On Sunday afternoon, the driver of a Ford Edge traveling north on Highway 42 swerved into the southbound lane, striking the driver of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a Chrysler PT Cruiser, whose passengers presented no apparent injury. The Minnesota State Patrol reports that alcohol was present in the system of the driver of the Ford Edge, who was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the motorcycle, a man from Eyota, Minnesota, tragically passed away. Though no specifics about the cause the accident have been released, it appears alcohol may have contributed to this deadly accident.
Drunk Driving Accidents in Minnesota
Drunk driving fatalities increased over 17% from 2013 to 2015, according to the CDC.
There is a lot that can be done in our state to stem the sharp increase in drunk driving deaths. As of the publication of this information, sobriety checkpoints are not constitutionally allowed in Minnesota, one of only 12 states to not allow them. These checkpoints allow police to create roadblocks to check the sobriety of the drivers. If the driver is suspected of being intoxicated, the police can test their sobriety or level of intoxication. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sobriety checkpoints have been shown to reduce alcohol-related fatal crashes by over 20%.
Dram Shop Laws
Though there are many measures that the state of Minnesota should take to decrease the number of drunk driving fatalities, the families of victims of these accidents can bring about change by holding accountable the bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to intoxicated patrons who then get behind the wheel.
The money recovered in a wrongful death case against a bar or restaurant can never begin to compensate a family after the loss of their loved one, but these lawsuits serve a larger purpose. Holding a bar or restaurant accountable is the best way to achieve justice and help prevent drinking and driving.
Many of our clients have used part of the money won in a settlement to honor their lost loved ones. Familys set up foundations, give donations, and create scholarships to have the memory of their loved ones continue beyond the tragic death. You can speak to one of our lawyers about this or about filing a claim against a bar or restaurant by calling 1-888-377-8900 of filling out a consultation request form
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/impaired_driving/drunk_driving_in_mn.pdf
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ooc/news-releases/Pages/drunk-driving-related-deaths.aspx
http://tti.tamu.edu/group/stsc/files/2010/11/Sobriety-Checkpoints-3-11-2011.pdf
https://app.dps.mn.gov/mspmedia/DisplayAllIncidents.asp