If you’ve been hurt in a commercial truck crash near Yankton, then you may be dealing with severe injuries and concerns about your financial stability. Our Yankton, SD truck accident lawyer at Loos, Sabers & Smith, LLP represents injured victims across South Dakota, including those hurt in and around the Yankton area. We offer free consultations and take injury cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover for you. If you’ve been seriously hurt in a truck related accident, reach out to us today. 

Why Choose Loos, Sabers & Smith, LLP for Truck Accidents in Yankton, SD?

Decades of Personal Injury Litigation Experience

Michael C. Loos has been practicing law since 1994. That’s over 30 years of representing injured people in South Dakota courts. He’s admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Truck accident cases are complex civil litigation matters involving federal regulations, commercial carriers, multiple insurance policies, and often catastrophic injuries. Michael Loos has the background to handle them so that his clients get the most payment possible. 

Results That Matter

Our firm has helped injury clients throughout South Dakota recover millions of dollars, including million-dollar recoveries in personal injury cases and a $1,375,000 result in a serious motorcycle accident. Truck accident cases frequently involve higher stakes than typical car crashes because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles. We build these cases to reflect the full scope of what our clients have lost.

Recognition From Peers and Clients

Michael Loos has been selected to Super Lawyers every year from 2017 through 2025 for his personal injury work. The firm has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyers, and holds a 10 Best for Client Satisfaction rating from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. 

Partner Hollie Smith is an experienced trial lawyer who was awarded Outstanding Young Lawyer by Pennington County Bar Association in 2023, showing her dedication and commitment to legal practice and serving community members in South Dakota. She earned a B.A. in political science from Augustana University in Sioux Falls and received her Juris Doctorate from Belmont University-College of Law. 

Partner Michael Sabers is a seasoned litigator with more than two decades in complex civil litigation. He is known for his competitive nature and strategic thinking, building a reputation for himself as a trusted advocate for victims in and out of the courtroom. Our personal injury lawyer in Yankton, SD can be relied upon for grounded legal advice and protection.

No Fees Unless We Win

We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront payments and no hourly billing. We only get paid if we win your case or reach a settlement on your behalf. This allows people to get the legal assistance they need after a serious injury accident without worrying about another added cost. 

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“I had a life altering accident and did not know where to turn. I found Michael Loos online. He was so helpful, caring and ready to help. They put together my case of over a year and a half of surgeries and rehab. The whole staff was always helpful and caring. Ultimately, they got me the best possible settlement. Although my injuries are life altering, the settlement is comforting that I will have what I need for my needs in the future. I would highly recommend him and the firm.” — Shelly Johnson

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Yankton

Commercial vehicle crashes are not all the same, as the circumstances, liable parties, and injuries can vary greatly depending on the type of collision and what caused it. Our team handles a range of commercial vehicle accident cases, including:

• Rear-end collisions. A fully loaded semi can weigh 80,000 pounds. When a semi hits a passenger vehicle from behind, the results are often catastrophic. These crashes frequently involve distracted driving, fatigued drivers, or brake failure caused by inadequate maintenance.

• Jackknife accidents. When a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle relative to the cab, it creates a massive hazard across multiple lanes. Jackknife crashes often happen on wet roads or during hard braking. They can involve multiple vehicles and serious catastrophic injuries.

• Underride collisions. These occur when a passenger car slides beneath the trailer of a stopped or slowing truck. The consequences are frequently fatal or involve severe traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage.

• Blind spot crashes. Large commercial trucks have significant blind spots on all four sides. Drivers who fail to check before changing lanes or turning can crash into vehicles without ever seeing them.

• Wrongful death. When a crash takes a family member’s life, surviving relatives may have a claim for their losses. We handle wrongful death cases for families throughout South Dakota.

• Rollover accidents. Improper loading, excessive speed, and driver error can all cause a commercial truck to roll. These are among the most dangerous crash types on any highway.

South Dakota Legal Requirements for Truck Accident Claims

A few key legal rules govern truck accident cases in South Dakota, and we can help you understand their influence on your case process and outcome.

South Dakota follows a modified comparative negligence system under SDCL § 20-9-2. If you are found partially at fault for the crash, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. But if your fault exceeds 50%, you cannot recover at all. Insurance adjusters sometimes try to assign fault to injured victims to reduce or eliminate claims. That’s one reason it’s important to have a truck accident attorney in Yankton before you make recorded statements or accept any offers.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in South Dakota is three years from the date of the injury, per SDCL § 15-2-14. Wrongful death claims follow the same three-year window under SDCL § 21-5-3. Three years may sound like a long time, but we need to do an investigation, preserve evidence, and prepare your case.

Beyond state law, federal trucking regulations also apply to commercial carriers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets standards for hours of service, driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. Violations of these regulations can be critical evidence in a truck accident case. FMCSA crash data consistently shows that large truck crashes cause disproportionate injury and death compared to other collision types.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Yankton Truck Accident?

Truck accidents tend to produce serious, lasting harm. South Dakota law allows injured victims to pursue several categories of damages.

Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses. Medical expenses are typically the largest component, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and any future treatment your injuries require. If you’ve missed work, lost wages are recoverable. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous employment or working at the same capacity, you may have a claim for diminished future earning potential. 

Non-economic damages cover what doesn’t show up on a bill. This can be pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These are real losses, even if they’re harder to calculate. In cases involving severe injuries, non-economic damages can represent a significant portion of total recovery. Courts consider the nature of the injury, how it affects daily life, and how long those effects are expected to last. We can review with you how personal injury damages are calculated and what factors influence settlement value.

Punitive damages are available in South Dakota when the defendant’s conduct was willful, wanton, or malicious. These are not common in every case, but a trucking company that knowingly put a fatigued, unqualified, or impaired driver on the road may face exposure beyond compensatory damages.

It’s also worth noting that truck accident cases often involve multiple liable parties. This can be the driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, or a cargo loader. Identifying all responsible parties and their insurance coverage is part of what our truck accident attorney does when building your claim. 

Contact Loos, Sabers & Smith, LLP

If you or someone you love was injured in a commercial truck crash in or around Yankton, SD, please don’t wait to get legal advice. These cases involve evidence that may disappear quickly, including electronic logging device data, black box recordings, and driver records that trucking companies are not required to preserve indefinitely. We offer free consultations with no obligation, and there are no fees unless we win. Let us talk with you about your situation, what your case may be worth, and what the next steps would be. Contact us to schedule your consultation.