Truck Accident Lawyer | Top-Rated Truck Crash Attorney Thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur on the road each year, leading to severe consequences that range from inconvenient repair costs to devastating personal injuries, property damage and even death. Unfortunately, commercial truck drivers are involved in thousands of related truck accident cases each year. If you get into an accident with a large semi-truck, big rig or other commercial truck like UPS, FedEx or Amazon, experiencing severe consequences may be even more likely. Large trucks weigh anywhere from 10 to 30 times more than the typical passenger vehicle on the road, especially when fully loaded, creating a more dangerous situation when a trucking accident occurs. Different types of vehicles, such as passenger cars, motorcycles and trucks, can be influenced by varying factors when it comes to traffic crashes in the United States. At Florin|Roebig, we have an experienced team of truck accident lawyers with decades of experience in personal injury law. Our attorneys can offer you or a loved one a free case evaluation to explore your legal options in the aftermath of a truck accident. Keep reading to learn more about Minnesota car accidents, including: Steps to take after an accident Common causes of truck accidents Large truck accident injuries Types of truck accident lawsuits Factors impacting truck accident claims Liability, compensation and damages Top truck accident lawyers Legal options following an accident Steps To Take After a Commercial Truck Accident Accidents can be frightening, especially when there are large vehicles involved. However, time is a critical factor in gathering the types of evidence that will be useful later in filing a personal injury claim for an accident with a commercial truck. For the sake of safety, it’s also important to contact the proper authorities following an accident to receive professional assistance. If you’ve been injured or suffered property damage after getting into a semi-truck accident, follow these steps: 1. Call Police and Medical Services The top priority in an accident is the safety of everyone involved. If you or anyone else around you appears to be injured, call 911 to seek immediate medical care and report the accident to the police. Medical records and an official police report can serve as important evidence for supporting a personal injury or property damage claim following a truck accident. Once police officers have arrived, they’ll begin taking down notes of the accident, including the time and location of the accident and statements from other drivers or passengers involved. Anyone who appears to be injured should receive medical help right away. Even injuries that appear minor, such as a bump to the head, can potentially lead to more serious problems without prompt treatment. It’s always best to have any injuries from an accident assessed by a medical professional. 2. Gather Information As soon as you ensure nobody is seriously injured or needs help, begin gathering information from other drivers, passengers and witnesses of the accident. The following information is helpful to both your insurance company and your Florin|Roebig personal injury semi truck accident attorney: Names Phone numbers License plate numbers Driver’s license numbers Driver’s insurance information If you learn that someone involved in the accident isn’t insured, make note of this. Also, be sure to get the name and badge number of the responding police officer and the report number to retrieve it when it becomes available. 3. Get Photographic Evidence Having photos of your injuries, the scene of the accident and damage to property can be helpful to support a legal claim for trucking accident-related damages. Although police officers will often take their own photos to include with their accident report, you may want to take photos of the accident to keep as part of your records. 4. Contact a Truck Accident Attorney After getting into an accident, it’s critical for you to feel confident in asserting your legal rights. However, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be in a state of mind to do this on your own. Contacting an experienced trucking accident law firm like Florin|Roebig can be your best course of action. Our attorneys can represent your legal interests and guide you through your next steps. List of Common Causes of Truck Accidents Truck accidents in the United States can be influenced by various factors, including those within and outside your control as a driver. Drivers of large trucks can be subject to many of the same issues faced by other motorists, such as poor road conditions, distracted driving and other dangers. However, truck drivers can also face issues more specific to their profession. One of these is a greater likelihood of fatigue, as professional drivers often face long hours transporting loads from one location to the next. Excessive driver fatigue can make commercial truck drivers less aware of their surroundings on the road and can also affect judgment, driving skills and reaction time. Additional causes and factors that can contribute to truck accidents include: Improperly loaded cargo Speeding Poorly maintained vehicle Equipment failure Over-the-counter and prescription drug use Alcohol use Unfamiliarity with the roadway Traffic law violations Traffic flow interruptions (e.g., congestion) Braking issues Level of driver training Weather conditions Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents According to an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Fatality Analysis Reporting System by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), 4,354 people died in large truck crashes in 2023. The majority (65%) were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles. Occupants of passenger vehicles are more vulnerable in 18-wheeler truck accidents simply because commercial vehicles are so much bigger and heavier than these smaller vehicles. Another 17% of fatalities in large truck accidents were among even more vulnerable groups, including motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians. About 16% of deaths were truck occupants. According to the USDOT National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2023 saw an estimated 528,177 large trucks involved in police-reported traffic crashes, with 153,452 people injured in these traffic crashes. Furthermore, preliminary data for 2024 show trends in line with 2023. The types of injuries sustained in an 18-wheeler truck accident can depend on various factors, including the size of the truck and the circumstances under which the accident occurs. Common injuries caused by truck accidents include: Lacerations Burn injuries Head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries Neck injuries Spinal cord damage, including paralysis Neurological damage Broken arms or legs and other bone fractures Disfigurement Types of Truck Accident Lawsuits When pursuing legal recourse after a commercial truck accident, it’s essential to understand your legal options. If you’ve sustained personal injuries as a result of a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a personal injury truck accident claim. If your accident results in significant property damage not paid by the insurance carrier of the party at fault, you may also file a property damage claim to recover out-of-pocket expenses. Personal Injury Claims Truck accident claims occupy a very specific area of personal injury law and can be subject to federal and state laws that differ from laws involving standard vehicle accidents. Personal injury claims are frequently filed on the basis of negligence, as demonstrated by one or more parties involved in the accident. Parties that may be liable for injuries and other losses sustained from a commercial truck accident: Driver of a truck Trucking company Manufacturer of the truck or its parts Company leasing the trailer Party that ordered the truck’s load Property Damage Claims The sheer size and weight of large semi-trucks can result in significant property damage, even more so than the typical accident involving standard vehicles. Filing a property damage claim may be an effective option for recovering financial losses from property damage sustained in a truck accident, such as vehicle repair and replacement costs. Factors that Affect Truck Accident Claims The success of a truck accident claim can be subject to a few factors, including proof of negligence, who’s deemed at fault for the accident, the seriousness of the accident and the extent of the resulting damages. Whether Negligence Was Involved If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident, proving the accident occurred as a result of negligence can be a key element in the process of recovering your losses. In truck accidents, negligence can refer to any behavior or act that may be considered a breach of duty according to the truck driver’s duty of care, a legal duty to act reasonably and responsibly to avoid injuring others. Under the regulatory process put in place by the FMCSA, truck drivers are responsible for adhering to specific regulations while on duty, some of which include: Driving no more than 10 hours in a 15-hour period following 8 consecutive hours off duty (passenger-carrying drivers) or 11 hours in a 14-hour period following 10 consecutive hours off duty (property-carrying drivers) Maintaining a logbook of hours driven Documenting rest and service breaks Proper loading of cargo Not using controlled substances or alcohol Adhering to legally mandated service and maintenance requirements Common examples of negligence in truck accidents include texting and driving, falling asleep at the wheel or driving under the influence. If you get into an accident with a truck driver who failed to adhere to one or more of these regulations, you may be able to prove the accident occurred as a result of negligence with the proper evidence. Who Can Be Held Liable in a Trucking Accident? Commercial trucking accidents may be viewed differently from individual car accidents, mainly because a trucking company typically employs truckers. As the employer of the trucker who got into or caused an accident, the trucking company (carrier) may face legal responsibility. Other parties who may be held legally liable for a trucking accident include: Large commercial vehicle manufacturers Vendors used by the trucking company Cargo owners Local government or contractors (in cases of poor road design, etc.) Severity of Injuries and Extent of Damages Evaluating a big rig accident claim can also require examining the extent of the resulting damage and the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries. In moderate to severe accidents, injuries may lead to ambulance costs, hospital expenses and ongoing care for serious or permanent injuries. Building a claim with an attorney requires taking into account all these resulting expenses, as well as other non-economic losses such as pain and suffering costs and loss of companionship in cases of wrongful death. Why File a Truck Accident Claim? Individuals or surviving family members of someone who died in a semi-truck accident can choose to file a claim to seek compensation for losses suffered as a result of the accident. These losses, frequently referred to as damages, can refer to financial losses, effects on physical health, resulting trauma and other costs associated with the crash. The primary reasons for filing a truck accident claim are to recover damages for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death. These damages can become very costly for the average person, not only economically but also to a person’s physical and psychological well-being. Filing an accident claim can be a way for individuals to lessen this burden and recover expenses that aren’t covered by their insurance company. How Much Compensation Can You Win for a Semi-Truck Accident? The amount of compensation you can win in a truck accident lawsuit will depend on the unique circumstances of the case. Depending on the severity of the accident, resulting injuries and other factors, you may be looking at a settlement offer ranging anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. To receive the most accurate estimate for your settlement amount, share the relevant details of your case with a truck accident attorney who can provide a range for your settlement offer. Our experienced truck injury lawyers can help you determine whether you have a case and how much your case might be worth. Damages Awarded in Truck Accident Claims The types of damages awarded in truck accident claims depend on the individual circumstances of the accident but generally include compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages can be awarded as compensation to cover economic and non-economic losses that have accumulated as a result of the accident. The intention in awarding compensatory damages is to restore the plaintiff’s physical, financial and psychological states as close to where they were before the accident. Types of compensatory damages commonly awarded in trucking accidents include: Medical bills Ongoing care costs (projected expenses) Lost wages Loss of earning capacity (e.g., if you lose your job due to sustaining a permanent injury) Funeral and burial costs Pain and suffering Mental anguish Disfigurement Loss of enjoyment of life Loss of consortium (compensation awarded to a spouse or child due to significant relationship strain) Punitive damages refer to a form of punishment for the defendant and are meant to discourage the defendant from engaging in harmful or reckless behavior in the future. Punitive damages are applicable if the cause of the accident can be traced back to fraudulent, reckless or malicious behavior from the party at fault. Our Featured Case Results Personal Injury Property Loss and Damage Claims Construction Negligence Labor Law Product Liability Medical Malpractice Car Accident 1 $47.4M Personal Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $9.55M Firearm Injury Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $5.25M Hospital Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $4M Personal Injury Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $4.2M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.5M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.5M Industrial Explosion Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.1M Property Damage Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $3.9M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $2.4M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $2.3M Contractor Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.5M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $1.2M Construction Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.8M Race Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $4.2M Whistleblower Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $4.0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $3.2M Nationality Discrimination Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 5 $2,0M Sexual Harassment Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $5.3M Pharmaceutical Negligence Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $3.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 3 $1.3M Drug Company Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 4 $1.2M Product Liability Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 1 $6.0M Medical Malpractice Settlement A resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, typically reached before court action begins. 2 $5M Orthopedic Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $3M Gastroenterology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.25M Urology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.7M Anesthesiology Malpractice Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 1 $42M Motor Vehicle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 2 $15M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 3 $6.1M Motorcycle Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 4 $2.3M Car Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. 5 $1.8M Truck Accident Jury Verdict The formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. Find out if you have a case we could help you win Speak To a Specialist List of Truck Accident Attorneys Serving the U.S. The law offices of Florin|Roebig possess a team of seasoned truck accident lawyers with the expertise and skills necessary to help you file a successful truck accident claim. Our attorneys can provide effective legal representation for clients out of several locations across the U.S. with offices in Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Colorado. The truck accident attorneys of Florin|Roebig include: Wil H. Florin, B.C.S. Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S. Neil P. O’Brien, M.B.A. Shaun M. Cummings Luca G. Esposito Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M. John J. Hart Parker Y. Florin, LL.M. Taylor D. Roebig Michael A. Ossi, O.C. Lawrence J. Najem, O.C. Nollys R. Solarte, O.C. We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers Get Help with Filing a Claim Today Getting in touch with the right attorney after suffering an injury in a truck accident is one of the most important steps to filing a successful lawsuit. The attorneys of Florin|Roebig have provided unmatched legal representation for clients across the U.S. for decades, winning over $1 billion in personal injury cases nationwide. Don’t wait to learn what your truck accident settlement may be worth. We can help you determine your legal options and eligibility for compensation. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers and begin filing your truck accident claim.
