Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorney

Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorneys of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen once again voted Minnesota Super Lawyers

Accidents involving commercial vehicles are often devastating. Because of the seriousness of these accidents and the unique issues involved, it is in your best interests that you hire a lawyer with knowledge and expertise in this area. Because of our extensive experience we are able to resolve cases very favorably for our clients, as in this example from our case files:

Bruce was a 42 year-old man who was run over by a semi-truck as he stood beside the road while assisting another motorist who lost control of her vehicle and crashed into him in an earlier accident. 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. The case settled for a total of $1,700,000.

Truck Regulations

Most commercial trucking companies are governed by Federal regulations. Those regulations are quite specific and encompass numerous subject areas. Many of these regulations are designed to protect motorists from the negligence of the truck companies. Understanding the details of commercial motor vehicle law is essential to the proper handling of a case involving a truck accident.

• Regulations require that commercial drivers only drive for a certain number of hours without rest. This is to prevent drivers from becoming fatigued and therefore less attentive to the operation of the truck.
• Drivers are required to keep a log book that tracks their driving hours and rest hours.
• Drivers and trucking companies also maintain other documents such as bills of lading, scale receipts, fuel receipts, toll receipts and other documents that will show where they were at a given time. A comparison of those records with the drivers log books will often reveal discrepancies.
• Regulations also require records be kept of maintenance of equipment. However, the law only requires retention of these required records for a period of six months. An experienced truck lawyer can help ensure that necessary evidence is preserved rather than destroyed.

Truck Accidents and Insurance Claims

Truck cases also present unique insurance questions. Federal regulations govern what insurance coverage may be available. Regulations require different coverage depending upon several factors, such as what type of product is hauled and whether the company is working intrastate or interstate. Also in some situations, an insurance company may have filings with the department of transportation. These filings are a promise to provide coverage even if the premiums are not paid. Trucking companies and their insurance companies will not tell you about these filings. It is imperative that you hire knowledgeable and experienced counsel who knows how to investigate these issues.

Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorney

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a truck crash, you need an experienced Minneapolis truck accident attorney. Call 612-362-0000 or contact Terry, Slane & Ruohonen for a free consultation. Our partners are skilled, aggressive litigators with years of experience and they are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Law & Politics.