Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit

When an unsafe truck or driver causes injury or death, our attorneys are here to help get justice and compensation for you.

A Truck Accident Injury Law Firm With a Winning Record

We understand how important hiring the right lawyer is after a serious injury. You need to choose a lawyer you can trust to represent you in court, and one who will fight for your right to medical care and financial security. You need a lawyer who will stand by you from the moment you contact them through the completion of your case and beyond.

We stand by our clients and know how to get things done. We have helped clients get the care they needed when their insurance company didn’t want to cover it, made arrangements with landlords to allow our clients to stay in their apartments, and contacted banks and government service providers to make sure our clients needs were met.

The semi truck accident lawyers at Pritzker Hageman, led by attorney Eric Hageman, can help you get justice, answers and compensation. They have won many multimillion-dollar settlements for clients.

We are a national law firm helping people all over the United States get the justice and compensation they deserve. Contact us using the form below to find out if we can help you and your family.

Who Can Sue After a Truck Crash?

Injured people, families, and others can all have standing to sue for compensation, depending on the circumstances.

When someone reaches out to us for help, one of the first questions they often ask is if they have the right to sue. This is a very important question. Most of the time, you can file a lawsuit if you were injured in an accident and that accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. Similarly, if negligence is involved in an accident that kills a loved one, you can often file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party that caused their death.

Determining negligence after an accident can be a very complex process. Even if the police report cites you as the at-fault driver that caused the accident, it doesn’t mean that the other drivers negligent did not contribute to the accident, and it is possible that the police officer did not have all the facts of the accident and is wrong. If you have been in an accident, contacting a lawyer is the best first step to seeing if you can sue.

How Can a Tractor-Trailer Driver Be at Fault for a Crash?

The primary issue in a commercial vehicle collision case is generally determining who is at fault. Specific ways that a commercial tractor-trailer driver can be at fault include the following:

1. Driving distracted.  A distracted driver is usually reading, talking on a cell phone, eating, or simply not paying attention. This can cause big rig drivers to veer into oncoming traffic, roll over, or push other cars off the road.
2. Ignoring a stop sign, light or other traffic sign.  This is usually caused by carelessness, or distracted driving.  These lawsuits often involve serious injury as the driver often t-bones or loses control of their 18-wheeler. When this happens the tractor-trailer often broadsides another vehicle or hits a pedestrian. Eric Hageman recently won 2.4 million for a husband whose wife was killed by a 18-wheeler while on a bike.
3. Merging improperly into traffic.  A semitrailer’s length can make it difficult to maneuver. When truckers are careless or merge aggressively, their vehicles can cause serious harm and death. We have represented families whose loved ones have been the victims of careless driving.
4. Speeding.  This is a contributory factor in many accidents. If an 18-wheeler crashes into a car while going over the speed limit, the results can be tragic. Speeding can mean driving too fast for the conditions, for example if there is road construction or the roads are wet.
5. Tailgating.  When an 18 wheeler tailgates and has to stop fast, the results can be devastating. Our firm has seen extreme cases where the passengers inside sedans get run over while in their seats by tractor-trailers.
6. Drunk Driving or Prescription Drug Abuse.  When a commercial vehicle crash is caused by a drunk driver, the bar or restaurant that served the driver is held responsible for the crash along with the driver and others.
7. Parking illegally.  Commercial-18 wheelers need to be properly parked. If a big rig is illegally parked and another vehicle runs into it, the result can be the death of a family member. We recently settled a case involving a trailer being parked in a snowmobile lane, which resulted in the death of a young man.

How Much Money Can I Get in a Truck Accident Settlement?

When a lawsuit involves severe, permanent injuries or wrongful death, a settlement can be in the millions. Pritzker Hageman attorneys won $10 million for a man who was burned, $5.1 million for a man who lost a leg, and $6 million for a family with a wrongful death claim.

What should I look for in a law firm, and how do I know if I have the right attorney for my case?

The right attorney has to have a long history of successful truck litigation, but equally as important is the law firm’s mission.  The law firm’s mission has to evolve around going the extra mile to take care of not only their clients, but also their clients spouses and families. You need to know that the person representing you cares about and respects your needs.

It is also critically important that your lawyer works for a law firm that has the resources to handle your case. These are expensive cases, and it takes a lot of manpower to build a winning case. Lawyers, forensic engineers, reconstruction specialists and others need to work together to uncover and analyze evidence.

If you hire any of the attorneys on our team, you will not have to pay us anything unless we win your case. This is called a contingency fee, and it is how most personal injury law firms do business.

Contact Our Truck Accident Legal Team

Meeting a deadline doesn’t justify risking a life. Negligent drivers and trucking companies that choose profits over safety endanger everyone on the road. Our experience with trucking lawsuits guides us in helping families pick up the pieces, and our resolve as lawyers has resulted in numerous multi-million-dollar settlements for our clients.

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Eric Hageman Helps Clients Win Millions and Get Justice

“In many of these cases the strategy of the trucking company is to deny that its driver was at fault,” said attorney Eric Hageman. “Our attorneys recently won a case that illustrates this point. Our client suffered multiple fractured bones and a traumatic brain injury when his car was hit from behind by a semi-trailer.  As he lay in the hospital, the trucking company claimed that his wife, who had been driving the car, was at fault. We hired an accident reconstruction expert to produce a video showing what the evidence proved—that the semi driver was at fault. Once trucking company and insurance company representatives saw the video, we settled the case for $2.56 million.”

Truck Accident Frequently Asked Questions

 •  How do I sue after being involved in a truck accident?

 •  Can I sue on behalf of a member of my family who was injured?

 •  What is a wrongful death lawsuit?

 •  How are insurance companies involved?

 •  What if the crash was caused by a defective part?

 •  What about negotiating a settlement with a trucking company like FedEx?

Semi Truck Accident Topics

 •  Understanding the Value of Your Case

 •  Getting Help After Your Husband or Wife Was Killed

 •  Filing A Lawsuit After Being Rear Ended?

 •  Filing A Lawsuit After Being Hit By A Drunk Driver

Semi Truck Accident Injury News

• A 72-year-old man died in a semi-truck crash near Glencoe, MN on Monday, October 3, 2022. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened on Highway 212 at Hamlet Avenue. Vogt heading west on Highway 212 when a semi-truck crossed into his lane and tipped over, causing a crash with Vogt’s pick-up truck. Sadly, Vogt died at the scene. The semi-driver, Timothy L. Millhouse (53), was not injured. Vogt was a member of the Glencoe Fire Department from 1978-1998, where he served as its chief for eight years. The department said in a statement, “Gary will always be remembered for his kind heart and humorous personality.”
• 25-year-old Levi Hayden of Mondovi, WI suffered life-threatening injuries when his pick-up was struck by a USPS truck in the Town of Waubeek. According to the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened on Thursday, September 29, 2022, on Highway 25 near Ingram Road. The commercial truck, which was hauling U.S. Postal Service mail, crossed the center line and struck the pick-up head-on. The pick-up truck driven by Hayden, caught on fire. A passerby pulled Hayden from the truck, which officers say saved his life. Hayden was transported to the Mayo Clinic with life-threatening injuries. The USPS truck driver, Eric Rubenzer (35) of Chippewa Falls, was taken to a hospital in Eau Claire with serious injuries.
• Two people were injured in a semi-crash in Zumbrota, MN on Thursday, September 29, 2022. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV and a semi-truck were traveling north on Highway 52 near 490th Street when they collided. Two people inside the SUV, Francis Koshenina (70) and Karen Koshenina (71) were transported to St. Marys with injuries. The semi-driver, Jason Spaeth (54), was not injured in the crash.
• Updated 9/30/22. Eleven Chase County Schools students were injured when their school bus collided with a semi-truck on September 27. The crash happened on Nebraska Highway 15A when the school bus was taking children ages 6 to 15 home from school. According to the Chase County Sheriff’s Office, the bus attempted a left turn when it collided with a semi-truck hauling a grain trailer. The semi then struck the passenger side of the bus, causing it to rotate 90 degrees and roll over onto the driver’s side. All 11 students were taken to Chase County Community Hospital. Three students suffered serious injuries and were transferred to regional trauma centers. One grandmother told local news that her grandchild suffered back injuries and memory loss. The bus driver, Keith Cranwell (39) of Champion, and the semi-driver, Chance Lotspeich (20) of Venango, were also injured in the crash. The school bus driver was cited for failure to yield the right of way and careless driving. An investigation is underway.
• The Chase County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on Spur 15 Highway between Champion and Imperial. The impact of the crash caused the school bus to roll over onto its side. At least 11 children were on the bus at the time of the crash. Three children were airlifted to regional trauma centers with serious injuries. One grandmother told local news reports that her grandchild is hospitalized at Chase County Hospital with back injuries and memory loss.
• 35-year-old Ross Allen Arm from Harris, MN was injured in a semi-crash when a Freightliner semi-truck collided with his van at the intersection of Highway 95 and Benton County Road 7. The Minnesota State Patrol says the semi-truck crash happened at about 3:00 pm on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, near Foley. The semi-truck was heading south on County Road 7 when it collided with Warm’s van, which was traveling east on Highway 95. Warm was transported to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi-driver, Alex James Johnson of Becker, was not injured.
• 31-year-old Marion Juarez-Argueta was struck and killed by a semi-truck while walking as a pedestrian in Indianapolis on Monday, September 19, 2022. Police say the semi-crash happened at the intersection of Lafayette Road and Commercial Drive. Sadly, Juarez-Argueta died at the scene. The semi-truck driver remained on the scene and was taken to a hospital for a blood draw, which is required by law in the state of Indiana for fatal crashes.
• A fiery semi-crash in Sedona killed four people on Sunday, September 18, 2022. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) identified the victims as Athish Nagarajan (24), Dhinesh Nagarajan (23), Gnanappan Nagarajan (53), and Vijaya Lakshmi-Gopal (45). Gnanappan and Vijaya were visiting Arizona from India at the time of the crash. The semi-driver told DPS that his brakes failed and he was unable to stop when he exited Interstate 17. The semi-truck then drove through a stop sign and collided with a passenger car, sending both vehicles down an embankment. The semi-truck landed on top of the car, causing it to burst into flames. All four people in the car died in the truck crash.
• An Iowa man died when the farm tractor he was driving was struck by a semi-truck on Highway 60 near Ashton. The Iowa State Patrol says that a semi-truck carrying an oversize load rear-ended the farm tractor on northbound Highway 60. Sadly, the tractor driver, George Klein (84) of Sheldon, died in the crash. The semi-driver, Tyler Fisk (22) of Holcombe, WI, was not injured.
• One person died and another was injured in a chain-reaction crash caused by a commercial truck on I-94 in Rogers, MN on Monday, August 22, 2022. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened when a box truck crashed into stopped traffic in the westbound lane near Highway 101. The impact of the crash damaged seven cars and trucks. 42-year-old Miguel Perez, who was driving the box truck, died in the crash. His 19-year-old passenger, Gabriel Lara of Monticello, suffered life-threatening injuries. Lara is being treated at North Memorial Hospital. No other injuries have been reported.
• One person died in a crash with a semi-truck on I-39/90/94 on Sunday, August 21, 2022. The Wisconsin State Patrol says the crash happened when a semi traveling northbound on I-90 failed to slow down for traffic and rear-ended a sedan. The semi then flipped over the median and landed in the middle of the southbound lanes of I-39. Sadly, the driver of the sedan, a 59-year-old from Elkhorn, died at the scene. The 35-year-old semi-driver suffered minor injuries in the crash.
• A 20-year-old man was injured in a fiery semi-crash in North Dakota on Monday, August 15, 2022. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened when a semi-truck struck and pick-up at the intersection of County Road 16 and County Road 15 in Davenport. The impact of the crash caused the pick-up truck to catch on fire. Fortunately, the pick-up driver was able to exit his vehicle before the fire started. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the crash. The semi-driver was cited after the crash.
• 8-month-old Martin Stechner III died when a semi-truck crashed into a house on 5833 Green Valley Road in Vinland, WI. The tragic crash happened when a semi-truck veered off Interstate 41, hit a fence, crossed a nearby frontage road, and crashed into the house. The driver of the semi-truck is a 63-year-old man from Little Chute. Investigators including deputies from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene for more than 10 hours. The crash report says the semi-driver fainted due to a medical condition before the crash. A full investigation and crash reconstruction are ongoing. A local non-profit set up a fundraiser to help support the Stechner family.
• A 66-year-old man from Tioga, ND died in a semi crash after a semi-truck failed to yield at an intersection in Williams County.
• A semi-truck caused a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 169 in Jordan, MN that injured three people. The semi-crash happened on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the intersection of Highway 169 and Highway 282. The Minnesota State Patrol says a northbound Freightliner semi-truck, driven by Jared Jamal Washington (32), crashed into the back of several vehicles that were stopped for a red light on Highway 169. 30-year-old Anna Biedenbender of St. Paul suffered life-threatening injuries in the semi-crash. Biedenbender, a local artist, was taken to HCMC.
• Three family members died when their SUV was rear-ended by a semi-truck in a construction zone on I-94 in Moorhead, MN. The tragic semi-crash happened on Friday, July 15, 2022, when an SUV was stopped in a construction zone behind a semi-truck. A second semi-truck, driven by Maxim Rubin (40) for Penner International, failed to stop and struck the SUV, causing it to crash into the rear of the first semi. Sadly, all three people in the SUV died including Robert C. Correll (65) of Ham Lake, Linda M. Correll (65) of Ham Lake, and Shirley A. Gatkze (89) of Blaine. Robert and Linda were married and Shirley was Linda’s mother.
• 52-year-old Mark Richard Hagen died when his motorcycle was struck by a semi-truck in Chaska, Minnesota on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The fatal semi-crash happened on Engler Boulevard near Clover Ridge Drive. Hagen was transported to HCMC where sadly, his death was confirmed.
• A woman from South Dakota died in a semi-truck crash that injured her husband on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Sharon B. Berglund (56) was a passenger in an SUV driven by Daniel S. Berglund (62) when a semi collided with their vehicle at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 40 and County Road 7 in St. Johns Township. Sadly, Sharon died from her injuries. Daniel was transported to CentraCare-Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. The semi-driver, Korey W. Cox (40) of Alabama, was not injured in the crash.
• A semi-crash in Plymouth County, Iowa left three people injured on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened when a semi-truck pulled out in front of a Jeep after stopping at a stop sign on K-12. All three people in the Jeep were injured. Police say the semi-driver will be cited.
• 22-year-old Hunter Robertson of Glenville, MN died in a crash after a semi-truck blew a tire on I-35 in Freeman Township. The Minnesota State Patrol says the semi-truck, which was hauling well drilling equipment, lost control after one of its tires blew out on southbound I-35. The semi then crossed the median and struck a northbound pick-up truck. Sadly, the driver of the pick-up truck died at the scene. The semi-driver, Scott Kirton (45) of Hammond, WI, suffered minor injuries.
• 53-year-old Jean-Pierre “JP” Petit was struck and killed by a semi-truck in North Dakota while riding his bicycle to raise money for his granddaughter’s kidney transplant. Petit was riding along the solid white line on the right shoulder of southbound I-29 when a cargo truck hit him. The South Dakota Highway Patrol says charges are pending against semi-driver Mark Akkerman (65). Petit, an ultra-marathoner, was in the middle of a 13-day bicycle trip to raise money for his three-year-old granddaughter battling kidney disease. 
• Two semi-drivers died after a fiery crash on Highway 11 in Racine County. Authorities say the crash happened when a flatbed semi crossed the centerline and hit another semi pulling a dry bulk tanker. The impact of the crash caused the first semi to set on fire and the second to roll-over.  
• 51-year-old Karen Lynn Weldon from Coon Rapids, MN died after her SUV was struck by a semi truck on Highway 65 in Blaine on Monday, June 6, 2022. The crash happened when a semi truck, driven by Andrew Engren of East Bethel, MN, ran a red light at the 109th intersection near the Blaine Central Ave. Target store. Sadly, Karen Weldon died at the scene. Initial reports indicate the truck driver may have been working for LePage and Sons Freight & Logistics Services of Bethel, MN at the time of the crash.
• Two teens and a young adult died after a semi-truck crashed into a car at the intersection of Hammond Avenue and East Shaulis Road near the Lost Island Water Park in Waterloo, IA. Brayden Proctor (16), Tricia Randall (19), and Devon Dirkes (21) died in the crash.
• A semi-truck struck an SUV at the intersection of Highway 63 and State Route 17 in West Plains, MO on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The impact of the crash caused the semi to overturn onto a car traveling in the other lane of Highway 63. Three people in the car died and a fourth is in critical condition at a Springfield hospital. Two people in the SUV were taken to Ozarks Health with non-life-threatening injuries.
• A semi crash in Eyota, MN killed a motorcyclist and injured his passenger on Thursday, May 12, 2022. The semi-truck collided with the motorcycle on Highway 42 between 2nd Street Southwest and 19th Street Southeast. Lori Ann Jean Danielson (48) was riding as a passenger on the motorcycle when she was injured in the crash. She was taken to St. Marys with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi was not injured.
• Eli R. DeChamps (21) was injured when a cargo truck rear-ended him in a Wisconsin construction zone. The crash happened on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Highway 14 and Cut-Across Road near Westby. DeChamps was stopped in traffic when a 40-foot cargo truck slammed into the back of his vehicle. The truck driver, Kennedy Nyangena (45), failed to slow down for stopped traffic. DeChamps was taken to Vernon Memorial Hospital. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office released a statement warning the public of the dangers of driving while fatigued and using electronic devices.
• A driver died in a fiery semi-crash in Iowa on Friday, May 6, 2022. The fatal crash happened when a Freightliner semi collided with a Peterbilt semi after failing to yield at the intersection of 70th Avenue and 160th Street near Algona. Sadly the driver of the Peterbilt semi, Alan Schuler (48), died in the crash. The Freightliner driver, Chad Bjork (49), was taken to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center with serious injuries.
• One person died in a head-on crash with a semi-truck on Highway 14 in Spring Green, Wisc. The fatal crash happened on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, shortly before 8 a.m. when a semi crossed the centerline. Highway 14 was closed for several hours while the Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash.
• A semi-truck struck and killed 27-year-old Wayne Barnes as he was walking from his vehicle that broke down on I-95 in Hopkinton, R.I. The fatal crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2022, on I-95 southbound between exits 2 and 3. Sadly, Barnes died at the scene. Police say the tractor-trailer driver is not facing charges.
• Two people were critically injured after a semi-truck crash in northeast Minneapolis. Police say an Audi was trapped underneath a semi-tractor trailer in a truck yard off Northeast 27th Avenue and Northeast 2nd Street. The car’s driver was able to get out on his own, but three other people needed to be extricated through the trunk.
• A delivery truck struck and killed a man in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Locals say the man was known for picking up litter in the area where he was struck.
• Three people died in a semi-truck crash in western Wisconsin. Leonard R. Hopinka (34), Tyler E. Decorah (36), and Jorden L. Vidana (35) died at the scene when their vehicle collided with a semi-truck attempting to enter a Kwik Trip parking lot on Hwy 54 near Black River Falls.
• Arlys Hendrickson (83) died after crashing into a semi-truck that was blocking both lanes of traffic on W 34th St. in Alexandria, MN.
• A Minnesota crash on I-94 involving an 18-wheeler box truck tragically killed one and injured others. The truck crossed the median hit a pickup head-on and then broadsided a car.
• Two semi-truck drivers were injured in a crash on I-94 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. A semi hit another truck that was parked on the shoulder of I-94 at exit 115.
• A semitrailer crashed into several vehicles that were stopped or preparing to stop for a red light on Michigan 53 in Macomb County. Three people suffered critical injuries.
• Pinned by a Semi-Truck in Hudson, WI: A 37-year-old man from Menomonie, Wisconsin, suffered life-threatening injuries in a frightful freeway crash reportedly caused by a semitrailer that moved abruptly into his lane and slammed his car against the cement median barrier on Interstate 94 in Hudson, Wisconsin.
• Landon Peatross, 41, of Duchesne, was tragically killed and a woman critically injured after being rear-ended by a semi-truck after midnight on U.S. 40 in Park City, Utah
• Three people were killed in a head-on collision involving 3 big rigs on Highway 287 in Colorado, near Campo, at about 2:30 a.m. on May 24, 2017. The first semitractor was traveling southbound when it moved into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a tractor-flatbed combination. A third tractor-trailer that was traveling northbound went off of the road and hit a fence.
• Two workers on an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) mowing crew were injured when a semi-truck crashed into an INDOT pickup that then hit an INDOT tractor. Injured in the crash were a 22-year-old man from Dillsboro who was driving the tractor and a 34-year-old man from Versailles who was driving the pickup. According to the state patrol, the driver of the big rig did not slow down or move to the other lane to take evasive action.
• A man from Roseau, Minnesota died when his van crashed into a semi on Monday, May 22, 2017. He was driving a Dodge Caravan eastbound on Highway 11 when he crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound Kenworth semitrailer, injuring the driver.
• On May 22, two semi-tractors and a passenger vehicle crashed on Interstate 10 west of Tucson. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a driver of a westbound commercial rig lost control when a tire failed. The semitrailer rolled as it hit the dirt median and slid into the eastbound lanes. It hit another a tanker head-on, and a fire erupted. The driver of the tanker suffered severe head injuries and was transported to the hospital via medical helicopter. Two people in the passenger vehicle were also injured. They were transported by ambulance.
• A semi driver involved in a crash on March 4 has been cited for driving too fast for the conditions. Four people were injured, including Angela Pearson, the driver of a Toyota Corolla, and four of her passengers, who were seriously injured, two with life-threatening injuries.  Ms. Pearson and the passengers were taken to the hospital, two of them to a regional trauma center. The crash happened on I-20 at mile marker 21, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
• A collision involving a minivan and a tractor-trailer rig resulted in the death of Corrina Brown, a 16-year-old girl. She was a passenger in the minivan. The driver and another passenger in that vehicle were seriously injured. The crash happened on March 3 in the evening.