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Minnesota Semi Tractor Trailer Accident Attorneys

If you have been hurt because of your involvement in a semi-truck accident, you may be doing research on several different Semitruck Accident Lawyers Minnesota to represent your case. It is important to be aware that the key to successfully handling semi-truck collision is for your Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys to become familiar with the safety regulations and to review the safety records of both the company and driver. There is usually a public safety concern your Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys should be aware of that is much larger than the facts of your individual case.

A great deal of Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Lawyers will attempt to obtain discovery in trucking accident cases as they would in a car wreck. But Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Lawyers should know that truck accidents are very different from car crashes. Trucks are bigger than cars, and generally cause more catastrophic damage than cars can. In addition, the laws governing trucks involved in interstate commerce are specific to commercial motor vehicles alone. Comprehending the many aspects of truck accident law is integral for Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Lawyers handling tractor-trailer cases.

If you've been injured in a catastrophic semi-truck collision, you may need a Semi Truck Accident Attorneys Minnesota to help you hold the responsible party liable. Make sure that the Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys you choose is familiar with Title 49, parts 350-399 of the Federal Safety Regulations pertaining to the state where the accident you were involved with occurred. These laws and regulations would apply in a situation where a truck operates locally within state lines.

Before talking to a Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys, familiarize yourself with certain laws specific to your state and specific to tractor-trailer accident law. For example, it would be to your advantage to know that truck drivers must comply with hours of service regulations. These rules were established to prevent trucking companies from over-working their drivers, but many drivers either choose to violate the rule or are intimidated into driving illegally for longer hours than permitted and become fatigued while behind the wheel. The hours of service regulations were changed January 4, 2004. Drivers may now drive up to 11 hours out of 14 hours on duty and are now required to have 10 hours off-duty. The regulation still does not permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven day period or 70 hours in an eight day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver is off for 34 consecutive hours.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety abides by the majority of Title 49, Parts 382-384 and 390-399 of the federal regulations.

To learn more about federal laws that apply to all commercial semi-trucks to aid you in your research on Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Lawyers, click here.

The following paragraphs document certain regulations which apply only to vehicles operating within Minnesota. Our Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Lawyers have compiled an overview of
these regulations for your convenience.

Parts and Accessories:

Minnesota has adopted Part 393 of the Federal Regulations with one notable difference. Tank trailers and distributor trailers used only for transporting liquid, gaseous, or dry fertilizer and not over 12,000 lb. are not required to have brakes of the truck towing the trailer had brakes capable of meeting Minnesota’s stopping distance requirements.

Inspection and Maintenance:

Minnesota has adopted Part 396 of the Federal Regulations with a few notable differences. Legislation passed in May 1990 requires that an annual inspection be done on commercial motor vehicles registered in Minnesota.

It’s against the law for a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the vehicle displays an inspection decal issued by a certified inspector or the vehicle carries proof that the vehicle complies with federal motor vehicle inspection requirements for vehicles in interstate commerce.

Daily inspection procedures are similar to the requirements in Sec. 396.11. One modification made was to Section 396.11(d). The exemption applies in Minnesota only to a farm truck that can be driven by a person not holding a commercial driver’s license and a commercial motor vehicle held for resale by a licensed motor vehicle dealer.

Crash reports are available from:

Department of Public Safety
Driver & Vehicle Services—Accident Records
445 Minnesota St., Suite 181
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-2060/3177

If you have been involved in a tractor-trailer accident and it is your desire to contact a Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys privately to obtain more information about truck accident law and how to find a Minnesota Semi Truck Accident Attorneys, click here. If you would like to speak with one of our Semitruck Accident Lawyers Minnesota please don't hesitate to call our office.


If you have been involved in a truck accident in Minnesota, contact one of our Minnesota lawyers or attorneys to help you with more information or to answer any questions you have.

In the event this material is not deemed to fully comply with the provisions of the rules of professional conduct of any particular state, this firm will not accept clients or representation that derive from the distribution of this material within those jurisdictions.

"Extracting data from the ECM often answers critical questions regarding vehicle speed and the driver's actions leading up to, during, and after a vehicle accident."

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