Minneapolis Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

Trial-Ready Representation for Minnesota Hit-and-Run Claims

Our trial-ready motor vehicle accident attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience handling cases throughout the Twin Cities. At Meshbesher & Student, P.A., we pursue compensation for injured people even when the driver who caused the crash hasn’t been identified.

We examine no-fault benefits, uninsured motorist coverage, and other potential sources of compensation. Clients work directly with their attorney from the initial evidence review through negotiations or trial. Steven Meshbesher has practiced law since 1981, and we represent clients across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Call (612) 200-1526 for a free, confidential evaluation of your Minneapolis hit-and-run accident claim.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Minneapolis

Report the collision to law enforcement and preserve any available information. Vehicle details, witness contact information, scene photographs, and the police report can help establish what happened. Identifying the other driver depends on the evidence and law enforcement’s investigation.

Minnesota’s law on leaving a collision scene is codified at Minnesota Statutes Section 169.09. A driver involved in a collision must stop immediately at the scene, or as close to it as possible, and reasonably investigate what was struck. When a crash within a municipality causes injury or death, the driver must remain at the scene and notify local police through the quickest available means of communication.

Drivers involved in a collision that causes bodily injury, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage must also submit a written accident report to the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety within 10 days. A police report and an accident report serve different purposes, so completing one doesn’t necessarily satisfy every reporting obligation.

Insurance Coverage for Minnesota Hit-and-Run Injuries

An unidentified driver doesn’t automatically prevent access to insurance benefits. Minnesota no-fault coverage provides personal injury protection benefits for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the collision. State law requires at least $40,000 in coverage per person, divided into $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical losses.

If an injured person’s losses exceed those benefits, uninsured motorist coverage may provide another path to recovery. Minnesota requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage. Minnesota law extends uninsured motorist coverage to hit-and-run vehicles alongside uninsured vehicles, allowing this protection to apply when the responsible driver remains unknown.

Coverage doesn’t make a claim automatic. An insurer may dispute whether a hit-and-run occurred, who caused the collision, whether the crash caused the claimed injuries, or the amount of damages. We handle insurance communications and develop evidence to address those disputes.

Minnesota’s Tort Threshold

Minnesota’s tort threshold determines when an injured person may pursue certain damages outside the no-fault system. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 65B.51, the threshold may be met when medical expenses exceed $4,000 or the injury causes permanent injury, permanent disfigurement, disability lasting at least 60 days, or death. The available route depends on the injuries, insurance coverage, and facts of the collision.

Criminal Penalties for Leaving an Accident Scene

The criminal case against the driver is separate from the injured person’s civil insurance claim. A conviction isn’t required before an injured person can pursue applicable no-fault or uninsured motorist benefits. If law enforcement identifies the driver, the criminal and civil proceedings can follow different tracks.

Minnesota law sets penalties according to the harm caused:

• Property damage: The offense is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• Bodily injury: Departing after an injury that isn’t great bodily harm carries a maximum of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
• Great bodily harm: The offense is a felony carrying a maximum of two years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
• Death: The offense is a felony carrying a maximum of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The driver may also face a Criminal Vehicular Operation charge under Minnesota Statutes Section 609.2113. Minnesota law recognizes an affirmative defense, meaning a legally recognized justification, when a driver leaves to obtain emergency medical care for an injured person and notifies law enforcement as soon as reasonably feasible afterward.

How We Handle a Hit-and-Run Injury Claim

We manage the claim while keeping clients in direct contact with their attorney rather than routing them through paralegals or rotating associates. Our work includes gathering available evidence, communicating with insurers, and identifying the coverage provisions that may apply.

Our work can include:

• Reviewing evidence concerning the collision and the vehicle that left
• Analyzing liability under Minnesota comparative negligence rules, which can reduce compensation according to an injured person’s assigned share of fault
• Presenting documented injuries and losses during insurance negotiations
• Preparing for civil litigation when negotiations stall

We take cases to trial when an insurer’s offer doesn’t reflect the full value of the client’s losses. Litigation arising from a Minneapolis collision may proceed in Hennepin County when the case has the required connection to that jurisdiction. No investigation result or recovery is guaranteed, but we prepare every claim for the path its facts require.

Discuss Your Hit-and-Run Claim with an Attorney

We offer free, confidential case evaluations to people injured in vehicle collisions. A consultation allows you to discuss the crash, your insurance coverage, and potential next steps without an upfront legal fee.

Clients pay no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we obtain a recovery. Our contact form is also available to request an evaluation.

Call (612) 200-1526 to discuss your Minneapolis hit-and-run injury claim with us.