Minneapolis Personal Injury Lawyer

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: Is it Right to Call?

Mike Bryant — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:56:00 GMT

This month, the Minneapolis blog will be looking at the questions that we get asked regularly as we meet with potential clients. Hopefully, we will address a question that you have. If not, please email us or leave a comment.

Am I doing the right thing in talking to you? That really is a question you have to answer for yourself. The insurance companies have spent a lot of money to convince people that it's wrong to bring a claim. Ask yourself why they do that.

Keep in mind that every case is different. So it is very important that you talk to an attorney directly and make sure all of the information can be reviewed. It often happens that unique cases make for different results

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: When Should You Call?

Mike Bryant — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:52:00 GMT

I'm getting my bills paid, is there any reason to talk to a lawyer right now? It is always worth taking the time to make sure you are getting all of your benefits and making sure that each of your claims is being protected. You don't have to hire us if we meet, but at least you took the time to find out.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Surprising Retirement : Minnesota Workers Lose A Friend

Mike Bryant — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:59:14 GMT

There was a little surprise and sadness in the announcement on Friday that Minnesota Representative Tom Rukavina is retiring. There are other friends of the the consumer that are retiring, but they will be going on to the pursuit of other positions in government.

This retirement will be a great loss for everyone with a regular job in Minnesota. Tommy was always on their side. As both a legislator and a DFLer from Virginia ( the Iron Range) , he was always a strong voice for the regular Minnesotan.

He will be missed.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: Is My Case Too Small?

Mike Bryant — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:34:00 GMT

Is my case too small to talk to you? That is possible, but we never know that until we talk. We routinely talk to people who we can't help, but we don't mind taking the time to make sure that people know their rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Why Lenovo (and Dell) need better tech support

Joe Crumley — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:26:48 GMT

Lenovo and Dell technical support people have to stop saying “re-image your hard drive” or “wipe your drive and restore from your backup” as their first option. Whether they’re in India, Mexico or Austin, Texas, wiping the hard drive should not be the first option.

I have been working with computers for most of my life. I wrote my first program in 1974, about the same time Bill Gates did. Personally, I’ve had about five or six laptops, and three or four desktop computers before that. I’ve had my share of machines. On top of that, I’ve been the main technical person at my firm for the past eleven years.

In the old, old days, the only technical assistance was the nerd sitting next to you. In the 1990s, when personal computers really took off, technical support became crucial for the survival of the companies selling computers. Personal computers were complex and difficult to operate for non-nerds. Besides, there were so many companies making IBM-compatible computers, that the competition was fierce. Dell destroyed its competition during this time, in part because of excellent free technical support. However, as the competition disappeared, so did the free technical support and paid plans became the norm. Even then, there was still quality technical support available. I had numerous successful technical support interactions during those years.

However, starting in about 1999, my experience with Dell laptops headed downhill. I bought several machines for our firm over the following five years, and although the desktop machines performed admirably, the laptops were very troublesome. I spent hours and hours on the phone with technical support, and noticed the quality of advice gradually decline. This corresponded with published reports of the same support deterioration, as Dell and other companies fought skyrocketing costs.

I noticed that these technicians seemed more and more as though they were simply reading from a flow chart rather than actually analyzing my problems. This was confirmed a few years later when they began directing me to the troubleshooting flowcharts which had been placed online!

More and more, the go-to response at Dell became “wipe your hard drive.” I was usually able to talk around that suggestion, but occasionally had to restore from the backup files. This usually meant that my staff or I lost several hours to a couple days worth of work, assuming the backup was working properly. But I always made sure that "Wipe and restore" was the last option used, because lost work is, well, irreplaceable.

The last straw was in 2009, when I had several laptop crashes with my own machine and those of my staff. And the Dell technicians kept telling me to wipe the hard drives as the first option! Frustrated, each time I was able to find a simpler (and less perilous) fix myself or on the internet.

So I switched to Lenovo, the IBM laptop spinoff. Lenovo ThinkPads still had the reputation of being one of most durable, high quality, and expensive machines. And my ThinkPad has performed admirably for almost five years, with only a few minor service calls.

But I did have a big problem recently. My user profile had disappeared, so I was faced with a blank and unfamiliar desktop. Nothing I was trying would work.

My Lenovo service call was a disaster.First, it’s my own fault that apparently my warranty has expired. But it’s Lenovo’s fault that the tech person told me three times in the 2 minute conversation that I would need to “Re-image the disk.”

I had just returned from vacation, which meant a 10 day old backup.

It took me five minutes to find a simple fix (Thanks Microsoft! You receive a "The User Profile Service failed the logon” error ...).

But in those same five minues, Lenovo tech support has gone to the same trash bin with Dell.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Crumley

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: Work with the Insurance Company?

Mike Bryant — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Should I first see if I can work with the Insurance company? You can try, however the problem is that they aren't working in your interest. Even the nicest insurance adjuster still works for the company. So if you want someone with experience on your side, it's better to talk to an experienced trial lawyer first.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: Do I have to Sue?

Mike Bryant — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:07:00 GMT

Since you're Trial Lawyers, does that mean we have to sue someone? No, there is only a lawsuit after we first try to settle the case. The advantage you get from our trial experience is that we can take it to trial and have a successful track record that helps get your case settled.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Increased DWI Patrol this Weekend

Mike Bryant — Sat, 05 May 2012 09:18:38 GMT

The Minnesota State Patrol announced that there will be an increased presence on the roads of the 13 deadliest counties this weekend.

Lt. Eric Roeske, of Minnesota State Patrol, said there are many ways for people to avoid drinking and driving.
“If you don’t make a smart decision, you’re going to end up paying the price,” he said in a press release.
The 13 counties that will see the extra enforcement are: Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, St. Louis, Dakota, Wright, Olmsted, Rice, Washington, Stearns, Sherburne, Scott and Carver.

It is never a good idea to drink and drive, but this weekend if you do, the odds of getting caught have increased.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers: Cost?

Mike Bryant — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:02:00 GMT

How much does it cost to talk to you? We provide each of our consultations for free. This gives the client a chance to openly talk to a lawyer and not be burdened with a cost. If we take the case then we are paid out of the settlement/verdict in personal injury cases and up front in criminal cases.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Great Tips for Hiring a Home Contractor

Mike Bryant — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:02:00 GMT

I came across HometownSource.com that had some great tips from the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) concerning hiring a home contractor.

Check out your options. Seek at least three bids from prospective contractors based on the same specifications, materials and labor needed to complete the project. Homeowners should discuss bids in detail with each contractor and ask questions about variations in pricing. The lowest bid may not be the best.

Make sure they are certified and insured. Consumers should ask whether the company is insured against claims covering workers’ compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents. Consumers should obtain the name of the insurance carrier and call to verify coverage. Ask whether the contractor meets licensing and bonding requirements set by the state, county or city. Check with local authorities to find out whether permits are needed before proceeding with the work. The contractor also should be aware of any required permits.

Get everything in writing. Ask whether the contractor will provide a lien waiver upon completion of the job. A lien waiver is a statement by the contractor that all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work. Read and understand the contract before signing. Get all verbal promises in writing. Include start and completion dates in the contract.

Remember the rule of thirds and follow it. Pay one third at the start of the project, one third when work is 50 percent completed and one third after completion.

This advice was important because the BBB reports that In 2011, the BBB received more than 6,000 complaints against general contractors, which was up 11% from the previous year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant