Minneapolis Personal Injury Blog

For Minnesotans, 2011 was one of the safest years of travel in the past 60, as the number of accident-related fatalities continued to decline. Yet, while the numbers show a positive trend, hundreds of families still experienced tragedy in 2011.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety reports that for the fourth consecutive year, car accident fatalities declined in Minnesota. The DPS reports that in 2011, fewer than 400 motor vehicle fatalities occurred - the fewest number of deaths since 1944 - which is a decline of 11 percent from 2010 and a 38 percent decline from 2001.

November is typically the month with the highest number of collisions between deer and vehicles. Minnesota has the eighth-highest number of such crashes in the U.S., while Wisconsin has the seventh highest. The numbers are declining in most states, but Minnesota is an exception.

Drivers on Minnesota roads should be aware of the dangers of darting deer, especially at dawn and dusk. Although it can seem like a treat to spot a deer standing at the side of the road, often there will be more deer nearby. Rather than focusing on the buck or doe that is visible, drivers should be vigilant about other deer that may be close.

By keeping alert, you can help prevent Minnesota motor vehicle accidents.

We've all heard the news: former Viking's player Joe Senser's wife was involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident. Now, the victim's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Joe and Amy Senser, claiming that Amy demonstrated deliberate disregard for others' safety.

This Minneapolis fatal car accident happened on I-94 at Riverside Avenue. The victim was putting gas into his car on the ramp when Amy Senser struck him. She then fled the scene of the accident. The Sensers did not come forward until the night after the fatal car accident.

According to the Star Tribune, a semi truck hit a pedestrian walking across 11^th Avenue South in Minneapolis last night. The pedestrian died at the scene.

It's too early to tell what caused this pedestrian and truck accident. The truck driver has been taken in for questioning and will go through testing to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in the fatal crash.

This Minneapolis pedestrian accident is one of many similar accidents this year in Minnesota and across the country. In 2009, there were more than 151 fatal pedestrian accidents in the U.S. involving large trucks (such as tractor-trailers) and more than 1,400 pedestrian accidents involving light trucks. That same year, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and approximately 59,000 were injured in traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly one-fourth of the fatal pedestrian accidents occurred at intersections.