The Cody Law Group

Can a trucking company be liable for an inexperienced driver?

2026-10-19T12:06:16Z

After a truck crash, an injured person may wonder whether the driver alone is responsible. A trucking company may also be liable, but inexperience alone does not prove fault. The key questions are whether the driver caused harm while doing their job and whether the company’s decisions contributed to the crash.

When can a trucking company share responsibility?

An employer may be responsible for harm an employee causes within the scope of their work when the legal requirements for employer liability are met. A trucking company may also face a negligent hiring or supervision claim if it failed to use reasonable care and that failure contributed to the injuries. Minnesota does not recognize negligent training as a standalone claim. In Johnson v. Peterson, 734 N.W.2d 275, 277 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007), the court rejected that theory. Training records may still be relevant evidence when evaluating a company's safety practices, but they do not establish a separate negligent-training claim.

What evidence can help explain the crash?

Investigators may review driver files, training records, prior violations and company policies. Maintenance logs, electronic logging data, crash reports and witness statements may also help explain what happened. These records may reveal warning signs the company knew about or should have discovered. No single record proves negligence, but the evidence may show how the driver’s conduct or company practices contributed to the crash.

What federal training rules apply?

The FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training rules apply to certain first-time commercial driver’s license applicants, drivers upgrading from Class B to Class A and people applying for hazardous materials, passenger or school bus endorsements for the first time. Covered applicants must complete the required training through a provider listed in the agency’s Training Provider Registry before taking the applicable test. The federal rules set curriculum and skill standards but do not require a minimum number of behind-the-wheel training hours. Meeting federal training standards does not by itself determine liability.

What should you do after a truck crash?

If you were injured in a truck crash in Vadnais Heights or elsewhere in the north metro area, a truck accident attorney can help review the evidence and explain your legal options. Whether a trucking company may be liable depends on the facts of the crash and applicable law.

4 ways skipping doctor visits can shrink your crash claim

2026-10-14T08:27:22Z

You feel a little better, the copays keep adding up and you can’t afford another missed shift. Skipping your next follow-up visit may seem like the practical choice. After a Minnesota car crash, though, gaps in medical care can give an insurance company reasons to pay you less. Understanding four common problems can help you protect your recovery and your compensation.

Treatment gaps can make your injuries look minor

Insurance adjusters read your medical records closely. If weeks pass between appointments, an adjuster may argue that you healed quickly or were never badly hurt. Pain you push through at home leaves no record, so it may carry little weight when an adjuster calculates the value of your claim. Fractures and other serious crash injuries can also lead to complications later, and regular checkups help document those changes.

Insurers may blame your pain on something else

Time without treatment creates room for doubt about what caused your pain. An insurer may point to a fall at home, a weekend game or heavy lifting at work during the gap. The longer the break, the easier it becomes to argue that something other than the crash caused your symptoms.

Fewer medical records may block a pain and suffering lawsuit

Minnesota's no-fault system places limits on lawsuits seeking compensation for pain after a collision. Minnesota’s tort threshold law provides several ways to qualify. One involves eligible medical costs exceeding $4,000 after certain X-ray and rehabilitation expenses are excluded. You may also qualify if the crash leaves you with lasting physical damage or permanent disfigurement. Another route involves a disability that prevents you from doing nearly all your usual daily activities for at least 60 days. Skipped care can leave you with fewer documented expenses and less proof that your injury limited your daily life.

Missing work notes can weaken wage claims

Personal injury protection (PIP) generally pays 85% of your lost gross income, up to $500 per week. To collect, you usually need documentation, such as written work restrictions from your doctor, showing that your injury keeps you from working. If you stop going to appointments, those notes may run out, and your insurer may question whether you could have returned to work sooner.

Clear communication can protect your options

Missing an appointment does not automatically erase your claim. Child care, transportation problems and the cost of care are real obstacles. If you cannot attend, call the clinic to reschedule and explain what happened. Save appointment messages and keep your doctor informed about symptoms. Even if treatment has already been interrupted, getting appropriate care and documenting the reason for the gap can help you move forward.

What happens after you file a wrongful death lawsuit in Minnesota

2026-09-25T21:10:36Z

After filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Minnesota, families may face a legal process that lasts one to two years or longer. The case can involve several stages, such as discovery, settlement talks and trial. Knowing these steps can help families understand what may happen next.

How does the discovery phase work

Both sides begin gathering evidence after filing. Attorneys use written questions, document requests and depositions. Depositions involve sworn testimony from witnesses, medical experts and parties involved in the incident. Discovery can last several months to a year or more, and court-imposed deadlines govern when evidence and expert disclosures must be completed.

What role do settlement negotiations play

Settlement talks can resolve a wrongful death claim without a trial. During negotiations, insurers may review the evidence and consider factors such as liability, damages and litigation costs. The outcome depends on whether both sides can agree on the value of the claim. Minnesota law limits wrongful death damages to certain financial losses, including:

Lost financial support
Loss of household services
Reasonable funeral expenses

Minnesota Statutes § 573.02 does not allow damages for grief, mental anguish or loss of companionship. Medical costs related to treatment before death may instead be recovered through a separate survival action under § 573.01. The parties may resolve the claim through a settlement or continue toward trial if they cannot reach an agreement. Accepting a settlement ends the wrongful death case.

When does the case go to trial

If settlement efforts do not resolve the wrongful death claim, the case may move toward trial. Key steps may include:

Mediation: Minnesota courts may require the parties to attempt mediation before trial.
Pretrial motions: The parties may file motions to address legal or evidentiary issues before the trial begins.
Jury decision: The jury determines whether the defendant's conduct caused the death and, when appropriate, the amount of damages.
Comparative fault: Minnesota's comparative fault rules can reduce or eliminate damages when the decedent bears some responsibility.
Trustee requirement: A court-appointed trustee must bring the wrongful death action and distribute any recovered damages to the statutory beneficiaries.

These steps determine how the claim moves from failed settlement efforts to a final resolution at trial.

Understanding the Minnesota wrongful death timeline

Minnesota wrongful death cases move through several stages, each affecting the timeline and outcome. Many cases take one to two years or longer to resolve. An attorney familiar with Minnesota wrongful death law can explain how specific facts may affect the timeline and options available.

Minnesota no-fault PIP rights for Injured pedestrians

2026-09-11T09:11:16Z

An injured pedestrian in Minnesota may have no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) rights even though that person was walking, not driving. These benefits cover medical bills, wage loss and certain other costs after a motor vehicle accident, regardless of who caused it. A pedestrian does not need to occupy a car to seek these benefits. The main issue is which auto policy applies and whether the person qualifies under Minnesota’s system.

What Minnesota no-fault PIP benefits cover

PIP benefits pay for reasonable medical care tied to the injury. They also cover part of lost income when the injured person cannot work. Minnesota uses a priority system for these benefits. Coverage may come from the pedestrian’s own auto policy first, then from a qualifying household member’s policy and, if those sources do not apply, from the driver’s insurer. Public information on Minnesota auto insurance and no-fault coverage explains the basic structure.

Which coverage source applies?

A pedestrian no-fault case may turn on more than the accident report. Policy terms, proof of wage loss and the insurer’s view of treatment can all affect the amount owed. Useful questions may include:

Whether the pedestrian has access to their own auto policy
Whether a relative’s policy applies
Whether the driver’s insurer becomes the source of benefits
Whether the claimant has sufficient documentation of wage loss
Whether the insurer accepts the claimed treatment as related to the injury

These details matter because a dispute may involve both eligibility and the amount of benefits. Wage loss issues can become more complicated when the claimant has irregular income, more than one job or a gap in treatment.

Records can shape both stages of the case

PIP benefits address the early financial side of a pedestrian injury, but they do not prevent a separate liability claim against the at-fault driver, provided the injuries meet Minnesota's threshold requirements. Medical records, work records and communications with the insurer can affect both the no-fault filing and any later claim. Gathering and preserving those records from the beginning can help ensure the no-fault claim is filed correctly and that the documentation needed for any future liability case is already in place. A broader look at pedestrian and bicycle accident cases involving motor vehicles can provide more context on how these claims develop.

How Minnesota law changed damages in wrongful death claims

2026-08-31T14:25:51Z

Losing a loved one after a serious injury can leave a family dealing with grief, medical bills and difficult financial decisions. When someone survives an injury for days or weeks before dying, there may also be questions about the losses that person experienced before death. A 2023 amendment to Minnesota's wrongful death statute expanded what may be recovered in certain cases to include losses the deceased person suffered from the injury before death.

What changed under Minnesota law?

Under current Minnesota law, a wrongful death action may allow recovery for damages the deceased suffered as a result of the injury before death, along with the pecuniary loss resulting from the death. This means the circumstances between the injury and death can matter. For example, someone seriously injured in a car crash may spend several weeks in the hospital before passing away. The nature of the injuries, medical treatment and what the person experienced during that time may become relevant to the claim.

How is this different from the family's losses?

A wrongful death claim can address the financial losses suffered because of a loved one's death. The law also allows the action to account for damages suffered by the deceased as a result of the injury before death. These are not necessarily the same losses. Medical records, treatment notes and other evidence may help establish the injuries and the care the deceased received before passing away. The circumstances of each case generally determine what damages may be available.

What should families know?

Under the 2023 amendment, the period between the injury and death may carry more legal significance than it did before, making the evidence from that time period worth preserving and reviewing early in the claim evaluation process. Families dealing with a fatal accident may benefit from preserving medical records, accident reports and other evidence about what happened between the injury and death. Those details can be critical when evaluating a potential wrongful death claim.

3 steps after a workers comp claim denial

2026-08-26T10:46:53Z

A denial letter from an insurance company creates sudden financial stress, but it does not mean your case is over. Insurance adjusters regularly deny valid claims to lower costs. You have a legal right to challenge this decision under Minnesota law. Taking specific actions after receiving notice protects your family and your rights.

Understand the reason for your claim denial

Insurance companies must send a written notice that explains why they rejected your claim. Review this document carefully to identify their exact argument. Common reasons adjusters use to reject coverage include:

Alleged failure to report the injury to your employer within 14 days (though notice may still be valid up to 180 days in certain situations)
Lack of medical records linking the injury to your job duties
Disputes over whether the accident happened during work hours

Knowing the adjuster's defense allows you to gather targeted evidence to counter their claims.

Gather medical evidence and legal documents

Your medical records serve as the main foundation of an appeal. Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss the specific physical demands of your job. Ask your doctor to provide a detailed written report that includes:

A clear statement that work duties caused or worsened your condition
Specific work restrictions and temporary disability statuses
Expected treatment needs and recovery timelines

Thorough medical records directly dispute the conclusions drawn by insurance adjusters.

File a formal appeal with the state

You can challenge a denial by filing a formal appeal with the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings. This legal filing begins the official state dispute process. Do not wait to begin this process. Minnesota law sets strict deadlines on work injury disputes, and delays can permanently block your recovery.

Take action to protect your legal rights

Facing a denied claim while dealing with missed paychecks and growing bills is hard. You do not have to handle the state process alone. A Minnesota workers' compensation attorney can file your appeal, gather key medical evidence, and represent your interests before a judge.

Does workers’ comp cover travel to medical appointments?

2026-07-31T12:52:22Z

A work injury can turn routine appointments into another financial strain. You may already be missing paychecks while paying for gas, parking and repeated trips across the Twin Cities. Those costs can grow quickly when treatment lasts for weeks or months. Minnesota workers’ compensation may cover some of that travel, but you must usually document each expense.

Travel reimbursement for medical care

Workers’ compensation medical benefits can reach beyond the treatment bill itself. Minnesota’s employee guide explains that injured workers may seek reimbursement for mileage and parking. This includes trips to medical appointments or to pick up prescriptions. The key issue is whether the travel relates to care for your work injury. A drive to a scheduled treatment visit may qualify. Unrelated travel during the same outing generally will not. These expenses form one part of the broader workers’ compensation benefits. Depending on the claim, those benefits may also include medical care, wage-loss payments and rehabilitation services.

Records that support reimbursement

A simple travel log can make the process easier to follow. For each appointment, note the date, provider, destination, round-trip mileage and any parking charge. Pair those details with an appointment confirmation or parking receipt when possible. Those records show why you made the trip and how much you spent. It also gives you a clear record if the insurer questions part of the request.

Travel costs for insurer-requested exams

The insurer may ask you to attend an independent medical examination with a doctor it chooses. The exam gives the insurer another opinion about your injury. It may also address work restrictions or the need for more treatment. Reasonable travel expenses for the appointment may also be covered. Depending on the distance, reimbursement could include mileage, parking, meals or lodging. Tell the insurer before the appointment if travel creates a problem. Missing the exam could affect your benefits.

Include travel in your recovery plan

Medical travel can be easy to overlook because each trip may cost only a small amount. Over time, though, those costs can strain a household already dealing with lost income. Before your next appointment, confirm how the insurer handles travel reimbursement. Then make eligible travel costs part of your claim instead of assuming you must pay them yourself.

4 photos to avoid on social media after a crash

2026-07-31T09:05:53Z

A car crash turns your life upside down in an instant. While you might want to share updates online, insurance adjusters and defense lawyers actively search social media accounts for pictures to use against your claim. Under court rules, posts and private messages can be requested during discovery if relevant to your injuries or credibility. Deleting posts after an accident can also lead to severe court sanctions for altering evidence.

Minnesota legal standards and social media evidence

Understanding Minnesota legal standards helps protect your finances. Under state law, insurance companies look for evidence suggesting your physical condition is better than stated in medical records. Adjusters often take online photos out of context to challenge legitimate claims. Keeping certain images off your feed puts you in a far stronger position during claim negotiations.

Photos of the vehicle damage

Crushed fenders or broken glass look dramatic on a screen. However, adjusters use vehicle photos to argue about crash severity and physical impact.

Photos showing physical activity or travel

Pictures at a backyard dinner, a park or a family gathering can be misinterpreted. An adjuster may claim a photo proves you do not suffer from physical limitations.

Photos of your injuries or medical care

Posting pictures of bruises, stitches or hospital rooms can create inconsistencies. Defense attorneys often contrast these images against formal medical records.

Photos featuring alcohol or party settings

Pictures with drinks in the background give insurance lawyers room to question your credibility, memory or state of mind. Minnesota No-Fault law automatically covers initial medical bills and lost wages through personal injury protection. To get additional money for pain and suffering from the other driver, state law requires your injury to reach a specific level, such as $4,000 in medical bills or 60 days of disability.

How to protect your claim while you recover

Pause new uploads and set personal profiles to maximum privacy settings while your claim is pending. Tell friends and relatives not to tag you in recent photos or check you in at local venues. Do not delete older posts without consulting an attorney, as removing content can harm your case. If you have questions about an active insurance claim, reach out to a personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation.

Young drivers have the highest fatal accident rate

2026-07-23T02:25:33Z

Statistically speaking, the highest fatal car accident rates belong to teenage drivers. The risk is greatest for those from 16 to 19 years old, and their fatal accident rate is higher than any other age group in the United States. This becomes especially clear over the summer months, when the total number of fatal teenage car accidents also climbs. Largely due to the fact that teenagers have more free time when they are not in school over the summer, they tend to get into more accidents. This does not mean that teenagers cause the most fatal accidents overall. They are, after all, a relatively small age group. But because they have the highest rate, it shows that there is a significant risk for them and all other drivers who share the road with them.

Why is the accident rate so high?

There are many contributing factors, such as lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, aggressive driving and even impaired driving. Every accident is unique. But one underlying factor that contributes to the high accident rate is that these young drivers are just inexperienced. It leads to mistakes they would not make otherwise. For example, an experienced adult driver may understand when to slow down in certain weather conditions or how to consistently maintain a safe following distance. An inexperienced teenager, on the other hand, may accidentally tailgate or fail to slow down when it would be safer to do so. They are not trying to drive poorly, but they are simply making mistakes because they do not have that much experience behind the wheel.

Seeking compensation after a fatal crash

Have you lost a loved one in a car accident that another driver caused? You may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death case, so be sure you understand all of your options.

Untreated dog bite wounds can lead to serious complications

2026-07-14T12:41:24Z

A dog bite may seem minor at first, especially if the wound is small or the bleeding stops quickly. However, even a puncture wound can allow harmful bacteria to enter the body and lead to serious medical complications if left untreated.

Prompt medical care protects your health and creates a record of your injuries if the bite resulted from someone else's negligence. Understanding the risks associated with dog bite wounds is an important step after any animal attack, particularly when pursuing a Minnesota personal injury claim.

Watch for signs of infection

One of the most common complications of dog bite wounds is infection. Warning signs include increasing redness, swelling, warmth around the injury, persistent pain or drainage from the wound. Some people also develop fever, chills or night sweats if the infection begins to spread. These symptoms should never be ignored because early treatment may prevent more serious health problems.

Serious infections can develop

Certain bacterial infections can become severe if they are not treated promptly. In some cases, bacteria may spread through the bloodstream and lead to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis. Other infections can affect the skin, joints or internal organs and require intensive medical treatment.

A dog bite from an animal with an unknown vaccination history may also require evaluation for rabies exposure. Depending on your vaccination history and the nature of the wound, a tetanus booster may also be recommended.

Dog bites do not only damage the skin. Teeth can injure muscles, tendons, nerves or even bones beneath the surface. Bites involving the hands, feet or face often require careful examination because these areas are more vulnerable to lasting complications.

Early treatment supports recovery

Cleaning the wound thoroughly as soon as possible helps reduce the risk of infection. More serious injuries may require professional wound cleaning, antibiotics, vaccinations or additional treatment depending on the severity of the bite.

If another person's dog caused your injuries, medical records may also become important evidence in a Minnesota personal injury claim. Seeking prompt care protects both your health and your legal interests. If you have questions about recovering from dog bite wounds or your legal options, seek legal guidance as soon as possible.