If you or a loved one has been injured, or if a loved one has been killed due to the negligence or intentional act of another, I will provide the legal counseling and skillful representation you need. As an experienced St. Paul Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, I am dedicated to serving clients throughout the Twin Cities area, and across Minnesota.

For more than 33 years, I have been providing personal injury legal solutions to the residents of Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding cities and counties in the following areas:

• Auto Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Medical Negligence
• Workplace Injuries
• Dog Bites
• Serious Injury
  
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Burn Injuries
• Insurance Claims
• SUV Rollovers

Because the laws of negligence and wrongful death cases are complex, a great number of attorneys typically don't understand the claims process, coverage, exclusions and interpretations of the insurance process. As an experienced St. Paul Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, I help level the playing field for my clients. I understand the claims process and also have the resources necessary to retain the legal and forensic experts you need in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

My Firm does not require you to pay a lawyer's fee up front. If I take your personal injury or wrongful death case I will provide the resources to get copies of your medical documentation, hire expert witnesses, file your lawsuit and take depositions and other necessary steps in claiming money damages for your injuries. I earn my fee from the work I do in your case on a "contingency" basis, which means I deduct the litigation expenses and legal fees from the insurance company payment at the end of your case. If you do not win your case, you do not pay any attorney fees.

If you or someone you know in the Twin Cities area or throughout Minnesota needs the assistance of an experienced St. Paul/ Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, call Attorney John Wood today at 866-786-4997 (client inquires only), or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Vehicle Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence.  Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim.  A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.  Vehicle accidents can include:

• admiralty and maritime law
• ATV accidents
• automobile accidents
• aviation accidents
• bicycle accidents
• boating accidents
• commercial bus accidents
• cruise ship accidents
• intersection accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• pedestrian accidents
• rear end collisions
• semi-tractor trailer accidents
• school bus accidents
• SUV rollover accidents
• train accidents
• truck accidents
• yacht accidents

The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.

Automobile Accidents:
A car accident is a collision involving an automobile and anything that causes damage to the automobile, including other automobiles, telephone poles, buildings and trees. Sometimes a car accident may also refer to an automobile striking a human or animal. Car accidents — also called traffic collisions, auto accidents, road accidents, personal injury collisions, motor vehicle accidents and crashes — kill an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide each year, and injure about forty times this number.

Bicycle Accidents:
According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 67,000 cyclists in the U.S. are injured every year in accidents involving motor vehicles.  Many cyclists who are injured in bicycle accidents are unaware that they have a personal injury case and that they may be entitled to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills and lost incomes.  A cyclist may be entitled to receive compensation for an injury sustained because of a pothole, poor road or defective sidewalk.  There are state mandated residential and commercial bicycle laws, which entitle cyclists to observe different traffic rules than cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles.  This may mean that the cyclist is not legally responsible for an accident.

Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists on the road.  The lack on any substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle, leaves riders prone to serious personal injury in the event of an accident.

Train Accidents:
Train accidents can result in injuries such as sprains and fractures, catastrophic injury such as head trauma, brain damage, paralysis and loss of lives or property.  Train accidents can include derailments, collisions with passenger vehicles or other trains, grade crossing accidents or accidents due to mechanical failure.  It is the railroad company's responsibility to ensure that there are appropriate signals and gates at every railroad crossing for safety precautions.  If the railroad company fails to take such precautions, they are liable for any injury or death that ensues.  Victims of train accidents may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, lost wages and loss of earning capacity.

SUV Rollovers:
Although SUV rollovers do not occur as often as other automobile accidents, when they do occur they have a higher chance of resulting in serious injury or death, and are considered to be the most fatal type of vehicle accident on national roadways.  According to the Federal Highway Administration, SUV rollover accidents account for more than side and rear fatal vehicles combined and SUV's are three times more likely than the average passenger car rollover.

Although SUV's were designed primarily for the purpose of off-roading, manufacturers have since discovered their immense popularity as family vehicles.  Manufacturers have begun removing roll bars in current models.  SUV seat structures are not designed to keep occupants in place during a rollover regardless if seatbelts are worn.  Vehicle roofs, windshields and side windows easily collapse, increasing the risk of occupant head, brain and spinal cord and back injuries.  While the body of an SUV remains the same as it would if used for off-roading, the removal of the roll bars, combined with the high center gravity due to multiple passengers, make rollover accidents and occupant ejection that much more fatal.

Dog/Animal Bites:
Every year, millions of Americans are bitten by animals.  Being attacked by a dog is an extremely stressful event. Many dog bite injuries leave scars and have lasting emotional effects.  In every state, a dog owner is liable for bites to people inflicted viciously by a dog that previously bit a person viciously, or that were inflicted pursuant to the command of the dog owner.

In almost all states, a bite victim can recover compensation from a person whose negligence caused the attack and from a person who violated a leash law, a trespass law applicable to dogs or other dog safety laws.  The owner or keeper of a dog is strictly liable for his or her dog, even if it is the first time the dog has injured someone.  As long as the injured victim was not trespassing, teasing or tormenting the dog, the keeper or owner of the dog is liable for any injuries sustained.  Compensation for a dog bite can include payment for medical bills, pain & suffering, mental anxiety, fear and scarring.

Insurance Claims:
Insurance claims are a notice for reimbursement from an insurance company when the insured has suffered a loss that is covered under the insurance policy. Insurance companies cannot refuse to pay a customer's claim without "reasonable justification."  This means that an insurance company must engage in a reasonable investigation and pay legitimate claims in a timely manner.  If an insurance company fails to handle its customer's claim properly, it may be held accountable for resulting economic losses, including lost wages, interest on money the insured borrowed to cover expenses while insurance benefits were wrongfully withheld, and loss due to damaged credit.

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect:
Americans are living longer than ever before.  The fastest growing segment in the United States is the elderly population.  As a result of this demographic shift, many elderly Americans have become residents of nursing homes during their final years.  As many of these nursing homes are under-funded and understaffed, a disturbing incidence of neglect and abuse is being reported.  Injuries sustained by nursing home residents due to neglect and abuse often involve the inappropriate use of physical restraints, joint contractors, overuse of sedatives, unnecessary use of urinary catheters, loss of mobility, pressure sores and lack of nutrition with weight loss.

Defamation (libel & slander):
A form of personal injury that does no physical harm but can be extremely harmful to person's reputation or character is called defamation.  Defamation is false and unprivileged spoken words (slander) or written publication (libel) which exposes any living person to hatred, contempt, ridicule or, which causes a person to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him or her in his or her trade or occupation.

Defective Products:
Products liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer.  Products liability cases may include defective or poorly designed machinery, tools, motor vehicle defects, recreational products, pharmaceuticals and other defective products and equipment.  A person injured by a defective or dangerous product may be eligible to file a lawsuit for product liability.  Damages can be recovered under one of the following categories:  strict products liability; negligence or breach of warranty.  

Workers' Compensation:
Workers' compensation is insurance that an employer is required by law to carry in case an employee is injured on the job or becomes ill, temporarily or permanently disabled, or fatally injured due to circumstances surrounding his or her job.  Although workers' compensation laws vary from state to state, covered medical care generally includes: medical, surgical and hospital services; dental services; crutches; hearing aids; chiropractic treatment; physical therapy; nursing care and prescribed medications.  Additional monetary compensation may be provided if an injured employee is temporarily unable to work for more than a certain number of calendar days set by state law, hospitalized as an in-patient, or becomes permanently disabled due to a job-related injury or illness.  The right to receive medical treatment at the employer's expense typically continues as long as treatment is reasonable and necessary to treat the injury.

Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company or organization.  A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and children, and sometimes parents.  Under certain circumstances, unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent may also bring a claim for wrongful death.  In order to bring a successful wrongful death cause of action, the following elements must be present:

• The death of a human being caused by another's negligent or intentional conduct.
• The survival of family members who are suffering the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision, guidance, household assistance and general society previously provided by the deceased.

The general rule in wrongful death cases is that one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages which are suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one.  Economic damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial contributions which the decedent would have made to his or her spouse, children and/or parents had he or she survived.  It also includes the recovery for funeral service expenses in memory of the decedent and for burial cost.  Non-economic damages include loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, affection, solace or moral support.

If you or someone you know in the Twin Cities area or throughout Minnesota needs the assistance of an experienced St. Paul/ Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, call Attorney John Wood today at 866-786-4997 (client inquires only), or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

What is Personal Injury?

Personal Injury is any physical or mental injury to a person that is the result of another person’s negligence or harmful act. Personal Injury involves civil law cases as opposed to criminal law cases which involve a defendant and the State of Minnesota. Personal injury Attorney John Wood has experience in representing accident victims who have suffered serious personal injury. Personal injury is often referred to as bodily injury, and can occur in a wide variety of ways. The following are some of the most common accidents resulting in personal injury:

• Auto Accidents
• Dangerous or Defective Product Injuries
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Boating Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death Accidents
• Large Truck Accidents

What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?

Accident victims may be entitled to recover money damages for all losses and expenses that they suffered as a result of the accident. Depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, damages may include recovery for any of the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost Wages, including overtime
• Pain & Suffering
• Physical Disability
• Disfigurement
• Permanent Scars
• Emotional Trauma
• Mental Anguish
• Loss of Enjoyment
• Loss of Love & Affection
• Embarrassment
• Mental Disability
• Property Damage, and
• All out of pocket expenses (transportation charges, doctor/hospital bills, medical equipment, etc).

How do I know if I have a case?

In order to prevail in a personal injury lawsuit in Minnesota, you must be able to show that you have been injured and that your injury resulted from the intentional or negligent conduct of another. The injury may be a physical injury or it may be an emotional injury. By consulting with Minnesota personal injury attorney John Wood, you will be in a better position to determine whether or not you have a case and the strength of your case.

If you or someone you know in the Twin Cities area or throughout Minnesota needs the assistance of an experienced St. Paul/ Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, call Attorney John Wood today at 866-786-4997 (client inquires only), or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

If you or someone you know in the Twin Cities area or throughout Minnesota needs the assistance of an experienced St. Paul/ Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer, call Attorney John Wood today at 866-786-4997 (client inquires only), or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
John Wood Law Firm
13911 Ridgedale Dr., Suite 110
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Telephone: 866-786-4997

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

John Wood

• 33 Years in Practice
• Admitted to Practice Law in All Minnesota Courts
• Expertise in Automobile Neck and Back Injuries
• Expertise in Medical Aspects of a Personal Injury Case
• Routinely Obtains Exceptional Results for his Clients