According to NHTSA, 70 percent of the people killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024 were occupants of other vehicles. Minnesota’s no-fault system still applies when you are in a car hit by a truck, but trucking claims also turn on federal safety rules and higher federal insurance minimums for many carriers (Minn. Stat. § 65B.47; 49 CFR 387.9).
Our Minneapolis-area office handles truck accident claims for people hurt on city streets and the highways that run through the area. We work on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Minnesota Law After a Truck Crash
No-Fault Benefits Come First
If you were in a car hit by a truck, your no-fault benefits generally come first, usually from your own auto policy (Minn. Stat. § 65B.47, subd. 4). The minimum no-fault coverage is $40,000 per person: $20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for income loss and other economic losses (Minn. Stat. § 65B.44, subd. 1). If you were driving a truck or other business vehicle for work, no-fault benefits generally come from the coverage on that vehicle (Minn. Stat. § 65B.47, subd. 1).
Pain and Suffering Claims
In Minnesota you can claim pain and suffering from the at-fault driver only if your reasonable medical bills (not counting diagnostic x-rays and certain rehabilitation) are more than $4,000, or the crash caused a permanent injury, permanent disfigurement, death, or at least 60 days of disability (Minn. Stat. § 65B.51, subd. 3). That threshold does not limit claims against a business that made, sold, repaired or maintained a vehicle with a defect that caused the injury (Minn. Stat. § 65B.51, subd. 4).
Fault and Shared Responsibility
Being partly at fault does not automatically end a Minnesota claim. You can recover if your share of fault is not greater than the share of the person you are claiming against, and your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault (Minn. Stat. § 604.01, subd. 1). That means a person found 50 percent at fault can still recover.
When several parties share the blame, such as a trucking company and a parts maker, each generally pays its own share, but a party more than 50 percent at fault can be made to pay the whole award (Minn. Stat. § 604.02, subd. 1).
Deadlines
A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to file a lawsuit. For most injuries caused by someone’s negligence, Minnesota applies a 6-year deadline (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1(5)). The right deadline depends on the type of claim, and some notice deadlines are much shorter, so do not wait to call.
If a crash takes someone’s life, a wrongful death claim generally must be started within 3 years after the death, and no more than 6 years after the act that caused it (Minn. Stat. § 573.02, subd. 1).
If a city bus, county vehicle or other public vehicle or property was involved, Minnesota generally requires written notice of the claim within 180 days after the injury is discovered (Minn. Stat. § 466.05; § 3.736, subd. 5). Recovery in those claims is capped at $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence for claims arising on or after July 1, 2009, and punitive damages are not allowed (Minn. Stat. § 466.04; § 3.736, subd. 3 and 4).
Federal and Minnesota Trucking Safety Rules
Federal rules set safety requirements for truck drivers and carriers, including limits on driving hours and rules for vehicle maintenance (49 CFR 395.3; 49 CFR 396.3).
Hours of Service
Federal hours-of-service rules require 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limit driving to 11 hours within a 14-hour on-duty window, and require a 30-minute break once 8 hours of driving have passed (49 CFR 395.3). Weekly limits stop a driver after 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, depending on the carrier’s schedule (49 CFR 395.3).
Minnesota Carriers Follow the Same Rules
Minnesota requires carriers operating within the state to follow the federal rules on driver qualification, parts and accessories, hours of service, and inspection, repair and maintenance, with some exceptions (Minn. Stat. § 221.0314). Federal rules require carriers to keep a qualification file for each driver and records of inspections, repairs and maintenance (49 CFR 391.51; 49 CFR 396.3).
Insurance Requirements
For-hire interstate carriers hauling ordinary freight in trucks rated at 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and some oil and hazardous loads require $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 (49 CFR 387.9).
When the Company Is to Blame
Minnesota allows punitive damages against an employer for a driver’s conduct only in limited cases, such as when the driver was unfit and the company deliberately disregarded a high probability of that (Minn. Stat. § 549.20, subd. 2). Whether they may be available depends on the evidence, and they are never automatic.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver Fatigue
Federal rules limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3). Carriers must keep supporting documents such as trip records, expense receipts and payroll records to verify a driver’s logged hours (49 CFR 395.11).
Poor Maintenance
Motor carriers must systematically inspect, repair and maintain their trucks, and parts must be in safe and proper operating condition (49 CFR 396.3). Drivers must report defects in a written inspection report, and the carrier must certify that listed safety defects were repaired, or that repair is unnecessary, before the truck is driven again (49 CFR 396.11).
Overloaded or Unsecured Cargo
Federal rules require cargo to be secured so it does not leak, spill, blow off or fall from the truck, or shift in a way that affects the truck’s stability or steering (49 CFR 393.100).
Wide Turns and Blind Spots
According to FMCSA, large trucks have large blind spots and need extra space and time to make wide turns. Minnesota law says a driver may not change lanes or turn until the move can be made safely (Minn. Stat. § 169.18, subd. 7; Minn. Stat. § 169.19, subd. 4).
Speed and Following Distance
Large trucks need up to the length of two football fields to stop safely.
Injuries and the Losses We Document
When we build a claim, we document what the crash has cost you, including:
- Medical bills, from emergency care to future treatment and therapy
- Income lost while you recover
- Reduced earning ability if you cannot return to the same work
- Effects on your daily life, family and the activities you enjoyed
- Damage to your vehicle and other property
Punitive damages, which punish rather than compensate, are allowed only on clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others (Minn. Stat. § 549.20, subd. 1).
For more on serious injuries, see our pages on brain injury claims and spinal cord injury claims.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Minneapolis
- Call 911 and get medical care right away
- Photograph the truck, its company name, any numbers on the cab or trailer, and the scene
- Get the driver’s name, employer and insurance information
- Get names and phone numbers from witnesses
- Report the crash to your own auto insurer so your no-fault claim can start
- Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company or its insurer
- Keep every bill, receipt and pay stub related to the crash
- Call 844-SEE-MIKE quickly, since federal rules require carriers to keep driver logs for only 6 months (49 CFR 395.8)
How 844-SEE-MIKE Helps After a Minneapolis Truck Accident
When you call 844-SEE-MIKE, you talk with our team about what happened, and there is no cost to find out where you stand. If we take your case, we negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and gather the records and evidence for your claim.
- Free consultation, available 24/7
- No fee unless we recover money for you
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a truck accident claim different from a car accident claim?
Many for-hire interstate trucking companies must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, compared with Minnesota’s $30,000 per-person minimum for cars (49 CFR 387.9; Minn. Stat. § 65B.49, subd. 3). Trucking companies must also keep driver logs, driver qualification files and maintenance records (49 CFR 395.8; 49 CFR 391.51; 49 CFR 396.3).
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurer?
Be careful. It is usually wise to talk with us first.
Why does it matter how quickly I call?
Federal rules require carriers to keep driver logs for 6 months and maintenance records for 1 year, so evidence can be lost over time (49 CFR 395.8; 49 CFR 396.3). Calling early lets us start investigating while time-sensitive evidence is still available.
How long does a truck accident case take?
Many injury cases settle without a trial.
Hurt in a different kind of crash? Learn about car accident claims or return to our Minneapolis personal injury overview.
If you or someone you love was hurt in Minneapolis, contact 844-SEE-MIKE anytime for a free, no-pressure consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
This information is general and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
