CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS MN – HIT BY SEMITRAILER

At the Rochlin Law Firm, our car accident attorneys have 25 years’ experience with Minnesota auto accident cases. Often, the worst car accident injury cases come from a car being hit by a semi-tractor trailer. Here is a news report we recently saw illustrating how bad a car crash with a semi can be:

A Minnesota semi-truck driver was charged with five felonies related to a fatal traffic crash. The Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, man was charged Tuesday with felony retaining false records of duty status; false record of duty status; and failure to maintain current record of duty status. The truck driver was given a ticket for failure to reduce speed. The fatal crash involved five people, three were killed and two were injured.

SEMI TRUCK CAUSED ACCIDENT

State police said at the time of the crash that a driver of a semitrailer failed to slow down while approaching a construction zone. He then struck the rear of the car ahead of him. Those two vehicles traveled off the roadway into the eastern ditch after causing a chain reaction with three other vehicles.

The case had been under review by the State’s Attorney’s office since the crash. The State’s Attorney said his office received a crash reconstruction report along with police reports, witness statements and logbook readings. This evidence led to the charges.

Asked if he had talked to either victim’s families about the charges, the attorney said, “It was strictly our decision. We certainly have had some contact with the families of the victim. However, that in no way ultimately shaped our charging decision. We certainly always care about what they have to say.”

“It’s been just a long, really slow trudging year of making them make a decision,” said one family member. “I definitely wanted them, when this first happened, to be looking at reckless homicide. I think based on the reconstruction I understood and was explained to me, there was a case for it.”

INVESTIGATION AFTER TRUCK HITS CAR

The family had been persistent about communicating with prosecutors regarding criminal charges. When a truck hits a car and causes injury or death, our MN lawyers have found that the State Patrol investigation can be incredibly long and frustrating. Thankfully, the truck driver is being held responsible in this case.

The truck driver’s charges are:

• He allegedly made intentionally false statements on three separate records of duty status;
• Allegedly said he was off duty in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, when his PrePass transponder showed him in Hudson, Wisconsin;
• He allegedly made a false report of a 30-minute break when he was shown on the road during that time frame;
• Allegedly recorded he was in Indianapolis when his PrePass transponder located him in Carlock, 180 miles away, an hour later;
• He allegedly failed to maintain current record of duty status the day of the crash.

HOW TO SUE SEMI TRUCK DRIVER OR COMPANY

Our car accident lawyers have encountered this type of bad conduct by a semi truck driver many times in Minnesota over the last 25 years. It is sad but true that some semi drivers feel the need to drive beyond what the law allows. The trucker may drive too long without rest, and then falsify records to cover it up when their truck hits another vehicle and causes a crash.

A top truck car crash attorney has to investigate these MN car hit by truck accident cases thoroughly to uncover the potential dishonesty by the semi-truck driver or the shipping company.

If you have been injured in a car accident in MN with a semi truck, call our experienced car accident injury lawyers for a free consultation. Pam Rochlin is a former partner at Meshbesher and Spence and was the 2015 president of Minnesota Women Lawyers. A car accident lawyer will meet you at our office in Edina, Minneapolis, Woodbury, or St. Louis Park. An attorney will also come to your home or the hospital to discuss your auto accident hit by semitrailer case in St. Paul, Roseville, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville MN. Also, Eagan, Bloomington, Richfield, Prior Lake, Chanhassen, Chaska, Maple Grove, Forest Lake, and other cities throughout Minnesota.

Our lawyers focus on getting your medical bills paid, reimbursement for lost wages, and other full compensation for your pain and suffering. The consultation is free and we never charge anything unless you receive compensation.