Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has reported Matt Mitchell, the Illinois trooper who crashed into Jessica and Kelli Uhl, was involved in two prior car crashes in his short six-year career as an Illinois State Trooper. Both Jessica Uhl and her sister Kelli Uhl were killed in this most horrible traffic accident.

Trooper Mitchell's 2003 Illinois car accident resulted in the filing of an Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit against the state of Illinois, which resulted in a substantial judgment. Details of the other car accident were not disclosed.

An official with the Illinois state trooper's department indicated Trooper Mitchell's video recorder in his patrol car was not working in the crash with the Uhl sisters. As such, Mitchell's story of a phantom vehicle cutting him off cannot be corroborated. .

This Illinois car accident is still under investigation and the speed of Mitchell's car has not yet been determined.

Trooper Mitchell remains in critical condition at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

As soon as the investigation is complete, we will post additional information.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents

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Washington County Missouri sheriff Michael G. Triplett was killed yesterday while responding to a domestic violence call near Irondale, Missouri. Deputy Triplett was also a security guard at a local college. Deputy Triplett was 48 years old.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is currently doing an accident reconstruction of the accident to determine exactly how this horrible car accident happened. Any time there is a death in a car accident in Missouri, the highway patrol does accident reconstructions. During accident reconstructions, speed of the vehicle and other unknown factors are determined. In addition, the electronic module control inside the patrol car will be downloaded. These on board computers can tell very detailed information regarding the crash. Washington County patrol vehicles are not equipped with dashboard cameras, unlike the Missouri Highway Patrol, so no video will aid investigators in this crash. However, some initial information is already known.

Around 12:05, Deputy Triplett was heading south on Highway U near Potosi heading towards Irondale. At the scene of this crash, Highway U is a very curvy and windy road lined with many trees. The deputy failed to stay on the roadway as he approached a curve to the left, went off the roadway, hit a sign and two trees and landed in a ditch.

The patrol vehicle was so badly damaged, Deputy Triplett was trapped inside and had to be cut out of the vehicle.

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Mike Green, a truck driver from South Dakota was seriously injured in a train wreck in Lincoln County Missouri today. Mr. Green's flat bed tractor trailer was on the train tracks around the intersection of Highway N and 79 in Winfield, Missouri and was hit around 1:15pm. The train tracks are owned by Burlington Northern railroad. The train is owned by BNSF Railway. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, after the train struck the large truck, it pushed the truck a quarter of a mile. Mr. Green was ejected from his truck and was thrown a long distance.

Mr. Green was transported to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur and was listed as suffering from serious personal injuries. Neither the operator of the train or the train company have released statements.

It will be interesting to find out exactly how this train accident occurred. Many train accident lawsuits filed by plaintiff's lawyers are premised upon faulty crossing guards and obscured intersections between train tracks and roadways. Once a final investigation is released, we will post the contents here.

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Posted In: Missouri Train Accidents

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Jeff McCormack, of O'Fallon, Missouri was seriously injured on November 12, 2007, when 32 year old Courtney Dunman crossed into Mr. McCormack's lane of travel and hit his vehicle. After Mr. McCormack's vehicle was hit, it spun out of control and hit another car, driven by Greg Murphy of St. Paul, Missouri. Mr. Murphy only suffered minor injuries.

Mr. McCormack was transported to St. John's Hospital in Creve Coeur by St. Charles County Ambulance District. He was listed as having serious personal injury.

The person who caused this Missouri car accident was insured by American Family Insurance Company.

If you have been in a car accident, please contact us for a free evaluation of your case. As always, we never charge anyone for representing them in an injury lawsuit unless we recover compensation for them.

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On October 29, 2007, 52 year old David Barnes of Mountain Grove Missouri was fatally killed when a tractor trailer, driven by Ricky Reed, failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of MO 39 and MO 95 and broadsided Mr. Barnes 2004 Jeep Liberty. Mr. Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene by Wright County Coroner.

It is unknown at this time if the Barnes Family has retained a lawyer to file a Missouri wrongful death lawsuit or make a claim against Mr. Reed's insurance company. If and when they do, we will be sure to update this posting. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Barnes family.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one in a tragic accident, contact the Bradley Law Firm today to speak with a Missouri wrongful death lawyer about your case for free.

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Posted In: Missouri Trucking Accidents

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From a lawyer's perspective in St. Louis, Missouri, it seems like dog bite injury claims and lawsuits are on the rise. Many times, pit bull terrier dogs are to blame for vicious dog bites and attacks. However, today, two American bulldogs were to blame for injuring a 53 year old St. Louis, Missouri man at his home.

According to St. Louis county police officer Tracy Panus, the man was playing with the two dogs when one turned on him and began a vicious attack on him. At that dog attacked, the other dog started to bite him also.

The man suffered personal injury and bites to his arm and leg. During the dog attack, a neighbor shot one of the dogs; the other was later put to sleep by authorities.

The "Missouri Rule" recognizes that in dog bite injury cases, there is a two-tier system of liability, depending upon the dog's dangerous propensities. As to a dog that possesses abnormally dangerous or vicious propensities, the rule is that regardless of what steps are taken to warn or protect from those dangers, of which the owner has actual or constructive knowledge, the owner will be strictly liable for any injuries caused by the dog. When an owner or possessor has a dog that does not possess known vicious dangerous propensities, the rule gives the dog a break, premised upon the motto that a dog is considered "man's best friend." However, under the second rule, an owner or possessor can be held liable for those entering land for foreseeable dangers created by the dog's normally dangerous propensities.

Needless to say, in dog bite cases, the history of the particular dog in question must be extensively researched in order to determine liability. For a free evaluation of your St. Louis dog bite claim, please contact us and speak to a Missouri lawyer today.

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Posted In: Missouri Premises Liability

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Jessica Uhl and her younger sister, Kelli of Collinsville, Illinois were both killed Saturday when an Illinois State trooper lost control of his patrol car, crossed the median and hit them on Highway 64 near Scott Air Force Base.

According to the police, the trooper claimed another unidentified vehicle cut him off, causing him to lose control of his vehicle. The driver of that vehicle has not been identified.

The Uhl sisters were both pronounced dead at the scene. The police officer was listed as being in stable condition at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Jessica and Kelli Uhl were leaving their father's house in Mascoutah, Illinois and were heading to take part in a family photo shoot.

When additional information is released, we will post updated information here. We are extremely interested what the video footage from the patrolman's vehicle reveals as to the identity and/or existence of this phantom vehicle.

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Karrar Abudarb, a 19-year-old immigrant from Iraq and St. Louis, Missouri resident was killed Monday night after a goal post collapsed upon him at Wilmore Park in St. Louis city. This particular park is in a neighborhood called Southampton and is bordered by Chippewa Street, Hampton Avenue, Eichelberger Street, and Kingshighway.

According to his soccer teammates, Mr. Abudarb was doing "chin ups" from the cross beam of the goal post when it gave way. His teammates attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The city claims this was not a goal it put up. It is not quite clear how the metal goalposts got to the park. Initially, the city accused the players of bringing the goalposts to the park. However, numerous witnesses have confirmed the metal goal posts had been there for quite some time. In fact, it now appears the city confirms this is the case as the city has admitted it should have removed the posts prior to this incident.

After this incident, the City of St. Louis ordered the goal posts to be removed and were in fact removed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

At this time, it is not yet clear how the goal post collapsed. It seems this particular post was not secured in the ground.

No wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by a lawyer for Mr. Abudarb's family at this time.

It is unclear whether any other injuries have occurred at this park.

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Posted In: Missouri Premises Liability

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Ajdin Krajina, a 16 year old from Arnold, Missouri was killed and four others were severely injured in a car accident Monday in St. Louis on Highway 55, south of Imperial Main Street. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Krajina was riding as a passenger in a vehicle operated by Michael Pritchett, also of Arnold, Missouri.

Police state the vehicle went off the highway, hit a guardrail and hit a sign. At that point, the car overturned and rolled down an embankment. At some point, all of the occupants were ejected from the car. It is believed none of the occupants were wearing their seat belts, but this has not been confirmed.

Although Mr. Krajina was airlifted to St. John's Mercy in Creve Coeur, Missouri he was pronounced dead at 4:41 a.m.

This Missouri car accident is very sad for the families of all those involved. Numerous studies prove wearing a seat belt is your best line of defense in a rollover type car accident. When a person is ejected from a car, their body is subjected to forces and objects outside of the vehicle, all of which pose a greater danger than if the person was in the vehicle.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon and as we all know this is one of the busiest times of the year for road travel. Please remember to wear your seat belt this holiday season and be safe.

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Rebecca Casson, of University City, Missouri was seriously injured in a car accident in St. Louis County on October 25, 2007. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Ms. Casson was injured as she was traveling on Highway 70 when an unknown vehicle suddenly changed lanes in front another vehicle, causing it to hit the median cable barrier. Ms. Casson's vehicle then hit the rear of that vehicle. After that wreck, another car hit Ms. Casson from the rear.

Ms. Casson was transported to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri by the Normandy, Missouri ambulance. She was listed as having serious personal injuries from this Missouri car accident.

Lawyers must file personal injury lawsuits for car wrecks involving negligence within 5 years from the date the car wreck happened. This is called a statute of limitations. In Missouri, different types of personal injury lawsuits have different statutes of limitations. Contact us to discuss what the statute of limitations is in your particular case.

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As a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri, I always "quarterback" the plays that happen after someone has sustained a serious injury in a car, truck or motorcycle accident. I never get the opportunity to speak with people about how to prevent injury. With the winter months quickly approaching, I thought this would be a good time to remind people of a few things that might help them avoid becoming a personal injury victim this winter. Here are some suggestions I have for Missouri drivers who want to be as safe as possible.

1. Check the tires on your vehicle. All tires should have sufficient tread depth so they have good contact with the ground. Here is a good rule of thumb. Take a penny and stick it within the tread of your tire with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can Lincoln's entire head, you need new tires.

2. Make sure your windshield wiper blades are good. All too often people find themselves out in inclement weather with bad wipers. Bad wipers cannot remove all the snow, ice or water from your windshield.

3. Remember that stopping distances are severely increased when there is snow and ice on the ground. Even with ABS, put more distance between you and the car in front of you so you can compensate for this.

4. When accelerating, do so in a steady, smooth manner to avoid spinning your wheels.

5. If you have traction control, always drive with it on.

6. Make sure your headlamps work and are bright.

7. Make sure you have an emergency kit in your car so if you do find yourself in the need of medical attention, you have the basic necessary items to treat a wound.

8. When entering a turn, do so slowly.

9. Put a blanket in your trunk just in case you find yourself stuck on the road for an extended period of time in the cold.

10. Make sure your car has been serviced to handle cold weather so you don't break down.

Following these ten tips can help you avoid car troubles and car wrecks. Have a safe and happy holiday season and most importantly, drive safe!

Posted by Ryan Bradley | Permalink | Email This Post

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A drunk driver hit and killed a pregnant mother and her boyfriend this morning while they were walking down Missouri Avenue. Granite City, Illinois police announced Shaun A. Meyers, 27 of Caseyville, Illinois was over the legal limit of .08, but did not specifically state how much "over" he was at the time of this car accident. At this time, Mr. Meyers bail is set at $100,000 for the multiple criminal charges filed by the Madison County, Illinois prosecuting attorney.

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Eighty-seven year old Orville Cato died on November 4, 2007 from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on October 11, 2007. Sixteen year old Derek Emerson of Altenburg, Missouri negligently pulled out into the path of Mr. Cato’s vehicle on US 61 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mr. Cato was unable to avoid Mr. Emerson’s vehicle and crashed into it.

Mr. Emerson and his brother Michael sustained only minor personal injuries from this car accident. Unfortunately, Mr. Cato’s injuries were serious enough to hospitalize him for almost a month until he passed away on November 4, 2007 at St. Francis’ Medical Center.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Cato family; our thoughts and prayers are with them.

It is unknown at this time if the Cato family has retained a personal injury lawyer to file a Missouri wrongful death lawsuit or make a claim against Mr. Emerson’s insurance company. If and when they do, we will be sure to update this posting.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, Missouri statute 537.100 requires that you file the lawsuit within three years after the date "the cause of action shall accrue." In recent years, there have been many Missouri wrongful death lawsuits that have questioned when the cause of action really accrues as well as situations where the person who has the right to institute the cause of action is a minor. Each case is different and you should always consult with attorneys who handle wrongful death claims in Missouri to determine when the suit needs to be filed. If you do not, your right to bring the lawsuit could be extinguished.

The Bradley Law Firm has over 30 years of experience in dealing with wrongful death cases. If you have a loved one who was tragically killed in a car accident, contact the Bradley Law Firm to discuss your case for free.

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A common question posed by many of my Missouri personal injury clients is "How much is my personal injury case worth?" Missouri injury attorneys take many different factors into account when determining what an injury is valued at. Here are the things I try to determine when analyzing a client's claim for damages:

* How much have you incurred in medical bills because of this injury?
* How much pain were or are you in after your injury?
* Did you have any pre-existing injuries to the part of the body you hurt in this accident?
* Have you filed any other lawsuits for the same injury?
* Do you need any additional medical treatment and if so will it cause you pain?
* Have you lost income from your injury?
* Will you continue to have lost income into the future because of this injury?
* Are you employable in another field? If so, what could you reasonably make doing that kind of work?
* Do you have any permanent disability from your accident?
* Are there others that depend upon you for support?

These are just some of the questions I ask every client. After assessing these factors, I do research and find past cases like the one I am working on and find out what kind of settlements and verdicts are out there that would compare to that case.

It is also important to take into consideration what venue your personal injury lawsuit will be pending in. Most personal injury lawyers prefer the larger cities because of a perception that urban juries award more money than rural juries.

Determining what an injury claim is worth is arguably one of the hardest things to do as a Missouri personal injury lawyer. However, taking the above factors into consideration are factors that must be evaluated in determining what a personal injury case is valued at.

If you would like us to evaluate your case, please feel free to contact us and we will discuss your personal injury case with you free of charge.

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Posted In: Personal Injury News

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St. Louis Missouri personal injury attorney Ryan Bradley settled a Kentucky man's personal injury claim against a negligent driver for the policy limits of his insurance. Mr. Redd, of Caditz, Kentucky, was operating his truck in Missouri when a negligent driver pulled out in front of his vehicle. Mr. Redd tried to avoid this car accident, but his truck flipped over in the process, resulting in severe injuries to Mr. Redd.

Here are some pictures of Mr. Redd's totalled truck taken some time after the wreck:

Mr. Redd suffered from a bruised lung as well as other injuries after this horrible wreck.

If you have been injured in a car or truck wreck, we will talk to you and your family about your case for free. Contact us and a lawyer will promptly return your email or call.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents

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Two Franklin County Missouri men were killed Monday in a car accident. The Missouri Highway Patrol released the names of the victims as being Anthony Gianino of Ellisville, Missouri and Nathan Hofstetter of Labadie, Missouri.

According to the police, Mr. Gianino was operating his 1993 Mitsubishi 3000 GT on Route T around midnight when his vehicle went off the roadway, turned over and caught fire. Police have not determined whether either of the two men were restrained by a seat belt.

It is unknown whether any phantom vehicles contributed to cause this crash. Missouri personal injury lawyers commonly refer to vehicles that cause wrecks and disappear forever as "phantom vehicles." In lawsuits where phantom vehicles cause car wrecks, personal injury lawyers will add the insured's own insurance company as a defendant in the personal injury lawsuit to recover uninsured motorist policy benefits.

Missouri public policy requires all drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage with limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. The public policy behind this statute is to ensure all motorists have this amount of coverage in the event they are in a car crash with phantom vehicles or cars that are uninsured.

If you have any questions about insurance coverage or lawsuits against insurance companies in Missouri or Illinois, please call us toll free at (888)STL-INJURY or locally at (314)518-8321 to discuss your case for free.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents

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