Last Thursday, in Hugo, a semi truck rear ended a minivan killing 2 of the 3 occupants. Carolyn Anderson, 59, stopped to make a left turn at 159th Street when her van was hit by the semi truck driven by Seth Strehler, 32, of Rockford, Minnesota. Carolyn died at the scene. Her 88-year-old aunt, Rose Bongiovanni, of St. Paul, was taken to Regions Hospital, where she later died. Minnesota State Patrol said that with all of the new development in the area cross traffic has increased. It is vital for drivers to be alert and slow down.

Saturday, in Carver County, a three-vehicle fatal accident took the lives of two people and injured four others, including 3 children. Two of the three drivers died in the chain reaction semi truck crash, Sandra Babatz, 45, of Norwood Young America, and Juan Overa, 35 of Sullivan, Texas.

Semi truck driver Gordon Curtiss, 52, of Hutchinson, was traveling east on Highway 212 in a 2007 Kenworth semi truck. Sandra Babatz was also going east driving a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. Highway 212 is just two lanes at that point, Babatz stopped on the highway to make a left turn off the highway, onto CR 51 going north. Babatz was rear ended by Curtiss and pushed into the other lane of traffic. She was broadsided by a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Olvera.

Both of these accidents highlight the need for more attentiveness to driving, especially on two-lane highways. If either of these accidents happened because of negligence on the part of the semi truck driver, a trustee can be named by the courts and wrongful death claims can be filed.

Acts of negligence:

• driver negligence which includes texting while driving, dialing cellphone, eating, driving while tired
• equipment violations
• negligent hiring which means a trucking company may have hired an unqualified driver
• over hours

Help For The Families of Victims

At the time of the accident, you lost a loved one and your world crumbled and changed forever. You need someone to help carry the load. The Minneapolis personal injury attorneys at TSR Injury Law can help you maneuver the legal system, do all of the paperwork, research and access all of the insurance policies available, and file your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Last weekend brought to light again the need for stiffer penalties for drunk driving. There was another needless death. A multiple repeat-offender was apparently driving drunk again, crashed into a vehicle, killing the 17-year-old driver.

Todd Lifto, 44, drove his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup the wrong way on County Road 35, with no headlights — and speeding. He crashed into the 1998 Toyota Camry that Jonathon Kramnic was driving. Jonathon was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, where he died Sunday.

The crash occurred on Saturday about 6:30 p.m., on County 35, near Jamison Avenue, in St. Michael. Lifto was charge on Wednesday with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. One of the counts is based on the use of alcohol before the crash, according to Tom Kelly, the Wright County Attorney. The drunk driving charges have not been filed, pending the test results.

What Options Are Available For Victims’ Families?

In a case like this, the victim’s family can file for punitive damages as well as a wrongful death beneficiary claim. The laws regarding Minnesota Wrongful Death are complex. It is vital to retain an experienced, knowledgeable law firm to represent you in your Minnesota wrongful death claim.

The basis for a wrongful death claim is not about the damages to the deceased, but the resultant loss for the surviving spouse, family members, or parents. The losses include most factors that place burdens on the survivors, including:

• loss of salary
• health benefits
• pain and suffering
• funeral expenses
• burial expenses

Pecuniary damages can also be included in the claim to receive compensation for:

• loss of services, protection, care
• loss of companionship
• loss of advice

Contact a Minneapolis wrongful death attorney at (612) TSR-TIME. Our partners have decades of combined experience and are consistently named Minnesota Super Lawyers.