Young drivers can pose an added hazard on North Dakota’s highways. The inexperience of young drivers often leads them to make unnecessary or dangerous decisions that imperil the lives of other drivers. A recent motor vehicle accident in Rugby demonstrates the risk posed by younger drivers.
The accident
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, a pick-up truck driven by a 15-year-old male from Rugby was stopped at the intersection of 33rd Avenue and Highway 2. After stopping, the young driver proceeded into the intersection. After crossing the median, the truck entered the eastbound lane on Highway 2. At this point, the pick-up truck struck an eastbound SUV, sending it rolling into a ditch.
The driver of the SUV was thrown from the vehicle, suffering fatal injuries. The passenger in the SUV was also thrown from the vehicle, and she suffered serious injuries, requiring hospitalization in Rugby.
The 15-year-old driver of the pick-up truck was treated at the Rugby hospital and released.
Risks of young drivers
According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, teenage drivers pose particular risks on the roads of Minnesota and North Dakota. While drivers ages 15-19 made up just 6% of all drivers in Minnesota, they were involved in 16% of all motor vehicle accidents in the state in 2020.
Liability
After a fatal accident, family members are left without the companionship of their loved one. In many cases, they are also left suddenly without their loved one’s income. It can feel distasteful to talk about money at a time of tragedy and mourning, but these economic and noneconomic losses are very real, and they can send a family into financial ruin. A wrongful death action can help a grieving family to recover they compensation they need to carry on after a devastating loss.