With I-90 running through Rochester, many large trucks pass through the area as they take goods to the rest of Minnesota and other states.
Most Rochester drivers expect periods of heavy traffic as people travel down Highway 30 or 42 alongside commercial vehicles.
Just because many trucks are present in Rochester does not make them less dangerous. Trucks pose a substantial danger to other vehicles due to their large size.
Moreover, when an accident involves a truck and a passenger vehicle, the injuries are usually quite serious and are often catastrophic.
When you've been injured in a truck accident, having an experienced Rochester truck accident lawyer on your side can make a huge difference in your ability to recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact an attorney at Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free consultation and to find out how they can help you.
How Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help in Your Rochester Truck Accident Claim
When you suffer injuries following a truck accident, it's natural to have many questions about what to do.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we offer the support our clients need to recover from their losses and plan for the future.
Award-Winning Injury Attorneys
Our skilled truck accident lawyers have received recognition from top organizations because of how we have worked to improve the outcomes for our clients.
We have received Avvo’s 10.0 rating and have been recognized by the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the Wisconsin Association for Justice.
Our team of experienced attorneys will fight to help each client get fair results for their injury claims.
We Understand Rochester, Minnesota
We are local Rochester attorneys familiar with the needs of the people in our community. At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, you will find a team of personal injury attorneys born and raised in the Midwest.
We know Minnesota, we know Rochester, and we are honored to fight for our clients here.
We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
We make it easy for our clients to get the representation they need. You do not pay if you do not get results from your truck accident claim.
This simple strategy puts legal support within reach for many of our clients, who might otherwise struggle to get the help they need after an accident.
Did you suffer injuries due to the negligence of a truck driver? With more than 14 offices throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, we make it easy to get in touch. Contact us today to start your claim.
Injured in Rochester? Get Nicolet.
Compensation After a Truck Accident in Rochester: What to Expect
When you suffer injuries in a truck accident, finding out how much compensation you deserve quickly rises to the top of your priority list.
With expenses adding up, you want to know how you are going to pay for everything while you are in pain and unable to work.
How much compensation can you expect from your Rochester truck accident claim?
We will help you evaluate how much your total losses will be and how much you can expect to be compensated as a result of the accident.
While we cannot guarantee a specific amount of compensation because each case is unique, we will prepare your case to show an insurance company or a court how your truck accident injuries have impacted your life.
Your compensation will include financial and non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering.
Most trucking companies have insurance policies that provide considerable amounts of compensation to the victims of accidents.
However, that does not mean that the insurance company will hand over the compensation you deserve.
You may find yourself fighting hard to get reasonable compensation for the losses you sustained because of your truck accident.
Your Medical Costs
Medical bills often serve as the essential foundation of a truck accident claim.
You have substantial injuries from your truck accident, and you have the medical bills to go along with treatment for those injuries, including hospitalization from possibly the Mayo Clinic Hospital or Omstead Medical Center.
Your lawyer will review the medical bills, receipts for co-pays, and deductibles you have paid. We will also guide you on how to use your PIP insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment.
Lost Income
Did you have to miss work because of your truck accident injuries? If so, losing those earnings can compound the stress you are already feeling.
Talk to your lawyer about the income you lost because of your truck accident, including any time you had to miss for follow-up appointments or therapy.
Your Pain and Suffering
Truck accident injuries often cause significant disability and may lead to long-term pain and suffering.
Talk to your lawyer about all the suffering you have dealt with because of your truck accident injuries.
Your claim does not include just your financial losses. In addition to pain and suffering, you can also get compensation for the loss of your independence after the accident.
Rochester Truck Accidents
In Minnesota, around 900 truck accidents with injuries occur every year.
Based on the Minnesota statute of limitations, truck accident victims have up to two years to file an accident claim.
Talk to an attorney about filing deadlines so you don't miss out on any compensation for your injuries.
Truck accidents can happen throughout Rochester because of:
- Negligent driving in poor weather. Rochester sees 48 inches of snow each year. Truck drivers without adequate training don't know how to deal with snow or ice, which can cause serious accidents.
- Drowsy drivers. Due to long hours on the road, truck drivers may become more tired than other drivers.
- Distracted drivers. While truck drivers may receive more careful monitoring in their vehicles to reduce the risk of driving while distracted, some drivers still engage in dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
- Blind spot collisions. Big trucks usually have large blind spots, which can significantly increase the risk of a car getting lost in that blind spot and a devastating collision.
- Failure to yield. Truck drivers may try to force their way through intersections or ignore traffic signals because of their larger size. If drivers do not recognize those actions, they may be involved in a bad crash.
Fighting the Insurance Company After a Rochester Truck Accident
After a Rochester truck accident, many people may find themselves fighting with the insurance company to get the compensation they deserve.
Unfortunately, battling with the insurance company can become one of the most stressful parts of the truck accident claim process.
The insurance company may:
- Issue a low settlement offer that fails to account for the damages you sustained in the truck accident. A low settlement offer may initially seem like a relief since you need the money. At the same time, you may not realize the full extent of your damages. Some injuries are latent, and you may have more medical issues than you initially realized.
- Pressure you to accept liability for the truck accident, including that you must have contributed to the accident in some way.
- Ignore the extent of your injuries by insisting that some of your injuries were pre-existing. The insurance company may also refuse to accept the magnitude of the medical care you need.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have the resources to fight big truck insurance companies and help you recover the compensation you deserve for those injuries.
Our lawyers rise to the challenge when our clients struggle to get the insurance company to accept the full extent of their losses.
FAQ
Does the Trucking Company Share Liability for a Rochester Truck Accident?
In many cases, the driver alone bears liability for a Rochester truck accident.
However, the trucking company may share liability for the incident under several circumstances.
- The trucking company pressured the driver to drive in unsafe conditions.
- The trucking company's policies encourage drivers to exceed federal hours of service limits.
- The trucking company failed to properly monitor its drivers, including checking logbooks or accident history.
- The trucking company failed to provide adequate training to its drivers.
By working with a lawyer in Rochester, you may be able to show that the trucking company was negligent, which increased the odds of an accident happening.
Does the Truck Driver That Caused My Accident Have to Pay My Medical Bills?
You will have many medical bills to pay after your truck accident, so you may turn to the party that caused your accident to pay them.
However, as with any car accident, you must start by using your personal injury protection insurance to cover the initial cost of medical care after your accident.
As no-fault insurance, personal injury protection allows you to receive coverage for truck accident injuries regardless of who caused your truck accident.
You will not need to jump through hoops or wait for an injury claim to go through to receive assistance with your medical bills.
If your treatment costs exceed the protection offered by your PIP insurance, on the other hand, you may need to file an injury claim to cover the cost of treatment.
Even if you file an injury claim, that does not mean the truck driver or his insurance company has to pay for your medical care directly.
Instead, if you win your claim, you will receive compensation in a settlement. You can then use the funds from that settlement to cover your past and future medical treatments.
What Should I Do to Protect Myself After a Truck Accident in Rochester?
After a truck accident in Rochester, some people go straight to the emergency room to treat their injuries. As you begin to recover physically, you may focus on your financial rights and overall recovery from the accident.
Protect yourself after your Rochester truck accident and:
- Get in touch with an attorney to review your claim. A Rochester truck injury lawyer can provide essential insights into how you can best manage the aftermath of a truck accident, including any time you have to deal with the insurance company.
- Stay on top of all medical appointments, therapy, and required exercises. Limiting your recovery by failing to follow those instructions could restrict your ability to recover fair compensation after your accident.
- Keep track of your medical costs, including co-pay and deductible amounts.
- Follow your care provider’s instructions concerning activities you may need to avoid during your recovery. Some activities may worsen your injuries. If you choose to indulge in those activities, it could reduce the compensation you can recover for any further damages.
Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help With Your Rochester Truck Accident Claim
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, you need a dedicated legal team on your side that will fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers at (507) 577-5411 to discuss your right to compensation. Reach out to a Rochester personal injury lawyer for your truck accident today.