Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

Two Richmond, Missouri women were hospitalized with serious injuries Friday after their car crashed into a trailer that had become unhitched on Missouri Route O.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s initial crash report, Kelly Lee, 42, and Jacey Lee, 19, were traveling northbound on Route O in a 1996 Chevrolet. A trailer that was being towed by Taylor Earnest, 47, who was traveling southbound in a 2004 Ford, became unhitched. The loose trailer then crossed lanes and collided with Lee’s vehicle.

Both Jacey and Kelly Lee sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Centerpoint Hospital.

According to the investigating officer’s notes, no arrests were made and there was no mention of a citation being issued at the scene.

The Lee’s would be well advised to contact a Missouri auto accident lawyer to help them with their case. Drivers are liable for anything that may come off their car while on the roads. Any trash or large debris that falls off the back of a car can cause serious personal injury. Many times, though, the driver at fault simply leaves the scene because he didn’t want to deal with cleanup or simply didn’t realize he lost the debris. In this case, the driver who lost the trailer apparently stopped and was cooperative, but he still may be liable for damages. More investigation by a personal injury attorney will be necessary to determine whether Earnest was negligent in hitching his trailer or if there was some mechanical failure that caused the hitch to break.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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Three people were injured Wednesday afternoon in a two-car Missouri accident on Highway 5 near Camdenton, Missouri.

The accident occurred when a 1997 Ford, driven by Cecil Warren, 44, attempted to make a left turn onto Highway 5. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 1988 Toyota, driven by David Johnson, 45, struck the side of Warren’s car as it tried to make the turn.

Warren was seriously injured and taken to Lake Regional Hospital. Johnson suffered less serious injuries, but still required treatment at Lake Regional. A passenger in Warren’s car, Lisa Essery, 43, was also hurt and taken to University Hospital in Columbia.

Warren and Johnson were wearing seatbelts while Essery was not.

The best thing those involved can do for themselves is secure the help of a Missouri car accident attorney. It is not clear from the initial crash report who would be at fault in this accident and more investigation by a qualified personal injury lawyer will be necessary to prove negligence. Factors such as the speeds of both vehicles will be discovered to expand upon the initial crash report and get a clearer view of the accident

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents

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Michael Eades, 46, was seriously injured Tuesday morning after an accident involving three vehicles on Interstate 270 near Gravois Road.

According to the initial crash report, Eades was heading north on I-270 in a 1996 Dodge Neon alongside a 2001 Ford Expedition, driven by Robert Haul, 54. Haul attempted to change lanes, but lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the path of both Eades’ car and a third vehicle, a 1996 Dodge Avenger driven by Sarah Kapri, 28. Eades attempted to avoid the collision, but his car made contact with both Haul and Kapri’s vehicles.

Eades was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center for treatment. While their vehicles were damaged, neither Haul nor Kapri suffered serious injury, according to the investigating officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

What complicates this case from a car accident attorney’s perspective is the fact that there were three vehicles and the initial crash report is not clear as to exactly what transpired. The drivers involved would be well advised to seek the counsel of a St. Louis area personal injury attorney who will be able to investigate the case and determine who is liable for the damages.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents

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A two-car Missouri injury accident on Highway 71 sent five people to the hospital on Monday afternoon, four with serious injuries.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Raymond Weaver, 44, lost control of his 1995 Ford while driving south on Highway 71. Weaver apparently lost control because of icy road conditions and ran off the left side of the road across the median. Weaver’s vehicle continued into the northbound lanes where it struck a 2004 Chevy, driven by Robert Brooks, 29.

Weaver and a passenger in his vehicle, Kenneth Phillips, 19, were both seriously injured. Michelle Brooks, 33, and Kipton Brooks, 7, were also seriously injured as passengers in the northbound Chevy. Robert Brooks escaped with relatively minor injuries. All drivers and passengers were taken to Nevada Regional Hospital for treatment.

Of all those involved, only young Kipton Brooks was wearing a seatbelt.

While the road conditions were icy, that will not be an excuse should a personal injury lawyer be called and a lawsuit filed. If a driver is negligent in losing control of his vehicle on a slick road, he may still be liable for damages. Those injured in car accidents, icy roads or not, should consult a car accident attorney as soon as possible.

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There are a lot of myths and half-truths floating around about personal injury law. Usually these so-called “facts” are based on second and third hand stories of lawsuits and bad advice from unqualified advisors. Perhaps there’s even been too much Hollywoodizing of the legal process.

Wherever these myths are born, they can steer people in the wrong direction and bad legal advice can cost people money they desperately need to pay for medical bills after an accident.
Here are some of the most common myths:

Myth: Filing a personal injury claim will result in a long and hotly contested legal battle.

Fact: A lot of personal injury claims don’t even make it to the courtroom. Most are settled out of court and often within a year since the claim was first filed. Only complicated cases take longer than a year and those types of cases are rarer than you might think.

Myth: If you know you were not at fault, you will be compensated for your injuries.

Fact: Knowing you deserve legal compensation is not the same as proving you deserve legal compensation. You could be totally right and deserve to have damages paid, but if you do not seek the legal counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney, you could be in for trouble. A qualified lawyer who knows the laws of your state will be your best bet to represent you against the insurance companies.

You should also contact a lawyer even if you believe you were at fault. Many states have systems of proportional liability meaning in the eyes of the law, multiple parties contributed to the accident or injury. In some cases you may still receive compensation.

Myth: You have to wait to receive medical attention until you file your claim.

Fact: I’m not sure where this rumor started, but it’s wrong for two very important reasons. First, you shouldn’t wait in suffering from injury or illness caused by another’s negligence. Go get help! The other reason is that if you delay treatment, it may affect the outcome of your case. Your treatment should be handled quickly and in a manner appropriate for the injury.

Myth: Personal injury lawsuits will get you millions of dollars.

Fact: This is a myth that is probably started by the excessive amounts of media coverage given to a small number of exceptional cases. The overwhelming majority of cases are not multi-million dollar blockbusters. Personal injury lawsuits are not “get rich quick” schemes. They are designed to help people cover medical expenses after traumatic injuries and occasionally assess punitive damages to deter future injury.

Myth: You don’t really need a personal injury lawyer.

Fact: Some people choose to simply go it alone and accept the amount offered by insurance companies. You should know, though, that an insurance company is going to look out for itself and may not pay you the amount you’re entitled to. Even if you aren’t sure you want to hire a lawyer, you should consult one before you make any decisions just to make sure you know all your rights. Many firms, like ours, offer free consultations. We also don’t take any up front payments. We only take a fee if we are successful in representing your case.

Myth: You only have ___ years to file a lawsuit.

Fact: Statute of limitation laws vary from state to state and depend on the type of claim you are seeking. Refer to this article we published on our website for some basic information and if you still have questions, feel free to contact our office.

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Posted In: Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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Four people were hospitalized Friday afternoon after a four-car collision on Missouri 291.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol initial crash report indicates the Missouri car crash occurred when Ryan Robinson, 19, crossed the center line of the highway in his 1990 Chevrolet Corsica.

Robinson’s vehicle hit two oncoming vehicles, a 1999 Toyota Rav 4 and a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Stephanie Todd, 52. A fourth vehicle, a 2001 Pontiac driven by Deanna Whiting, 29, was unable to avoid the pile up and also struck Robinson’s car.

Robinson suffered serious injuries and was taken to Research Main Hospital for treatment. Whiting also needed immediate medical attention, but was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital. Todd and a passenger in her vehicle suffered minor injuries, but refused treatment at the scene.

All those involved were wearing seatbelts.

Charges are pending, according to the Highway Patrol.

Once the Highway Patrol officially files charges, we’ll have a better idea of liability in this case. A Missouri car accident lawyer will use any citations and gathered information to make sure that any negligence on the part of the drivers will be revealed. In complicated cases like this one where there are multiple vehicles and separate collisions, it is even more important to secure the services of an experience personal injury attorney.

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Judy Simon, 48, and Jason Procter, 20, were both injured Wednesday evening after a two car crash on Missouri 59 near Diamond, Missouri.

The initial crash report on file with the Missouri State Highway patrol says the accident occurred when Simon attempted to make a left turn in her 1994 Dodge Caravan. Before she could make the turn, Simon was rear-ended by a 2003 Hyundai Elentra, driven by Jordan Koch, 19.

Procter was a passenger in Koch’s car and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Freeman West Hospital for treatment. Simon suffered moderate injuries and was also taken to Freeman West Hospital. Koch did not suffer any serious injuries, according to the investigating officer.

Since this is a rear-end collision, a legal doctrine may apply that says the negligence of the at-fault driver is assumed. All a car accident lawyer called in to represent the victims would have to do is prove that the doctrine was applicable to this case.

The victims would be well advised to quickly contact a personal injury attorney. These matters are time sensitive, and even though the initial crash report is on file, more investigation must be done to fill in the details of the case. Initial crash reports are considered hearsay in court and need to be corroborated by further investigation.

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Paul Glaus, 66, was killed Tuesday when his pickup crashed into a tractor trailer on Highway 61 near Sikeston, Missouri.

The initial crash report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident occurred when the big rig, driven by Tony McCoy, 41, attempted to pass Glaus’ pickup. As the tractor trailer was passing, Glaus attempted to make a left hand turn and pulled in the path of McCoy’s Freightliner.

Glaus and a passenger, Matthew Marshall, 27, were taken St. Francis Medical center for treatment. Glaus was pronounced dead there at 11:45 a.m. Marshall survived the crash, but suffered serious injuries. McCoy was also treated for minor injuries.

Neither Glaus nor Marshall was wearing a seatbelt.

More details still need to be examined by authorities and a Missouri trucking accident attorney before liability can be determined in this tragic accident. Information about how fast each driver was going has not been released and it is not clear which driver is at-fault. The initial crash report has only a very brief description of the accident and no citations were issued by the investigating officer. A personal injury attorney would look at the results of the accident reconstruction as well as the truck driver’s personal logs to determine if either driver was negligent and caused the crash.

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Posted In: Missouri Trucking Accidents

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The second thought that goes through many people’s heads after a car accident is usually related to insurance. The most important thing after an accident, of course, is to make sure that you and anybody involved is treated for injuries, but soon the questions start to rise. How much is this going to cost? Am I covered for this? How do I find out if I’m covered?

Here is a list of some of the most common car insurance questions:

Are others covered if they drive my car?

What happens if somebody without insurance hits me?

The answer to all of these questions is…it depends. Many car insurance companies are different and the laws regarding minimum coverage change from state to state. The best way to find out is to examine your policy or call your agent before you get into an accident.

If you are involved in a Missouri or Illinois car accident and still don’t know the answer to these or any other questions, there are people that can help you. You should immediately contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer that is well versed in the specific laws of your state. Bring any information with you that you have on your policy and your attorney will help navigate the details. The important thing is to ask for help. Don’t try to go up against an insurance company if you only think you understand the policy.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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Cory Ramsey, 16, was killed and two other were seriously injured Friday evening in a two car accident on North Goodes Mill Road in Franklin County, Missouri.

According to the investigating officer from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when Bryant Vetter, 16, lost control of his 2004 Cavalier while traveling southbound on North Goodes Mill Road. Vetter’s car crossed the center line where it struck a Dodge Ram pickup, driven by Robert Riegal, 56, head on.

Ramsey, a passenger in Vetter’s car, was pronounced dead at the scene. Vetter and Riegal were taken to St. John’s Hospital in Washington, Missouri for treatment.

None of the three people involved were wearing a seatbelt.

The initial crash report did not say what could have caused Vetter to head into oncoming traffic. It also did not say that a citation was issued to either driver. An experienced St. Louis area personal injury lawyer would follow up and expand on the information in the initial crash report. He would look for any signs of mechanical failure as well as driver error and determine whose negligence caused this tragic accident.

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An Amtrak train crashed into a garbage truck on Thursday becoming the second accident in just over a month involving an Amtrak train hitting another vehicle.

According to local media reports, the train had left St. Louis and was heading north toward Chicago. The train hit the garbage truck at a railroad crossing near Carlinville, Illinois. The crossing was equipped with warning lights and bells, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Several passengers and an Amtrak employee were taken to local hospitals for treatment and then released. The garbage truck driver, working for Waste Management Inc., was also taken to an Illinois hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing. Authorities do not know why the garbage truck was in the path of the train and witnesses claim that the warning lights were working, according to the Post Dispatch report.

This accident is very similar to the one we reported on last month in which ten people were injured in an Amtrak train crash. None of the injuries in that accident were serious, but if accidents like these continue to occur, it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or killed. Sometimes personal injury lawyers with train accident experience are called in to investigate and find that the intersection warning lights are not functioning or the intersection is not safe in some other way. These kinds of errors, if they exist, need to be pointed out and corrected.

For your own safety, don’t ever try to beat a train at a crossing. If you are involved in an accident either in a car or while riding on the train itself, you should take notes on the incident that may be able to help any authorities called in to investigate. You should also contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

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Michael Frick, 44, was seriously injured Monday after being rear-ended on Highway 61 in Jefferson County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Frick was traveling northbound on Highway 61 in a 1993 Ford Ranger when he was hit from behind by a 2005 Ford F350, driven by Michael Krampf, 26. After being hit, Frick’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck the side of a third vehicle, a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven by Patricia Kirchner, 58.

Frick suffered serious injuries and was taken to Madison Memorial Hospital for treatment. Neither Krampf nor Kirchner suffered any serious injuries, according to the investigating officer.

More investigation than the just the initial crash report is needed, but if all these details are true, Krampf might be liable for the damages in this Missouri car accident. Generally in rear end collisions a doctrine applies saying that negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver. This is because all drivers should be in control of their vehicle at all times. All a Missouri personal injury lawyer would have to do is prove that the doctrine applied in this case.

Before making any conclusions, however, the case should be examined by a personal injury attorney that specializes in car accidents. Initial crash reports are just that, the initial findings of the investigating officer. Without further evidence to back them up they are often considered hearsay in court.

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Photo from STLtoday.com

A six-month investigation into a gruesome tractor trailer crash on Highway 40 is nearly complete, but some details are already being released by the media.

The accident in question was one we reported on last July where a tractor trailer crashed into a line of cars stopped in traffic on Highway 40 near the I-270 interchange. A total of 10 cars were crushed or knocked aside by the powerful truck and the accident resulted in three deaths and 15 injuries.

An investigation is ongoing, but according to a St. Louis Post Dispatch story the Missouri Highway Patrol has already finished its 140 page report. In it, the Highway Patrol said the truck driver, Jeffrey Knight, was inattentive and distracted by a cell phone. Knight said he reached across the dashboard to grab his cell phone just before the accident. This goes with other media reports that were released at the time of the accident that said Knight was distracted before the tragic Missouri crash.

The Post Dispatch also said the Highway Patrol reviewed Knight’s log books and ordered a federal audit of Holmes Transport, the company that employed Knight. Several motor carrier violations were found, according to a Highway Patrol spokeswoman quoted in the Post Dispatch.

No charges have been filed and one more report from an investigating officer must be filed. If all these claims turn out to be true, Knight could be prosecuted for criminal negligence. He and his company are already the target of civil lawsuits as five victims of the crash have contacted tractor trailer accident attorneys.

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Posted In: Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Missouri Trucking Accidents , Personal Injury News

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Dustin Reed, 21, was killed Friday while riding a moped on Missouri 47 in Franklin County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Reed was traveling southbound in front of a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by Scott Pelton, 17. Reed and his moped began to drift across the center line just before making a right turn at Mooreland Drive. As Reed was making the turn, his moped was struck on the right side by Pelton’s Blazer. Reed was thrown from his moped and the Blazer ran off the roadway, struck a street sign, and came to rest in a ditch.

Reed was pronounced dead at the scene. Pelton suffered no major injuries, according to the investigating officer.

The dangers of moped and motorcycle riding are well known. Each year, nearly 5,000 people die in motorcycle or moped accidents. A person is 35 times more likely to die in a crash on a motorcycle as opposed to riding in a passenger car. Crashes are often caused because other drivers simply don’t see the motorcyclist on the roadway.

Mopeds and motorcycles might have their unique risks, but that does not mean riders lose their right to recover damages in an accident. Many times insurance companies will try to say a rider was at least partially at fault for an accident. The personal injury attorney representing the rider will then have to examine all the details including tire skid marks, vehicle speed and road conditions to expose negligence on the part of the other drivers.

If you or a loved one are injured in a motorcycle or moped accident, you must act quickly. Keep good documentation of the events of the crash and call an experienced St. Louis moped or motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.

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Posted In: Missouri Motorcycle Accidents

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Mitchell Bleile, 23, was killed and two others were seriously injured Wednesday afternoon in a two-car wreck on Highway 47.

The initial crash report, filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, says the Eastern Missouri car accident occurred when Daniel Barbosa, 51, failed to stop his 2009 Dodge Charger at a stop sign on the intersection of Highway 47 and Route A. The Charger was hit on the passenger side by a 1984 Ford Van, driven by Perle Avery, 62.

Bleile was a passenger in Barbosa’s car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Barbosa and Avery both suffered serious injury and were flown to St. John’s Mercy in St. Louis.

It appears that Barbosa may have been negligent in not stopping at the stop sign, but the accident will still be investigated by a team of accident reconstructionists. They will flesh out the details from the initial crash report and their investigation will be used by a St. Louis car accident lawyer, should one be called in to handle the case.

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A large chain reaction accident on Highway 412 sent three people to the hospital, one with serious injuries, on Monday. A total of eight cars were involved in the accident.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as traffic began to back-up because of a previous Missouri car accident. Leslie Hill, 69, was traveling westbound approaching the backed up traffic and failed to stop. Her 2007 Volvo hit the line of cars causing a chain reaction.

Terry Grant, 36, was in a 1997 GMC pickup and was the first vehicle struck by Hill’s car. Grant was seriously injured and taken to Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Missouri. Two others were injured in separate cars. Thomas Russell, 33, and Margaret Young, 53, were both taken to Twin Rivers for treatment.

Hill did not suffer any serious injuries according to the investigating officer.

Typically, in a chain reaction type crash, all drivers are responsible for the vehicle in front of them. This is because all drivers should leave a safe distance in between cars when stopped or in motion. Many factors still need to be examined by an experienced Missouri car accident lawyer, though, before any conclusions can be made.

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Photo from Chicago Tribune

Two people were killed in a plane crash on Thursday at an airport near Joliet, Illinois.

Authorities have identified the victims as Stuart Seffern, 50, and Deborah Loiselle, 52. They were flying a small, single-engine Lancair 360 plane and apparently crashed trying to land at Joliet Regional Airport. Since the airport is uncontrolled, pilots land without communicating with the ground and no distress calls were received by radio.

FAA and NTSB officials are investigating the crash to determine exactly what went wrong and whether the crash was the result of pilot error or a mechanical failure.

Lancair planes are smaller and typically purchased in kits for home assembly. Some of the main fuselage sections come pre-assembled from the Lancair Company, but everything else, including cockpit instrumentation, is assembled by the plane’s owner. This particular plane was originally owned by the Lantzair Flyers Club, of which Sefferen had been president, but was later purchased by Sefferen and a friend.

There were clear skies around the airport at the time of the crash and officials doubt the plane could have struck power lines or trees as the airport is in the middle of large clearing.

Local news outlets are reporting that witnesses have called in saying the plane burst into flames in mid-air as it approached the runway. These reports have not been confirmed by officials.

A series of other recent Lancair crashes prompted investigation by FAA officials, NTSB officials and personal injury attorneys. The NTSB reports that there have been 122 Lancair crashes in the U.S. since 1989 resulting in 92 deaths.

The report does state that despite the home assembly of most of the planes, pilot error rather than mechanical failure was to blame in a majority of the crashes.

Still, anybody involved in a plane crash should contact an experienced aviation accident lawyer to discuss their rights.

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Posted In: Missouri Airplane Crashes

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Photo from STLToday.com

Three Jefferson County residents, a father and his two children, were killed Friday morning in a fire at their house.

According to a St. Louis Post Dispatch report, the fire broke out sometime before 4:45 a.m. at the home of James and Deena Manning near DeSoto. The fire caused several explosions that woke the couple up and they fled the house. James Manning ran back into the home to rescue their children, ages 11 and 7, but the house was quickly engulfed in flames and James Manning and the two children were killed.

Deena Manning is in critical condition at St. John’s Hospital.

The explosions were likely caused by propane tanks used for a barbecue grill, but investigators don’t believe that’s how the fire started, according to the Post Dispatch. State Fire Marshall workers have been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

The death of these three people is certainly a tragic event, but the heroism showed by James Manning to re-enter the house is especially moving. Hopefully the cause of the fire can be identified so that future tragedies like this can be avoided.

No details about how the fire could have started have been released, but James Manning’s job involved inspecting fire alarm systems so one could assume that he was knowledgeable about fire safety. This could mean that the fire was started by some unforeseen electrical malfunction or some other sort of malfunctioning device in the house. If investigators find that some negligently installed wiring was the cause, Deena Manning may be entitled to compensation. Anyone injured in a fire injury should contact a St. Louis personal injury attorney to investigate their case and learn their rights.

National Fire Protection Association statistics say that more than 3,000 people die in fire accidents each year and 15,000 suffer serious injury. A vast majority of these accidents occur in homes. Everybody should make sure that they have smoke detectors on every floor of their home as well as extra detectors around bedrooms. Heaters, lamps, and fireplaces are often the cause of fires and should be checked to make sure they do not become a hazard. Again, if you are injured in a fire accident, finding a Missouri personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is very important because you may be entitled to compensation and valuable evidence may be lost if you wait too long.

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