GWINNER, North Dakota—Roger Unterseher, 56, and Christopher Lee McFarland, 52, were injured on August 22, 2022, in a crash involving a semi-truck. The accident occurred just before 3:00 p.m. on North Dakota Highway 13.
Initial police reports suggest that a semi-truck driven by McFarland was pulling a mower trailer westbound on Highway 13 when a Volvo semi-truck driven by Unterseher rear-ended McFarland’s trailer. Initial evidence suggests Unterseher was distracted by something near his feet moments before the accident. McFarland’s semi-truck and mower came to rest in a ditch after rolling. McFarland was ejected from the semi-truck during the rollover. Unterseher’s truck came to a rest upright in a ditch.
Unterseher was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment, and McFarland was transported to Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, for serious injuries. Both semi-trucks were severely damaged in the crash.
No further information about the crash was made immediately available.
Thoughts on the 18-wheeler crash in Gwinner
This was an entirely preventable accident that should never have occurred. Our firm is one of the leading truck accident firms in the nation and can help those injured here to recover the compensation they need to move forward. Medical bills, lost wages, travel expenses, hotels for family, and numerous other expenses are undoubtedly piling up because of this accident. These bills are not the fault of the injured driver, and the trucking companies involved need to cover these bills.
While it is unfortunate that the driver of the big rig was distracted, it is not surprising. We help clients every day that are injured by distracted drivers. Although driving a commercial vehicle distracted is entirely unacceptable, fault doesn’t solely rest on the shoulders of the driver. Commercial trucking companies are making money off their drivers and have a duty to furnish well-maintained trucks. Failure to do so is negligence. It has been reported that something fell before the accident. While we do not know what fell, it could have been a part of the truck. This will need to be investigated.
At the end of the day, a man was injured at no fault of his own. Our firm can provide a free legal strategy to ensure this family receives the compensation they need to move forward and cope with the challenges that lie ahead. Until then, I offer my prayers to the injured and hope for their recovery at this time.
