Maybe it happened on I-94 during rush hour, or on a quiet street in Highland Park. The crash itself was over in seconds, but what comes after can last for months, or even years.

The physical pain doesn’t just fade overnight. Medical bills start piling up, paychecks stop coming in, and simple things suddenly feel impossible. On top of it all, you’re stuck dealing with insurance adjusters who seem more focused on saving money than helping you rebuild your life.

At Meshbesher & Spence, we’ve been standing up for injured Minnesotans since 1961. For more than 60 years, our team has helped people across St. Paul, from Highland Park to the East Side, get the compensation and peace of mind they deserve after a crash.

Call (612) 339-9121 today or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. Let Meshbesher & Spence fight for you, so you can move forward with confidence.

I was hit in a motor vehicle accident and knew I needed help. Jim over at Meshbesher & Spence helped me out a lot by listening to my concerns and seeking compensation for my loss. They advocated for me and stood up for my rights.

Suffering from an injury is never easy, but their help eased my suffering and gave me confidence. My family thanks you and your team, too!! If you were injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to call them for professional help that gets results.”

– Scott W. | Client

Protect Your Claim: The Danger of Talking to the Insurance Company

This is a critical piece of advice: Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company.

They will call you. They will sound friendly and concerned. They may even say it’s just a routine step. But remember, they are not on your side. They are building a case against you.

In a recorded statement, an adjuster might ask leading questions designed to get you to:

Downplay your injuries: “You sound fine, are you sure you don’t feel better now?”
Admit fault: “If you had braked a second sooner, could you have avoided it?”
Contradict your future testimony: Even a simple “I’m fine” a day after the crash can be used later to claim your more serious injuries are not accident-related.

Before you say another word to the insurance company, talk to a St. Paul car accident attorney who can step in, protect your rights, and handle every communication for you. The attorneys at Meshbesher & Spence know how insurers operate, and we won’t let them twist your words or undervalue your claim.

What Makes St. Paul One of Minnesota’s Most Challenging Places to Drive

At Meshbesher & Spence, we’ve spent decades handling car accident claims throughout the Capital City, and we understand the challenges that make St. Paul collisions so complex, from dense urban streets to high-speed corridors like I-94.

Between 2018 and 2022, 16,070 crashes occurred on St. Paul’s streets and intersections—an average of over 3,200 crashes per year. While numbers dipped during the pandemic, crash rates quickly climbed back as traffic volume returned to normal.

Here’s what the data tells us about driving in St. Paul:

Crash Hotspots: The highest concentrations of collisions occurred:
- In downtown St. Paul and along the I-94 corridor, especially near on- and off-ramps at Snelling Avenue, Lexington Parkway, University Avenue, and Dale Street
- On major arterials including Maryland Avenue, Rice Street, White Bear Avenue, and East & West 7th Street
Vulnerable Road Users at Risk:
- Only 1.2% of vehicle-only crashes caused serious injury or death.
- In contrast, 16.8% of pedestrian crashes and 5.5% of bicycle crashes resulted in serious injury or death.
- Pedestrians made up 36.2% of all serious injuries and fatalities, even though walking accounts for just 12.8% of trips in St. Paul.
- Bicyclists represented 5% of serious crashes, despite making only 0.1% of all trips.
When and Where Crashes Happen Most:
- Crashes peak in the late afternoon, especially between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., when commuters fill the roads.
- May, June, and July see the most severe and fatal crashes each year.
- The majority of crashes occur on streets with 30 mph speed limits, but the risk of serious injury climbs sharply on 35–40 mph roads.

Common Causes of Car Accidents Our St. Paul Car Accident Lawyers Handle

Here are some of the most common causes we see across the city:

Distracted Driving: Even with Minnesota’s hands-free law, distracted driving remains a leading cause of collisions in St. Paul.
Speeding and Reckless Driving: Recent data from St. Paul Public Works shows a 184% increase in crashes caused by speeding between 2018 and 2022. Run-off-road crashes, often linked to speeding, rose 175% in the same period. Streets like Rice Street, Maryland Avenue, and West 7th Street are frequent sites of high-speed collisions.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Minnesota data shows that nearly 15% of serious or fatal crashes involve a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In St. Paul, these crashes often happen late at night or on weekends.
Failure to Yield and Reckless Intersections: Busy intersections in neighborhoods like Frogtown, Highland Park, and Macalester-Groveland are common sites of “failure to yield” crashes. Between 2018 and 2022, incidents involving “failure to keep in proper lane,” “improper turn/merge,” and “ran red light” all increased in frequency.

Understanding Minnesota's No-Fault System

Minnesota is one of a handful of “no-fault” states. The no-fault system means that, up to a certain point, your own insurance company pays for your medical bills and lost wages, no matter who caused the accident. These benefits are called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.

In Minnesota, the minimum PIP coverage is split: $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for lost wages and essential services.

Who Can a St. Paul Car Crash Lawyer Hold Liable?

While your own insurance covers your initial medical bills and lost wages through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), the person or parties responsible for the crash can still be held liable for additional damages. To recover beyond your PIP limits, we must prove someone else was negligent. Common liable parties in St. Paul car accidents include:

The Other Driver: Most often, the person who caused the crash by speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, or failing to obey traffic laws.
Multiple Drivers: Sometimes more than one driver shares fault, which can complicate the claim, but doesn’t prevent you from seeking compensation.
Government Entities: In some cases, poorly maintained roads, faulty traffic signals, or dangerous intersections managed by the city or state may contribute to the accident.
Vehicle Manufacturers: If a mechanical failure or defect caused or worsened the crash, the car maker or parts manufacturer might be responsible.

Can a St. Paul Auto Accident Attorney Still Help Me If I Was Partially at Fault?

Minnesota has a modified comparative negligence law that determines how fault is shared in an accident.

In short, if you were partially to blame for the crash, say, you were speeding a little, but the other driver ran a red light, you can still recover compensation from the other driver, as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault. If you are found to be 50% or less at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you win a $100,000 case but are found 10% at fault, you would receive $90,000.

An experienced St. Paul car crash lawyer knows how to fight against the insurance companies’ attempts to unfairly shift blame onto you to reduce your payout.

Having a personal injury lawyer on your side dramatically improves your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. More than nine out of ten people who worked with a lawyer received a settlement or award, compared to only about half of those who tried to handle their claims on their own, according to a study by Martindale-Nolo.

Reach out to Meshbesher & Spence today online or by calling (612) 339-9121. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential.

What Types of Compensation Can a St. Paul Car Accident Attorney Help Me Recover?

Every case is different, but the true value of your claim comes down to all the ways the accident has affected your life, both financially and personally. When we fight for you, we look at everything that matters, including:

Medical bills, past and future, from emergency care and surgeries to ongoing therapy and prescriptions.
Lost income from wages you missed while recovering, plus any future earnings lost if your injuries have long-term effects.
Physical pain and emotional distress due to the daily toll the accident takes on your body and mind.
Permanent scars or disfigurement that change how you look and feel.
Lasting disabilities that limit your ability to do everyday activities.
The loss of activities you once enjoyed.

Why the St. Paul Car Accident Attorneys at Meshbesher & Spence Are Different

After a crash, you need more than just a lawyer; you need a team that understands the stakes and has the track record to prove it. For over 60 years, Meshbesher & Spence has stood with Minnesotans, recovering over $1.1 billion in compensation and never backing down from the big insurance companies.

When you choose us, you’re tapping into decades of experience and relentless advocacy. We handle every detail, every negotiation, so you can focus on your recovery—not the insurance company’s games.

Call (612) 339-9121 today or fill out our online contact form for a 100% free case review.

St. Paul Car Accident FAQs

• How Much Does It Cost to Hire A Meshbesher & Spence Car Accident Lawyer?

We handle all car accident and injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing up front. We only get paid if we win your case and recover compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of the final settlement or verdict.
• What Is the Deadline to File A Car Accident Lawsuit in St. Paul?

In Minnesota, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims resulting from a car accident is six years from the date of the crash. However, there are exceptions, and other deadlines apply, especially to your no-fault (PIP) benefits.
• What Should I Do If the Driver Who Hit Me in St. Paul Was Uninsured?

This is a common fear, but the good news is that Minnesota law requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, you can file a claim against your own UM policy.
• What If My Loved One Died in a St. Paul Car Crash?

If a loved one was fatally injured in a wreck, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. This is a claim made on behalf of the surviving family members for losses like financial support, companionship, funeral expenses, and emotional distress.
• What Evidence Is Most Helpful for My St. Paul Auto Accident Case?

The most helpful evidence includes the police report, which documents the scene, parties, and often fault; photographs and video of vehicle damage, the crash scene, skid marks, traffic signs, and visible injuries; medical records linking your injuries to the crash; witness information such as names and phone numbers of those who saw the accident; and a journal detailing your daily pain levels, appointments, and limitations in everyday life.
• Can My Social Media Posts Impact My Car Accident Compensation?

Insurance companies are extremely aggressive in their investigations, and they will search your social media accounts. Even seemingly innocent photos of you smiling, out with friends, or engaging in physical activity can be used to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. Our advice is simple: do not post anything about your accident, injuries, or case until your claim is settled.
• Will My Case Go To Trial?

Most car accident claims are settled out of court through negotiation. However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This meticulous preparation and our 60-plus years of legal experience show insurance companies we are serious and willing to fight in court if they refuse to make a fair offer. This often pressures them to offer a better settlement.

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The Benefits of Hiring a St. Paul Auto Accident Lawyer