A St. Louis Park man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his motorized scooter collided with a semi-trailer truck near the University of Minnesota.
According to the Star Tribune,“The man, age 21, died of multiple blunt-force injuries, the medical examiner said.”
Minnesota Scooter/Truck Accident Information
Trucks are under strict state and federal regulations, forcing them to obey a higher standard of safety.
With a Minnesota scooter/truck accident, several parties may be liable for a wrongful death:
- The truck driver
- Owner(s) of the truck, tractor, trailer, freight
- Employer of the driver
- Employer of the employer of the driver
- Dram shop (bar or other drinking establishment), if the driver was drunk
- Manufacturer of the scooter, tractor, trailer or any part thereof if there are design defects
- Others (depositions and other discovery can unearth other parties liable for the scooter/truck accident)
Because many truck drivers are professional drivers, they are expected to keep detailed log books that show the number of hours driven and the breaks taken. These log books must be properly maintained and can provide valuable information for someone injured in a truck accident.
Minnesota Scooter/Truck Wrongful Death Claim
In a Minnesota scooter/truck wrongful death case, the spouse and next of kin of the deceased can bring a claim against the parties responsible for the death. Under Minnesota wrongful death law, the family can seek compensation for their losses, including but not limited to the following:
- Loss of advice
- Loss of care
- Loss of comfort
- Loss of companionship
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses
- Lost potential earnings
Punitive damages can be recovered if it is clear that the defendant(s) showed a clear disregard for the safety and rights of the deceased. Examples of a clear disregard would be drunk driving, driving too many hours, or intentionally not fixing a problem with the truck knowing that it could cause an accident.
