An accident in northern Minnesota on Highway 53 sent two people to the hospital on Wednesday evening. Tracey Rae Turner and Alexis Geanette Turner, of International Falls, MN, were traveling northbound just south of Ash River Trail Road when they were struck by a Volvo semi trailer traveling southbound. According to the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, the semi truck started to slip on road ice near mile marker 134, where there is a bend in the road. The truck entered the northbound lane, where it struck a Buick Enclave, driven by Tracey Rae Turner, and a Chevy Avalanche, driven by Thomas Turner, causing them to go into the ditch. Both were transported to the hospital with injuries.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.
Filing a Lawsuit After a Winter Accident
Icy Road Conditions
Icy road conditions are very common in Minnesota in winter, especially is northern Minnesota near the Canadian border. Operating a large commercial vehicle in these conditions can be particularly difficult, and truck drivers need to take extra safety precautions when traveling on roads that could possibly be icy.
Our law firm recently settled a case for a family whose loved one was killed on an icy Minnesota road. A semi-trailer hit a patch of ice and jackknifed on the road. A car slammed into the truck, and the driver of the car died at the scene. It was a tragic loss for the parents of this young man. The family hired attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman to represent them in a lawsuit against the truck driver and trucking company. Fred and Eric proved that the truck driver, who was traveling under the speed limit, was driving too fast.
Speed Limits on Winter Roads
When driving on winter roads, Minnesota State law mandates that, “no person shall driver a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions” (Minn. Stat. 169.14). What this means is that if road conditions are dangerous, such as the presence of snow or ice on the road, all drivers are obligated by law to not drive at unsafe speeds.
Driving at the posted speed limit when there is snow or ice on the road is dangerous, and it can be against the law.
Under Minnesota law, drivers of large commercial vehicles are required to use extra care. This is because these vehicles can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, particularly with a full trailer.
Filing a Lawsuit for a Icy Accident
If your vehicle is struck by a car or truck that was driving in a way that was not safe for the weather conditions, you can file a lawsuit holding them at fault for the accident. Winnings from a settlement or trial verdict against an at-fault driver can help cover hospital and other medical costs, as well as provide funds for pain and suffering and to replace lost earnings from not being able to work.