When semi-trucks or commercial vehicles collide with smaller passenger vehicles, the results can be catastrophic. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, it may be in your best interest to review the incident with a licensed attorney.
Having an experienced legal team on your side can have a significant impact on the outcome of a lawsuit and our Minneapolis truck accident attorneys have a proven track record handling truck accident cases including a $1.7 million recovery for a pedestrian hit by a semi-truck and a $1.5 million verdict for a pedestrian that was struck by a garbage truck.
TSR Injury Law co-founder and managing partner Steven Terry has been included in Super Lawyers and is on the Minnesota Association for Justice Board of Governors. Partner Nate Bjerke is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates forum.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no upfront fees for our services and we only get paid at the end of the legal process if you have obtained compensation.
Free Consultation. Phone (612) TSR-TIME or locally at (612) 444-6330.
Partner Rich Ruohonen obtained a $4 million settlement for a woman who suffered a dominant arm injury caused by a crash with a commercial semi-truck.
Virginia was a 53-year old nurse who was rear-ended by a semi-truck on highway 94 at highway speeds. She was hit so hard that her vehicle was pushed into a truck in front of her which pushed into another car, thereby totaling all three vehicles.
At the scene Virginia was disoriented but it is unknown whether she lost consciousness. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She had significant treatment over the next several months for a mild traumatic brain injury and neck and back injuries. She now has trigger point injections every three months for ongoing neck and back pain along with occipital nerve blocks for intense headaches resulting after the traumatic brain injury. She takes significant medications for pain, headaches and other complications form the mild traumatic brain injury. Her home life and relationships were affected considerably. While she is able to work, it requires an heightened level of attention and focus resulting in worsening fatigue and requiring significant rest on her off days. She also suffered from PTSD and anxiety as a result of the crash and her injuries. She also has some vision loss in one eye in the lower right quadrant.
Virginia was just starting a second job as a nurse where she anticipated working substantially more than full time between the two jobs. Following her recovery from this crash, she was out of work for almost 10 months and could only get back to 24 hours a week, which is a permanent restriction requiring a day off between shifts due to her traumatic brain injury and significant fatigue. Her wage loss was substantial. Three coworkers and supervisors testified as to her significant problems at work and changes in her previous abilities as a nurse before she was injured in this crash. Her husband and daughter also testified as to her changes in personality, home life and cognitive deficiencies. Her husband suffered significant damages for loss of consortium as well, due to his wife’s changes in personalities and abilities.
Virginia’s neurologist, psychologist, and internist all wrote reports confirming the ongoing and permanent nature of her brain injury, PTSD and anxiety condition, fatigue, and neck and back injuries.
The trucking company admitted the crash was the fault of its driver, but refused to agree that her injuries were as significant as alleged or that she had a significant wage loss. They hired a neuropsychologist who stated that Virginia did not have an ongoing cognitive injury from her traumatic brain injury. They also argued the ongoing damages in the case were fairly minimal and that she had fully recovered from the injuries she suffered in the crash.
Partner, Rich Ruohonen, represented Virginia from the beginning of the case and worked on the case for four years. The parties agreed to enter binding arbitration on the case with a three-attorney panel to make the decision regarding the amount of damages in this case. The case was tried to this panel of arbitrators in a full-day hearing and resulted in an significant award for Virginia and her husband. The following amounts were awarded:
Past Medical Expenses: $116,784.10
Past loss of earnings: $400,000
Future earning capacity loss: $550,000
Future medical expenses: $100,000
Past pain, disability, emotional distress and embarrassment: $500,000
Future pain, disability, emotional distress and embarrassment: $750,000
Past Loss of Consortium: $225,000
Future Loss of Consortium: $400,000
Total Award in this case was $3,041,784.10, which will compensate Virginia for her significant loss resulting from being hit by this semi-truck. Virginia now recovered a significant portion of her lost wages and future losses, which will help her go on her with her life. This was a four-year battle with the trucking company, which finally resulted in a tremendous and deserving award for Virginia and her husband.
As Bruce stood by the road after being hit by a woman who had lost control of her vehicle, he was run over by a semi-truck. He sustained a number of fractures and internal injuries, including a severely broken and dislocated ankle. While he did experience a good recovery from his injuries under the circumstances, he continued to experience significant leg and ankle pain, which disturbed his gait. Attorney Rich Ruohonen was able to settle the case for a total of $1,700,000.
Truck accident cases can be complex for a variety of reasons. As there are often many many factors involved, it is important to discuss your incident with an attorney who can help to determine if you have a valid case. Our Minneapolis truck accident attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the Minnesota laws that affect these cases and how to establish negligence caused a victim to suffer damages.
We are prepared to review claims involving various types of large trucks and commercial vehicles, such as:
… and help to determine if there are sufficient grounds to file a lawsuit. If so, we can discuss the options that may be available.
Identifying the parties may be responsible for a crash can be an overwhelming task for victims as there may be more than one party involved. Besides the driver, other parties responsible for the truck, trailer or cargo could share liability for the accident that caused your injuries.
Here are some of the parties that you may be able to pursue compensation from after a commercial truck crash:
As there are many factors that contribute to truck accidents, these type of cases can be both complex and challenging. Those involved in the trucking industry and their insurance companies will attempt to deny responsibility for an accident or potentially offer a settlement amount that may be much less than a case is worth.
The licensed Minneapolis truck accident lawyers at our firm are prepared to review your situation and determine your legal options during a free consultation.
Call today (612) TSR-TIME.
There are many questions our attorneys may consider to determine what a claim may be worth:
We are prepared to pursue maximum compensation for damages, if you are eligible to pursue compensation. These damages could include:
It is difficult for our Minneapolis truck accident lawyers to determine the potential value of your claim until we meet with you and have a chance to review the details of your specific incident. However, we understand the challenges truck crash victims face, including emotional, physical and financial and how important compensation can be following an accident.
Have Some Questions? Call (612) TSR-TIME.
TSR Injury Law has recovered over $1 billion for clients who have suffered injuries or losses due to the negligent actions of others.
Our firm has earned a 5-star rating for our commitment to excellence in legal representation and client satisfaction.
With more than 20 years of experience, TSR Injury Law has a proven record of success.
The insurance companies, trucking companies, cargo companies and any other entities that share liability for the crash will all be trying to avoid responsibility for the accident. They may attempt to convince accident victims into accepting much less compensation than they may be eligible to receive.
Trying to protect your claim on your own is often challenging for injury victims – recovering and having the stress of trying to pay your bills while being unable to work can be a daunting task. Having an attorney at your side focused on your best interests with a history of obtaining results in a truck accident case can be invaluable during this difficult time.
You can call our firm today to learn more about how we pursue full compensation for truck accident victims. When investigating, our attorneys collect more than just police reports and witness statements.
For example, we may request the truck driver’s logbook. Truck drivers are required by law to keep a detailed logbook of their on-duty hours and hours driven. There are also records of maintenance performed on the truck that may provide evidence of missed repairs or other problems with the truck. These additional documents can be very useful in determining who may share liability in your accident.
Truck accident victims who work with a lawyer often recover more compensation than those who do not.
Regardless of what kind of commercial vehicle hit you, we encourage you to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. There is a limited amount of time to pursue compensation for your injury and evidence can be quickly lost or destroyed.
Insurance companies often have deadlines for filing claims, but there are also deadlines for filing lawsuits in Minnesota. Generally, personal injury lawsuits must be filed within just two years of the date of the accident (Minnesota statute of limitations).
Each situation is unique, so your claim may fall under one of the many exceptions to this two-year deadline. For example, claims filed by minors must be filed within two years of their 20th birthday. This is why it is so important to review the situation with a licensed attorney with a long history of pursuing personal injury compensation.
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner he or she can determine whether you have a case and what your legal options may be, moving forward.
Reach us by calling us at (612) TSR-TIME.
You may be eligible to pursue insurance compensation for your truck accident damages. Liable parties often have hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance coverage, which your Minneapolis truck accident lawyer may be able to draw from.
Minnesota law in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific insurance requirements for commercial truck drivers. The type and amount of coverage needed is determined by the type of cargo being carried and where it is being carried to.
For instance, if the truck driver is transporting cargo within the state, he or she must obtain an intrastate-only USDOT Number and maintain a minimum amount of liability insurance as follows:
For truck drivers transporting cargo out-of-state, insurance requirements become more extensive. They are required to meet the above liability coverage and be in compliance with all FMCSA liability limits. These limits are generally between $750,000 to $1,000,000.
Interstate truckers or those who cross state lines are typically required to carry a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance. This type of insurance helps cover goods in a trailer. The amount can also change based on the type of cargo being hauled.
If a truck is financed, physical damage insurance may be required. This type of insurance helps cover the tractor or trailer from accidents while on the road.
Bobtail insurance may be required if the driver drives a truck under someone else’s trucking authority without a trailer. Generally, the motor carrier’s or trucker’s liability insurance only protects the driver while he or she is under dispatch or hauling a trailer and not for other driving scenarios. However, this type of insurance can help cover the driver if he or she was involved in an accident under the following conditions:
While bobtail insurance does not cover any physical damage done to a truck, it does help pay for costs associated with liability, such as legal fees, medical bills and settlement expenses.
You do not have to sift through insurance policies to find out what coverage applies to your accident. Our attorneys can do that on your behalf, if you hire our firm.
At TSR Injury Law, you do not have to worry about any upfront legal fees. Our Minneapolis truck accident attorneys do not get paid for our services unless you do so from a settlement or verdict. It costs nothing to let us discuss your legal options.
Reach us by phone at (612) TSR-TIME.
Our dedicated attorneys are recognized for their skill and unwavering commitment to justice. They have a proven record of success in leveling the playing field, securing justice, and helping people rebuild from the impact of injury.
No Fees Unless We Win
The trucking industry has federal and state regulations from the FMCSA and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. They have numerous regulations that trucking companies, owners, and drivers must follow to ensure the safety of truck drivers and the other vehicles on the road.
On state roadways, the overall width of a commercial vehicle cannot exceed more than eight feet and six inches. This does not include an additional three inches for rear side view mirrors. The standard height of a truck must be no more than 13 feet and six inches. When it comes to length limits, a semi-trailer or two-vehicle combination cannot exceed more than 53 feet. This includes no more than 75 inches for a truck-trailer with a semi-trailer as well as a two-vehicle combination other than a tractor-trailer and semi-trailer.
A truck’s maximum gross weight in Minnesota is 80,000 pounds. The legal weight of a vehicle or vehicle combination is determined by several factors, including the number of axles and type of roadway being used.
On all paved roads, the weight limits are:
On all unpaved roads, the weight limits are:
To protect against driver fatigue, which can dramatically increase the risk of an accident, truck drivers are restricted to a certain number of hours behind the wheel. These restrictions are laid out in the hours of service rules.
These rules say property-carrying drivers cannot drive:
The FMSCA requires all truck drivers to record their hours in a logbook. This is something our Minneapolis truck accident lawyers often review after an accident to determine if rules were broken.
Truck drivers must be tested before they are allowed to operate a commercial truck. There may also be random drug tests and rules require drug testing after certain kinds of accidents.
Trucking regulations are difficult to understand and apply to the specifics of a case. That is why many accident victims rely on an experienced Minneapolis truck accident attorney to deal with them. Our firm knows how to determine when regulations may have been violated and how to obtain evidence that may help us establish violations.
On most large trucks, there are several areas that are considered “no-zones”, and driving in or near these areas of a truck can be extremely risky. The most dangerous no-zones areas on a truck include:
Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you may still be eligible to file a claim.
See what our clients have to say about working with TSR Injury Law. Their stories reflect our commitment to providing exceptional legal representation and personalized attention to every case.
A truck accident can be a life-changing event for all parties involved and the Minneapolis truck accident lawyers at TSR Injury Law understand the hardships victims face after a serious accident. Contacting a lawyer is an important step when trying to recover from a serious collision.
With $300,000,000 recovered for our clients, our legal team offers a free, no-obligation consultation to help determine if you have a case. Our office is located just minutes away from the Motor Vehicle/Deputy Registrar Office and we do not charge any upfront fees if we take on your case. We only get paid when you win.
Call us today at (612) TSR-TIME, locally at (612) 444-6330.
