Seven people were injured in a 6-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 Minnesota, near the Blooming Prairie and New Richland exit.
Was The Semi Truck Traveling Too Fast for the Conditions?
The road was icy, according to the Minnesota State Patrol, and there is curve in the road at this location. One of the primary questions that needs an answer is whether the driver of the Peterbuilt semi-tractor truck that initially rear ended one of the vehicles was driving too fast for the conditions. Attorney Eric Hageman recently won over $1 million in a case where a semi jackknifed on an icy road, causing a collision.
The vehicles and occupants involved in this crash are as follows:
- Vehicle 1 – 2010 Peterbuilt semi tractor driven by a 24-year-old man from Albert Lea. Both he and his passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Albert Lea, were injured.
- Vehicle 2 – 2017 Chevy Tahoe driven by a 36-year-old woman from Urbandale, Iowa, who was injured.
- Vehicle 3 – 2015 Subaru Forester driven by a 78-year-old woman from Bloomington, who was injured.
- Vehicle 4 – 2014 Subaru Outback driven by a 29-year-old man from Minneapolis, who was injured and was airlifted to a regional trauma center. A 30-year-old woman from Minneapolis was also injured and transported to a hospital.
- Vehicle 5 – 2008 Toyota Camry driven by a man from St. Paul, who was not injured.
- Vehicle 6 – 2012 Ford Expedition driven by a 25-year-old man from Arden Hills, MN, who was injured and transported to the hospital.
All vehicles were traveling southbound on I-35 in the left lane. The semi truck rear ended the Ford Expedition, which was stopped at the time due to backed up traffic. The Ford Expedition then rear ended the Chevy Tahoe, which in turn hit the Toyota Camry from behind. The Toyota Camry rear ended the Subaru Outback, pushing it to the right lane, where it was hit by the semi truck and then the Subaru Forester.
The accident happened on February 25, 2017.
Can a Trucking Company be Sued if a Truck Driver Causes a Crash?
Yes, if there is sufficient evidence that a truck driver negligently caused a crash, in most cases the trucking company, the owner of the freight being transported and others may be legally responsible. This means a lawsuit would name the driver and the companies as “defendants” and seek money from all of them.
Our Minnesota personal injury lawyers have won numerous multi-million-dollar settlements against trucking industry businesses and negligent drivers. Contact our law firm for a free consultation.