When an 80,000-pound semi-truck loses control on the ice-covered highways of northwestern Minnesota, the results are catastrophic. If you’ve been injured in an 18-wheeler accident in Marshall County, you’re facing a legal emergency that demands immediate action. The physics are brutal—a fully loaded tractor-trailer carries 20 to 25 times the mass of your passenger vehicle, and when that weight collides with your car on US Route 2 or Minnesota Highway 171, the injuries are life-altering.
We’re Attorney911, and we’ve spent over two decades fighting for trucking accident victims across Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has been holding negligent trucking companies accountable since 1998. With federal court admission to the Southern District of Texas and experience litigating against Fortune 500 corporations like BP, he knows exactly how to navigate the complex web of federal regulations that govern commercial trucking. Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years working inside the insurance defense industry before joining our firm. He knows every trick commercial insurers use to minimize payouts—and now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for families in Marshall County.
The clock started ticking the moment your accident occurred. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. ELD logs may be purged in 180 days. And the trucking company that hit you has already dispatched their rapid-response team to Marshall County to protect their interests. You need someone protecting yours. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. We answer 24/7, and we send spoliation letters immediately to preserve critical evidence before it disappears.
Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in Marshall County Are Fundamentally Different
Marshall County sits at the crossroads of major agricultural and energy freight corridors. US Route 2 cuts east-west across the county, connecting the Red River Valley to the port cities of the Great Lakes. Minnesota Highway 171 runs north-south, feeding into North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields. These aren’t just country roads—they’re vital arteries for grain haulers, oilfield trucks, and long-haul freight moving between Canada and the lower 48.
But these same highways become death traps when winter arrives. Marshall County experiences some of Minnesota’s most severe weather, with temperatures plunging to -20°F and blizzard conditions that reduce visibility to near zero. An 18-wheeler traveling at 65 mph on I-29 near Warren or Stephen requires nearly 525 feet to stop on dry pavement—on ice, that distance doubles or triples. When a truck driver fails to adjust for Marshall County’s brutal winter conditions, or when a trucking company pressures a driver to meet deadlines despite HOS violations, innocent people pay the price.
Unlike typical car accidents, commercial truck crashes involve multiple layers of liability. The driver may have been fatigued, but the trucking company might have hired them without checking their safety record. The cargo loader may have improperly secured a load of sugar beets or wheat. The maintenance contractor might have skipped brake inspections to save money. Each of these parties carries separate insurance policies, often totaling millions in coverage. That’s why you can’t treat a Marshall County trucking accident like a simple fender-bender—you need a legal team that investigates every angle.
Minnesota Law and Your Marshall County Trucking Case
Understanding your rights under Minnesota law is crucial. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Marshall County—three years if you’ve lost a loved one to wrongful death. But waiting is dangerous. Evidence disappears fast on the frozen highways of northwestern Minnesota. Skid marks get covered by snow. Witnesses leave the area. And trucking companies know that the sooner they can settle, the less they’ll pay.
Minnesota follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. This means you can recover damages as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If a Marshall County jury finds you 20% responsible for a crash on Highway 1 near Argyle, and awards $500,000, you’ll receive $400,000. But if you’re found 51% at fault, you recover nothing. That’s why proving the truck driver’s negligence—and the trucking company’s systemic failures—is critical.
Unlike some states, Minnesota does not cap punitive damages in personal injury cases. When a trucking company knowingly puts a dangerous driver on the road, or when they destroy evidence to cover up violations, juries can award unlimited punitive damages to punish that conduct. We’ve seen nuclear verdicts against trucking companies exceed $100 million in cases involving gross negligence.
The Types of Truck Accidents We See in Marshall County
Jackknife Accidents on Icy Highways
Jackknifing occurs when a truck’s cab and trailer fold toward each other like a pocketknife—often because the driver hit the brakes too hard on ice or took a curve too fast on US Route 2. These accidents are terrifyingly common in Marshall County during winter months. When a trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, it can sweep across both lanes of traffic, causing multi-vehicle pileups.
These crashes almost always involve violations of 49 CFR § 392.6, which prohibits operating at speeds unsafe for conditions. They also frequently involve 49 CFR § 393.40 violations—brake system failures or improper brake maintenance. We subpoena the truck’s ECM data to prove exactly when the driver applied the brakes and whether they were traveling too fast for the icy conditions common in northwestern Minnesota.
Rollover Accidents on Rural Roads
Marshall County’s rural highways feature tight turns and varying elevations. When a truck driver takes a curve too quickly—especially with a top-heavy load of grain or equipment—the trailer can tip, causing a rollover. These accidents often result from 49 CFR § 393.100 violations—improper cargo securement or unbalanced loading. They may also involve 49 CFR § 392.3 violations if the driver was too fatigued to properly control the vehicle.
Rollovers are deadly. The truck’s weight crushes anything in its path, and spilled cargo creates secondary hazards for other motorists. If you’ve been injured in a rollover accident near Stephen or Warren, we investigate the loading company’s procedures and the trucking company’s training protocols to prove negligence.
Underride Collisions: The Most Deadly Crashes
Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of an 18-wheeler. These crashes are frequently fatal or cause catastrophic head and neck injuries. While 49 CFR § 393.86 requires rear impact guards on trailers, many are poorly maintained or inadequate to stop a vehicle at highway speeds. Side underride guards remain optional under federal law, creating deadly gaps along the sides of trailers on Minnesota highways.
If your loved one suffered a decapitation or traumatic brain injury in an underride collision on Highway 171 or I-29, we examine the trailer’s impact guards, lighting systems, and reflective tape to determine if the trucking company violated safety standards.
Rear-End Collisions from Fatigue
An 80,000-pound truck traveling at 60 mph needs the length of two football fields to stop. When a truck driver is fatigued—or distracted by a cell phone—they can’t react in time to stopped traffic on US Route 2. These crashes often involve violations of 49 CFR § 392.11 (following too closely), 49 CFR § 395 (hours of service violations), and 49 CFR § 392.82 (mobile phone use).
We immediately subpoena the driver’s ELD data to check for HOS violations. Under federal law, drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off duty, and they can’t drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour on duty. When a trucking company pressures drivers to violate these rules to meet delivery schedules in Marshall County, they’re liable for the resulting carnage.
Tire Blowouts and Equipment Failures
Extreme weather fluctuations in Marshall County—from summer heat to sub-zero winters—cause tire degradation. A blowout on a tanker truck or grain hauler can cause the driver to lose control, leading to jackknifes or rollovers. These accidents frequently involve 49 CFR § 396 violations—failure to properly inspect and maintain equipment. The driver’s pre-trip inspection, required under 49 CFR § 396.13, should have identified worn tires or brake defects. When they don’t, and people get hurt, we hold the maintenance company and trucking company accountable.
Holding Every Liable Party Accountable
Most law firms sue the driver and the trucking company and call it a day. That’s a mistake that costs Marshall County victims hundreds of thousands in potential recovery. We investigate all ten potentially liable parties:
1. The Truck Driver: Was he fatigued? Was she texting? Did he fail to adjust for ice? We pull cell phone records, ELD logs, and drug test results.
2. The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): Under respondeat superior, employers are liable for their employees’ negligence. But we also look for negligent hiring—did they check the driver’s safety record? Did they train them for winter driving in northern Minnesota? We examine their CSA scores and safety records through FMCSA’s SAFER system.
3. The Freight Broker: Brokers who arrange transportation often select the cheapest carrier without checking their safety record. Under 49 CFR § 371.2, brokers have a duty to select safe carriers. When they choose a company with a history of violations to save money, they share the liability.
4. Cargo Loaders: Marshall County’s economy runs on agriculture. When grain elevators or loading facilities fail to properly secure cargo—violating 49 CFR § 393.100—and that load shifts, causing a rollover, the loader is liable.
5. Maintenance Contractors: Third-party mechanics who skimp on brake repairs or tire replacements to cut costs can be held liable for negligent maintenance under 49 CFR § 396.3.
6. Truck Manufacturers: Defective brakes, steering systems, or stability control that cause accidents trigger product liability claims.
7. Parts Manufacturers: Defective tires or brake components that fail on Minnesota’s harsh roads create liability for the manufacturer.
8. Cargo Owners: Shippers who overload trucks beyond legal weight limits (80,000 lbs without special permits) create dangerous conditions on Marshall County bridges and roads.
9. Truck Owners: In owner-operator situations, the individual who owns the tractor may carry separate insurance from the company hauling the load.
10. Government Entities: If poor road design, inadequate signage, or failure to clear ice contributed to the accident on a state highway, Minnesota’s departments of transportation may share liability—though sovereign immunity rules apply.
The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol
Evidence in trucking cases doesn’t just fade—it gets actively destroyed. Trucking companies have “loss prevention” teams that descend on Marshall County accident scenes within hours. Their job is to protect the company, not help you.
That’s why we send spoliation letters within 24 hours of being retained. These legal notices demand preservation of:
- ECM/Black Box Data: Records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes. Overwrites in 30 days or less.
- ELD Logs: Prove hours of service violations. Required retention is only 6 months.
- Driver Qualification Files: Required under 49 CFR § 391.51, these files show if the driver was qualified to operate a commercial vehicle.
- Maintenance Records: Required under 49 CFR § 396.3, showing whether brakes, tires, and lights were properly inspected.
- Dashcam Footage: Often deleted within 7-14 days.
- Cell Phone Records: Prove distracted driving.
- Dispatch Communications: Show if the company pressured the driver to violate safety rules.
Once we send a spoliation letter, destroying evidence becomes “spoliation”—a serious legal violation that can result in sanctions or adverse inference instructions (the jury is told to assume the destroyed evidence would have hurt the trucking company). But we have to send that letter BEFORE the data disappears.
Catastrophic Injuries and Their Lifelong Impact
Trucking accidents in Marshall County don’t cause simple whiplash. Because of the massive weight disparity—80,000 pounds versus 4,000 pounds—the injuries are catastrophic:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even “mild” concussions can cause permanent cognitive deficits, personality changes, and inability to work. Severe TBIs require lifelong care costing millions. Our firm has recovered $1.5 million to $9.8 million for TBI victims.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Paraplegia and quadriplegia are common when a car is crushed or rolled by a semi. Lifetime care costs range from $1.1 million to $5 million, not including lost wages or pain and suffering.
Amputations: Crush injuries often require surgical amputation. A single prosthetic limb costs $5,000 to $50,000 and must be replaced every few years. We’ve secured settlements between $1.9 million and $8.6 million for amputation victims.
Severe Burns: Tanker truck accidents involving petroleum or chemicals cause disfiguring burns requiring years of reconstructive surgery.
Wrongful Death: When a Marshall County family loses a loved one to a trucking accident, they face not just emotional devastation but the loss of financial support. Minnesota law allows recovery for lost future income, loss of consortium, and mental anguish. Awards typically range from $1.9 million to $9.5 million depending on the victim’s age and earning capacity.
Insurance Coverage in Trucking Cases—Why These Cases Are Worth More
Unlike car accidents where the at-fault driver might carry Minnesota’s minimum $30,000 liability coverage, commercial trucks carry exponentially more insurance:
- Non-hazardous freight: $750,000 minimum (federal requirement)
- Oil and petroleum products: $1,000,000 minimum
- Hazardous materials: $5,000,000 minimum
Many carriers carry $1-5 million in primary coverage plus umbrella policies. But accessing that money requires proving the trucking company violated federal regulations. Insurance adjusters—trained to minimize payouts—will offer quick settlements before you know the full extent of your injuries. We’ve seen families in Marshall County offered $50,000 for injuries that ultimately required $500,000 in medical care.
Don’t sign anything without consulting an attorney. As client Glenda Walker told us after we handled her case, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s not just a slogan—it’s our commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions for Marshall County Trucking Accident Victims
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a trucking accident in Marshall County?
Minnesota gives you two years from the accident date for personal injury claims, three years for wrongful death. But waiting even a month can destroy your case. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
What if the truck driver says the accident was my fault?
Minnesota uses modified comparative negligence. Even if you were partially at fault—as long as you’re not more than 50% responsible—you can still recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. We use ELD data and ECM downloads to prove what really happened, not what the driver claims.
Can I sue if the truck driver was an independent owner-operator?
Yes. Both the driver and the motor carrier that contracted them can be liable. We investigate all insurance policies covering the tractor, trailer, and cargo.
What is a spoliation letter, and why does it matter?
It’s a legal notice demanding preservation of evidence. Without it, the trucking company can legally destroy ELD logs and black box data after just 30-180 days. We send these immediately.
How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency—you pay 33.33% if settled pre-trial, 40% if we go to trial. If we don’t win, you pay nothing. We advance all costs.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
We can help you get treatment under a Letter of Protection (LOP), where doctors treat you now and get paid from your settlement later. Don’t let lack of insurance prevent you from getting care.
Do you handle cases for Spanish-speaking clients in Marshall County?
Sí. Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish representation. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.
What if the trucking company is from out of state?
That doesn’t matter. If they were driving through Marshall County and injured you, Minnesota courts have jurisdiction. Ralph Manginello is admitted to federal court and can handle interstate cases.
The Attorney911 Advantage: Why Marshall County Families Choose Us
When Chad Harris became our client, he wrote: “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” That’s how we treat every case.
Our managing partner Ralph Manginello has been practicing law since 1998. He’s litigated against BP in the Texas City explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 170 more. He understands how to take on corporate giants and win. With a State Bar of Texas card number 24007597 and admission to the Southern District of Texas federal court, he has the credentials to handle complex interstate trucking litigation.
But credentials alone don’t win cases. Strategy does. That’s why we brought Lupe Peña—a former insurance defense attorney—onto our team. He spent years inside the system learning how adjusters evaluate claims, how they train their teams to lowball victims, and when they’re bluffing about “policy limits.” As Lupe told ABC13 Houston regarding our work, “If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”
We’ve secured multi-million dollar settlements for TBI victims, amputees, and wrongful death families. Our firm has recovered over $50 million for clients across all practice areas. We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, and we regularly handle trucking cases throughout Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
Donald Wilcox was turned down by another firm before finding us. He said: “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.”
Kiimarii Yup lost everything in an accident. “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”
These aren’t just case results—they’re lives rebuilt.
Take Action Before Evidence Disappears
The trucking company that hit you has already contacted their lawyers. Their insurance adjuster is already looking for ways to minimize your claim. And somewhere in a server room, the black box data from that truck is counting down to automatic deletion.
You don’t have to face this alone. But you do have to act fast.
Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) right now. We answer 24/7. We’ll send a spoliation letter today to preserve critical evidence. We’ll investigate every liable party. And we’ll fight to get you every dime you deserve, just like we did for Glenda Walker, Donald Wilcox, and hundreds of other families.
The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win. And with former insurance defense attorney Lupe Peña on your team, you have an insider’s advantage against the trucking industry’s tactics.
Don’t let the trucking company win. Don’t let evidence disappear. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
1-888-ATTY-911
We’re ready to fight for you, Marshall County.
