When winter comes to Minnesota, the risk of a serious traffic increases greatly. Unexpected slippery areas, patches of ice and snow add to the ordinary hazards of driving on country roads. A recent head-on collision in Crow River Township demonstrates the random nature of these accidents.
The accident
A Ford F350 pickup truck towing a trailer was heading south on U.S. Highway 71. For unknown reasons, the driver of the pickup lost control of the trailer and apparently crossed the centerline. The truck struck a Ford F150 pickup truck that was traveling north on U.S. 71. The southbound pickup then hit a Kenworth semi-tractor-trailer that was following the Ford F150.
The injuries
The two men in the southbound Ford suffered non-life threatening injuries but were nevertheless taken to Paynesville Hospital for treatment. Their current condition is unknown. The two occupants of the Ford F150, both 77 years old, and the driver of the Kenworth had no injuries according to the police accident report. Police reported that all parties were wearing their seatbelts and that the seatbelts in both Ford pickups deployed properly. The seat belt in the Kenworth truck did not deploy.
The claims
The key to understanding the cause of this accident may be the trailer that was being pulled by the Ford F350. If the trailer was defective in some manner, it may be the central cause of the collision. If the two occupants in the F350 do not own the trailer – it may have been rented – they may have a claim for damages against the owner of the trailer.
The female occupant of the F350 may have a claim against the driver of the truck, although the accident report stated that both had the same last name and thus, they may be married. That fact would not eliminate the claim, but pursuing a claim by one spouse against the other can be tricky.
Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one under similar circumstances may wish to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for an evaluation of the evidence and the liability of the various parties, and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages from the negligent party.
