Country roads in Minnesota can appear to offer a tempting setting to an impatient driver. The land is flat, the roads are mostly straight, and very few have blind intersections or curves. Unfortunately, this setting can be a trap for some drivers who value speed over safety. A recent accident just west of Willmar appears to demonstrate these features.
The accident
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Lexus was northbound on County Road 7 at about 6:00 p.m. when it reached the intersection of Highway 7 and State Highway 40. As it entered the intersection, the Lexus collided with a semi-trailer truck eastbound on State Highway 4. The driver of the SUV and two passengers were killed instantly by the collision. A fourth passenger was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi was taken to a hospital with injuries that were described as not life-threatening.
The driver and two passengers in the SUV were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The exact cause of the accident has not been released by the State Highway Patrol, but officers said that the status of the driver’s blood alcohol content was unknown.
Evaluating liability
The State Highway Patrol has not yet released a report stating the cause of the accident. If the driver is determined to have been drinking, he will bear primary liability. Further investigation may also determine whether either vehicle was speeding or whether either vehicle disobeyed a roadside sign, such as “Slow” or “Stop.”
The passengers in the SUV are most likely blameless, but the roles of the two drivers are undetermined. Either or both may bear some of the fault for the accident.
Conclusion
Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in an accident in which fault is unclear may wish to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for an analysis of the evidence and an opinion about the likelihood of recovering compensation.
