A collision with a fully loaded semi-truck rarely resembles an ordinary car accident. These vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when one strikes a passenger car on Highway 169 or Highway 14 near Mankato, the injuries and financial losses that follow usually reach beyond what a typical insurance claim anticipates.
Families searching for a Mankato truck accident lawyer need an advocate who understands how federal trucking regulations, corporate insurance defenses, and Minnesota’s fault-based laws intersect in these cases. Our team at Knutson + Casey has represented Minnesota accident victims since 1992, and our attorneys can move quickly to investigate crashes, preserve evidence, and seek compensation on behalf of injured clients. Contact us today at 507 344-8888 for a consultation.
The Mankato truck accident attorney a client chooses after an accident can shape how a claim unfolds well before any number is ever discussed. Knutson + Casey has represented injured people throughout Mankato since 1992, and that experience can determine how we approach every truck accident case from the first phone call.
Our attorneys handle more than 30 areas of law, from car accidents to criminal defense, giving clients access to knowledgeable representation rather than a narrow practice focus. This range of work has produced significant verdicts and settlements over the years, as well as not-guilty verdicts in felony trials for clients across southern Minnesota.
Clients also receive the personal attention typical of a small firm alongside the resources of a larger one. Founding partners Randall Knutson and Patrick Casey have each been named Minnesota Attorney of the Year, and Randall has appeared on the Minnesota Super Lawyers list every year from 2011 through 2024.
Clients can keep the same attorney throughout their case, from the first consultation through resolution. Our attorneys may focus on the specific ways an injury has disrupted a client’s life and build each case around those circumstances rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Clients who have worked with our firm consistently point to the same combination of professionalism and personal attention. One client described the experience this way: “Exceptional and personable service. I felt represented with respect and my best interests always. Admin staff were outstanding. Always accessible and delivered answers. Thank you!”
Every case is different, and past client experiences do not guarantee a similar outcome in future cases.
A crash between two passenger vehicles typically involves two drivers and two insurance policies. A truck accident can involve the driver, the trucking company, a leasing company, a maintenance contractor, and a cargo loader, each carrying separate coverage and separate legal defenses.
Federal regulations add another layer, since commercial drivers and carriers must follow safety standards that do not apply to ordinary motorists. When a company violates one of these standards before a crash, that violation usually becomes central evidence of negligence. Determining which party bears responsibility, and under which insurance policy, requires an investigation that begins before a lawsuit is filed.
Truck crashes rarely stem from mechanical failure alone. According to recent data from the Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash, most commercial truck drivers involved in crashes were operating under normal physical conditions beforehand, with fatigue, alcohol use, and medical issues appearing far less often. Multi-vehicle collisions account for the largest share of fatal and injury-causing truck crashes statewide, while rollovers rank as the second most severe crash type.
Beyond these statewide patterns, common factors behind individual truck accidents may include:
Identifying which of these factors caused a specific crash requires a close review of driver logs, maintenance records, and physical evidence from the scene, which is why injured drivers benefit from involving a Mankato truck accident lawyer early in the process. Contact us today at 507 344-8888 for a consultation.
The size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle means occupants of the smaller vehicle typically absorb most of the crash force. Injuries from these collisions tend to be more severe than those from standard car accidents and usually require extended treatment or long-term care.
Injuries seen in truck accident cases can include:
Because these injuries frequently require ongoing treatment, documenting their full scope early is important to pursuing fair compensation later.
Truck accident claims vary significantly based on the type of vehicle and cargo involved, and each type carries its own investigative challenges. Common types of truck accidents a Mankato truck accident lawyer handles may include:
Each case type requires a slightly different investigative approach, but all require prompt access to the same category of evidence: driver records, maintenance logs, and cargo documentation.
Liability after a truck accident usually extends beyond the driver. A trucking company can face liability for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to violate federal hours-of-service limits. A maintenance contractor can share responsibility when a poorly serviced brake system contributes to a crash, and a cargo loading company can bear liability when improperly secured freight destabilizes a trailer.
Under Minnesota Statutes Section 604.01, an injured party can still recover damages even when they share some fault, as long as that fault is not greater than the fault of the party against whom recovery is sought, though any damages awarded are reduced in proportion to the injured person’s percentage of responsibility. This rule makes it important to accurately document each party’s contribution to a crash, since insurers often attempt to shift blame onto the injured victim.
Commercial drivers operate under federal safety rules that do not apply to ordinary motorists, and violations of these rules often become key evidence in a claim. Under 49 CFR Part 395, a driver must take 10 consecutive hours off duty before starting a new shift and is generally prohibited from driving after 14 consecutive hours have passed since coming on duty. These limits exist because fatigue impairs judgment and reaction time in ways that mirror the effects of alcohol.
The same regulations also require commercial drivers to record their duty status for each 24-hour period, whether through a manual log or an electronic logging device. When a driver’s logbook conflicts with dispatch records or data pulled from the truck itself, that inconsistency can reveal a violation that contributed to the crash. These rules further govern vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and driver qualifications, and a truck accident lawyer in Mankato can uncover violations of these standards through formal discovery.
The steps taken immediately after a truck accident can determine the outcome of a claim before an attorney is ever involved. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 169.09, the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision must stop at the scene, reasonably investigate what was struck, and remain there to exchange information if the driver knows or has reason to know the collision caused injury or death.
Steps that can help protect a claim in the days that follow may include:
Trucking companies may send their own investigators to the scene within hours, so acting on these steps quickly can make a difference in how a claim develops.
Every truck accident claim in Minnesota starts with the state’s no-fault insurance system. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 65B.44, an injured person can access a minimum of $40,000 in no-fault benefits, consisting of $20,000 for medical expense loss and a combined $20,000 for income loss, replacement services, and related economic losses. These benefits apply through the injured person’s own auto policy, regardless of fault.
When losses exceed no-fault coverage, or when an injury meets Minnesota’s statutory threshold for a permanent or serious injury, victims can pursue additional compensation from the responsible parties. Additional damages can include:
Trucking companies typically carry commercial policies with higher limits than standard auto insurance policies, but a thorough review of all applicable policies remains essential to pursuing compensation.
Building a solid claim starts with acting quickly, since retention periods for trucking records are usually shorter than Minnesota’s statute of limitations. Sending a preservation letter within days of a crash can determine whether a driver’s electronic logs remain available.
Depending on the case, our team at Knutson + Casey can request the truck’s electronic control module data, often called the black box, along with hours-of-service records, maintenance logs, and dispatch communications. When these records reveal a pattern of safety violations or shortcuts, that evidence can support a broader claim against the trucking company rather than the driver alone.
Our Mankato truck accident lawyers can handle communications with insurance adjusters so clients can focus on recovery, and we work with accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to build a clear, well-documented case.
The length of a truck accident case depends on the severity of the injuries, the number of liable parties, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Cases involving multiple insurance carriers or disputed liability usually take longer to resolve than straightforward claims.
Gathering complete medical records before pursuing a settlement is often worthwhile, since settling too early can leave future treatment costs uncovered. Our truck accident attorneys in Mankato can move each case forward efficiently while ensuring the extent of a client’s damages is documented before any resolution. Contact us today at 507 344-8888 for a consultation.
Minnesota generally allows six years to file a personal injury lawsuit, though certain circumstances can shorten or extend this period. Consulting an attorney promptly helps preserve evidence and protect the filing deadline.
You may still recover compensation under Minnesota’s comparative fault law, as long as your share of fault does not exceed the other party’s. Any award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
It is best to avoid giving a recorded statement before speaking with a Mankato truck accident lawyer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize the value of a claim.
The cost of hiring a truck accident lawyer varies depending on the fee arrangement offered by the firm. Many personal injury firms work on a contingency basis, meaning clients pay no upfront fees. Contact our office directly to discuss the fee structure for your specific case.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a collision with a commercial truck near Mankato, do not wait to protect your claim. At Knutson + Casey, we can guide you through the process. Contact us today at 507 344-8888 to schedule a free consultation with a Mankato truck accident lawyer.
Knutson and Casey Expert Legal Team
October 7, 2026
At Knutson+Casey, we take the time to understand each distinctive matter presented to us by a client in need of assistance. We make certain that our clients understand their options and can make informed decisions regarding the progress of their cases. We have 4 bar certified attorneys as well as 5 expert paralegals on staff to review all legal information and cases presented.