Duluth Minnesota Injury Blog | Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer

Slipping at a garden center: Making your claim

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in premises liability claims on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

You went to a garden shop hoping to find products that you could use around your home. You realized that some areas would have water, and you knew that some of the items on the property could be dangerous. However, you didn't expect the ground to be slick in the areas where water was running. The pathway was clearly marked for visitors to use, and there were no signs to let you know that it would be slick.

When you fell, you caught yourself, but you hurt your wrists. As someone who has to work an office job, a trade or generally use your hands in your daily life, this has made a significant impact on your daily activities. You are in a position to make a premises liability claim.

Are you covered by workers' compensation?

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in workers' compensation on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

In Minnesota, workers who are employed have a right to workers' compensation by law in most cases. If you are hurt on the job, then you can seek workers' compensation to help cover your medical losses as well as lost wages.

There are some important deadlines you need to know. First, you have only 14 days to notify your employer of your injuries if you wish to receive the maximum benefits. There is also a three-year limit on the ability to recover compensation or determine there was an injury.

Toyota to pay over $245 million for gross negligence

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in motor vehicle accidents on Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

If you have been following recalls and problems with vehicles in the news, then you may recall a case in which a family claimed that two young children were badly hurt as a result of front seats that collapsed backwards in a collision. The case, which was tried in Texas, resulted in Toyota being found grossly negligent, failing to warn consumers that their vehicle's front seats could collapse backwards in some serious rear-end collisions at high speeds.

According to the story, the auto industry has known that front seats don't hold up well in certain kinds of crashes when the vehicle is hit from the rear and at a high rate of speed. What's most shocking is that the cost to fix the problem is only around $1 per seat; however, if the accident occurs without the fix, the injuries can be catastrophic.

Dangerous toys a hazard to a nation of children

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in dangerous children's products liability and negligence on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.

The last thing any parent, aunt, uncle or friend thinks when they purchase a children's toy is that it's going to hurt the child that it's purchased for. On the whole, children's toys are safe and fun for kids, but there are those that lead to injury.

Certain toys are dangerous by nature, like bicycles or roller blades, but others, like interactive dolls or play sets may have inherent dangers that aren't as obvious. If the manufacturer or designer doesn't recognize these dangers or tell the public about them, then a child could be badly hurt.

Do not let an uninsured motorist ruin your day

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

Being in a car accident, even if it is a minor fender-bender, is nerve-wracking enough.

If the at-fault driver is also uninsured, you get a sinking feeling to go with your jangled nerves.

What should you know about workers compensation in Minnesota?

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in workers' compensation on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

After a workplace injury, one thing you can seek out is workers' compensation. Workers' compensation is a benefit provided by employers that helps cover you in the case of accidental injury on the job. When you're hurt, whether it's due to a repetitive strain injury or one you develop in an industrial accident, workers compensation should help you cover medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses.

On top of providing you with compensation, workers compensation also provides you with some coverage for retraining for a position and death benefits for your family in the case of your untimely demise.

3 tips for managing after a crash with injuries

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

Motor vehicle accidents happen every day, and for many people, it's the last day they feel safe in a vehicle. The devastation a crash can wreak may result in major changes to a person's life. For instance, a crash could lead to a disability or other major life changes that take time and money to repair.

The most important thing for people to understand is that they are not alone after a crash. Many people know what they're going through and can help them overcome any challenges that result from a collision. Here are a few things that you can do to deal with an injury if you've been hurt in a crash.

Child safety concerns about water balloon slingshots

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer posted in dangerous children's products liability and negligence on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

As a parent, you want your kids to have a fun summer. However, you also want to ensure the season is safe for them. One of the things that can impact how safe children are during the summer is what toys they play with. Toys vary greatly in how big of injury risks can arise in connection to them.

Recently, the organization World Against Toys Causing Harm, put out a list of "10 Potential Safety Concerns" for summer 2018. Water balloon slingshots topped this list.

FDA issues warning for baby teething products

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

Does your child use over-the-counter teething products? If so, you may want to dispose of them. The FDA is warning consumers to stop the use of OTC teething products containing benzocaine.

You may use these products to relieve the pain your child gets from teething. Unfortunately, they may be doing much more harm than good.

Stephanie Balmer named partner

On behalf of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Quinn has promoted Stephanie Balmer to partner. Stephanie has been with the firm for 12 years and continues her work in the areas of personal injury, workers' compensation, short and long term disability, and Social Security disability.