Select Your Injury Type
(check all that apply)
Name
Email
Phone
Address
City
State
Zip
Date of birth
Cause
Injury date
Injured party
Est. medical bills
Is this injury work related?
Have you already filed a Personal Injury lawsuit for this injury?
Was the injury someone else's fault who can be held financially responsible?
Do you have an attorney?
Terms & Conditions
By submitting your request, you grant permission for one of our premier partners to contact you using the phone number or email address that you have provided so we may assist you with your request. You agree that the matched advocate or law firm may use an automatic telephone dialing system even if the number you provided is a wireless phone number.
Please complete the math problem to prove you are not a robot: =

Frequently Asked Questions | Duluth 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer

What is the difference between a commercial truck and an ordinary truck?

Commercial trucks are large, heavy vehicles used for interstate and intra-state commerce for the transport of commercial goods. A semi truck, big rig, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, tanker truck, or dump truck involved in an accident in Duluth are examples of commercial trucks. These kinds of vehicles are governed by federal, state, and local regulations that do not apply to non-commercial vehicles like pickup trucks or SUVs.

Back to top

What is the difference between a Duluth truck accident lawyer and a regular car accident lawyer?

A Duluth truck accident lawyer who practices law in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is qualified to handle truck accident law in Minnesota and is familiar with the various rules and regulations that apply to commercial vehicles. If you become involved in an accident with a semi truck or other commercial vehicle and you suffer property damage or injury, you need to protect your rights. Because of the nature of truck accident law, it is imperative that you select a Duluth truck accident attorney who is skilled in handling truck accident cases.

Back to top

When would I need a Duluth truck accident lawyer and why is it so important?

There is a big difference between handling legal cases involving commercial vehicles and those involving non-commercial vehicles and passenger cars. A qualified Duluth truck accident lawyer will be able to protect your rights and will know how to conduct a proper investigation. He or she will be able to check for compliance with the many regulations that apply to commercial vehicles. A good Duluth truck accident attorney will also know how to select the proper venue, the party against whom the claim should be made, and whether multiple parties may be joined as defendants.

Back to top

What should I look for in a Duluth truck accident attorney?

Select a lawyer who has a track record of being successful in obtaining compensation for clients in truck accident cases. Your attorney should also care about clients, display compassion for your situation, and listen to your concerns. Select a Duluth truck accident lawyer who is trustworthy and has a good reputation in the community. Also, it is important to select a lawyer or law firm that has the resources to go the distance in a long and involved case.

Back to top

Do I have to come up with money to pay for an attorney in a truck accident case?

In most cases, you should be able to retain a truck accident attorney in Duluth on a contingency basis without having to pay attorney fees out of pocket. Usually, any attorney fees will be paid out of the proceeds of a settlement or court case result. This means that you only pay your Duluth truck accident lawyer if you win! To be certain, make sure to ask your attorney beforehand.

Back to top

Why is it so important to conduct an investigation after a Duluth truck accident?

It is crucial to collect evidence and do a thorough and competent investigation after an accident with a semi truck or commercial truck. Trucks are bigger and heavier than passenger cars and require greater stopping distance. Commercial trucks are required to have proper maintenance, for example, adequate and fully functioning brakes. Additionally, truck drivers are only permitted to drive a certain number of hours per day and their hours must be properly logged and recorded. Only a complete and accurate investigation, including investigation of all logs and maintenance reports, will reveal the facts necessary to support your case.

Back to top

Who exactly would be sued if there is a lawsuit resulting from Duluth truck accident?

It depends on the circumstances of the case. Sometimes a claim should be filed against the trucking company. In other cases, a claim may be filed against the truck driver. It is also possible that the loading facility where the contents of the trailer were secured could be a responsible party, or even the owner of the trailer's contents. Who should be sued can also depend on whether or not there was negligence involved on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company, or whether any traffic violation occurred and contributed to the accident. Some other factors that may be involved are responsibility for truck maintenance, brakes, driver fatigue, recklessness, improper loads, and drug and alcohol use.

Back to top

Where should the lawsuit be filed for a truck accident in Duluth or St. Louis County?

When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is filed, the selection of where to file that lawsuit is referred to as “choice of venue.” Generally, venue is proper in the following locations:

  1. The county wherein the accident occurred;
  2. The county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is; or,
  3. The county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.

Even though the accident may have occurred in Duluth, the truck company and the truck driver may be from another state. This is because trucking companies often operate in states other than where they are registered. The venue where an ensuing lawsuit could be filed may be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even a state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in Duluth, Minnesota, making venue proper in St. Louis County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. A qualified Duluth truck accident lawyer is necessary to decide what the best venue would be for your truck accident case.

Back to top

If the suit is filed in Duluth or St. Louis County, in what court will the lawsuit be filed?

An experienced Duluth truck accident attorney will determine what the best court is depending on the circumstances of your case. The lawyer will decide the venue and jurisdiction to use. Some St. Louis County Courts are:

St. Louis County District Court
100 North 5th Avenue W
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-2460

Back to top

If I am hurt in a semi truck accident, what should I do?

If you sustain an injury in an accident, the most important thing to do is seek medical care for any pain or discomfort that you may experience. Delaying treatment can often make an injury worse. Many times it takes days for symptoms of soft tissue injuries to appear. Seeing a doctor immediately following the accident is necessary in order to receive a preliminary diagnosis. Extreme injuries such as burns, or neck and spinal cord injuries caused by a big rig truck accident often require immediate paramedic and trauma care unit assistance at the scene. In these cases, the victim must be taken to a hospital for treatment immediately.

Duluth Hospitals include SMDC Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital and Regional Trauma Center, St. Mary's Medical Center and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. These are some of the most common medical treatment centers where Duluth truck and automobile accident victims receive emergency medical care after a serious truck accident.

Back to top

If I miss work as a result of a truck accident, will I recover any loss of wages?

Wages lost as a result of a truck accident can be recovered as compensation.

Back to top

If I am involved in a truck accident, what should I do or not do?

Try to get witnesses to support your case, if you can. If possible, take photographs of the scene of the accident. Do not sign anything or make any statement to the insurer of the other party, or do anything when you feel pressured without consulting a lawyer first. Above all, do not admit any degree of fault.

Back to top

Truck Accidents Occur in Duluth and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Northeastern Minnesota, including Arnold, Automba, Ball Bluff, Cloquet, Duluth, Eldes Corner, Finlayson, Floodwood , Four Corners, Grand Lake, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, McGregor, Moose Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Superior, Two Harbors, Virginia, Whiteface, Wright, areas in the vicinity of Duluth International Airport, and other communities in St. Louis County.

Duluth Truck Accident Lawyers are here to answer your questions. Contact a Duluth Truck Accident Lawyer today for help from an experienced legal professional.