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Why was January so deadly on Minnesota’s roads?

On Behalf of | Feb 7, 2019 | motor vehicle accidents

The year has begun with brutally cold weather in large swaths of the country. As usual, some of the coldest temperatures have been here in Minnesota. Last month was also dangerous for those on our roads — particularly for pedestrians.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s preliminary data, 26 people died in 24 separate vehicle crashes in January. That’s four more than were killed on the roads in January 2018. Over half of those crashes involved alcohol, distracted driving and/or speeding. Four of the people who were killed weren’t wearing seat belts. It should be noted that the number of people arrested for drunk driving last month was up by 168 from January of last year.

Of the 26 people who lost their lives, eight were pedestrians. That’s nearly one-fifth the number of pedestrians killed throughout all of 2018. Four of those pedestrians were struck by drivers in the Twin Cities area over the span of just a few days early in January. Several others were injured, but not fatally, during that period.

Even when a person is fortunate enough to survive being struck by a vehicle, their injuries can be catastrophic. Victims of vehicle-pedestrian crashes may require long-term medical care, physical therapy and rehabilitation. They may never fully recover.

When seeking compensation from the at-fault driver, it’s essential to factor in all of the expenses, lost wages and other financial impacts of the crash. An experienced attorney can help you work to seek the compensation you need and deserve as you move forward in the aftermath of a devastating accident.