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Minneapolis Personal Injury Law Blog

Automakers may be contributing to distracted driving

In the past several weeks, many groups have been looking into certain dangerous driving behaviors. In Minnesota, for example, drivers are not allowed to text while driving. Distracted drivers are negligent on the roads since their focus is on something other than the cars around them. When a person pays more attention to a phone or other device, they run the risk of causing a serious car accident.

The most recent distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is the increasingly high-tech dashboard system in cars. Automakers are including GPS systems, Internet browsers, phones and other gadgets that are intended to provide drivers with more convenience. According to NHTSA, however, these are distractions that are putting drivers in harm's way.

Drunk driver in fatal accident receives sentence

On Christmas Eve in 2009, a man got into his car with his three children after drinking. He then crashed into another car and killed an 88-year-old man. The reckless behavior in this situation is shocking. The man chose to put his own children and other innocent drivers in harm's way. What may be more shocking is the seemingly light jail sentence he received for the drunk driving accident.

When a person chooses to drive after drinking, he or she is choosing to be reckless. They are willfully neglecting the safety of others on the road. When the drunk driver crashed into the victim's car on Christmas Eve, he also injured the victim's wife. She is now left with emotional and physical damage that may never fully heal.

Medical malpractice information not fully disclosed in Minnesota

In many states, residents are able to search a website to find information on doctors. Information on claims of medical malpractice and previous criminal convictions are included with education and specialty. This information provides patients with the knowledge to make educated decisions on their physicians. Unfortunately, Minnesota is not one of these states and the lack of disclosure is putting patients in jeopardy.

According to recent reporting the Star Tribune, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice does not include this important information on the state's website. A federal nonprofit group has urged all states to include information such as criminal convictions, disciplinary actions and malpractice histories on a website. There are currently 19 states that provide this information to their residents. While the board in Minnesota does track information on disciplinary reports, the information is not made readily available to residents.

Minnesota woman dies in collision with semi truck

The lack of snow and subzero weather in Minnesota recently may lead drivers to have a false sense of confidence on the roads. Accidents can still happen, even when there is no ice or snow covering everything. Car and truck drivers need to exercise caution so that devastating car accidents can be avoided.

A Minnesota woman is dead after a fatal car accident in early February. The victim, who was driving a Pontiac sports car, struck a tractor-trailer at about 10 a.m. near Albert Lea. A slight bend in the road may have been a contributing factor in the crash, according to authorities.

Employers of window washers were foggy on safety measures

Minnesotans who work or live in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul frequently see the window washers dangling down the side of a building. The washers hang from a roof, periodically lowering themselves on cables to better reach the outside windows on the buildings. Just the idea of hanging high above the street like that can be quite scary for some. Recent investigations into training and equipment, however, provided some a different kind of scare.

There have been three deaths of window washers in the past three years. According to the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration, these wrongful deaths could have been prevented with proper training and safety procedures.

Increased truck weight puts drivers and bridge quality in danger

The memory of the 35W bridge collapse is still fresh in the minds of many Minnesotans. Since the tragic accident, attention has been paid to making bridges in Minnesota safer, which also makes motorists safer. However, a recent change in trucking restriction may jeopardize that progress. In addition, the changes may have a negative effect on the number of truck accidents across the country as well.

The Safe and Efficient Transportation Act is attempting to increase the loads that commercial trucks are allowed to carry by 17,000 pounds. Claiming that the increase in maximum allowable weight would benefit consumers, supporters say that allowing the added weight would reduce traffic and fuel use. Those opposed to the bill say that heavier trucks will pose a danger to motorists and will seriously damage bridges already in need of repair.

More details emerge in the Minnesota airport car accident

Last month, we posted about the young boy who was hit by a car in the parking lot of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. The boy was crossing the street on his way to welcome his father home, who had been serving in Iraq. As he crossed the street, the young boy was run over by a speeding car.

Investigations were pending, as were the results of a toxicology report, in order to determine the cause of the reckless driving. When the accident was first reported, details regarding the state of the driver were sparse. It is now known that the driver has officially been charged with drunk driving.

Slick roads contribute to numerous Minnesota accidents

After months of enjoying a mild winter, the snow has finally fallen and frozen on Minnesota highways. While many drivers are able to adjust safely to the changing road conditions, there are still a very high number of car accidents during these winter months.

Unfortunately, accidents are common sights in the winter. We see cars in ditches, cars that have collided into one another and cars that get stuck in the snow. Winter driving has a number of hazards already. Add reckless or distracted drivers into the situation and the chance of getting in an accident increases.

Minnesota man fatally shot in hunting accident

Many Minnesotans enjoy the hunting season. However, an enjoyable outing with family and friends can quickly turn tragic in the event of an accident. According to reports, the wrongful death of a 19-year-old man is under investigation by the Renville County Sheriff's Office. It is unknown if the fatal hunting accident was the result of negligent or reckless behavior or not.

The young man was amongst a group of hunters who were hunting geese together. During the trip, one of the hunter's guns discharged accidentally and shot the victim. A 911 call reporting that someone had been shot accidentally in a hunting party was called into the Renville County Sheriff's Office shortly after. Police responded to the call immediately.

Truck ends up in icy Minnesota water for third time in a week

An alarming trend has been taking place in Minnesota recently. For the third time in one week, a semi truck has crashed into icy waters after the driver lost control of the vehicle. While only minor injuries have been reported, the increase of truck accidents in the state is worrying a number of residents.

All three of the truck accidents in the past week have occurred during the day. The first accident involving a Target commercial truck crashed into an icy pond near Monticello. The second accident occurred in Waseca when the truck slid onto Clear Lake. The most recent accident occurred just off Interstate 494 in Plymouth.

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