MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. According to the Pioneer Press, reports indicate that police were more likely to stop, search, and ticket black drivers than white drivers. Black drivers were involved in 33 percent of police stops though they only make up 13 percent of all drivers. White drivers, on the other hand are only involved in 43% of stops though they make up 58% of the city’s population. Could this disparity be due to racial bias? Could this racial bias impact a black driver’s ability to seek justice after a personal injury accident?
It appears that police are more likely to ticket black drivers than white drivers. Mother Jones recently reported that in Mississippi, black drivers were 85% more likely to be pulled over than whites, and when they were pulled over, they were more likely to be searched.
In a car accident involving a white driver and a black driver, could bias potentially play a role in who police blame for the accident? Could these biases come back later in the personal injury claims process, when black drivers seek compensation from their insurance companies or when making a personal injury lawsuit due to neglectful or negligent driving? The reports that police make at the scene matters when it comes to personal injury law. The statements that witnesses make can also make a difference. Bias in police or witnesses could affect a person’s ability to seek damages after an accident. A person’s ability to seek damages is contingent upon their ability to prove that the other person was negligent for the accident.
Could racial bias impact an individual’s personal injury case? It could play a role, especially if police misinterpret information at the scene of the accident, or if witnesses misconstrue what happened during the crash due to their own biases.
In Minneapolis, individuals in the black community do worry about racial profiling. The increased likelihood of black drivers getting pulled over can also make it more likely that they’ll have a driving record or pay higher insurance premiums. This could also bias a jury against minority drivers should a personal injury case go to trial.
So, what can you do if you’ve been injured in a car accident and are worried about how bias might impact your claim? For one, it is important to call the police and take the names of witnesses. Don’t assume that bias will automatically work against you. It is important to have a police report for insurance and claims purposes. Secondly, if you feel that bias is impacting your ability to seek the claim you may deserve, contact the personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our firm can help you navigate the sometimes complex claims process and fight to help you get the settlement you may deserve under the law. Visit us at https://martinmontilino.com/ to learn more. We can use the fullest resources available to help you seek the justice you may deserve.
THE LAW OFFICE OF MARTIN T. MONTILINO, LLC
3109 Hennepin Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 236-1320