Semi-trucks are an important part of commerce in the U.S. For example, because of semi-trucks, oranges grown in Florida can reach store shelves in Minnesota. While this may be good for the nation's economy, it doesn't erase the fact that operating a semi-truck takes skill and care. Drivers must be properly licensed, well-rested and sober when driving a semi-truck. Unfortunately, sometimes a semi-truck strikes another motorist on the road, causing serious injuries or even death. When this happens, the victim or their loved ones may want to pursue a legal claim. It is important, however, to understand who may be liable for a motor vehicle accident involving a semi-truck.

While it may be understood that the driver of a semi-truck could be held liable in the event of a crash, it is also important to note that, under certain circumstances, the driver's employer may also be liable for collisions caused by the driver. This is due to the legal theory of "vicarious liability." Under this theory, the driver's employer may be held responsible for the driver's actions if there is an employer-employee relationship between the two and the accident occurred during the normal course of the driver's duties.

When a motorist in Minnesota is involved in a car crash, they may be thankful that they have auto insurance. However, what happens if the other motorist is uninsured? Can the injured party still receive benefits to cover medical expenses and property damage?

Uninsured motorist accidents may be more common than you think. In fact, approximately one out of seven motorists in Minnesota do not have the requisite auto insurance. However, you may have uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage on your own policy that may cover the expenses the at-fault party would have paid under their insurance policy, if they had it.

Safety belts were designed to keep you safe when you're in a crash. Most people know that they should wear them, but they also know that the risk of a crash is relatively low. As such, many people believe that it's not always a necessity to wear them.

Unfortunately, even if you're just taking a short joyride around your neighborhood, there is a risk of being involved in a collision. If you aren't wearing your seat belt, there is a higher risk of a few things happening, one of which is being thrown from the vehicle.

Motorists in Minnesota are required to carry uninsured motorist insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage works by providing benefits to motorists who are injured by an at-fault driver that does not have car insurance or who has coverage, but it does not satisfy state-mandated minimum liability requirements. However, there is a process that motorists must follow to obtain these benefits. Keep in mind that this is only a general overview of this process, and state law may vary. In addition, states that have no-fault insurance laws may require motorists to seek an order from the court before they are able to obtain uninsured motorist benefits or underinsured motorist benefits.

The process begins when a motorist is struck by an uninsured motorist. Following that, the motorist will file a claim for benefits with the at-fault driver's insurance company. The motorist will let their insurance company know of the incident. Next, the motorist will be reimbursed from the at-fault party's insurance company, but this reimbursement will not be enough to cover the damages the motorist sustained in the crash.