Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen

Drunk Driver

The following information about drunk driving liability under Minnesota law is provided by Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading Minnesota personal injury law firm.  Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen have all been named Minnesota Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.  If you have been in a car accident involving a drunk driver, contact Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation.  Please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form for review by an attorney.

Negligence of Drunk Driver

Under Minnesota Statute, Section 169A, it is a violation of Minnesota law to drive with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more.  If someone violates this law, it is prima facie evidence of negligence in a civil case (Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.96 (2006)). 

This does not mean that someone who is injured by a drunk driver will automatically win a lawsuit against the drunk driver , but it does mean that the person suing has a good case.

If the drunk driver has not been charged or convicted of drunk driving, a person injured by the drunk driver can still bring a civil lawsuit against the driver.  The person suing the drunk driver may still have a good case, but evidence of the intoxication will have to be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.  A good  car accident lawyer will be able to present a case successfully whether there is a criminal conviction or not. To contact a Minnesota car accident lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.

Punitive Damages

In a civil action against a drunk driver, the injured party can ask for punitive damages, which, depending on the circumstances, can be significant.  For example, Pritzker | Ruohonen won $6,000,000 on behalf of a 26 year-old female passenger whose right leg was traumatically amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver.

A criminal charge or conviction is not a prerequisite to consideration of punitive damages.  Evidence of past criminal convictions for drunk driving or criminal vehicular homicide or injury is admissible into evidence.  (Minnesota Statutes, Section 169A.76(b) (2006).)  Generally, if there are past criminal convictions for either of these, it is more likely that punitive damages will be awarded.

For further information about drunk driving, please see the following:


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News - Accident Lawyers

Truck Accident Lawyer

Attorney Fred Pritzker has obtained another large recovery in a commercial truck case. Our law firm represented the family of a man killed by a truck wheel that had come off of the truck, rolled off a bridge and killed the driver of a car that was traveling on the road below. A confidentiality agreement prevents us from discussing the case in detail, but we welcome you to contact Fred Pritzker (toll-free 1-888-377-8900) for more information about this case and other truck accident cases our law firm has handled. For information on truck accidents, lawsuits and settlements, see our truck accident FAQ.

 

Yamaha Rhino Lawsuit

NBC affiliate KSBY interviewed Fred Pritzker regarding Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents. There has been a Yamaha Rhino recall. Read more Yamaha Rhino accident information and about a Rhino rollover suit.

 

Rich Ruohonen Successful Against Allstate Insurance Company

Pritzker | Ruohonen recently won an appeal on behalf of a client injured in a motorcycle accident.

 

Yellow Transportation Lawsuit and Minnesota Accident

Two teenagers from Mazeppa, Minnesota were injured on November 11, 2008 when a semitrailer collided with a car near Goodhue.

 

Attorney Rich Ruohonen Has TBI Article Published

Rich Ruohonen has written a ground-breaking article on traumatic brain injury. Also, read a car accident brain injury case study.

 

Pain and Suffering

Rich Ruohonen recently chaired a legal seminar on obtaining compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury case.

 

Traumatic Brain Injury

Pritzker | Ruohonen attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen spoke at the annual Minnesota Association for Justice Brain Injury Seminar.

 

Rich Ruohonen Interviewed by Lawyers USA

Attorney Rich Ruohonen was interviewed by Lawyers USA, a national legal magazine, for a story about lawnmower accident lawsuits.

 

Heartland Express Lawsuit

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the trucking company on behalf of the family of a passenger in a car that was allegedly struck by the semi truck.

 

Waste Management Lawsuit

Our law firm has successfully handled cases of injury and death against Waste Management, Inc., a national trash collection company.

 

FedEx Accident Lawsuit

One recent accident involved a FedEx truck allegedly colliding with an SUV in an intersection. According to police reports, the accident caused the truck to roll over, killing a pedestrian in the adjacent crosswalk

 

Schneider National Lawsuit

In a recent accident, a woman was killed when a tractor trailer allegedly rear-ended her van while it was stopped at a red light

 

UPS Lawsuit and Van or Truck Accident

In a recent accident, an elderly woman was allegedly struck by a UPS truck while walking her dog

 

Roadway Express Lawsuit

In a recent accident a semi truck was allegedly hit a motorcycle head-on, injuring the driver of the motorcycle and killing the passenger of the motorcycle.

 

U-Haul Accident Lawsuit and Ryder Lawsuit

Rental truck accidents can involve a collision with another vehicle, a pedestrian accident, or the death of injury of the driver due to bad brakes or other equipment.

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Lawsuit and Semi Truck Accident

In a recent accident, a tractortrailer allegedly rear-ended a car, allegedly causing a multi-vehicle accident. One passenger suffered head trauma.