Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Minneapolis, Minnesota
The firms in this guide
- Goldenberg Lauricella PLLC
- Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Call Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers: (612) 284-2605
- Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A. Call Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A.: (612) 377-7777
- Ben Crump Law, PLLC Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC: (844) 430-1030
- Meshbesher & Spence Call Meshbesher & Spence: 612-339-9121
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. Meshbesher & Spence
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation
Case Types Handled: Truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, defective medical devices, nursing home abuse
Legal Services: Free consultation, accident and personal injury claims, mass tort and workers’ compensation representation
Background: Meshbesher & Spence is a Minnesota personal injury firm that has represented clients since 1961 from its Minneapolis office in the Elliot Park neighborhood and other Minnesota locations.
Location: 1616 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Contact: 612-339-9121 | https://www.meshbesher.com/
Consultation: Free consultation
Federal Truck Coverage, Driving Limits and Wrongful Death Actions in Minneapolis Truck Crash Claims
In Minneapolis, a truck crash claim draws its first facts from federal rules on commercial motor vehicles, carrier coverage and the driver’s daily hours and post-crash testing. Minnesota law then sets the wrongful death action and the standard for punitive damages.
Which Trucks the Federal Rules Reach and Their Coverage
Under 49 CFR 390.5, a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or actual gross weight, of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater. Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property in interstate or foreign commerce in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000, and under 387.7 it may not operate until that coverage is in effect.
The Daily Driving Window and Post-Crash Testing
Except as otherwise provided in 49 CFR 395.1, 49 CFR 395.3(a) requires a property-carrying driver to have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limits driving to 11 hours, bars driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and bars driving once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a consecutive 30-minute interruption. Under 382.303, a fatal crash requires alcohol and drug testing of the surviving driver, and an injury or tow-away crash requires it when the commercial driver is cited for a moving violation arising from the crash within 8 hours (alcohol) or 32 hours (drugs).
A Wrongful Death Action
Under Minn. Stat. 573.02 subd. 1, a court-appointed trustee may sue if the decedent could have sued, within three years after the death and no later than six years after the act or omission. The recovery covers the decedent’s damages before death and the pecuniary loss from the death, distributed to the surviving spouse and next of kin by pecuniary loss after funeral expenses.
Punitive Damages
Under Minn. Stat. 549.20 subd. 1, punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others, meaning knowledge or intentional disregard of facts creating a high probability of injury and deliberately proceeding in conscious disregard of, or indifference to, that probability.
Minneapolis Truck Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue after a Minneapolis truck crash?
The Minnesota Supreme Court stated in D.M.S. v. Barber (2002) that, generally, personal injury actions grounded on negligence must be commenced within the six-year period of Minn. Stat. 541.05, now subd. 1(5); 541.07(1) sets two years for the torts it lists, so confirm with counsel which period applies, and a wrongful death action has three years after the death under 573.02. For a city truck, notice to the governing body is due within 180 days under 466.05.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if your fault is not greater than the trucking defendant’s. For example, imagine $280,000 in damages and 45 percent of the fault on the injured driver: under Minn. Stat. 604.01 subd. 1 the recovery would be $154,000.
Do I need to meet the no-fault threshold against a trucking company?
Yes, for pain and suffering in a negligence action arising from a vehicle covered by required security. Under Minn. Stat. 65B.51 subd. 3, noneconomic damages require medical expenses over $4,000, or permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, death, or disability for 60 days or more.