According to the DNR, Minnesota has the most boats per capita in the nation. But, boating is more than just fun. It is a responsibility.

The number one reason for boating accidents is driver inattention.The number one cause of death in a boating accident is alcohol use.

Establish some guidelines for your family and model those guidelines for your children and guests. Do not back down on enforcing the safe boating guidelines. It could be the difference between life and death.

Boating Safety

The DNR offers free information on Minnesota Boating Safety and education programs, including the mandatory boating and safety education program for 12 – 17-year-olds and a free home-study packet.

Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements:

• Flotation devices
• Navigation lights
• U.S. Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher

For more information on safety requirements: Minnesota Boating Guide.

Boating Accident

If you do have a boating accident, many steps have to be taken to protect your rights.

• File a report with the proper authorities.
• Take down the name, address, phone number, homeowners insurance information of the boaters involved.
• Get the eyewitness information.
• Take pictures of the scene.
• See a doctor.
• Call a Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer before you talk to anyone about the boating accident.

This information has been provided as a service of TSR Injury Law, a Minneapolis Personal Injury Law firm serving the Twin Cities and the entire state of Minnesota. If you have been in a boating accident, call us for a free consultation at 612-362-0000. We care and want to help.

We would like to encourage people to think through all of the consequences prior to embarking on an adventure. There are definitely some risks worth taking. Just be sure the risk you choose will not put someone else in danger.

Biking

Minnesota was just cited as the number one bicycling city in the nation. There are many great roads and trails to ride and explore.

Ride smart. Wear a helmet. Remember that bikes follow the same laws as motor vehicles. Ride defensively, too.

If you do get into a bike accident, call the police and insist the officer file an accident report. It is important to protect your rights.

• Do not discuss the bike accident with the driver or insurance company without talking to a personal injury attorney first.
• Get the name, address, phone number, and license number of the driver. Also, get pertinent insurance information.
• Get names and phone numbers of eyewitnesses.
• Take pictures at the scene, including the vehicle and the bicycle.
• Be checked by a doctor.

Minnesota Bike Accident Lawyer

If you are in a bike accident, call TSR Injury Law, at 612-362-0000. We will inform you of your legal rights, handle all of the paperwork, and file your claim. Call today. The consultation is free. The information will be invaluable. If you prefer, you may submit our free consultation form to the right.

To date, 24 children have been injured. Many of the children have sustained bumps and bruises to the head. The other injuries include scrapes, bruises, and at least one hairline arm fracture.

The recall does not allow for the consumer to return the product. The consumer must order a free repair kit and then fix the chair on their own.

Models Included in the Recall: 3920BAN, 3920BAN2, 3920BEB, 3920BEBB, 3920COV, 3920DOH, 3920GEI, 3920GEIDSP, 3920GRN, 3920HMP, 3920IVY, 3920LAU, 3920PKR, 3930DDH, 3930DHO, 3935CAL, 3935OXB, 3935PKR, 3935PKRDSP, 3935SPM, 3935SPMDSP, 3935THR, 3935THR2, 3935THR3, 3940BIA, 3940BIADSP, 3940CAP, 3940CLE, 3940COT, 3940DRM, 3940HML, 3940MCH, 3940NGS, 3940SAV, 3940SLT, 3940SPT, 3940STA, 3940UNN, 3951CLO, 3951CLT, 3951COT, 3951ORC, 3951WLO, 3955WSR, 3960BGN, 3960CJG, 3960CNP, 3960GGG, 3980CNR, 3E00ABB, 3E00BAT, 3E00DCF, 3E00DCFDSP, 3E00DGP, 3E00DGPDSP, 3E00GPK, 3E01BDS, 3E01BDSCA, 3E01DNY, 3E01DNY1, 3E01ELP, 3E01ELPDSP, 1752404, 1755859, 1755860, 1757259, 1757412, 1760429 (these model numbers may be prefaced with an A, B, C, or D)

Graco Recall Site

For more information about the recall, call Graco at (877)842-3206.

This information is provided as a service of TSR Injury Law, a personal injury law firm serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and the state of Minnesota. Our attorneys have years of experience handling product liability claims. For more information or to schedule a free consultation call 612-362-0000.

Stella Liebeck was found 20% negligent, reducing the compensatory damages to $160,000. Then the trial judge reduced the punitive damages to $480,000. She did not receive that amount. An undisclosed post-verdict settlement was reached.

This case is cited as a reason for the need for tort reform laws. In actuality, it is an example of how the system works effectively. The media tends to focus on a few random cases, presenting a false perception that the system is overflowing with frivolous lawsuits. Often these random verdicts have either been thrown out or substantially reduced by trial judges or appellate courts, which is exactly how the system was designed to work.

The following is quoted from an article by S. Reed Morgan, plaintiff’s attorney, explaining and defending the McDonald’s lawsuit verdict.

I am the trial lawyer who tried Stella Liebeck’s case.

There has been a great amount of uproar from those persons displeased at the size of the verdict, who have heralded this verdict as an example of a runaway jury and individuals who will not accept responsibility for their own actions.

This cannot be true since McDonald’s witnesses admitted that nobody knows or expects that spilled coffee will cause the severe type of burns that McDonald’s coffee causes as a result of its being sold at a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees.

Stella Liebeck; at age 79, purchased a cup of McDonald’s coffee while she was a passenger in her grandson’s automobile. Her grandson pulled to the curb and stopped the car, and Mrs. Liebeck attempted to hold the cup securely between her knees while she removed the plastic lid.

It was at this time that it tipped over, causing third-degree burns.

The jury is the voice of the community. It awarded $200,000 to her for compensatory damages, reduced by $20,000 for her negligence, and $2.7 million in punishment for punitive damages.

The Court of Appeals can set it aside if it’s wrong.

It cost more than $50,000 to prosecute this case in costs alone, not including legal fees. If the jury had not stopped them, who would do it? How long would this have gone on?

Further, the system has numerous safeguards to overturn any verdict, including this one, if it is, in fact, excessive, not the least of which is an appeal.

To set the record straight, the following information was presented to an impartial jury of six men and six women for six days, which resulted in a finding that the product is unreasonably dangerous, and it is sold in breach of the implied warranty of fitness imposed by the Uniform Commercial Code. It is not fit for consumption.

Obviously, the jury found that McDonald’s coffee has caused enough human misery and suffering, and no one should be made to suffer for being exposed to the sale of excessively hot coffee at McDonald’s and other establishments.

You will be shocked and amazed to learn what was proved at trial:

• McDonald’s Corporation sells its coffee at 180°-190°F by corporate specifications.
• McDonald’s coffee, if spilled, causes full thickness burns (third-degree to the muscle/fatty tissue layer) in 2-7 seconds.
• Third-degree burns do not heal without skin grafting, debridement, and whirlpool treatments that cost tens of thousands of dollars and results in permanent disfigurement, extreme pain, and disability to the victims for many months, and in some cases, years.
• McDonald’s Corporation has known about this unacceptable risk for more than 10 years and it was brought to their attention through other suits (more than 700 reported claims from 1982-1992), repeatedly, to no avail. McDonald’s produced a witness who said this number of burned people was statistically “trivial”.
• Witnesses for McDonald’s admitted in court that the consumers are unaware of this risk of serious burns and that McDonald’s Corporation is and has been aware of this risk.
• McDonald’s Corporation testified through its witnesses, that it did not intend to turn down the heat.
• McDonald’s admitted that it did not warn of the nature and extent of this risk of harm and could offer no explanation as to why it did not.
• McDonald’s Corporation admitted its coffee is “not fit for consumption” when sold because it will cause severe scalds if spilled or drunk.
• McDonald’s Corporation has burned more than 700 people over the past 10 years, many with severe burns to the genital area, perineum, inner thighs, and buttocks.
• Mrs. Liebeck’s treating physician testified this was one of the worst scald burns he had ever seen and that this risk of harm was unacceptable.
• The chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and BioMechanical Engineering at the University of Texas testified this risk of harm is unacceptable, as did the most widely publicized burn doctor in the United States, who is the editor-in-chief of the Burn and Rehabilitation Journal, the most widely recognized burn journal in the world.
• McDonald’s Corporation generates revenues in excess of $1.3 million daily from the sale of the coffee, selling 1 billion cups of coffee each year.
• McDonald’s Corporation has burned not only men and women but children and infants with their scalding hot coffee, in some instances due to inadvertent spillage by their own employees.
• At least one individual had scalding hot coffee dropped in her lap through the service window, resulting in third-degree burns to her inner thighs and other sensitive areas of the body, resulting in disability for years.

I have recently been contacted by the heirs of a lady that went into diabetic shock and died as the result of being burned at McDonald’s.

In short, the consumer may be guilty of one second of momentary inadvertence or a mistake resulting in horrible, excruciatingly painful, disfiguring, expensive and life-threatening injuries.

Compare the behavior of McDonald’s, a family restaurant that caters to children, which was unequivocally shown to have known of and ignored this risk for more than 10 years, whose quality-control manager testified that he knows the consumer is unaware of the risk and knows the consumer does not anticipate that it will cause these very serious burns.

The consumer does not know that coffee this hot causes these injuries. Nor do they know it’s served this hot.

We had to teach McDonald’s that for every degree above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, our skin burns twice as fast. At 180 degrees Fahrenheit, there is no escape from these types of burns. The product is, by definition, defective or unreasonably dangerous. This is the applicable law. They broke the law.

Why had they not studied this risk? They have laboratories and a university devoted to the study of selling food and drinks. They had a legal duty to sell safe products, not products with a hidden risk.

McDonald’s testified through management that it had no intention of lowering the temperature:

“No, there is no current plan to change the procedure that we’re
using in that regard right now.”

This is callous indifference to the welfare of its consumers.

The jury applied the law of punitive damages to deter McDonald’s and other similarly situated corporations from exposing consumers to this risk by imposing a penalty of two days worth of coffee sales, or $2.7 million, for willfully ignoring the safety of children, women and men that feed the McDonald’s money tree.

So, the issue is why should we tolerate this kind of irresponsibility?

Is this an individual who didn’t take responsibility, or a corporation that didn’t take responsibility? The jury found 20 percent against Mrs. Liebeck and 80 percent against McDonald’s.

The risk of serious burns above 130 degrees has been well documented by the Shriners Burn Center which has published warnings to the franchise food industry that it is unnecessarily causing serious scald burns.

McDonald’s admitted it never, in all these years, consulted a single burn doctor or thermo-dynamics. Our firm did, and presented this to the jury in Albuquerque, which in turn did what is necessary to remedy the problem.

Interestingly the news media, the day after the verdict, documented that coffee at McDonald’s in Albuquerque is now sold at 158 degrees. Mission accomplished.

This will cause third-degree burns in about 60 seconds, rather than in two to seven seconds. The margin of safety has been increased as a direct consequence of this verdict.

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our attorneys have beeny named Minnesota Super Lawyers many times by their peers. Chuck Slane was voted one of the 2009 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers and Rich Ruohonen was singled out to receive the Minnesota Association for Justice 2008-09 Excellence Award. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.

Along with the change in traffic flow, bike lanes and bike boxes have been added. The change is set for October 10th. Are we ready for this? How confusing will it be? Will it work? Will it be safe for bicyclists? Time will tell.

Hennepin Avenue, First Avenue Traffic Change

Revitalization efforts are being made downtown by changing traffic flow in the following blocks:

• Hennepin Ave from 1st St N to 12th St N
• 1st Avenue North from 2nd St N to 8th St N
• Hawthorne Ave from 8th St N to 12th St N

The change is part of a 10-year plan by the City of Minneapolis to make the downtown more accessible to vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, and pedestrians. Officials hope that this change will make for even more vibrant main streets to showcase what is best about the city. City officials recognize that theaters, restaurants, major retail stores, and other businesses along Hennepin and 1st avenues are destinations and more easily reached by two-way traffic.

Bike Box: Biking and Walking in Minneapolis

Bicyclists and pedestrians will see improvements to make biking and walking downtown a more positive experience. New traffic signals have been installed that include pedestrian countdown timers, there are new bike lanes on First Avenue, there are shared bike-bus-right-turn lanes on Hennepin Avenue, and there are new bike boxes to make bicycling easier for commuters.

A bike box is a 10′ deep area between the crosswalk and stop bars at an intersection and marked clearly with large bike symbols. (as in image above) Left-turning bicyclists can get in front of motor traffic stopped at the red light. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the bike box while stopped. Only key intersections have the bike box feature.

New Bike Lane for Minneapolis

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minneapolis ranks as the #2 bicycling city in the nation. The city has 40 miles of dedicated bicycle lanes and 83 miles of off-street bicycle paths. Bicycling is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and healthy way to get around town.

Hennepin Avenue will have one through lane each way, designated left-turn lanes, and a combined / shared bus-bike-right-turn lane which will be marked with “sharrow” symbols on the pavement (shown at right). Bicyclists are encouraged to use the shared lane, but the other lanes for moving, passing, and turning are still legal and available for use.

The new traffic flow on 1st Avenue includes a 6′ wide bike lane along the curb. Off-peak parallel parking will be allowed next to the bike lane. The planners thought this would work as a buffer to further protect bicyclists. Parallel parking will not be allowed during the following times:

• 7 – 9 a.m., Monday – Friday
• 4 – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday
• 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Friday & Saturday nights from 3rd to 6th streets

The City of Minneapolis is committed to the 4500 bicyclists that regularly commute in downtown. They have a bicycle master plan, a bike cost share program to help businesses install bike racks to facilitate employees commuting, and they rent out bike lockers at parking ramps.

This information has been provided as a service of TSR Injury Law serving Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota. Our personal injury attorneys are skilled, ethical litigators who care about justice for the people. If you have been in a bicycle accident, pedestrian accident, or car accident, and need legal representation to interact with the insurance companies, call 612-362-0000 or submit free contact form.

Vic and Tracy were injured in a significant motorcycle accident. Each of them broke several bones that required multiple surgeries. When we were initially hired there was concern that there would not be sufficient insurance coverage available. We undertook an investigation of the case and determined that there were three policies that we could access. The claim was resolved when the insurance carriers agreed to double their policy limits and they eventually paid out over 2.8 million dollars to compensate Vic and Tracy. ~Chuck Slane, partner of TSR Injury Law

This is just one example from our extensive case files. It demonstrates our diligence, skill, and aggressive handling of motorcycle accident cases. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our free consultation form.

Reasons You Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

• We can help determine the value of your motorcycle accident case. Factors that have to be taken into account:
  1. Do you own any percentage of fault?
  2. How extensive are your injuries?
  3. Does your injury factor into your ability to work?
  4. Medical bills
  5. Lost wages
  6. Disfigurement
  7. Disability
• We have substantial experience with insurance companies. We can deal with the adjusters, administrators, and their team of attorneys.
• We have the time and the resources needed to put together a strong case on your behalf.

Contact Us

You DO need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney to pursue your best interests. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form. Our attorneys are experienced in motorcycle accident cases. In fact, partner Steve Terry is a Harley rider and understands the joys and dangers of biking as well as unique aspects of motorcycle accidents.

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our attorneys have been named Super Lawyers many times by their peers and Chuck Slane has been voted one of the 2008 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys have years of experience with personal injury cases, have a stellar reputation, and have secured millions in compensation for our clients. Call us at 612-362-0000.

Types of Motorcycle Cases We Handle

• Single Vehicle Motorcycle Accident
• Multiple Vehicle Motorcycle Accident
• Motorcycle Drunk Driving Accident
• Motorcycle Malfunction
• Motorcycle Wrongful Death Accident

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcycles are less crashworthy than enclosed vehicles, less visible to others, and less stable. Operating a motorcycle requires a unique combination of physical and mental skills. Motorcyclists are also more negatively impacted by weather and road conditions.

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists who wore helmets were 16% less likely to sustain a serious head injury than those who did not wear helmets.
• Nearly half of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved alcohol.
• 35% of fatal motorcycle accidents the cyclist was speeding.
• 50% of motorcycle accidents were collisions with another vehicle.
• 25% of the motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents had an invalid license.
• In 67% of motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle rider’s right of way and caused the accident.
• Motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely to die in a crash than someone riding in a car, and are 5 times as likely to be injured.

Motorcycle Safety

Here are some safety measures to help you enjoy the open road and live to brag about it.

• Wear a helmet. They are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries, 67% effective in preventing traumatic brain injuries.
• Wear a jacket (preferably leather – more durable) and long pants. These will protect your arms and legs if you lay the bike down and greatly reduce your injuries in a minor accident.
• Wear leather boots to protect your feet, ankles, and calves. Injuries to any of these body parts can interfere with your mobility and quality of life.
• Buy a motorcycle with anti-lock brakes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released two studies in late 2008 that show that anti-lock brakes help reduce crashes.
• Air bags may soon be a viable option for motorcyclists. Honda Motorcycle Company, in 2006, started offering the option of an airbag on one of their most expensive models. Wearable airbags, worn either inside a jacket or strapped on the outside, have recently been developed and marketed. There are no statistics as to the effectiveness of these items, yet.

Types of Motorcycle Cases We Handle

• Single Vehicle Motorcycle Accident
• Multiple Vehicle Motorcycle Accident
• Motorcycle Drunk Driving Accident
• Motorcycle Malfunction
• Motorcycle Wrongful Death Accident

Contact Us

If you have been in a Minnesota Motorcycle Accident, contact us – we care and want to help you receive compensation for your injuries. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our consultation form.

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our attorneys are consistently named Super Lawyers by their peers and Chuck Slane has been voted in the 2008 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys have years of experience with personal injury cases, have a stellar reputation, and have secured millions in compensation for our clients.