ST. JAMES, Minnesota- Two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were taken to nearby medical centers to treat injuries following a collision between their passenger vehicle and a semi-truck.
The name of the 16-year-old driver of the passenger vehicle, a 2009 Nissan Versa, was not released by authorities. Authorities stated he was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester for treatment after his vehicle collided with a 2018 Freightliner.
A passenger in the Nissan Versa, Rolando Velasquez Perez, 17, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. A second passenger in the Nissan was not injured.
The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.
No other information is currently available.
Thoughts on truck accident that injured two teenagers
Our firm represents clients injured in truck accidents just like this every day. We wish Mr. Perez and the unnamed driver a speedy and complete recovery. A vehicle accident at any age is scary and traumatizing, but it is unfortunate to have something like this happen when someone is just starting their driving years. The victims deserve answers and an opportunity to hold any wrongdoer responsible. While we must wait for the results of any pending investigations to assign fault, there are a few causes of accidents we see regularly.
Semi-truck drivers work long, tiring hours. Accordingly, it is probably not surprising that distracted driving is one of the most common causes of accidents we see. If an investigation produces any evidence of distracted driving here, the victims may be able to recover against the truck driver under Minnesota’s distracted driving law(s). These laws deter distracted driving and provide remedies for injured motorists.
It is also common for us to see accidents resulting from mechanical defects or repair issues. For instance, newer semi-trucks, like the 2018 one involved in this crash, are frequently equipped with crash avoidance technology designed to keep the truck in the lane, identify obstacles in the road ahead, and alert drivers to changing conditions. If an investigation finds that this technology did not function properly or the driver was not trained on how to use it, the victims may be able to recover against the employer. Conversely, if it is found that the technology was faulty from the start, the victims may be able to recover against the manufacturer.
Our firm provides free case investigations to explore possible causes and can hold any wrongdoers responsible for their actions. Our thoughts are with those injured here; we hope they can recover fully and speedily.
