A truck accident is not something you walk away from unchanged. The injuries are severe. The recovery is long. And from the moment the crash happens, the trucking company and its insurer are already working to limit what they pay you.
Meshbesher & Spence has represented truck accident victims and their families across Minneapolis for more than 60 years. We know how commercial carriers operate, how their legal teams defend these claims, and what it takes to hold them accountable when their negligence puts someone in the hospital.
Call us today at (612) 339-9121 or reach out to a Minneapolis truck accident lawyer online to discuss your case. Your initial consultation is free, and you owe no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
“My accident changed my life. It was a long road, but Meshbesher & Spence were there for me every step of the way. They fought for me in ways that I didn’t think were possible, and because of them, today I’m on the road to recovery and back to my life.”
— Kelly G., Client.
Types of Accidents Our Minneapolis Truck Accident Lawyers Handle
Before you say a word to any insurance company, call a Minneapolis semi-truck accident attorney.
After a truck accident, an adjuster will call. The conversation sounds routine. They ask how you are feeling, what you remember, and whether you have seen a doctor. That call is not a formality. Every answer you give is evaluated for ways to reduce or deny your claim.
Saying you felt okay at the scene, apologizing out of habit, or describing what you did not see can all be used against you. This happens before you have a diagnosis, before you understand the full extent of your injuries, and before you have any sense of what recovery will actually cost.
You are not required to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Politely tell them you will reply after consulting your lawyer, then call a Minneapolis truck accident attorney at Meshbesher & Spence for guidance.
What Factors Contribute to Truck Accidents?
Federal regulations govern how long truckers can drive, how cargo must be secured, and how vehicles must be maintained. When those rules get ignored, the people in smaller vehicles pay the price.
Driver fatigue is a leading cause of commercial truck crashes. Delivery pressure leads some drivers to falsify their logs and keep driving long past the point at which they can safely operate a vehicle.
Distracted driving at highway speed is deadly. Dispatch communications, GPS systems, and phones take a driver’s eyes off the road long enough to miss a stopped car, a merging vehicle, or a changing light.
Impaired driving caused by alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication slows reaction time and distorts judgment. Behind the wheel of a vehicle weighing up to 80,000 pounds, that impairment is catastrophic.
Inadequate training puts inexperienced drivers in charge of complex, heavy equipment they are not prepared to handle. A commercial license alone does not prepare someone for emergency situations, winter roads, or the demands of long-haul driving.
Poor vehicle maintenance leads to mechanical failures that inspections should have caught. Brake failures, blown tires, defective lighting, and faulty coupling systems trace back to carriers who cut corners on upkeep.
Improper cargo loading makes trucks unpredictable and dangerous. Overloaded trailers take longer to stop. Unsecured freight shifts during transit, destabilizes the vehicle, and can spill into traffic without warning.
The sooner you involve your legal team, the stronger your case will be. Connect with our trusted Minnesota law firm for a case review today.
These injuries typically require surgery, extended rehabilitation, and ongoing care that extends well beyond the initial hospitalization. Time away from work means lost income on top of mounting medical bills.
A claim has to account for all of it, including future treatment, reduced earning capacity, and the ways this injury has changed daily life.
Trucking companies and their insurers act quickly after a crash. The decisions made in the days that follow directly affect what compensation is available to you.
If you or someone you care about was seriously injured in a truck accident, call us at (612) 339-9121 or contact us online now for a free case review with an experienced Minneapolis truck accident attorney. Get the help you need today.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Minneapolis Truck Accident?
Truck accident cases differ from standard car accident claims in one critical way: multiple parties often share responsibility. Identifying all of them affects the amount of compensation available and where it can be recovered.
The truck driver is responsible for conduct behind the wheel, including speeding, inattention, impairment, fatigue, and failure to follow traffic laws.
The trucking company can be held liable for the driver’s conduct and its own failures, including negligent hiring, inadequate training, and pressure on drivers to skip required rest periods.
Cargo loading companies face liability when improperly secured freight causes a truck to become unstable or creates a hazard on the road.
Maintenance contractors who service commercial fleets can be held accountable when negligent upkeep causes a mechanical failure.
Vehicle and parts manufacturers may be liable when defective brakes, tires, coupling systems, or lighting systems contribute to a collision.
Trucking companies carry large commercial insurance policies and deploy experienced legal teams to protect them. They know what to look for and how to argue against claims that lack thorough investigation and documentation.
Our Case Results
Wrongful Death Settlement | Fatal Trucking Accident on Highway 55
Meshbesher & Spence represented the family of a person killed in a catastrophic trucking accident on Highway 55.
The truck had been reversing across the highway into a residential driveway after dark. The driver had caused multiple prior collisions performing that same maneuver before the night of this fatal crash.
We pursued civil claims against the truck driver, the trucking company, and their insurance carrier and negotiated a significant wrongful death settlement for the family.
No legal outcome brings someone back. This one held the people responsible and sent a clear message about what negligent commercial trucking activity costs.
$5.8 Million Verdict | Semi-Truck Collision on Highway 169
Our client was struck by a semi-truck traveling without its lights on at the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 74. A jury unanimously found the trucking company liable.
The verdict covered a mild traumatic brain injury and lasting harm to her relationship with her husband. She has made meaningful progress in therapy, but the collision changed what her daily life looks like. The $5.8 million verdict was a vindication for our client and her family.
A Martindale-Nolo survey found that those who hired a lawyer were far more likely to recover compensation than those who pursued claims without legal representation.
What Can You Recover After a Truck Accident in Minneapolis?
Minnesota law allows truck accident victims to pursue compensation for what the crash has actually taken from them. A claim may include:
Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, specialist treatment, and ongoing care;
Lost income: Wages missed during recovery and any reduction in earning capacity going forward;
Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and the ways the injury has altered your daily life;
Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property;
Loss of consortium: The effect of the injury on a spouse or family relationship;
Punitive damages: Available when egregious conduct, such as knowingly violating federal safety regulations, contributed to the crash; or
Wrongful death damages: When a truck accident kills a family member, surviving loved ones can pursue compensation for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of that person’s presence in their lives.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Truck Accident Claim in Minnesota?
State law gives most truck accident victims six years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrongful death claims carry a three-year deadline from the date of death.
Certain evidence in truck accident cases does not last. Carriers are not required to retain all records indefinitely, and physical evidence from the crash scene disappears quickly. Contacting a Minneapolis semi-truck accident lawyer early gives you the best chance of recovering what is needed to build a strong claim.
Cases involving a government vehicle may carry significantly shorter deadlines.
How Can a Minneapolis Truck Crash Lawyer Help You?
Trucking companies move quickly after a crash. They pull electronic data, review driver records, and document the scene in ways designed to protect their interests. The attorneys at Meshbesher & Spence respond in kind:
Identifying every liable party and every applicable insurance policy,
Working with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to document causation and long-term impact,
Handling all communications with insurance carriers,
Calculating damages that account for future medical needs and lost earning capacity, and
Taking cases to trial when a fair resolution is not offered.
“I hold wrongdoers accountable. It is an honor to advocate for individuals and families so that they can rebuild their lives after suffering a loss.”
Approximately 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year across the United States. A typical commercial semi-truck weighs more than 80,000 pounds, nearly 27 times the weight of an average passenger vehicle. About 5,000 of those crashes result in fatalities, and roughly one out of every eight traffic deaths involves a truck.
These cases require attorneys who understand federal trucking regulations, know how commercial carriers approach litigation, and have handled claims of this scale before.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Get Legal Help You Can Trust
Meshbesher & Spence has spent 60+ years fighting for people who have been seriously injured by the negligence of others, recovering more than $1.1 billion for clients across Minnesota.
We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our attorneys offer free consultations at any of our five office locations, at your home, or at the hospital if that is where you are.
The lawyer you choose makes a difference. That difference has been Meshbesher & Spence. Call (612) 339-9121 or contact us online to speak with a Minneapolis truck accident lawyer today.
Proudly Representing Minneapolis Residents
Truck Accident FAQs
• Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can pursue a claim as long as you are found less than 51% at fault. Your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but partial responsibility does not eliminate your claim.
Trucking companies frequently try to assign blame to other parties to reduce their exposure, and an experienced Minneapolis 18-wheeler accident lawyer can challenge those arguments directly.
• What if the trucking company is based outside of Minnesota?
Out-of-state carriers are subject to Minnesota law when their drivers cause accidents here. Federal trucking regulations apply regardless of a company’s headquarters, and liability does not disappear simply because the carrier operates across state lines.
• My family member was killed in a truck accident. Who can bring a wrongful death claim?
Under Minnesota law, a wrongful death claim is brought by a trustee appointed to represent the surviving family’s interests, typically a spouse, adult child, or parent. The claim can include funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of the relationship itself. Families in this situation should speak with a Minneapolis truck accident attorney as early as possible.
• How long will my truck accident case take to resolve?
There is no standard timeline. Cases involving severe injuries, disputed liability, or multiple defendants take longer. What matters more than speed is that the resolution reflects what the crash actually cost you. Meshbesher & Spence prepare every case for trial from the start, which positions us to negotiate from a place of strength and go to court when necessary.
