The world we live in is a chaotic, random place, and accidents happen all the time. Car accidents, slips and falls, among many other kinds of incidents, can happen whether by our own fault or the fault of others. In cases where the fault lies with someone other than ourselves, and the accident results in injuries that lead to mounting expenses that can destabilize the quality of your life, recovery becomes the top priority.
If you or a loved one has been on the receiving end of such an injury, consulting with a lawyer to determine your legal rights can be paramount to recovering the compensation you are entitled to under the law. At Sand Law, our experienced personal injury attorneys will represent you if you’ve been injured in an accident where the negligence of another party is at fault. Our team is committed to helping you recover the compensation you are entitled to as a result of your injuries.
Car accidents are stressful experiences no matter how serious the crash is, but when there are serious injuries involved, your life could be changed forever. When you have suffered severe or permanent injury in a car accident, navigating North Dakota’s insurance laws and civil lawsuit requirements can seem difficult and trying.
An experienced accident lawyer should be prepared to go to bat for their clients, rising to meet these challenges on behalf of their clients. Sand Law focuses on their clients’ compensation while you focus on getting back to your full and healthy self.
At Sand Law, we have a successful record of getting severely injured clients compensation for their car crash damages. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
The fact of the matter is that everyone will likely be involved in a car accident at some point in their lifetime, whether it’s minor or severe. There are many different causes of car accidents, including the following:
Motorcycle accidents, while not as common as car accidents, can leave riders with severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe road rash, and amputations.
Other drivers on the road may not pay close enough attention, changing lanes or merging directly into a motorcyclist. Accidents also occur because of the passenger vehicle driver’s failure to check before opening their door on the side of a busy street or following too close to a motorcycle in traffic.
A personal injury attorney can help motorcycle accident victims get the compensation that they deserve for their damages. Motorcyclists often experience unfair treatment by insurance companies, as insurance adjusters tend to claim that motorcyclists are driven by adrenaline. This stereotype allows them to lowball settlement offers and sway the court in their favor by placing false blame on motorcyclists.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will be able to argue against these claims, ensuring that you get the most compensation possible.
Truck accidents are incredibly dangerous and very likely to cause severe injuries simply because of the sheer force that a large truck can inflict on a much smaller passenger vehicle. Injury claims for truck accidents can be more complex than other motor vehicle accident claims because of the number of parties that can potentially be at fault for the accident.
Truck accidents can be caused by driver negligence, such as distracted driving, driving under the influence, speeding, aggressive driving, and inexperience. However, they may also be caused by third parties, such as the trucking company, the truck loaders, the truck manufacturer, or the truck owners.
The trucking company may be liable for the accident if they’ve encouraged the driver to drive over the legally allowed limits, resulting in forged log books and fatigue for the driver. They could also be liable if the accident occurred because of improper training. Oftentimes the driver and the trucking company are both liable because the driver has broken a rule and the employer either encouraged it or ignored it.
The loaders of the truck may be liable if the vehicle’s improper loading caused the accident to occur. Accidents may also occur because of defective parts or malfunctions, often at the fault of the manufacturer.
No matter who’s at fault for your truck accident, we can help you. We have years of experience working with truck accident cases and handling multi-party and third-party liability. Our knowledge base will help to ensure that your case is a success.
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents are most common in urban areas where homes and businesses are within proper walking or biking distance. Bicycle and pedestrian accidents most often occur because of:
While drivers learn about how to properly share the road with both cyclists and pedestrians, it’s often forgotten about later in life. Instead, drivers are annoyed by cyclists taking up an entire lane, forcing them to have to drive slower. This can result in accidents caused because of road rage or the driver’s anger and impatience.
Pedestrian accidents occur for similar reasons, but most commonly because of distracted driving, intersection issues, and driving under the influence. Pedestrian accidents can occur on crosswalks at lights, stop signs, or other parts of the road. They may also occur when a driver jumps the curb, for example, if they’re intoxicated or not paying attention to where they’re going.
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents can leave victims with severe injuries and permanent injuries or disability. It’s vital to hire an experienced pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney so they can help you get everything you need, from justice to compensation.
Every business is responsible for maintaining the facilities on their property, from simple things such as cleaning the floors to keeping any outside walkways clean and clear of hazards. In some cases, however, business owners or property neglect their responsibilities and create hazardous situations that can lead to you falling and injuring yourself. These falls can injure you in a variety of ways, such as:
If your fall is the result of an individual working on the property, or the property owner themselves, they can be held liable to cover your medical expenses that result from a fall injury on their property.
North Dakota has a thriving recreational vehicle community that makes use of the many forests and mountains throughout the state at all times of the year. The number of ATVs and snowmobiles crossing through the backcountry, unfortunately, can result in collisions and injuries to their operators or bystanders. These injuries can be particularly devastating, leading to paralysis, loss of limbs, or even death.
Sometimes these accidents are the fault of no operator but a faulty machine. It may have been improperly assembled or filled with the wrong type of fuel. Other times, the operator of another vehicle may be at fault, including but not limited to:
North Dakota has one of the most thriving statewide oil industries in America. Many residents are employed on oil rigs or, at the very least, know someone who is. Like any other workplace, oil rigs are the site of dozens of accidents per year. Many of these are preventable, and unsafe conditions or defective equipment may have been the cause of your injuries.
Defective wellheads and other machinery, improperly installed safety measures, gas leaks, or damage to the rig itself can be held as the fault of the company, and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Similarly, construction workers face hazardous conditions every day when they come to work. Injuries as a result of construction site accidents are a common occurrence, both in the state and across the country. If any of the following has happened to you or someone you love, we can help seek damages:
In most cases, a construction worker is covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation program. This means that their employer is exempt from negligence actions. However, if the negligence on a construction site can be traced back to the actions of a subcontractor, you are allowed to bring a case against that third party. You can seek any of the damages listed previously, such as medical bills and loss of earning potential.
“Damages” is a legal term that refers to any loss a victim of a personal injury accident has incurred. These damages must be directly linked to the accident. You can recover almost any loss that you experience because of your injuries, up to a point.
Special damages also referred to as economic damages, cover any monetary losses that you may have experienced because of your injuries as a result of the accident. These damages are easy to calculate, as they reflect direct costs that you’ve incurred. These damages include:
General damages, or non-economic damages, are harder to calculate as they don’t have a monetary value associated with them. Instead, general damages are tied to how your injuries have affected your life. They’re calculated by taking a look at how much your quality of life has changed because of your injuries from the accident. The more your quality of life has worsened, the more compensation you’re likely to receive. General damages include:
Wrongful death damages can be collected when a loved one passes away because of a personal injury accident. They may pass away at the scene of the accident or later on down the road because of complications with their injuries. Wrongful death damages can be claimed on behalf of both your loved one’s damages and your own.
Punitive damages are rare but are occasionally awarded to the plaintiff as further punishment to the defendant for the act that they committed. These are often awarded in cases where gross negligence is present. They’re awarded as a way to prevent the same party (or a different party) from committing the same act again in the future.
Sand Law handles all types of personal injury cases, including but not limited to:
The statute of limitations in North Dakota is often much shorter than in other states for personal injury cases and wrongful death claims, so do not hesitate to contact a team of personal injury lawyers you can trust.
North Dakota limitations laws set a time limit of 6 years for personal injury cases and 2 years for wrongful death cases. These time limits usually begin counting down as of the date the accident or injury occurred or was noticed.
When it comes to injuries resulting from another party’s negligence anywhere in Watford City, you need an experienced team to advocate for you. You deserve compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, and our team is the best to help you get it. Contact our experienced personal injury lawyers at 701-609-1510, or fill out our online contact form today.
Sand Law protects clients in Watford City, McKenzie County, and across North Dakota who have been injured due to another’s negligence. Our team of experienced and dedicated personal injury attorneys is passionate about representing North Dakotans in their time of need.
We have offices conveniently located across North Dakota in Watford City, Minot, Williston, and Bismarck.
With oil, gas, and agriculture contributing to a large amount of North Dakota’s economy, the trucking industry is vital to the continued growth of the state’s GDP. Thousands of truckloads of product are shipped both inside and out of the state each year. But with the sheer amount of shipments on the move, it is unfortunately inevitable that accidents involving semi-trucks occur on streets and highways.
Two-thirds of North Dakota’s truck accidents occur in counties connected to the oil industry, resulting in numerous fatalities and dozens of injuries. Most of these accidents are preventable, and their victims should never have to go through what they do in the aftermath. North Dakotans who suffer from a truck accident injury deserve quality representation to advocate for their rights in court.
The injuries from truck accidents can lead to costly medical bills and lost wages, putting financial pressure on you and your loved ones. Our experienced truck accident attorneys at Sand Law can help you get the compensation you deserve.
In the aftermath of an accident involving a semi-truck, your safety is the most important thing. If you or a passenger in your vehicle was injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible for any injuries you might have. If you’re uninjured, there are steps you can take to build your case and protect your rights as an accident victim.
Most often, truck accidents are caused by otherwise preventable factors on the part of the truck driver. Proving these causes in court is key to getting you compensation for your injuries from the accident.
It takes drivers about 1.5 seconds to recognize a dangerous situation and react appropriately. If the said driver is at the wheel of a long, heavy, loaded semi-truck, any sudden change in that time may prove disastrous. When a semi-truck needs almost 170 feet to come to a stop at 40 miles an hour, that tiny amount of time is nowhere near enough.
Truck drivers work long hours and, as a result, are more prone to falling asleep at the wheel of their vehicles. Some recognize this problem and attempt to mitigate it by way of stimulants like caffeine or in more extreme cases, illegal drugs. Such drugs, like amphetamines, can cause hallucinations, vertigo and can even further impact reaction time.
Semi-trucks outweigh the average passenger car by several dozen tons. Any lapse in maintenance and proper care of the truck’s engine, transmission, or brake pads can lead to disaster on the road.
Because truck accidents are more severe than car accidents in nearly every way, truck accident injuries are as well. Trucks are heavy, and the impact of one can cause severe damage to a vehicle and, unfortunately, a person. Injuries like traumatic brain injury (TBI), damage to the spinal column, and internal bleeding aren’t uncommon.
Minor injuries, such as bruises, cuts, and broken bones, are also common and often exist alongside one another. No matter how severe your injury is, you deserve to receive compensation for the damages you’ve experienced. The cost of a truck accident can be financial, mental, and physical. Mental health after a major accident can be a struggle. Many people are left with post-traumatic stress disorder, driving fear, depression, and anxiety. This is especially true for those with severe injuries who have experienced a great change in their quality of life.
In any given truck accident case, there are a number of different parties that could be found negligible for your damages. The main parties in such cases are usually the driver of the truck, the trucking company they work for, or (in the case of an equipment failure that is not the fault of the driver or the company) the company that manufactured the semi-truck in the first place. Any of these parties can be held liable for compensation for all your expenses relating to the accident.
Typically, cases brought against the truck driver or the truck company use violations of federal commercial guidelines as the basis for their claims. There are different guidelines that apply to the drivers and the companies, and violations of any of them could be used to strengthen your claims case.
When a company is held liable for a truck accident, it is usually due to a violation of hours of service regulations or the regulations designed to ensure that drivers are receiving enough rest to safely operate their vehicles. Such regulations include:
The compensation that you receive after a truck accident depends on the damages that you experienced. The term “damages” refers to any loss experienced as a result of the accident. These losses can be monetary, such as bills, or not. Monetary losses, or economic damages, will be calculated by adding up your medical bills and lost wages.
Medical bills can include:
Medical damages can also include any future treatment that you may need. If your doctor believes you’ll need lifelong treatment, that will be taken into account. The same is true for lost wages and lost earning capacity. If you lose the ability to return to work, you may be able to receive compensation for the wages you would have earned had you not been in an accident.
Non-monetary losses, or non-economic damages, are more abstract. They include things like pain and suffering, permanent disfigurement and scarring, and mental anguish. Basically, these damages are awarded for the change you’ve experienced in your quality of life. The greater that change is, the greater your compensation will be.
When it comes to the devastating injuries resulting from truck accidents, you need an experienced team to advocate for you. You deserve compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, and our team is the best to help you get it. Contact our experienced truck accident lawyers at (701) 609-1510, or fill out our online contact form today.
In 2017, there were over 15,000 automobile accidents in the state of North Dakota. In these accidents, there were over 4,000 injuries and over 100 fatalities. North Dakota has a higher accident fatality rate than the national average, with a fatality taking place at an average rate of 1 every 3 days.
This high car accident rate means that there are many residents that need an experienced, attentive lawyer who can help navigate the process of filing a claim for compensation. The process can be complicated and arduous. And the attorneys at Sand Law can help you seek the damages that you are entitled to.
An automobile accident occurs every half hour in North Dakota, on average. They are an everyday happening. And most of them are the fault of otherwise preventable human error. Most car accidents are caused by common causes such as:
Car accidents can result in a variety of different injuries. Some may be minor, only requiring simple treatment. Others may be more severe, requiring long-term treatment.
Muscles, ligaments, and tendons are all considered soft tissue. These are most common in the arms and legs. Whiplash of the head and neck is a type of soft tissue injury as well. The force of car accidents can also damage the soft tissue of the back, leading to muscle sprains. Soft tissue injuries often lead to chronic pain and can cause issues years after the initial injury.
Any objects loose on the inside of a car become a projectile in a collision. Items like cell phones, mugs or bottles, purses, books, and similar items will be flung around the inside of your car. They can easily cut your skin or cause other injuries. Some injuries may be serious enough to result in blood loss and require stitches.
As discussed above, muscle strain and whiplash can result from the sudden movements vehicles experience in accidents. But an impact on a side window or against the steering wheel can cause bruising and deep lacerations to the head. Closed head injuries are also possible. This is where tissue inside the skull is damaged by sudden impacts.
Your whole body is at risk in accident situations. Drivers can be slammed into the steering wheel. This can cause broken ribs or internal bleeding. Bruising can result from a seatbelt pulling taut across the chest. Side impacts can throw your arms or legs against the door and, in severe cases, can break the corresponding limb.
Injuries are not always obvious in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Sometimes it can take over a month for evidence of the injury to appear. For the sake of your safety and your claim in the future, seek medical treatment for even the earliest sign of an injury.
Unfortunately, car accident injuries can be expensive. Victims are often left with debilitating injuries and no way to pay their medical bills. Thankfully, by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party (or your own insurance company), you can recover these damages in the form of compensation.
There are two types of damages that you may be able to recover, economic and non-economic. Economic damages include any monetary losses you’ve experienced, while non-economic damages cover any abstract losses.
Economic damages include:
Non-economic damages include:
In the case that a car accident causes the death of a loved one, you may be able to recover damages on their behalf. You can receive compensation for the above damages as well as funeral and burial costs.
The injuries that can result from a car accident can be life-changing, and if it is the result of fault or negligence on the part of another driver, you are entitled to the damages you sustain. It can be a tempting prospect to represent yourself in a claim seeking damages for an automobile accident, especially when faced with the prospect of repair and medical bills. What’s the benefit of hiring a lawyer on top of all that?
For one thing, experience is a must-have. Adjusters for insurance companies are there for the express purpose of settling claims for far less than they are truly owed. An experienced lawyer knows that insurance companies will often not offer an adequate settlement for claim cases and knows how to use the law to get an appropriate settlement.
When it comes to the injuries resulting from car accidents, you need an experienced team to advocate for you. You deserve compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, and our team is the best to help you get it. Contact our experienced truck accident lawyers at 701-609-1510, or fill out our online contact form today.
Bicycles are a great transportation for short distances, for some exercise, or if you don’t have access to a car or public transportation. According to the CDC, “Bicycle trips account for only 1% of all trips in the United States. However, bicyclists face a higher risk of crash related injury and deaths than occupants in motor vehicles.”
Each year, there are roughly 500,000 bicycle related injuries and over 1,000 fatalities in the US. While bicycling is a great alternative to driving or taking public transportation, it does come with unique risks.
Children between 5 and 14 years old are at the highest risk from non-fatal bicycle accident injuries. This accounts for more than one-third of accidents that occur every year in the United States.
Most bicycle accidents occur because of an error on the part of a motor vehicle, including things like failure to yield, distracted driving, failure to see cyclists approaching an intersection, backing over cyclists, running red lights or stop signs, failure to use turn signals, aggressive driving, or driving under the influence.
The CDC states that 37% of bicycle accidents involved alcohol consumption by either the driver of the motor vehicle or the cyclist. Alcohol use is also associated with more severe injuries and higher mortality rates. These accidents often involve negligence, as the motor vehicle driver is often unaware of the accident they are about to cause.
Liability determines who was at-fault for the accident and can affect the compensation that the parties involved may receive. For example, someone who’s at-fault may receive more compensation than the party that wasn’t at-fault.
However, in some cases, the liability may fall on someone other than the two parties involved in the accident. For example, a cyclist could file a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance company for a motor vehicle accident.
Likewise, the company responsible for maintaining roads may be at-fault if the accident occurred because of poor road conditions. In some conditions, hazardous road conditions may be due to government fault. Similarly, if the accident occurs in a commercial parking lot, the business may be at-fault for not maintaining their property.
A cyclist may be able to file against the manufacturer if the bicycle’s design led to an accident. In some cases, the negligent party may be the company that repaired the bike.
Determining liability can be tricky, especially when there are many parties in question. The amount of damages you can recover from an accident is linked to liability. If you’re completely at-fault, you may not receive any compensation and may even have to pay the opposing party.
If you share fault with the other party, compensation may be split between the both of you. However, liability gets more complicated when there are more parties involved. An experienced attorney will be able to help you figure out just how much you should expect in compensation based on your involvement in the accident.
If you’re riding a bicycle frequently, you want to make sure that you’re taking all the safety precautions necessary to ride safely. If you get into an accident and you aren’t wearing a helmet, your injuries could be much worse. Depending on your state, they may also be able to use it against you in court.
When it comes to safety, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re wearing reflective material when riding at night. If people can’t see you, they could crash into you. Overall, just make sure that you’re following the necessary safety precautions when riding your bicycle.
If the accident was the fault of the motor vehicle driver, their insurance typically covers the injuries of the cyclist. If you have personal injury protection coverage, you may also be eligible to receive damages from your own auto insurance. Medical insurance may be able to help you cover the damages of your injuries as well, but it depends on your coverage.
Bicycle accidents can result in injuries that are mild to severe. The compensation you are entitled to is related to the severity of your injuries. Because severe injuries have the potential to lead to scarring, disfigurement, or disability, you may also be entitled to receive compensation for loss of wages and loss of use.
The damages that you can recover are similar to those you would be able to recover if you were in a car accident. An attorney will be able to properly assess your injuries, medical bills, and loss wages to help you determine just how much compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact one of our experienced personal injury attorneys today. Our attorneys here at Sand Law have a wealth of experience when it comes to dealing with bicycle accidents, and they are standing by to help you with your case. For more information, contact us online or at 701-394-4744.
Offices in Fargo, Watford City, Williston, Bismarck, and Minot
Bicycles are a great transportation for short distances, for some exercise, or if you don’t have access to a car or public transportation. According to the CDC, “Bicycle trips account for only 1% of all trips in the United States. However, bicyclists face a higher risk of crash related injury and deaths than occupants in motor vehicles.”
Each year, there are roughly 500,000 bicycle related injuries and over 1,000 fatalities in the US. While bicycling is a great alternative to driving or taking public transportation, it does come with unique risks.
Children between 5 and 14 years old are at the highest risk from non-fatal bicycle accident injuries. This accounts for more than one-third of accidents that occur every year in the United States.
Most bicycle accidents occur because of an error on the part of a motor vehicle, including things like failure to yield, distracted driving, failure to see cyclists approaching an intersection, backing over cyclists, running red lights or stop signs, failure to use turn signals, aggressive driving, or driving under the influence.
The CDC states that 37% of bicycle accidents involved alcohol consumption by either the driver of the motor vehicle or the cyclist. Alcohol use is also associated with more severe injuries and higher mortality rates. These accidents often involve negligence, as the motor vehicle driver is often unaware of the accident they are about to cause.
Liability determines who was at-fault for the accident and can affect the compensation that the parties involved may receive. For example, someone who’s at-fault may receive more compensation than the party that wasn’t at-fault.
However, in some cases, the liability may fall on someone other than the two parties involved in the accident. For example, a cyclist could file a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance company for a motor vehicle accident.
Likewise, the company responsible for maintaining roads may be at-fault if the accident occurred because of poor road conditions. In some conditions, hazardous road conditions may be due to government fault. Similarly, if the accident occurs in a commercial parking lot, the business may be at-fault for not maintaining their property.
A cyclist may be able to file against the manufacturer if the bicycle’s design led to an accident. In some cases, the negligent party may be the company that repaired the bike.
Determining liability can be tricky, especially when there are many parties in question. The amount of damages you can recover from an accident is linked to liability. If you’re completely at-fault, you may not receive any compensation and may even have to pay the opposing party.
If you share fault with the other party, compensation may be split between the both of you. However, liability gets more complicated when there are more parties involved. An experienced attorney will be able to help you figure out just how much you should expect in compensation based on your involvement in the accident.
If you’re riding a bicycle frequently, you want to make sure that you’re taking all the safety precautions necessary to ride safely. If you get into an accident and you aren’t wearing a helmet, your injuries could be much worse. Depending on your state, they may also be able to use it against you in court.
When it comes to safety, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re wearing reflective material when riding at night. If people can’t see you, they could crash into you. Overall, just make sure that you’re following the necessary safety precautions when riding your bicycle.
If the accident was the fault of the motor vehicle driver, their insurance typically covers the injuries of the cyclist. If you have personal injury protection coverage, you may also be eligible to receive damages from your own auto insurance. Medical insurance may be able to help you cover the damages of your injuries as well, but it depends on your coverage.
Bicycle accidents can result in injuries that are mild to severe. The compensation you are entitled to is related to the severity of your injuries. Because severe injuries have the potential to lead to scarring, disfigurement, or disability, you may also be entitled to receive compensation for loss of wages and loss of use.
The damages that you can recover are similar to those you would be able to recover if you were in a car accident. An attorney will be able to properly assess your injuries, medical bills, and loss wages to help you determine just how much compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact one of our experienced personal injury attorneys today. Our attorneys here at Sand Law have a wealth of experience when it comes to dealing with bicycle accidents, and they are standing by to help you with your case. For more information, contact us online or at 701-394-4744.
Offices in Fargo, Watford City, Williston, Bismarck, and Minot
A story that continues to make headlines is the ongoing controversy of the injuries faced by the players in the National Football League. Retired NFL players are coming forward with claims that their careers have left them with long term damage that goes beyond worn muscles and broken bones – traumatic brain injuries, commonly referred to as TBIs. Numerous scientific and medical studies have established a link between contact sports like American football to traumatic brain injures.
Despite safety precautions taken like player helmets, there are only so many impacts a human skull can take without negative consequences. Though only a few players spoke up about it at first, the number of afflicted is growing. While TBIs in NFL players are drawing the most attention, TBIs are actually a common injury that can happen in a variety of situations. It is important to understand how they occur and how to recognize the symptoms.
Because of their lasting, often debilitating effects, TBIs are classified as serious injuries. Most often caused by a heavy bump or jolt to the head, TBIs are a serious risk, especially for children or older adults. The Center for Disease Control’s definition of a TBI is “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.”
Many different situations can result in a person suffering a TBI. They often present themselves after a person has been involved in a serious car accident, having hit their head during a fall, or, like the NFL players mentioned above, been involved in contact sports for a length of time.
Traumatic Brain Injuries are the result of the brain itself colliding with the inside of the skull due to an impact. Said impact jerks the head around, causing the soft tissue of the brain to bounce off the hard bone of the skull. Though these impacts seem minute, they can actually cause bruising, bleeding, and tearing of the brain tissue. In the event where the impact causes a fracture to the skull, shards of bone may pierce the brain like shrapnel, causing devastating damage.
Medical practitioners use three general categories to differentiate between types of head injuries. All of them can result in a TBI if severe enough.
While it can be considered a TBI in its own right, a concussion is sometimes treated as a minor injury. In actuality it’s a serious injury and should be treated as such, as they are often the precursor to more serious TBIs. They are closed head injuries caused by violent force to the head that cause the brain to bounce around an incur damage.
Even if the symptoms seem minor, every concussion should be treated by a medical professional. Is is common for symptoms to go unnoticed, only to show up hours or days later. There are many things to keep an eye out for, such as:
The circumstances of most TBIs are unique, and as such, the long-term effects can vary. Any injury to the brain is dangerous and can have a marked impact on an individual’s quality of life, but some effects are more serious than others.
TBIs can increase your risk for seizures and memory loss as you grow older. They increase your risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative conditions. Some TBIs can be treated, by often the best indicator of improvement is change over time. The effects of TBIs can be gradual, and unfortunately, are not always reversible.
It is important to not overlook the emotional effects of living with a TBI. The injuries themselves can cause mood swings or even whole personality changes. A once calm and collected person can become moody, aggressive, and even violent. The physical effects like loss of mobility can lead to bouts of depression, all of which can take a toll on the injured and everyone they are close to.
TBIs can be a harrowing experience for those they affect, and can have lasting results that impact the rest of their lives. This can be compounded if the injury was due to the negligence of another party and could have been prevented. It can change career opportunities and the afflicted’s entire personality, and lead to isolation, depression, and expensive medical bills as they try to navigate their new circumstances.
When going through this type of injury, personal injury attorneys are one of the best resources to help you through this trying time. They can take negligent parties to court and argue on your behalf for compensation to alleviate the damages associated with treating and living with these injuries. The experienced team at Sand Law is ready to help. Call us today at (701) 394-5396 or fill out our online contact form.
Whether it’s a dog you’ve known for years or one you’ve just met, at the end of the day, man’s best friend is still an animal, that it’s root, is a predator. As such, they are capable 0f being aggressive, defensive, territorial, and biting with extreme force. They do it for a variety of reasons, sometimes because they are threatened, poorly trained, not secured, sick, or are genetically predisposed to aggression.
A dog attack becomes a legal matter when a dog bites a person without proper precautions being taken by the owner to prevent it, especially if they know the dog is prone to biting. Dogs are animals that humans have decided to keep as pets. At the end of the day, they are not responsible for their actions; humans are. And thus, humans are the ones who must answer for their dogs actions.
At Sand Law, our experienced dog bite injury attorneys can help you sort out the legal matters surrounding the case, and may be able to help you recover monetary compensation for injuries that may have been inflicted by the bite.
Dogs are, by their nature, animals, and even the nicest most well-behaved pet can lash out and bite under certain circumstances. The American Veterinary Medical Association has outlined a variety of reasons why dogs may bite. Oftentimes, it is in response to external factors.
For example, dogs often bite when they feel frightened or stressed, or if they want to be left alone. Some dogs, especially when they’re young puppies, may also use their teeth during playtime. But very rarely is it unprovoked – growling and aggressive body language are a dog’s first signals that it is uncomfortable.
As such, it is your responsibility to be mindful of what a dog is doing, especially if it begins to show signs of being uncomfortable that may result in it resorting to biting as a way of telling you to back off. Failing to do so, or actively provoking the dog into biting you, makes you at fault for the incident and means you cannot seek any damages as a result.
North Dakota is one of a handful of states that do not have a statute specifically about dog bites on the books. Most of the time, if a dog bites a person without provocation or warning, it is handled as a personal injury case with a statute of limitations of six years.
Previous court rulings in the state have determined that standard North Dakota negligence laws apply to scenarios in which dog bites occur. In order to win damages from a dog owner in the event of an unprovoked bite, your legal team must prove that:
An important caveat to keep in mind is that some dog bite injury cases can be affected by limited liability for trespasser injuries. This means that in the event that the dog bite happened on private property that the injured party did not have permission to be on, the injured party will not be able to recover compensation. Bear in mind, however, this applies only to private property, not public property such as sidewalks.
Before contemplating legal action, it is important to assess and treat the damage from the bite itself. Even a bite from a smaller dog can become a huge problem if it gets infected. Due to the amount of bacteria in a dog’s mouth, the chance is high. There are steps you can take to treat the wound and minimize the risk.
A doctor visit is essential after you’ve been bitten. Dogs can carry a variety of incredibly harmful diseases, including rabies, MRSA, and tetanus. These types of bacteria require antibiotics to combat.
If not treated properly, dog bites can lead to serious infections that can cost you much in the way of medical bills, especially for treatment of intensive infections. In the worst case scenario, they may be responsible for you losing part or all of a limb. In such cases, if the dog bite was unprovoked and the owner did not do anything to prevent it, you have a right to seek damages from the pet owner.
Damages from a dog attack often include: medical bills, surgery costs, time off work, lost earning potential, time spent traveling and visiting doctors, plus pain and suffering.
Dog bites can cause all different types of injuries, each of which can be painful, debilitating, costly, and emotionally damaging. Some common injuries from a dog attack, include:
When it comes to injuries resulting from an unprovoked dog bite anywhere in Watford City or McKensie county, you need an experienced team to advocate for you. You deserve compensation for the harm you’ve suffered, and our team is the best to help you get it. Contact our experienced dog bite lawyers at (701) 609-1510, or fill out our online contact form today.
Wrongful death cases often overlap with other areas of criminal law. Cases involving vehicle or construction accidents can become wrongful death cases if the injuries of the person involved prove fatal.
Car crashes have a nasty habit of turning lethal, especially if the vehicles involved are moving at high speeds, or are of larger size like semi-trucks. Thousands of Americans die every year as a result of an accident involving a motor vehicle, either from the crash itself or as the result of complications of injuries from the crash. If the crash was caused by human error – such as driver negligence or driving under the influence – the relatives of the deceased can sue the driver responsible for the crash for wrongful death.
While a crash between two cyclists likely won’t result in anything more than a few scrapes, in the event a cyclist is struck by a car, the cyclist loses out based on the simple fact that the vehicle is larger and traveling faster. Some drivers have bad habits when it comes to cyclists and do not believe in sharing the road, an attitude that can prove harmful in the long run.
Similar to cyclists, motorcycle riders are at greater risk of injury if they are involved in a vehicle accident. Without the frame of a car around them, even the best safety gear can only do so much to protect riders if they’re struck at speed. Some drivers have the same lack of respect for motorcycle riders as they do for bicycle riders, and can be charged with wrongful death for their negligence.
With the amount of oil rigs operating in North Dakota, and even with the amount of safety precautions employees on said rigs undertake to protect themselves, accidents can and do happen. Wrongful death suits can be brought against employers that try to cut corners on safety measures that lead to a death.
By filing a wrongful death claim, the dependents of the deceased can seek a variety of damages from the party responsible. The party responsible for the accident will be held accountable, and will be made to pay restitution to the family of the deceased.
This is applicable to anyone who was financially dependent on the deceased, such as their children or their spouse, if their spouse was unemployed or was a stay at home parent. These damages can also be applied to the loss of future support, the income that would otherwise have been earned by the deceased.
The loss of a spouse is devastating, but it can be made even worse when it happens at an unexpected time. Claimants in wrongful death cases can seek damages for their grief at the loss of their spouse.
If the deceased person incurred medical expenses before their passing, such as surgeries that attempted to save their life, their surviving family can be responsible for paying the costs. Wrongful death cases can pass that burden onto the person or other entity that is much more directly responsible, and mandate that they take on the costs.
The emotional and financial burden of losing a loved one unexpectedly can leave your family feeling ruined. The circumstances can seem complex, with a heavy emotional component wrapped up in them leaving the entire process feeling daunting. It is important to speak to an experienced wrongful death attorney to discuss the specifics of your case.
Our experienced wrongful death attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve, and hold the parties responsible for the death of your loved one to account. Contact us today at (701) 609-1510 or by filling our our contact form.
The best way to ensure that your freedom and criminal record are not left up to chance is by hiring an experienced North Dakota Criminal Defense attorney. Choosing a defense lawyer that can thoroughly protect your rights and give you a superior defense is imperative, because a criminal charge has the potential to haunt you for the rest of your life.
In order to be convicted of a crime in North Dakota or anywhere in America, the prosecution lawyers must be able to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is part of the rights of citizens accused of a crime at the state or federal level, and criminal defense is the act of attorneys taking on the responsibility of protecting those rights. A person’s freedom is on the line, therefore the proof of guilt must be ironclad.
Violations of state and federal law is classified into two types: felonies and misdemeanors.
Crimes of a more serious nature are classified as felonies. Every state has some variation of punishments for felonies, but as a general rule, felonies are punishable by prison sentences of more than one year, or, if prison isn’t part of a sentence, extensive probation periods and heavy fines.
Felonies include non-violent crimes like burglary, money laundering, stalking, and criminal damage to property; and violent crimes like homicide, rape, arson, and child abuse. Punishment for felony convictions also usually include a loss of civil liberties, like the right to vote or ability to own a gun.
Misdemeanor crimes lie in a middle ground between felonies and citations – behaviors less serious than homicide and arson but more serious than a traffic ticket. Misdemeanor crimes are punishable by time in county jail, probation, house arrest, and fines. Other punishments may include community service, counseling for substance abuse, restitution, anger management classes, and electronic monitoring like ankle bracelets.
Misdemeanors are divided into different degrees, from third degree to first degree, with first degree being the most serious. Examples of misdemeanors are DUIs, theft, assault, and possession of controlled substances.
North Dakota citizens have constitutional rights designed to protect them from unfair proceedings in the courtroom. The prosecution has a responsibility to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt – that is to say, the prosecution team must prove the defendant did the crime, rather than the defense needing to prove that they did not.
Defendants have a host of other rights, such as:
The criminal defense team at Sand Law PLLC has been defending the rights of the accused both in North Dakota and across America for over 30 years. We have extensive experience in cases from all levels of the justice system, from juvenile halls to federal courts.
It is Sand Law’s mission to protect the rights of those accused of crimes, and to give defendants the protection they deserve. If you have been charged with a crime, contact us today so that you can have the peace of mind that comes with an effective defense team in your corner in the courtroom.
The former prosecutors and certified defense attorneys at Sand Law bring a variety of backgrounds to the criminal defense table. We combine our experience and knowledge to give our clients the best defense possible. The cases we handle include:
The process of being arrested is stressful. Being accused, put in handcuffs, and taken to jail can leave a person rattled, emotional, and unable to think clearly. One of the best things you can do is protect your rights from the very beginning by retaining legal counsel.
If you were arrested in Watford City, or anywhere else in North Dakota, you run the risk of losing your freedom, along with other serious repercussions, if you do not get legal representation as soon as possible.
Sand Law PLLC represents clients across North Dakota, including Watford City, Williston, Bismarck, and Minot. From first time offenders to those with extensive records, our clients come from all walks of life. Everyday people, celebrities, judges, and politicians are just some of the people who have relied on our experience.
Proactive investigation by a legal team that represents your interest is a key to an effective defense. Our 7 day a week, 365 day a year availability is in service of your rights, to prevent your case from being controlled by the police and prosecutors.
To contact us, use our online form or call us today at 701-609-1510 to talk to a member of our Watford City attorney team. We value privacy, and will keep your information confidential.
