One person died and two were injured in a crash on Interstate 94 near Barnesville, Minnesota, Sunday morning. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a semi-tractor trailer was traveling westbound when it was rear ended by a Saturn. The front passenger of the Saturn tragically died, and the back seat passenger was seriously injured. The driver of the Saturn and the driver and passenger in the semi truck were not seriously injured, according to the state patrol preliminary report.
A 30-year-old man was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Saturn. He did not survive. A passenger, a 24-year-old from Anderson, Indiana, was sitting in the back. She was critically injured. The driver of the Saturn, Derrick Pierce, admitted to smoking methamphetamine prior to the crash and was found guilty of criminal vehicular homicide.
[Note: Pritzker Hageman did not represent any parties in this accident]
About automobile semi-truck rear-end collision claims
In many cases, like the one referenced above, the driver of the car that rear-ended a semi-truck may be found entirely at fault. However, in some cases there may be evidence proving the truck driver was at fault, at least in part. Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman of our law firm recently won a Minnesota wrongful death lawsuit where the police report said the truck driver was not at fault. In that case Fred and Eric found evidence that the truck driver was over 50% at fault and won over $2.5 million for the family.
In addition, claims for compensation by passengers are different than claims by drivers. Passengers and their families may be able to sue one or both drivers. When a commercial truck is involved, a trucking company may be legally responsible.
Our law firm provides free consultations to injured people and their families because we know they have questions that need answers. You can contact Fred and Eric for a free consultation using our our online form or by calling 612-338-0202. Find out if you need a lawyer for your semi truck accident case.
