Shortly before 11 p.m. on April 11th, 2025, a semi driven by Brody William Alderson, 30, of Lake Benton, MN struck a pickup truck towing a camper from behind. The pickup’s driver, Thomas Charles Lostetter, 46, of St. Marys, WV, tragically died at the scene. According to a court document, Alderson told investigators he “saw the lights from the pickup in the distance,” looked down to check gauges and mirrors, and then “came up on the pickup a lot faster than he thought.” Thomas is survived by his wife, Blair Lostetter, and their two young daughters.
Nothing about a loss like this is simple. Below is what an experienced semi-truck wrongful death team investigates, how evidence is preserved, and what compensation the law may allow for a surviving spouse and children.
Why rear-end crashes with semis are so terrible
Rear-end collisions involving an 80,000-pound commercial truck often come down to lookout, speed management, following distance, fatigue, and distraction. Proving which of these mattered requires a fast, independent investigation—not just relying on a brief police report. Pritzker Hageman’s routinely brings in experts to reconstruct crashes and has obtained multi-million-dollar recoveries for families in fatal truck cases.
What our trucking lawyers do immediately (and why timing matters)
1) Send a spoliation/preservation letter.
This puts the motor carrier on formal notice to preserve black-box/ECM data, dash-cam video, ELD/HOS logs, Qualcomm/telematics, maintenance and brake records, driver qualification and dispatch files, post-crash drug/alcohol testing records, and more. If this isn’t done quickly, critical evidence can be lost or overwritten.
2) Inspect the tractor-trailer and scene.
Lawyers and retained experts document crush profiles, underride/override, lighting, conspicuity, skid/brake marks, and download data to verify speed, throttle, and braking leading up to impact.
3) Reconstruct the timeline.
We compare ELD hours-of-service against fuel, toll, GPS, and dispatch records to identify fatigue or log violations; we also subpoena cell-phone records to evaluate distraction.
4) Secure insurance coverage.
Commercial carriers must carry liability insurance for crashes causing injury or death. We identify all layers of coverage (including broker/shipper exposure where supported) to protect the family’s claim.
Who can bring a wrongful death claim after a fatal semi crash?
In fatal truck crashes, the surviving spouse and minor children are typically beneficiaries, with a representative pursuing claims for loss of care and companionship, funeral expenses, medical bills (if any), loss of financial support, and other damages allowed under state law. Our firm has guided families in Minnesota, West Virginia, and nationwide through this process and secured significant recoveries in transportation cases.
Why an independent investigation matters in this crash
Here, the semi driver reportedly diverted attention to gauges/mirrors and closed on the pickup faster than expected. That description raises common issues we investigate in rear-end truck cases: safe following distance, speed for conditions, nighttime visibility, fatigue, distraction, and compliance with FMCSA rules. Getting black-box, ELD, and phone data quickly is essential to confirm (or refute) those factors.
Proven results and resources your family can trust
Pritzker Hageman’s trucking team has achieved seven- and eight-figure results in commercial-vehicle cases including $6M+ wrongful death recoveries with cases built through deep investigation and expert workups—not assumptions.
What to do next (for families and witnesses)
- Do not speak with the trucking company’s insurer before you have counsel. Their goal is to minimize exposure.
- Preserve photos, dash-cam clips, and witness names.
- Ask a trucking attorney to send preservation letters and start the expert investigation right away.
About Pritzker Hageman’s National Truck Accident Team
Our team of national semi-truck accident lawyers investigate fatal crashes nationwide, make house and hospital visits, and work on a contingency fee—you don’t pay unless we win.
FAQ
What evidence proves distraction or fatigue?
ELD logs, ECM data, cell-phone records, dash-cam, dispatch communications, fuel and toll receipts, and post-crash toxicology. Lawyers use these to test the driver’s account against hard data.
How long do we have to file?
Because critical digital evidence can get auto-overwrite, the legal team should act immediately—even before the full crash report arrives.
What compensation is available to a spouse and minor children?
Typically: loss of care/companionship, lost support, funeral expenses, and other losses permitted by Minnesota wrongful-death statutes. We tailor the claim to the family’s specific harms and financial needs.
Free Consultation
If you have information about this crash—or need help after a fatal semi-truck collision—contact the Pritzker Hageman truck accident team for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll answer your questions, preserve the evidence, and handle the insurers so your family can focus on each other.
How Can Our Lawyers Help You?
1-888-377-8900 (Toll-Free) | attorneys@pritzerlaw.com
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