Minas Gerais highway department ordered to pay R$ 150,000 after fatal accident

The Minas Gerais Department of Highways (DER-MG) has been ordered to pay R$ 150,000 in damages following a fatal accident caused by a fallen tree on the MG-188 highway. The decision, upheld by the 19th Civil Chamber of the Minas Gerais Court of Justice (TJMG), follows a December 2024 incident near Uberlândia where a truck driver lost control and overturned while attempting to avoid the obstacle.

The Association for the Protection and Benefits of Road Freight Transporters (Aproben Araxá) sought reimbursement after paying the indemnity to the driver's family. While DER-MG argued the incident was an act of force majeure caused by strong winds, the court ruled that the agency failed in its duty to ensure road safety and preventive maintenance, noting that weather reports did not indicate extraordinary storms at the time of the accident.