Practice Areas

Automobile Law

WELL PUBLISHED-WELL PRACTICED
NO-FAULT             RENTAL VEHICLES      LINKS

Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, P.A. is renowned in the state of Minnesota for its expertise in automobile insurance issues and automobile litigation. The firm has written several editions of The Minnesota Motor Vehicle Insurance Manual , which is generally recognized as the leading publication in Minnesota on automobile insurance coverage. It is regularly used to educate judges, plaintiff and defense bar, as well as individuals in the automobile insurance industry.

Our clients, insurance carriers, and self-insured companies are provided a broad range of services. We have years of experience representing insureds in third-party liability cases and in representing insurers in the handling of uninsured, underinsured, no-fault claims, and bad faith matters. We regularly and efficiently handle the unique issues and problems that arise in the long-haul trucking industry, rental car industry, and garage areas. When necessary, we litigate auto insurance coverage matters at both the trial and appellate courts. Often, arbitration or mediation of automobile claims is the best choice. Our experience in ADR allows us to evaluate cases early and direct them into the proper ADR forum.

Other services we provide include the drafting of insurance policies, rental agreements and agency contracts for new insurance carriers, assisting companies to comply with Commerce Department requests and complaints, and facilitating self-insured filings in the state of Minnesota.

We pride ourselves on our teaching ability, and as an extra value to our clients, we conduct seminars on specific aspects of automobile insurance coverage and exposure, and assist clients in training their staffs to resolve automobile insurance claims effectively and economically. To further assist our clients, the firm has written numerous booklets with regular updates in the specific areas of no-fault claims, uninsured and underinsured motorist law, rental car issues, release and settlement agreements, alternative dispute resolution and a Minnesota Law Summary.

NO-FAULT     (Top)

Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, P.A. has been engaged in the no-fault arena for twenty-five years, since the inception of the Minnesota No-Fault Act itself. Our firm has become a recognized leader in teaching the no-fault system to clients, insurers, upcoming law students, practicing attorneys, and Minnesota judges. In fact, the Minnesota Supreme Court has appointed more than one of our attorneys as a Member of the Standing Committee for Administration of No-Fault Arbitration.

We created a department within our firm which specializes in the unique handling of no-fault issues from the inception of the claim, through arbitration, into the district court, and through the appellate courts when necessary. By indoctrinating ourselves in the no-fault law, we are often able to recognize issues before they become problematic. We have developed a comprehensive computerized system of documents for economically and effectively handling numerous no-fault arbitrations. Our arbitration results exceed those of the average award promulgated by the American Arbitration Association.

RENTAL VEHICLES     (Top)

Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, P.A. has what we feel is the premier niche group of attorneys handling motor vehicle rental claims and litigation issues. We published the Minnesota Rental Vehicle Desk Book. This cutting-edge publication is a unique look at the complex and often misunderstood issues involved in rental vehicle claims. The Desk Book contains a Guide To Minnesota Rental Vehicle Law. Our attorneys are specialized in understanding not only the vagaries and nuances of Minnesota law in general, but we can explain how rental vehicle law fits within the practical scheme of automobile claim handling and defense.

We have years of experience representing rental vehicle companies, insurers and self-insurers handling claims, writing policies, handling Commerce Department complaints, compliance and self-insured filing issues, and defending lawsuits in no-fault, bodily injury, uninsured, and underinsured claims. Our experience and knowledge of rental vehicle law very often allows our clients to obtain outstanding resolution of claims (and to prevent potential claims) where the opposing party does not understand or appreciate rental vehicle law.

We pride ourselves on our teaching ability, and as an extra value to our clients, we conduct seminars on specific aspects of rental vehicle coverage and exposure. We assist clients in training their staffs to resolve rental vehicle claims effectively and economically. We believe that one of the keys to handling and favorably resolving rental vehicle claims is knowledge and understanding rental vehicle law and fact patterns. We have this knowledge and understanding. One of our main goals is to share our knowledge and understanding to clients to build a mutually rewarding relationship.

INTERNET RESOURCES:     (Top)

• Consumer Protection - Automobiles From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Includes consumer education materials.
• Insurance Information Institute Includes information on auto safety, auto insurance, teen drivers and more.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety / Highway Loss Data Institute Features vehicle ratings, safety facts, publications and more.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Information about automobile recalls, product safety, and auto research.
• National Safety Council Fact Sheet Library Features fact sheets on ABS, car phones, car breakdowns, car crashes, car fires, defensive driving and more.
• U.S. Department of Transportation Features statistics, dockets, rules and references.
• Crash Records From the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Features common questions and a glove compartment guide if you come upon a crash, if you are involved in a crash, in case of a crash and for recording crash information.
• Traffic Accidents Includes accident reporting instructions and Wisconsin Driver Report of Accident forms.