Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

When someone chooses to drink and drive, innocent people pay the price. If you were hurt because of that decision, you should not have to deal with the fallout alone. A Minneapolis drunk driving accident attorney at Meshbesher & Spence can explain your options and help you pursue a personal injury claim while you focus on moving forward.

For more than 60 years, Meshbesher & Spence has represented injured Minnesotans and families across the state. If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver in Minneapolis, call (612) 339-9121 or fill out our online form for a free consultation with our experienced team.

“Pam did a fantastic job for us. Our son suffered a severe traumatic brain injury due to an automobile accident. During one of the most stressful times of our lives, her expertise and knowledge helped us navigate through. From the very beginning, Pam was with us every step of the way. We are so thankful to her, as her invaluable assistance allowed us to focus on our son’s recovery.”

– Emile E. | Client

Why Having a Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Matters After a Crash

The drunk driver’s insurance company wants to close your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. A fast settlement may sound appealing, but it often comes before you know the full extent of your costs.

Working with our firm changes that. Instead of facing the insurance company on your own, you have us protecting your interests from day one. We can:

• Handle all communication with the insurance companies so you are not dealing with constant phone calls and settlement pressure.
• Investigate the crash by gathering police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and other evidence against the drunk driver before it disappears.
• Our Minneapolis drunk driving accident lawyers work with your doctors and medical records to understand how your injuries affect your health, your job, and your daily life.
• Calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical care, lost income, and other damages that may not be obvious right away.
• Negotiate from a position of strength and push back against low settlement offers.
• Take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair resolution.

A drunk driver already changed your life with one reckless decision. The insurance company should not get to decide what your claim is worth without a challenge. 

Research from a Martindale-Nolo survey found that people represented by a lawyer recovered money in 91% of cases, compared to 51% of people who handled claims on their own. On average, those who hired an attorney also received net payouts nearly four times as much.

When a Drunk Driver Changes Your Life, Here's What Happens Next

After a drunk driving accident, many people aren’t sure where to turn or whether they even need a lawyer. This short video explains how our team helps clients through the insurance process, investigates serious crashes, and brings strong cases against the people responsible.

Financial Recovery After a Drunk Driving Accident in Minneapolis

A drunk driver’s decision can leave you paying for problems you didn’t create. If someone else’s drinking caused your injuries, your claim should account for the ways that the crash has affected your health, your finances, and your future. Depending on your case, a Minneapolis drunk driving accident lawyer may be able to recover money for:

• Medical bills, including future treatment and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries keep you from working
• Pain, emotional distress, and the ways your injuries have changed your daily life
• Permanent disabilities, scarring, or other lasting injuries
• Vehicle repairs, replacement transportation, and other property damage
• Wrongful death losses, including funeral expenses and the financial impact on surviving family members
• Other accident-related expenses unique to your situation

Punitive Damages in Minneapolis Drunk Driving Cases

In some situations, Minnesota law also allows courts to award punitive damages. These damages are not meant to repay your financial losses. Instead, they are intended to punish especially reckless behavior and discourage others from making the same dangerous choice.

Punitive damages may be available when a drunk driver’s conduct goes beyond ordinary negligence. For example, they may apply if the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, was impaired by alcohol or drugs, refused chemical testing after being arrested for suspected impairment, or was under the influence of another substance known to cause impairment. 

Injuries Our Minneapolis Drunk Driving Lawyers Frequently See

When a drunk driver doesn’t react in time, or doesn’t react at all, the result is often a much more violent collision. Common injuries include: 

• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) 
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Back injuries and herniated discs
• Broken bones and complex fractures
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Amputations
• Facial injuries and dental trauma
• Burn injuries
• Lacerations and permanent scarring
• Crush injuries
• Shoulder, knee, and other joint injuries
• Nerve damage
• Psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression
• Wrongful death

A sober driver may tense up when they see a crash coming. A drunk driver’s slowed reactions may leave them with no time to brace, changing how their body absorbs the force of impact. While science may explain why a drunk driver sometimes walks away, it does not change the fact that one reckless decision can leave someone else carrying the burden.

At Meshbesher & Spence, we believe one of the most frustrating injustices in a drunk driving crash is seeing the person who caused the collision walk away without a scratch. Reach out to our team today online or by calling (612) 339-9121.

Steps to Take Now to Protect Your Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident

The moments after a drunk driving crash are often a blur. If you did not know what steps to take at the time, you are not alone. Even days or weeks later, there are still ways to protect your claim and preserve important evidence.

Keep Up With Your Medical Care

Follow your doctor’s recommendations and attend appointments related to your injuries. Gaps in treatment can give insurance companies an opportunity to argue that your injuries were not serious or were unrelated to the crash.

Organize Bills and Proof of Lost Income

Gather every medical invoice, pharmacy receipt, and car repair estimate in one safe spot. If you had to miss shifts at work, ask your work for a letter confirming your exact missed hours and lost wages so we can track the precise financial damage. Also, save any letters from the other side’s insurance company.

Do Not Give Recorded Statements

The drunk driver’s insurance adjuster might call you to sound friendly and ask to record a quick statement. Politely decline. They are trained to ask misleading questions to get you to minimize your injuries. Tell them your attorney will handle all communication.

Write Down Your Daily Timeline

Memory fades quickly. Start a daily journal noting your pain levels, the activities you can no longer do, and the family milestones you missed because of your injuries. This written record provides concrete proof of how the crash changed your day-to-day life.

Be Careful on Social Media

Insurance adjusters routinely search for injury victims online. Even a simple photo of you can be twisted by an insurance company to argue that you are not in pain. Keep your accounts strictly private and avoid posting anything about your health, activities, or the crash.

Talk With a Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Law Firm Early

Even if weeks have passed since the crash, you may still have important steps to take. An experienced attorney can review what happened, help preserve evidence, and explain your options.

How Alcohol Alters Driving Abilities

Alcohol affects far more than a driver’s ability to stay awake. It slows the brain’s ability to process information, make decisions, and react to changing road conditions. As impairment increases, drivers often experience:

• Slower reaction times that make it harder to brake or avoid a sudden hazard.
• Poor judgment and risk-taking, including speeding, running red lights, tailgating, or driving the wrong way.
• Reduced coordination, making it difficult to steer, brake, and control the vehicle.
• Blurred vision and reduced peripheral vision, making it easier to miss pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic signals.
• Difficulty concentrating, causing drivers to overlook changing traffic conditions or nearby vehicles.
• Impaired perception of speed and distance, leading to unsafe following distances and dangerous turns.

How Do You Prove Liability in a Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Case?

A drunk driving crash may seem straightforward, but a successful personal injury claim still requires evidence. In most Minnesota cases, you must show four things:

• Duty of care: Every driver has a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle safely and follow the rules of the road.
• Breach of that duty: Driving while impaired is a reckless violation of that responsibility.
• Causation: You must show that the driver’s impairment caused or contributed to the crash.
• Damages: Finally, you must prove the crash caused your injuries and financial losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and other damages.

What Evidence Will You Use to Build My Case Against the Drunk Driver?

Building that case takes more than simply showing the other driver was arrested. At Meshbesher & Spence, we move quickly to preserve evidence that can establish liability and strengthen your claim, including:

• Police reports, breath test results, and blood alcohol testing that document the driver’s impairment.
• Criminal court records, including DWI charges or prior impaired driving offenses, when they are relevant to the case.
• Traffic camera footage, surveillance video, dashcam recordings, and other evidence that captured the collision.
• Witness statements from people who saw the crash or observed signs of impairment before the collision.
• Cell phone records, vehicle data, and crash reconstruction evidence when additional investigation is needed.
• Dram shop investigations to determine whether a Minnesota bar, restaurant, or other establishment may also share responsibility for illegally serving an obviously intoxicated person or a minor before the crash.

Drunk Driving Remains One of Minnesota's Deadliest Traffic Safety Problems

Every drunk driving crash is preventable, yet impaired driving continues to take lives across Minnesota and Minneapolis every year. Recent state and local data show that alcohol remains one of the leading factors behind the state’s most serious crashes.

• In 2025, alcohol was the leading contributing factor in Minnesota traffic fatalities, linked to 115 deaths—more than speeding (102), failure to wear a seatbelt (68), or distracted driving (20).
• According to Minnesota’s Toward Zero Deaths program, the state averages approximately 25,000 DWI arrests and 4,000 alcohol-related crashes each year. Nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol-impaired driving.
• The City of Minneapolis identifies impaired driving as one of the five most dangerous driving behaviors contributing to serious and fatal crashes, alongside speeding, distracted driving, red-light running, and unsafe turns.

Behind every statistic is a person whose life changed because someone else decided to drive after drinking. At Meshbesher & Spence, we believe those choices should have consequences, and we help injured Minnesotans hold impaired drivers accountable.

Talk to an Experienced Minneapolis Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

Choosing to drink and drive is not an accident—it is a decision. When that decision leaves an innocent person injured, someone should be held accountable. 

At Meshbesher & Spence, we have spent more than 60 years helping Minnesotans stand up to insurance companies, recovering over $1.1 billion for our clients. We know what it takes to investigate drunk driving cases, build strong claims, and demand accountability from the people responsible.

The sooner you involve our team, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence, protecting your claim, and dealing with the insurance company on your behalf. 

If you were injured by an impaired driver in Minneapolis, call (612) 339-9121 or contact Meshbesher & Spence online to schedule your free consultation today.