18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Fighting for Rice County, Minnesota
When 80,000 Pounds of Steel Changes Everything
It happened fast. One moment you’re driving along I-35 through Rice County, Minnesota, heading toward Faribault or Northfield. The next, an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer is jackknifing across the interstate, or worse—slamming into your vehicle because a fatigued driver pushed through the 11-hour federal limit during a snowstorm.
Every year, over 5,000 people die in trucking accidents across America, and 76% of those fatalities are people in the smaller vehicle. If you’re reading this right now, you or someone you love might be one of the latest victims on Rice County’s highways. Your medical bills are climbing. You’re missing work. And somewhere, a trucking company and their insurance team are already working to minimize what they’ll pay you.
That’s why we’re here.
We’re Attorney911, and for over 25 years, Ralph Manginello has been fighting for families devastated by 18-wheeler crashes. We’re not just Texas attorneys—we’re a firm that handles catastrophic trucking cases nationwide, including right here in Rice County, Minnesota. We don’t let trucking companies hide behind corporate shields or destroy evidence. And we don’t charge you a dime unless we win.
Call us now at 1-888-ATTY-911. The clock started the moment that truck hit you.
Why Rice County, Minnesota 18-Wheeler Accidents Are Different
Rice County sits at a critical crossroads of American freight. Interstate 35 cuts right through the heart of the county, connecting the Twin Cities to the rest of the Midwest and beyond. This corridor sees thousands of commercial trucks daily—hauling everything from grain from local farms to manufacturing goods heading to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
But here’s the thing about trucking in Rice County that outsiders don’t understand: our weather turns deadly fast.
When a loaded semi hits black ice on I-35 near Faribault during a Minnesota winter, physics takes over. That truck needs nearly two football fields to stop at 65 mph in perfect conditions. On ice, it’s essentially a runaway missile.
We investigate these cases while Minnesota snow is still on the ground. We know that trucking companies operating in Rice County have a duty to prepare their drivers for our brutal winters—and when they fail, people die.
Minnesota’s Legal Landscape for Trucking Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a Rice County trucking accident, you need to understand how Minnesota law affects your case:
Statute of Limitations: You have just two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in Minnesota. That sounds like plenty of time, but critical evidence starts disappearing within days. Black box data can overwrite in 30 days. Trucking companies destroy maintenance records. Witnesses forget what they saw in the snow and ice.
Comparative Negligence: Minnesota uses a “modified comparative negligence” rule. As long as you’re not more than 50% at fault for the crash, you can recover damages—but your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault. If the trucking company claims you were speeding on icy roads, they might try to pin 30% or 40% of the blame on you. That could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is why you need an attorney who fights back immediately.
No Damage Caps: Unlike some states, Minnesota doesn’t cap your economic or non-economic damages in trucking cases. If a jury awards $5 million for your catastrophic injuries, you keep $5 million (minus attorney fees). This matters because trucking companies carry massive insurance policies—often $750,000 to $5 million—and we pursue every dollar.
The FMCSA Regulations That Protect You
Every 18-wheeler on I-35 through Rice County must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations under 49 CFR Parts 390-399. These aren’t suggestions—they’re federal law. When trucking companies break these rules, we use those violations to prove negligence.
Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395): Truckers can drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They can’t drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Yet we constantly find drivers pushing through fatigue to meet deadlines in Minneapolis or Chicago, falsifying their Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) or logbooks.
Driver Qualifications (49 CFR Part 391): Companies must verify their drivers can safely operate in winter conditions. They need valid Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), current medical certifications, and clean driving records. We’ve seen cases where trucking companies hired drivers with multiple DUIs or medical conditions that should have disqualified them from handling an 80,000-pound vehicle on icy Minnesota highways.
Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396): Brakes must handle the grade changes and weather of the Midwest. Tires must have adequate tread for snow. Pre-trip inspections are mandatory. When companies skip brake maintenance to save money, those trucks become death traps on I-35.
Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393): Minnesota’s agricultural economy means trucks hauling grain, livestock, and heavy equipment. Federal law requires cargo to be secured with working load limits that can withstand 0.8 g deceleration forward and 0.5 g lateral force. When loaders rush at the grain elevators near Rice County’s farming communities, poorly secured cargo shifts—and trucks roll over on our rural highways.
The Attorney911 Advantage: Real Experience, Real Results
You’ve probably seen dozens of law firm websites. Here’s why we’re different—and why Rice County families call us when everything is on the line.
Ralph Manginello: 25+ Years Fighting Trucking Companies
Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has been a Managing Partner at Attorney911. He’s admitted to federal court in the Southern District of Texas, which is critical because interstate trucking cases often end up in federal court. But your case isn’t just a file number to Ralph. Client Chad Harris put it simply: “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
Ralph has secured multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injury victims, amputees, and families who lost loved ones to wrongful death. One case involved a $5+ million recovery for a worker struck by a falling log who suffered TBI and vision loss. Another secured $3.8+ million for a client who lost a leg after a car crash led to staph infections. In trucking cases specifically, we’ve recovered $2.5+ million for crash victims.
But Ralph isn’t working alone.
Lupe Peña: The Former Insurance Defense Attorney Fighting for You
Here’s where Attorney911 gives you an unfair advantage that other firms can’t match: Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years working for a national insurance defense firm. He sat in those conferences where adjusters decided how to minimize your claim. He knows their Colossus software algorithms, their playbook for denying legitimate injuries, and exactly how much they’ll panic when they see a case is actually going to trial.
Now he uses that insider knowledge against them. When Lupe reviews your Rice County trucking case, he’s not guessing what the insurance company will do next—he already knows. He speaks fluent Spanish too, so if your family immigrated to work in Minnesota’s meatpacking plants, construction sites, or agricultural operations, you get direct representation without interpreters. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-288-9911.
Federal Court Experience That Matters
Trucking accidents involve interstate commerce. That means your case might belong in federal court, not Rice County District Court. Ralph Manginello’s admission to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, combined with our firm’s experience in federal litigation, means we can handle your case wherever it needs to be filed. We don’t back down from complex jurisdictional issues.
How 18-Wheeler Accidents Happen in Rice County
Rice County’s mix of interstate highways, agricultural traffic, and extreme weather creates unique accident scenarios. Here are the crashes we see on I-35 and our local roadways:
Jackknife Accidents on I-35
When a truck driver hits ice near the I-35 exits for Faribault or Northfield and brakes too hard, the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab. The truck blocks all lanes. Jackknifes account for roughly 10% of trucking fatalities, and they’re particularly deadly during Minnesota winters when drivers lose control on black ice.
The FMCSA Violation: 49 CFR § 392.6 requires drivers to operate at speeds safe for conditions. Going 65 mph on icy roads is speeding, regardless of the posted limit.
Underride Collisions
When a passenger vehicle slides under the rear or side of a trailer—common in low-visibility snowstorms or when a truck stops suddenly on I-35—the top of the car gets sheared off. Approximately 400-500 Americans die annually in underride crashes. Federal law requires rear impact guards (49 CFR § 393.86), but many are poorly maintained or improperly designed.
Rollover Accidents on Rural Roads
Rice County’s agricultural heritage means trucks haul heavy grain and equipment on two-lane highways. When liquid cargo sloshes in tankers or top-heavy loads shift on curves, trucks tip. Rollovers often spill hazardous materials or block rural roads for hours while emergency crews navigate Minnesota weather.
The FMCSA Violation: 49 CFR §§ 393.100-136 govern cargo securement. Improperly secured loads that shift during transit prove negligence.
Brake Failure and Winter Weather
Minnesota’s extreme cold and ice create unique brake challenges. Moisture freezes in air brake systems. Brake fade happens on the long descents of I-35 when drivers ride their brakes. Brake problems contribute to approximately 29% of large truck crashes.
The FMCSA Violation: 49 CFR § 396.3 requires systematic maintenance. When trucking companies defer brake repairs to keep trucks rolling during harvest season or holiday rushes, they violate federal law.
Fatigue-Related Crashes
The pressure to deliver loads from Minneapolis to Chicago or Kansas City drives truckers to violate Hours of Service rules. A driver who’s been awake for 18 hours has the same impairment as a drunk driver. ELD data proves these violations—but only if we get it before it’s deleted.
Tire Blowouts in Summer Heat
Minnesota summers can spike to 90°F+, and highway heat buildup causes tire failures. When a steer tire blows at highway speeds on I-35, the truck becomes uncontrollable. “Road gators”—strips of shredded tire—cause secondary accidents when cars swerve to avoid them.
The FMCSA Violation: 49 CFR § 393.75 requires minimum tread depths (4/32″ on steer tires, 2/32″ on others). Pre-trip inspections under 49 CFR § 396.13 must check tires.
Liable Parties: We Sue Everyone Responsible
Most law firms sue the driver and trucking company, then call it a day. That’s malpractice. In Rice County trucking cases, we investigate up to ten potentially liable parties because more defendants means more insurance coverage means higher compensation for your family.
1. The Truck Driver
Speeding on ice, distracted driving, violating hours of service, or operating under the influence. We subpoena cell phone records, ELD data, and toxicology reports.
2. The Trucking Company
Under Minnesota’s vicarious liability laws (respondeat superior), employers are responsible for their drivers’ negligence. But we also pursue direct negligence claims: negligent hiring of unqualified drivers, negligent training on winter driving, negligent supervision of logbooks, and negligent maintenance of vehicles.
3. The Cargo Owner/Shipper
Was the load overweight? Was the grain elevator rushing to load trucks during harvest, creating unstable loads? Shippers who pressure carriers to expedite loads beyond safe limits share liability.
4. The Loading Company
Third-party loaders at Minnesota distribution centers or agricultural facilities who fail to properly secure cargo violate 49 CFR § 393. We hold them accountable when shifting loads cause rollovers.
5. Truck and Parts Manufacturers
Defective brakes, faulty tires, or inadequate underride guards can support product liability claims. We research recall histories and work with engineers to prove design defects.
6. Maintenance Companies
Third-party mechanics who sign off on brake inspections but never actually checked the air lines or pads. When their negligent repairs cause crashes on I-35, we include them in the lawsuit.
7. Freight Brokers
Brokers like those headquartered in major logistics hubs who connect shippers to carriers have a duty to verify that the trucking companies they hire have clean safety records. When they pick the cheapest carrier with horrible CSA scores to save a few bucks, they’re negligent.
8. The Truck Owner (If Different)
In owner-operator arrangements, the person who owns the tractor may have separate maintenance responsibilities from the company hauling the freight.
9. Government Entities
If Minnesota DOT or Rice County failed to maintain I-35 properly—potholes that cause trucks to swerve, inadequate signage for sharp curves, or failure to treat ice—we pursue those claims. Special notice rules apply (often just 180 days), so act fast.
The Evidence That Wins Cases (And Why It Disappears Fast)
Here’s what the trucking company doesn’t want you to know: critical evidence starts vanishing within hours of the crash.
The Black Box (ECM/EDR): Records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes. Overwrites in as little as 30 days or with subsequent ignition cycles.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELD): Proves hours of service violations. FMCSA only requires 6-month retention, and trucking companies “lose” this data regularly.
Dashcam Footage: Often deleted within 7-14 days if it shows the driver was at fault.
Driver Qualification Files: Contains the hiring records, background checks, and medical certifications that prove negligent hiring.
Maintenance Records: Show deferred repairs and known defects. Required to be kept for only 1 year under 49 CFR § 396.3.
Cell Phone Records: Prove distracted driving. Must be subpoenaed quickly before carriers delete them.
Surveillance Video: Businesses near I-35 exits often have cameras showing the crash or the truck’s condition before impact. These systems overwrite every 7-30 days.
The Spoliation Letter: Your Legal Shield
Within 24-48 hours of retaining us, we send a spoliation letter to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties. This legal notice demands preservation of all evidence and puts them on notice that destroying evidence will result in court sanctions.
If they delete ELD data after receiving our letter, the judge can instruct the jury to assume that data proved the driver was violating hours of service. In some cases, judges issue default judgments for spoliation—meaning you win automatically.
We don’t wait. While you’re focused on healing at Mayo Clinic Hospital or Northfield Hospital, we’re in the field preserving truck ECMs and interviewing witnesses before Minnesota winter weather destroys skid marks or ice melts away physical evidence.
Catastrophic Injuries and Your Future
18-wheelers don’t cause fender-benders. They cause catastrophic injuries that require lifelong care. We handle the full spectrum of traumatic outcomes:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): From concussions to severe diffuse axonal injury. Settlement ranges: $1.5 million to $9.8 million+. You’ll face cognitive deficits, personality changes, and inability to work. We ensure your settlement covers decades of neuropsychological care.
Spinal Cord Injury: Paraplegia and quadriplegia requiring wheelchairs, home modifications, and 24/7 care. Lifetime costs often exceed $3-5 million. We’ve handled cases in the $4.7 million to $25.8 million+ range.
Amputation: Whether traumatic amputation at the scene or surgical removal after crush injuries. Prosthetics cost $5,000-$50,000 each and need replacement every few years. Settlement ranges: $1.9 million to $8.6 million.
Severe Burns: From fuel tank ruptures or hazmat spills. Multiple skin grafts, permanent scarring, and psychological trauma.
Wrongful Death: When Minnesota families lose a breadwinner on I-35, we pursue claims for lost future income, loss of consortium, and punitive damages when gross negligence is involved. Ranges: $1.9 million to $9.5 million+.
Minnesota’s Wrongful Death Statute
Under Minnesota law, surviving spouses, children, parents, and siblings can bring wrongful death claims. The two-year statute of limitations still applies, starting from the date of death. We pursue both economic damages (lost income, funeral expenses) and non-economic damages (loss of companionship, guidance, and mental anguish).
Insurance Coverage: Why Trucking Cases Are Worth More
Unlike car accidents with $30,000 minimum policies, commercial trucking carries massive insurance:
- Non-hazardous freight: $750,000 federal minimum
- Oil/petroleum: $1,000,000
- Hazardous materials: $5,000,000
Many carriers carry $1-5 million in coverage, plus excess/umbrella policies. But here’s the catch: the insurance company has already assigned a rapid-response team to your Rice County crash. Their job is to pay you as little as possible.
They’ll offer a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. Donald Wilcox, one of our clients, learned this the hard way: “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”
We don’t let insurers lowball our clients. We prepare every case for trial, which forces fair settlements. Our 4.9-star Google rating from 251+ reviews proves we treat you like family, not a file number.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rice County Trucking Accidents
How long do I have to file a claim in Minnesota?
Two years from the accident date. But don’t wait—evidence disappears in days, not years.
What if I was partially at fault?
Minnesota’s comparative negligence rule allows recovery if you’re 50% or less at fault. Your damages get reduced by your percentage of fault. We fight to minimize your assigned fault percentage.
Do I need to go to the doctor immediately?
Yes. Adrenaline masks pain. Internal injuries and TBIs often don’t show symptoms for days. Plus, medical records link your injuries to the crash—critical evidence.
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
Never. They record everything you say to use against you. Let us handle communications.
How much is my case worth?
Depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and insurance coverage. Trucking cases typically settle for much more than car accidents due to higher policy limits.
Can I sue if the truck driver was an independent owner-operator?
Yes. Both the driver and the motor carrier who contracted them may be liable.
What if the trucking company is from out of state?
We can still sue them in Minnesota federal court or wherever appropriate. Our federal court admission allows us to handle interstate cases seamlessly.
Do you handle cases for Spanish speakers?
Absolutely. Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation. Hablamos Español.
How much does it cost to hire you?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency—33.33% pre-trial, 40% if we go to trial. You pay nothing unless we win.
Will my case go to trial?
Most settle, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. This preparation pressure forces better settlement offers.
Why Rice County Families Choose Attorney911
When Kiimarii Yup lost everything in a crash—total vehicle loss and devastating injuries—they called us. A year later, as he told us: “I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”
Glenda Walker put it simply: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
Angel Walle noted our speed and efficiency: “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”
We’re not a billboard firm where you’ll never meet the attorney. Ralph Manginello personally handles strategy on major cases. You get direct cell phone access. You’re family.
We also bring resources that level the playing field. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 corporations like BP in the Texas City Refinery litigation (where we represented victims of the 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers). We’re currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston for hazing that left a student with kidney failure. We don’t back down from powerful defendants.
Minnesota’s Trucking Corridors: Local Knowledge Wins Cases
We know Rice County’s specific dangers:
I-35: The primary artery running north-south through the county. Heavy freight traffic from the Twin Cities to Iowa and beyond. Weigh stations near the Rice County line where trucks should be inspected—but often aren’t.
Highway 3 and 19: Critical agricultural routes connecting Northfield and Faribault to processing facilities. During harvest season, overweight trucks and fatighed drivers create deadly conditions.
Minnesota Weather Extremes: From -20°F winter mornings that freeze brake lines to sudden summer thunderstorms that create hydroplaning hazards on I-35. Trucking companies know these conditions exist—they’re required to train drivers for them.
When we investigate your Rice County crash, we know exactly which weigh stations, truck stops, and agricultural facilities to subpoena records from. We understand the local traffic patterns that cause bottlenecks near Northfield’s colleges or Faribault’s industrial zones.
Call Now: Your Fight Starts Today
The trucking company has already called their lawyers. Their insurance adjuster has already started building a case to deny your claim. They’re counting on you to wait, to heal, to forget—to miss that two-year deadline.
Don’t let them win.
Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 (888-288-9911).
We’re available 24/7 because trucking accidents don’t happen on business hours. We’ll send a spoliation letter today to preserve that ECM data. We’ll get you to vetted medical providers who understand how to document injuries for litigation—on a Letter of Protection if you don’t have insurance.
Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-288-9911.
You don’t pay unless we win. Zero upfront costs. Just relentless advocacy for Rice County families who’ve suffered enough.
Ralph Manginello has spent 25 years making trucking companies pay. Now it’s your turn. Call us before the evidence disappears. Call us before the insurance company tricks you into a lowball settlement. Call us because you deserve an attorney who treats you like family and fights for every dime you’re owed.
1-888-ATTY-911. We’re waiting for your call.
