1. Goldenberg Lauricella PLLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler collisions, semi-truck crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury litigation, wrongful death claims from trucking incidents
Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, delivery truck collisions, cargo vehicle crashes, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving incidents, mechanical failure crashes, brake failure accidents, tire blowout incidents
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence preservation, federal trucking regulation compliance analysis, driver qualification file review, hours of service violation investigation, insurance claim negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims
Background: Goldenberg Lauricella PLLC has over 20 years of experience in personal injury law. The firm has reportedly recovered over $200 million for clients in personal injury matters and handles complex trucking cases throughout Minnesota.
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact: Contact through website | https://www.goldenberglawyers.com
Consultation: Free consultations available; contingency fee arrangements
2. Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle collisions, 18-wheeler crashes, semi-truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death from trucking incidents
Case Types Handled: Large truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, delivery vehicle crashes, commercial fleet incidents, driver negligence cases, trucking company liability matters, underride accidents, jackknife incidents
Legal Services: Comprehensive case evaluation, accident investigation, evidence gathering, federal regulation compliance review, driver history analysis, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery
Background: Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers handles personal injury matters throughout Minnesota and neighboring states. The firm has experience with trucking accident litigation involving federal motor carrier safety regulations.
Location: Minneapolis, MN (multiple office locations)
Contact: (612) 284-2605 | https://www.nicoletlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultations; contingency fee basis
3. Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A.
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle crashes, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer incidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death claims
Case Types Handled: Commercial truck accidents, delivery truck crashes, cargo vehicle incidents, driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violations, mechanical failure crashes, improper cargo loading incidents
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence preservation, federal trucking regulation analysis, driver qualification review, insurance claim handling, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims
Background: Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A. has over 50 years of experience as a personal injury firm with approximately 20 attorneys and over 500 years of combined legal experience among staff. The firm handles trucking accident cases throughout Minnesota.
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact: (612) 377-7777 | https://www.schwebel.com
Consultation: Free consultations available
4. Ben Crump Law, PLLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, commercial vehicle collisions, semi-truck accidents, catastrophic injury litigation, wrongful death from trucking incidents
Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, delivery truck collisions, commercial fleet crashes, driver negligence incidents, trucking company liability cases, complex multi-party trucking litigation
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence gathering and preservation, federal regulation compliance analysis, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical treatment coordination, lost wage recovery
Background: Ben Crump Law, PLLC is a national civil rights and personal injury firm serving clients throughout the country including Minnesota. The firm handles complex truck accident cases with resources for litigation against large trucking companies.
Location: Serves Minneapolis, MN (national firm)
Contact: (844) 430-1030 | https://bencrump.com
Consultation: Free case evaluations
5. Schmidt Salita Law Team
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle collisions, 18-wheeler crashes, semi-truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death from trucking incidents
Case Types Handled: Large truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, delivery vehicle crashes, commercial fleet incidents, driver fatigue cases, trucking regulation violation cases
Legal Services: Comprehensive accident investigation, evidence preservation, federal trucking regulation analysis, driver qualification review, insurance claim negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims
Background: Schmidt Salita Law Team, led by Doug Schmidt, has decades of experience in personal injury law. The firm handles trucking accident cases in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota, focusing on helping accident victims recover compensation.
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact: (612) 455-4238 | https://www.schmidt-salita.com
Consultation: Free consultations available
Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in Minnesota
Minnesota has specific laws governing truck accident claims that include no-fault insurance provisions and modified comparative negligence rules.
Statute of Limitations: Minnesota law provides a six-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Minn. Stat. § 541.05. This is one of the longest limitation periods in the country. Underinsured motorist claims have a shorter four-year period under Minn. Stat. § 65B.49. Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the date of death.
Fault System: Minnesota is a no-fault state for automobile insurance, requiring drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. However, injured parties can pursue third-party liability claims against at-fault truck drivers and trucking companies when injuries meet certain thresholds or involve substantial economic losses.
Comparative Negligence: Minnesota follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar under Minn. Stat. § 604.01. An injured party can recover damages only if their fault is 50% or less. If the injured party is 51% or more at fault, they are completely barred from recovery. When fault is 50% or less, damages are reduced proportionally by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party.
No-Fault Threshold: Minnesota’s no-fault system requires injuries to exceed certain thresholds before tort claims can be pursued. These thresholds include medical expenses exceeding $4,000, or permanent injury, permanent disfigurement, or 60 days of disability.
Minimum Insurance Requirements: Minnesota requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of $40,000 and liability coverage of $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage (30/60/10). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is required.
Commercial Truck Insurance: Federal regulations require interstate trucking companies to maintain minimum liability coverage of $750,000 to $5,000,000 depending on cargo type. Commercial trucks are subject to federal insurance requirements regardless of Minnesota’s no-fault provisions.
Federal Regulations: Commercial trucks operating in Minnesota must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including hours of service rules, driver qualification standards, vehicle maintenance requirements, cargo securement rules, and electronic logging device mandates. Violations of these regulations serve as evidence of negligence.
Damage Caps: Minnesota does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in truck accident cases. Both medical expenses and pain and suffering damages can be recovered without statutory limits.
Joint and Several Liability: Minnesota has modified joint and several liability rules. Defendants found more than 50% at fault are jointly and severally liable for all damages. Defendants found 50% or less at fault are only severally liable for their proportionate share.
Punitive Damages: Minnesota allows punitive damages in cases involving deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others under Minn. Stat. § 549.20. Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence.
Vicarious Liability: Minnesota applies respondeat superior, holding employers vicariously liable for negligent acts of employees acting within the scope of employment. Trucking companies can also face direct liability for negligent hiring, training, supervision, and maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for truck accident claims in Minnesota?
Minnesota provides one of the longest statutes of limitations in the country at six years for personal injury claims under Minn. Stat. § 541.05. However, underinsured motorist claims have a shorter four-year limitation period. While six years provides substantial time, evidence deteriorates, witnesses become unavailable, and trucking companies may destroy records after required retention periods. Prompt legal action remains important for effective case development and evidence preservation.
How does Minnesota’s no-fault insurance system affect truck accident claims?
Minnesota’s no-fault PIP coverage provides initial benefits for medical expenses regardless of fault. However, injured parties can pursue third-party liability claims against truck drivers and trucking companies once injuries exceed certain thresholds: medical expenses over $4,000, permanent injury, permanent disfigurement, or 60 days of disability. Most serious truck accidents easily exceed these thresholds. The no-fault system does not limit claims against commercial trucking companies for severe injuries.
How does Minnesota’s comparative negligence rule affect compensation?
Minnesota follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar. If you are found 50% or less at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 30% at fault and damages total $400,000, you would receive $280,000. However, if you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any compensation. Defense attorneys representing trucking companies commonly attempt to maximize fault attributed to injured parties.
Where are truck accident lawsuits filed in Minneapolis?
Truck accident lawsuits in the Minneapolis area are typically filed in Hennepin County District Court. Cases may also be filed in federal court (United States District Court for the District of Minnesota) if there is diversity of citizenship between parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Federal court jurisdiction is common in trucking cases involving out-of-state trucking companies.
What parties can be held liable in a Minnesota truck accident?
Multiple parties may bear responsibility for truck accidents in Minnesota including the truck driver for negligent operation, the trucking company for vicarious liability under respondeat superior and direct liability for negligent hiring, training, or supervision, cargo loading companies for improper securement, maintenance contractors for negligent repairs, vehicle or parts manufacturers for defective components, and freight brokers in some circumstances. Minnesota law allows claims against all responsible parties to maximize potential recovery.