If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a truck accident caused by negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensation for damages. These can be complex, time-consuming cases that are difficult to prove, where it can be a wise decision to consider seeking legal representation to help ensure that your interests are being protected.
The experienced truck accident lawyers at TSR Injury Law are prepared to review your claim in a free consultation. We have the resources to fully investigate and build a strong argument for a truck accident case. We also have a proven track record of recovering over $1 billion in compensation for personal injury victims in Minnesota. Partner Rich Ruohonen obtained $1.7 million for a pedestrian who was struck by a semi-truck. He was selected for Super Lawyers each year from 2003 to 2018.
Contact TSR Injury Law for a free, confidential consultation. You are not obligated to let us represent you. We operate on a contingency fee basis – we do not get paid unless we recover compensation for your claim.
Schedule a free consultation with a Saint Paul truck accident attorney. Call (612) TSR-TIME or fill out a free online form.
Am I Eligible for Compensation?
Determining whether you may have a case can be very difficult without the help of a licensed lawyer. The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have many years of combined experience building cases to prove negligence.
There are four elements of negligence our attorneys must be able to prove to pursue a claim for your damages:
- The truck driver/liable party owed you a duty of care – The party you are filing a claim against had a duty to take reasonable steps to help prevent a truck accident.
- The duty of care was breached – The duty of care for the situation was not upheld through inaction or careless actions.
- The breach of duty caused your injuries – There must be a causal connection between your injuries and the breached duty. The injuries you suffered would not have occurred if the other driver upheld their duty of care.
- Damages were suffered – The other driver’s breach of duty caused damages such as pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost income.
Who Can Be Held Accountable for a Truck Accident Injury?
There are many individuals/entities that could hold liability for a truck accident, which is one of the reasons these cases can be much more complicated than car accident cases.
The attorneys at our firm have extensive knowledge of liability for truck accident cases. We are prepared to thoroughly investigate accidents to determine how they occurred and how they could have been prevented if the driver or other parties acted differently.
One or more of the parties below could be liable for your accident:
- The truck driver – Many truck accidents are caused by negligence of the driver. He or she could have disobeyed traffic laws by speeding, tailgating or driving while distracted, drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- The driver’s employer – There are many situations where the company that employs the driver could be held liable for an accident. Trucking companies may fail to properly train their drivers, test them for drug and alcohol abuse or push them to break federal regulations on the amount of hours behind the wheel to meet unreasonable deadlines.
- The truck owner – Truck owners may try to cut down on costs by not properly maintaining or inspecting the vehicle to ensure it is safe for use. Some truck owners choose to hire a third-party maintenance company to maintain their vehicles, and they may be held liable if a maintenance issue caused the accident.
- The manufacturer – If a truck accident was caused by a poorly-designed or defective part, the manufacturer could be held liable.
- The cargo-loading company – Trucking companies may load their own trucks or hire a third-party cargo-loading company to do the job. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has numerous cargo securement requirements that must be adhered to for the safe transport of goods. If the cargo in a large truck is not properly secured, overloaded or unbalanced, it could put the truck at a much higher risk of getting into an accident.
Unsure if you may have a case? Call TSR Injury Law to schedule a free consultation. There is no obligation to take legal action. (612) TSR-TIME
How Much Compensation Could be Available?
Our firm has been evaluating the costs associated with personal injury claims for countless clients over more than two decades. We have obtained more than $1 billion for the clients we have represented.
The damages that may be available for your accident claim will be based on many factors, such as the severity of your injuries and how long they may impact your physical health.
Damages suffered in a truck accident case are usually broken down into two types, economic and non-economic damages:
Economic Damages
These are the financial costs of an injury accident, which may include:
- Past, current and future medical expenses (stays at the hospital, prescriptions, doctor appointments, physical therapy, etc.)
- Lost income, both now and in the future
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
These are the physical and emotional effects of an injury, including:
- Physical pain
- Mental/emotional anguish
- Lost companionship
- Lost enjoyment of life
Our St. Paul truck accident attorneys know how to calculate the potential value of a truck crash case, including possible future expenses and non-economic damages that have no defined economic value.
Time Limits for Filing a Truck Accident Claim
According to Minnesota’s statute of limitations, most personal injury claims need to be filed within two years after the date you discovered your injury. However, sometimes this deadline may be shortened or extended, depending on the details of your case. For example, if your claim happens to be against a government entity, you may only have 180 days to provide notice to the party you are filing a claim against. If you were a minor at the time of the accident, you have up to two years after your 18th birthday to file your claim.
If you fail to file your claim before the deadline passes, your claim could be rejected, and you may lose the opportunity to seek compensation.
The sooner you contact our firm, the more time we have to determine the deadline that may apply. If you have a case and hire our firm, we are ready to handle all legal filings and other aspects of the case.
Questions about your case? Call TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME.
Why Hire a Lawyer?
There are many benefits to hiring a lawyer to manage your truck accident claim. Although each case is unique and settlement amounts vary, accident victims who decide to hire a lawyer often recover more compensation than those who try to manage the process alone.
If you have a valid case and decide to let us represent you, our Saint Paul truck accident lawyers can handle the entire legal process so you can concentrate on recovery. We have an experienced legal team ready to thoroughly investigate the scene of the accident, collect evidence, interview witnesses, examine medical records, calculate your damages, negotiate with insurance companies and other aspects of the process.
There are numerous insurance policies that may apply to a trucking accident, from general liability to bobtail, cargo and umbrella insurance. Our attorneys have many years of combined experience reviewing insurance policies to determine what may be covered and how much compensation may be available.
Since most truck accident cases are settled before going to trial, many law firms do not take the extra steps needed to prepare for court. Insurance companies know who these law firms are, and they often try to convince these firms to accept an early or lowball settlement offer.
However, at TSR Injury Law, we are prepared to go to trial when necessary. Our goal is to recover the compensation victims need to help them move forward with their lives.
Our attorneys are well-versed in the trucking laws and requirements enforced by the FMCSA. We know how to obtain log books and other records to find possible violations of these rules.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
While your attorney can handle building a case, there are some things you can do right after the accident that may help your attorney link your injury to the accident and establish that accident’s cause.
Contact the Police
The police can investigate and file a report on the accident. The report could be a vital piece of evidence for your claim, particularly if the report cites the driver of the truck for a traffic violation.
Collect Evidence
Sometimes this is not possible because the victim’s injuries are so severe, he or she needs to wait for medical attention. However, if someone else is with you, or if your injuries allow, try to gather evidence. This could include:
- Names and contact information for those involved
- Insurance information
- Identifying information for the truck
- Pictures of your injuries
- Pictures of the scene, including damage to the vehicles
Talk to Witnesses
If possible, try to talk to any witnesses and ask them what they saw. If you think they can help verify your case, ask them for their contact information so you can contact them again if you decide to file a claim. You can also record a video of their statement, if they grant you the permission to do so.
Seek Medical Attention
It is important for your health and for the strength of your claim to seek medical attention immediately after your truck accident. It may take a few days for injury symptoms to develop, such as for a sprained neck, internal bleeding or even some traumatic brain injuries. If there is a significant gap between when you sought treatment and the accident, the insurance companies may try to say your injury was caused by something other than the accident.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters
It is common for trucking companies to get their insurance adjusters to inspect the accident immediately. However, be careful not to provide too much information if they contact you.
Adjusters are trained to try to get victims to diminish their injuries or unknowingly make statements that damage their credibility. They may ask the same question multiple times, act sympathetic or use other tactics to attempt to get information to use against you.
You should only provide basic information about the accident, such as where and when it happened. You are not obligated to answer their questions or provide a recorded statement. You can refer the insurance company to your attorney to defend your best interests.
Contact a Licensed Attorney
After undergoing a medical examination, we suggest contacting a licensed Saint Paul truck accident attorney from TSR Injury Law. We offer a free case review and there is no obligation to let us represent you. We are ready to determine if you may be eligible to pursue compensation, which can be very important after a significant injury.
Call TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME so we can determine if you may be eligible for compensation.
Serious Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
If your injury created medical bills and other damages, you may have the basis for a legal claim. Some injuries that may give a victim grounds to file a claim include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Internal damage/bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s)
- Loss of limbs
- Loss of life
Our lawyers know that some injuries may take more time to heal and may require future medical treatment. When we calculate the value of an injury claim, we take all of this into account. We want you to have the financial ability to obtain the treatment you need to help you make the best recovery possible, given your injuries.
Call Our Saint Paul Truck Accident Lawyers Today
At TSR Injury Law, we understand that this may be a difficult time for you and your loved ones. Truck accident victims often need long-term medical treatment and may miss a significant amount of time from work.
Our trusted attorneys manage the entire legal process for truck accident victims so they can focus on their treatment. Our lawyers have been defending the rights of personal injury victims and their families in Minnesota since 1998 and have recovered $300 million in injury compensation.
If you have a case and hire one of our attorneys, you will not be charged any upfront fees. We only receive payment if we win fair compensation for your case.
Contact a St. Paul truck accident lawyer at TSR Injury Law by calling (612) TSR-TIME or you can fill out our Free Case Evaluation form and someone will get in contact with you shortly.