Truck Accident Lawyer Coon Rapids, MN
If a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or other commercial vehicle hit you near Coon Rapids, you're probably dealing with more than just physical injuries. Medical appointments, insurance calls, missed work, bills that keep arriving. It all adds up fast, and can turn an already painful life chapter into an excruciating one.
At Johnston | Martineau PLLP, our Coon Rapids, MN truck accident lawyer focuses on these types of cases. Both founding partners have built their practices around commercial truck litigation in Minnesota. Trucking companies carry significant insurance and have legal teams working immediately after a crash. We make sure injured victims have the same level of preparation on their side. Reach out to us for a free consultation. No obligation, and no fee unless we recover for you.
Why Choose Johnston | Martineau PLLP For Truck Accidents In Coon Rapids, MN?
Attorneys Built for This Type of Litigation
Christopher P. Martineau is a founding partner of Johnston | Martineau PLLP whose practice is centered on truck accident cases, wrongful death claims, and serious crashes involving commercial vehicles. More than your average truck accident lawyer in Coon Rapids, MN, he is a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, the Minnesota State Bar Association, and the Minnesota Association for Justice. Admitted in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the U.S. District Court — District of Minnesota, he brings serious litigation experience to every case.
Christopher A. Johnston focuses his practice on semi-truck, tanker truck, and commercial vehicle cases. He is admitted in Minnesota, Iowa, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the Federal Court — District of Minnesota. He holds membership in the Minnesota Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice.
Results That Reflect the Work
Johnston | Martineau has helped injured clients recover millions of dollars through settlements and verdicts. Christopher Johnston earned placement in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum after settling a single claim for one million dollars — membership is limited to trial lawyers who have reached that threshold in a verdict or settlement.
Johnston has also been recognized as a Super Lawyers selection five times, earned the Rising Star designation in 2011, was named among Minnesota's Outstanding Young Lawyers that same year, and received the Up and Coming Attorney of the Year award in 2007.
Contingency Fee Representation
There are no upfront costs to hire us. We work on a contingency basis, meaning our fee is a percentage of what we recover. If we don't win, you owe nothing.
What Our Clients Say
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"I had another attorney start my case after a bad car accident and he dropped the ball. Chris and his team took over and was attentive to detail and were very persistent with the insurance companies to get the best settlement for me possible. I would highly recommend Johnston Martineau for any legal matters you may have. They are in constant communication, so you are never left in the dark. Thanks again Chris and team!" — Gordon Neumann
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types Of Truck Accident Cases We Handle In Coon Rapids
The circumstances surrounding a commercial truck crash matter enormously when it comes to building a claim. Cause, vehicle type, and responsible parties all vary. We handle the full range of truck accident cases in Coon Rapids and throughout the Twin Cities metro.
- Semi-truck accidents. These crashes produce some of the most serious injuries we see. We investigate driver behavior, carrier policies, and federal compliance records. Multiple parties can be liable in a single semi-truck crash, and identifying all of them matters.
- 18-wheeler accidents. A fully loaded 18-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 pounds. At highway speed, the damage that causes is difficult to overstate. We pursue full compensation for victims of these collisions.
- Tractor-trailer accidents. Cargo issues, improper loading, and brake failures are common contributors to tractor-trailer crashes. We investigate the mechanical history and carrier records behind every case.
- Jackknife accidents. A jackknifing trailer can sweep across multiple lanes before a driver can react. These crashes often trace back to brake problems or driver overcorrection, and liability may extend well beyond the driver to the company that put him on the road.
- Highway accidents. The corridors around Coon Rapids, including I-94 and Highway 10, see heavy commercial traffic. High-speed collisions with trucks on these routes tend to produce catastrophic injuries and complex insurance situations.
- Oversize load accidents. Carriers hauling oversize or overweight loads must comply with permitting and routing rules under Minnesota's load regulations. Skipped permits, excess weight, and missing escort vehicles all create liability when a crash follows.
- Delivery truck accidents. Tight schedules and high-volume routes put delivery drivers in positions where errors happen. When a delivery driver employed by a company causes a crash, that company may share responsibility.
- Fatal truck accidents. Surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim when a truck collision takes a life. These cases carry their own procedural rules and deadlines, and we handle them carefully.
- Commercial truck accidents. Box trucks, concrete mixers, garbage trucks, and other commercial vehicles all fall within our practice. Negligent hiring and inadequate training are common issues in these cases.
Minnesota Legal Requirements For Truck Accident Cases
Several key areas of Minnesota law come into play in nearly every truck accident claim.
Statute of Limitations. Most personal injury claims in Minnesota must be filed within six years under Minn. Stat. § 541.05. Wrongful death claims carry a different deadline under Minn. Stat. § 573.02. Missing either deadline typically ends your ability to recover, regardless of how strong the underlying claim is.
Comparative Fault. Minnesota's modified comparative fault rule under Minn. Stat. § 604.01 means fault is divided among parties. If you're found 50% or less at fault, you can still recover — though your compensation is reduced proportionally. At 51% or more, recovery is barred entirely. This is a rule insurance adjusters know well and use early. How fault is determined in a truck case involves different factors than a standard car crash, and evidence quality makes a real difference.
Federal Motor Carrier Regulations. Trucks operating in Minnesota are governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules on hours of service, vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications, and cargo securement. A violation of these regulations doesn't automatically mean the carrier is liable, but it's often significant evidence. Minnesota also enforces a post-crash inspection requirement under Minn. Stat. § 169.783.
No-Fault Insurance. Under Minn. Stat. § 65B.44, Minnesota requires drivers to carry personal injury protection coverage that pays out regardless of fault. In a serious truck accident, PIP limits are often exhausted quickly, which is when claims against the at-fault carrier's commercial policy become the primary path to full compensation.
What Damages Are Recoverable In Coon Rapids Truck Accident Cases?
Truck accident injuries are often severe and long-lasting. Minnesota law allows injured victims to pursue compensation across several categories.
Economic damages are the losses you can document. Medical bills from the initial ER visit through surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Lost wages during recovery. If the injuries affect your ability to work at the same capacity going forward, that future loss belongs in the calculation too. Out-of-pocket costs, vehicle damage, and any expense that flows directly from the crash all qualify. These figures are built from medical records, pay stubs, and where needed, specialist testimony about your long-term prognosis.
Non-economic damages account for what doesn't come with a receipt. Chronic pain. The psychological impact of a traumatic crash. Activities and relationships that aren't the same as they were before. Loss of enjoyment of life. These are real losses, and Minnesota places no cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. A jury that understands the full scope of what you've lost isn't constrained by an arbitrary ceiling.
Punitive damages require a higher showing. Under Minn. Stat. § 549.20, clear and convincing evidence of deliberate disregard for others' safety is the standard. In commercial trucking cases, that threshold can be reached when a company continued operating a driver with documented hours-of-service violations, or when known maintenance issues were ignored before a foreseeable crash occurred.
Contact Johnston | Martineau PLLP
If you were injured in a truck accident in Coon Rapids, MN, you have rights worth understanding before you speak with any insurance company. We offer free consultations with no obligation, and we don't collect a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Evidence in truck accident cases like black box data, driver logs, inspection records can be lost or overwritten quickly. The sooner we can look at your case, the better positioned we are to preserve what matters. Contact us today to set up your free consultation.