Accidents involving tractor trailers can have tragic results, for both the semi operator and any occupants in the other vehicle. Recently in North Dakota, a semi truck driver was killed and a woman was injured in a terrible accident on a local highway. Car accidents like this one certainly bring attention to the dangers truck drivers face on the road every day and the need to be aware and cautious around these massive trucks.

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the 45 year old driver of a semi was killed after his vehicle collided with a pickup truck in Keene. The driver of the pickup, a 50 year old female, was apparently attempting to make a left hand turn in front of the semi when the accident occurred. The impact of the collision caused the tractor-trailer to roll onto the driver’s side before coming to rest in a ditch.

This incident was responsible for shutting down State Highway 23 for several hours while clean up crews and investigators worked the scene. The accident is still under investigation. No charges have been filed yet in this case. However, local authorities have indicated that charges are pending against the driver of the pickup.

Semi drivers spend the majority of their life out on the road. As such, they are at an increased risk for experiencing car accidents similar to this one. In this particular case, a family is now left grieving the loss of their loved one and having to cope with the emotional and financial struggles associated with that loss. The semi driver’s surviving family members do have a few options available to them to assist with the financial strain they are now likely facing as a result, including filing for workers’ compensation death benefits and filing a wrongful death claim against the driver of the pickup in a North Dakota civil court. If the civil claim is successfully litigated, financial restitution may be granted to the victim’s family, which could provide for the current and future financial losses this incident has created.

Source: bismarcktribune.com, “Man killed, woman injured in collision”, Aug. 14, 2014.