He was able to secure a $1,000,000 settlement for N.R. Although N.R. still has ongoing effects from the traumatic brain injury, N.R. has improved far better than ever expected and should lead a normal life.

Car Accident – $140,000

R.K. was rearended when a teenager was going too fast in icy conditions and could not stop in time. R.K. suffered a mild traumatic brain injury with mild post-traumatic stress disorder. She also suffered neck and upper back injuries with associated headaches pain which were treated with occipital nerve blocks. The PTSD really only affected her ability to drive in snowy and icy conditions without anxiety. She received therapy for her PTSD as well. There were numerous accidents across the metro area that day due to icy roadways. The teenage driver of the car claimed there is nothing she could do as she slid on ice for several hundred feet. Partner Rich Ruohonen took her deposition and proved her inexperience in driving in icy conditions was the reason she crash into R.K. that day. This matter was resolved for the policy limits of $100,000 shortly after the deposition. The underinsured case then was settled for an additional $40,000 resulting in a total settlement of $140,000.

Motorcycle Accident – $175,000

Tim was injured in a motorcycle crash when an inattentive driver turned left in front of him. He tried to lay down the motorcycle before hitting the vehicle, but a collision occurred with the vehicle. The insurance company for the vehicle tried to state it was Tim’s fault for going too fast but TSR was able to obtain a video from local retail store which showed he was not going fast like the insurance company claimed. Tim had a cut on his head and suffered a concussion. He also developed headaches and neck and upper back pain. He was treated by a neurologist with trigger point injections and occipital nerve blocks approximately every three months for the neck pain and headaches. After receiving a minimal offer from the insurance company, TSR Partner Rich Ruohonen sued out the case and after significant litigation and a mediation was able to secure a recovery of $175,000 for Tim.

Were you injured by another’s negligence? Call TSR: (612) TSR-TIME.

Liability for a Car Accident Caused by a Heart Attack or Sudden Medical Emergency

Posted on behalf of Steve Terry
on October 15, 2020 in Auto Accidents
Updated on February 10, 2023

One of the scariest things that could happen to any driver is for him or her to suffer a sudden medical emergency, like a heart attack, seizure, stroke or sudden loss of consciousness. Drivers could easily lose all control of the vehicle and get into a life-threatening crash.

Generally, a heart attack or other medical emergency is not the driver’s fault. That may raise questions about whether the driver can be held liable for the damages the crash caused.

TSR Injury Law discusses this issue in greater detail below, explaining some of the issues that will likely need to be considered. Our firm offers a free consultation for crash victims to discuss their potential legal options. Whether you are considering filing a claim, or already have and are struggling to negotiate with the insurance company, Bloomington auto accident lawyers may be able to help.

What is a Sudden Medical Emergency?

A sudden medical emergency is an unforeseen situation that puts a person’s life at risk. For example, people do not know when a stroke, heart attack, seizure or sudden loss of consciousness (syncope) may occur. When these things happen, immediate medical treatment is essential to save the person’s life and try to stabilize his or her condition.

If you have ever experienced a sudden medical emergency or witnessed someone else experiencing this type of emergency, you know they would be unable to safely operate a motor vehicle while it is happening.

That is why it is so important for people who are experiencing signs of a stroke or heart attack to get off the road as soon as possible.

Signs of a heart attack include:

Pain in the center of the chest that feels like pressure or squeezing
Pain in one or both arms, neck, jaw or back
Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain

Signs of a stroke include:

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of your body
Confusion
Trouble speaking

Sudden, severe headache
Loss of balance
One side of your face is drooping

Can Drivers Use a Sudden Medical Emergency Defense?

Many states allow drivers to use a sudden medical emergency defense to escape liability for a crash that occurred when they were incapacitated. The theory of this defense is the driver did not act negligently cause the crash, so he or she should not be held liable for any resulting damages.

However, Minnesota does not appear to have clear statutes or case law on this type of defense. This shows why it is so important to work with a licensed attorney, as countering this defense could be quite complicated.

In March 2000, an appellate court in Minnesota discussed this issue in a case involving a car crash where one driver suffered a seizure. The court said the standard for the sudden incapacity defense was not well-established in the state and existing case law on sudden medical emergencies is sparse. In the appeal, the victim of the crash was requesting the court to reverse the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the other driver.

The appeal argued there was inconclusive evidence the other driver suffered a seizure. The appeal disputed the testimony of the emergency medical technician, who said witnesses said they thought the driver had a seizure. The appeal asserted there was abundant evidence the driver fell asleep and did not have a seizure.

Another case that dealt with this issue was dismissed by a federal district court in February 2014. The lawsuit involved a crash between a fuel truck and a passenger vehicle.

Medical tests found the truck driver had a sudden drop in blood pressure that caused him to pass out. The fuel truck driver’s defense team argued this was an “Act of God” and the court dismissed the case. The fuel truck driver did not face liability for the crash.

Generally, the key to successfully using an Act of God defense is to provide evidence the event could not have been foreseen or mitigated by human activity.

What if the Emergency was Foreseeable?

Sudden medical emergencies are often not foreseeable. However, there are times when drivers should know they have an increased risk of losing consciousness or becoming suddenly incapacitated. For example, someone who is prone to seizures may have been told not to drive by his or her doctor.

Someone diagnosed as diabetic needs to carefully monitor his or her blood sugar to make sure it does not get too low. If this happens, there is a higher risk of the driver passing out. If a diabetic does not eat for a long period of time and gets behind the wheel, he could be putting himself and others at risk.

As noted earlier, there are common signs of a heart attack or stroke, so if a driver identifies these symptoms for getting behind the wheel, he or she may not be able to use a sudden medical emergency defense.

If you are involved in a crash with a driver who was incapacitated, your attorney may look for a history of medical issues to determine if the emergency was foreseeable or not.

Need Help After a Crash? Give TSR Injury Law a Call

Our experienced attorneys know how important it is to recover compensation after a crash. We want our clients to have the compensation they need to properly treat their injuries and give them the chance to make the best recovery possible.

Our firm has obtained over a billion on behalf of our clients and we do not charge upfront fees for our services.

Schedule a free consultation today to learn more. (612) TSR-TIME

Tag: car accident