Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

A Franklin County Missouri accident injured two Missourians on May 29, 2011. The Missouri red light car accident occurred on Highway 100 at Route M.

Aaron Mitchell, a 21 year old from St. Charles, failed to yield at a red light at the intersection of Highway 100 and Route M. Mitchell crashed his 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 into the side of a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Janie R. Frick of Villa Ridge. Both the Toyota and the GMC were totaled. The vehicles had to be towed away from the scene of the accident. Both drivers were injured in the Missouri red light car accident. Frick was seriously injured whereas Mitchell suffered moderate injuries. Both of them were taken to St. John’s in Creve Coeur, Missouri by Meramec ambulance.

Missouri red light car accidents often result in serious injury. Red light accidents that occur in intersections are often Missouri side impact car accidents. In a recent year, over 12,000 Missourians were seriously injured in side impact car accidents. In fact, side impact car accidents resulted in death for 250 Missourians that same year. The design of passenger vehicles provides less protection against side collisions than against front end collisions. Passenger cars typically have crumple zones and air bags to protect the body from absorbing the full impact of a front impact collision. Cars lack side crumple and side curtain airbags are not standard in most vehicles. These factors encourage municipal and state governments to decrease the number of side impact car accidents caused by running a red light.

To decrease the occurrence of red light accidents, many jurisdictions have begun using controversial Missouri red light cameras. Red light cameras sense when a vehicle runs a red light. When a vehicle runs a red light, the camera takes a photo. The photo typically captures the vehicle’s license plate but some red light cameras will capture the vehicle operator’s face. An automatic ticket for the traffic violation is issued to the owner of the car.

Governments pass laws prohibiting running a red light to deter that dangerous behavior and the resulting car accidents. Running a red light violates Missouri statute §304.281, the regulation that sets rules for traffic controlled by light signals. According to Missouri law, vehicles facing a steady red symbol must stop before entering the intersection. Unless marked otherwise, vehicles may make a right turn on a red light but must still yield the right of way to proceeding traffic.

Continue reading " Franklin County Red Light Accident Injures Two " »

Two residents of Nixa, Missouri were injured in a Barry County three vehicle accident on May 25, 2011 at 12:54 pm. The Missouri car crash occurred on MO-37, south of Monett, Missouri. The destructive three car accident was a Missouri rear end accident and a Missouri front impact car accident.

Whitney K. Hilton stopped a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire to wait to make a left turn off MO-37. As Hilton waited, Filiberto Rodriguez crashed into the rear of Hilton’s vehicle in a 2002 Pontiac. Rodriguez continued driving and crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic. Rodriguez crashed head on into the 2008 Toyota driven by Parvaz Akhtar. Rodriguez’s Pontiac and Akhtar’s Toyota were totaled in the Missouri car accident. Hilton’s Pontiac only sustained minor damage.

Two Nixa residents were injured in the Missouri car accident. Parvaz Akhtar and his occupant Yasmin Akhtar suffered serious injuries. Parvaz Akhtar was transported by ambulance to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Yasmin Akhtar was airlifted to Freeman West in Joplin.

Accidents that combine front end and rear end collisions are especially dangerous because they combine the injurious characteristics of both types of accidents. Missouri front end collisions tend to occur at higher speeds than other types of car accidents. Moreover, cars may go from full speed to 0 mph in less than a second. The sudden change in velocity results in strong, destructive forces on the body, resulting in serious injury or death.

Missouri rear impact car accidents may result in serious “whiplash” injuries affecting the neck and back. Spinal injuries may not always exhibit noticeable symptoms immediately after the accident. An accident victim may have spinal fractures or disc bulges without knowing. An accident victim should always accept medical treatment after collision in case of unknown injury. X-rays can reveal the injuries that an accident victim may not feel.

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A Ripley County Missouri car accident injured five residents from the towns of Doniphan and Fairdealing. The Missouri u-turn car accident occurred on May 21, 2011 at 10:25 am.

Sue K. Sanford, 51, drove on Brooks Lane three miles east of Doniphan in Ripley County. Sanford made a U-turn in a 1998 Pontiac. As Sanford turned, she was struck by a 2002 Mitsubishi driven by James E. Bozeman, 68. The Pontiac was totaled while the Mitsubishi sustained extensive damage.

Five people were injured in the Missouri car accident. Sanford suffered moderate injuries and her occupant Jonathan C. Wilkerson sustained minor injuries. The Doniphan residents were taken to the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center by ambulance. 13-year-old Christin D. Sanford, an occupant in Sue Sanford’s vehicle, suffered serious injuries. Airevac transported her to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Bozeman and his occupant Dorothy M. Bozeman suffered minor injuries. The Fairdealing residents were taken to Ripley County Memorial Hospital via ambulance.

Missouri u-turn accidents highlight the importance of defensive driving skills. U-turn accidents are often caused by a passive driving attitude. The driver completing the u-turn may not have been vigilant in considering whether there was enough clearance to complete the turn. Other drivers may not notice which type of turn is being completed and fail to adjust their speed or direction to accommodate a u-turn. Passive driving increases the risk of Missouri car accidents.

Missouri defensive driving courses reduce the risk of accidents by teaching drivers how to anticipate dangerous conditions and avoid collisions. Classic driver’s education courses generally teach drivers the basic rules of the road. Missouri defensive driving courses give drivers the skills to go beyond the basic mechanics of driving to proactively avoid collisions. For example, a traditional driver’s education course may discuss whether a u-turn is legal. A defensive driving course teaches drivers how to safely react to an illegal or unexpected u-turn in a manner than avoids a car accident. Drivers at any age or level of experience should consider taking a defensive driving course.

Continue reading " Ripley County Collision Injures Doniphan and Fairdealing Residents " »

Shyan M. Clark from Fulton, Missouri was injured in a Callaway County Missouri rear impact car accident on Missouri Route J. The Missouri chain reaction car accident occurred on May 17, 2011 at 5:15pm.

According to a corrected crash report, James R. Allen, 33, was stopped in a 2003 Saturn behind a vehicle making a left turn. Deborah J. Roberts, 55, failed to stop her 2005 Lincoln before reaching Allen’s vehicle. Roberts slammed her Lincoln into Allen’s Saturn. Shelly Basnett, 40, then struck Robert’s Lincoln in the rear, causing Robert to strike Allen a second time. A 2001 Chevrolet driven by Renee M. Knipfel then crashed into Basnett’s vehicle. All of the drivers were from Fulton, Missouri except Knipfel. Knipfel was from Auxvasse, Missouri.

Shyan M. Clark, age 12, of Fulton, Missouri sustained the only reported injuries in the Missouri rear impact car accident. Clark suffered moderate injuries. She was taken by an ambulance to Callaway County Hospital. The Fulton girl was not wearing her seatbelt during the accident. Clark was an occupant in the Dodge Stratus driven by Basnett.

Missouri child restraint law requires children under the age of 15 to wear a seat belt while in an operating vehicle. Missouri children must wear a seat belt regardless of their position in the vehicle (e.g. either the front seat or the back seat). Unlike the Missouri seat belt law for adults, Missouri’s child restraint law is a primary enforcement law. The child restraint law’s primary enforcement status means that law enforcement officers can and will pull over vehicles solely because a child is not properly restrained by a safety device like a seat belt, car seat or booster seat. There are few exemptions to Missouri’s child restraint law: namely agricultural purposes and parades.

Missouri’s child restraint law decreases the risk of serious injury and death for a child involved in a Missouri car accident. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 184,000 children sustain bodily injuries in car accidents in a year. Studies indicate that seat belt laws effectively reduce the car accident injuries of children. The CDC further recommends that children ages 12 and younger avoid sitting in the front seat of a vehicle. Sitting in the back seat eliminates the risk of child injury caused by airbags, the forces of which a smaller body has trouble absorbing without injury. Child appropriate safety devices and smart choices for children save countless lives each year.

Continue reading " Callaway County Change Reaction Accident Injures Fulton Girl " »

A Miller County car accident injured two women from Rocky Mount, Missouri on Route W, roughly half a mile north of Kristy Road. The Missouri car accident occurred on May 12, 2011 at 11:03am.

Mary D. Harris, 73, caused the Missouri car accident when she crossed the centerline of Missouri Route W while traveling northbound. Harris drove a 2009 Chrysler off the left side of the road, striking the ground. Harris’ vehicle crashed into a mailbox. The Missouri car accident ended when Harris’ vehicle slammed into a parked 2002 Toyota. Margaret D. Erickson, 54, was in the parked Toyota. Both women were from Rocky Mount, Missouri.

Erickson suffered moderate injuries while inside the parked car during the accident. Harris sustained serious injuries. Both women were taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance. The Chrysler and Toyota were totaled and had to be towed from the scene of the accident.

Missouri law prohibits any driver from leaving the scene of an accident without giving proper information to certain parties. In fact, Missouri statute §577.060 makes leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident a crime. When drivers cause damage to a person or property in a Missouri parked car accident, they cannot leave unless they have left their name, residence including street number and city, motor vehicle number, and driver’s license number. Drivers must give their information to the accident victim or a police officer before they can legally leave the scene of the accident. If neither the accident victim nor a police officer is available, at-fault drivers must give their information to the nearest police station, or a judicial officer.

Leaving the scene of an accident without giving information to the proper parties is always a crime in the state of Missouri. The violation is elevated to a class D felony if the accident caused physical injury to another person or if the accident damages property worth more than $1,000 dollars. Its designation as a potential felony shows that leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Missouri. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident many even result in imprisonment.

Continue reading " Miller County Crash Injures Two, Damages Property " »

A St. Louis woman died in a St. Louis County Missouri car accident on northbound I-55 near Union Road. The St. Louis front impact car accident occurred on May 14, 2011 at 11:50pm.

Hai M. Pham, 46, drove the wrong way on northbound I-55 in a 2006 Toyota Sienna into oncoming traffic late Saturday night. Pham crashed head on into a 2000 Toyota Camry driven by John D. Casalone, 51.

Casalone died in the St. Louis Missouri front end collision. Casalone’s fatality was pronounced at the scene of the accident by Brian Torno of the Mehlville Fire Department near midnight. Casalone’s next of kin has been notified. Pham was seriously injured in the St. Louis Missouri front end accident. He was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center by Lemay ambulance. Neither of the men wore a safety device during the accident.

When a fatal car accident is caused by carelessness or misconduct, the accident victim’s family can file a successful wrongful death claim. Missouri wrongful death law creates classes of relatives who can bring a wrongful death suit for compensation. Class (1) is comprised of the spouses, the children, the lineal descendants such as grandchildren, and the parents of the deceased accident victim. Class (1) family members are the first relatives entitled to compensation after a wrongful death. If there are no class (1) relatives, then class (2) relatives may be entitled to compensation. Class (2) includes the deceased’s brothers and sisters and their descendants.

Relatives may recover compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills, and the pain and suffering that the deceased endured from the onset of the accident until death. The family members of the accident victim may additionally recover the reasonable value of services, consortium, companionship and support that the deceased provided. Missouri wrongful death law is complex. Experienced legal representation is critical obtaining compensation after a loved one dies in an accident caused by carelessness.

Continue reading " St. Louis Woman Dies in Fatal Head On Car Accident " »

A Curryville man died in a Pike County Missouri pedestrian accident on May 11, 2011 at 6:10pm. The Missouri pedestrian accident occurred on Missouri Route M at Pike County Road 457.

Samuel E. Borntrager was killed in a Missouri pedestrian accident. The 12-year-old boy was from Curryville, Missouri. Borntrager attempted to cross rural Route M when he was struck by a 1989 Ford F150 pickup truck. The F150 was driven by James C. Bufford, a 66-year-old man from Curryville, Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol did not report any injuries for Bufford. Borntrager’s next of kin has been notified.

Thousands of pedestrians are killed each year in auto accidents. Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association estimates that roughly 75,000 pedestrians are injured in auto accidents each year. The enormity of the damage caused by Missouri pedestrian accidents means that Missouri accident lawyers must be aware of the traffic ordinances and tort laws that affect the cases of their injured clients.

A pedestrian victim’s claim may be affected by the doctrine of comparative negligence. A pedestrian accident is occasionally the result of negligent behavior of both the driver and the pedestrian. According to the doctrine of comparative negligence, if the court finds the pedestrian is partially at fault for the accident, the court reduces the pedestrian’s damage award. The attorney for the negligent driver may raise the defense of comparative negligence and argue that the pedestrian victim was partially at fault for the accident. The driver’s attorney will argue that the pedestrian caused the accident by jaywalking or disobeying a traffic control device such as a stop sign. If the court agrees, the pedestrian’s damage award may be reduced by as much as 99% in Missouri.

Pedestrian accident victims need skilled plaintiff lawyers to represent them. A good Missouri accident plaintiff attorney will investigate the facts of the Missouri pedestrian accident to find evidence of the driver’s negligence. The plaintiff lawyer will argue that the driver was at fault for the accident, not the pedestrian.

Continue reading " Pike County Pedestrian Accident Kills Curryville Boy " »

A Miller County Missouri car accident caused a quadruple fatality and injured 2 additional people on May 8, 2011 at 10:43am. The Missouri side impact car accident occurred on MO-42 at Hawken Cemetery Road.

22-year-old Murali Bottu, a resident of Rolla, Missouri, lost control of his 1997 Toyota Camry while driving westbound on MO-42. Bottu crossed the centerline of the roadway. Bottu then overcorrected and the Toyota flipped sideways on the road. A 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Darren J. Denter struck Bottu’s sideways vehicle on the passenger side. The force of the Missouri side impact collision pushed both vehicles off the roadway. Both vehicles were totaled by the accident. The vehicles were towed from the scene of the accident.

Four young adult residents of Rolla, Missouri – all occupants in Bottu’s Toyota – were killed in the Missouri side impact car accident. 22-year-old Sri H. Chittury (from Visakhapatnam, India), 23-year-old Dheeraj Gudlawar (from Hyderabad, India), 21-year-old Srikanth Ravi (from Hyderabad, India) and 24-year-old Srupun Velumula (from Karimnagar, India) were all pronounced at the scene of the accident by Miller County Coroner Rick Callahan at 12:10pm. Driver Bottu was seriously injured in the accident. He was life flighted to the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Missouri for medical treatment. Driver Denter refused medical attention at the scene of the accident. Denter’s passenger, Robert E. Davis of Cedar Hill, was taken by Miller County ambulance to the Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, Missouri.

When a death is caused by negligence, carelessness, or misconduct, it constitutes a “wrongful death.” Missouri wrongful death statutes allow certain family members to recover whatever damages the accident victim could have “if death had not ensued” in the accident. For example, if the accident victim experienced pain and suffering as a result of the accident before passing away, certain members of his family could recover for that pain and suffering.

If the accident victim was an occupant, he is not barred from suing his driver. Status as a foreign citizen does not preclude recovery either. If a foreign citizen is the victim of a Missouri car accident, certain members of his family may still obtain compensation through Missouri wrongful death statutes.

Continue reading " Quadruple Fatality of Rolla Residents in Miller County Accident " »

A Jefferson County rear impact car accident killed a teenager from Bonne Terre, Missouri. The Missouri rear end car accident injured an additional seven people from Festus, Bonne Terre, French Village, and Crystal City. The Missouri car accident occurred on May 1, 2011 at 12:10pm.

The accident occurred as two vehicles were stopped at a red light on southbound US-67 at Meyer Road: a 2005 Chevrolet Impala driven by Michael A. Rayfield from Festus, Missouri and a 1997 Ford Escort driven by Holly J. Duncan. Daniel B. Torrence, driving a 2008 Pontiac G8, failed to stop. Torrence crashed into the rear of Duncan’s Ford in the Missouri rear end collisions. The force of the accident caused Duncan’s Ford to crash into the rear of Rayfield’s Chevrolet.

Thomas A. Duncan, age 15, from Bonne Terre, Missouri suffered the only fatality in the Missouri three vehicle car accident. He was first taken to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, then the Children’s Hospital by Survival Flight. Unfortunately, his fatality was pronounced at Children’s Hospital by Dr. David Limbrick. His next of kin has been notified.

Seven other Missouri residents were injured in the crash. 9-year-old Joshua Duncan and 14-year-old Caleb Reed were both seriously injured. The Arch helicopter transported both of them to Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Holly Duncan, 11-year-old Paul Duncan, Daniel Torrence, and 14-year-old Blaise Torrence sustained minor injuries. Joachim Plattin Ambulance transported them to the Jefferson Regional Medical Center. All of the injured parties were minors except for Holly Duncan, 39, and Daniel Torrence, 37.

Suing to obtain compensation for the death or serious injuries of a child can be an emotionally wrenching experience for parents. Parents and legal guardians are often caught unawares by the process; most parents do not expect to see their children suffer to that extent. Parents should rest assured that their children have an equal legal right to obtain compensation for their injuries as adult accident victims. Minors may obtain compensation for present and future medical expenses, loss of income and earning capacity, and other losses they have sustained in a Missouri car accident. Parents and legal guardians should work closely with an experienced Missouri attorney every step of the process to make sure their children’s rights are well-protected.

Continue reading " Jefferson County Crash Fatal for Teen and Injures Seven More " »

A motorcycle driver was seriously injured in a Franklin County Missouri motorcycle accident on May 3, 2011 at 3:09pm. The Missouri motorcycle accident occurred on Highway A near Julie Lane. Clestin J. Hohlt from Union, Missouri was stopped in traffic in a 2003 Jeep Cherokee. Harold V. Huston of Wildwood, Missouri was stopped behind Hohlt’s Jeep in a 2011 Harley Davidson MC.

William M. Mueller from Washington, Missouri caused the Missouri motorcycle accident when he crashed into the back of Hutson’s Harley Davidson with a 1988 Ford F150. The crash pushed the motorcycle off the roadway. The motorcycle overturned, ejecting Hustson. Mueller’s F150 continued and crashed into Hohlt’s Jeep, causing a Missouri rear impact car accident. Huston’s Harley Davidson sustained moderate damage, along with the Jeep Cherokee. The F150 was totaled.

Hutson was seriously injured in the accident. He was transported by Air Evac to St. John’s in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Missouri motorcycle accident injuries are often serious because motorcycles lack the structural protection of other vehicles. As a result, motorcycle riders often suffer serious injuries or death in multivehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle riders sustain 98% of fatalities in accidents involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles. Thousands of motorcycle riders die in motorcycle accidents each year.

Given the potential for serious injuries and death in Missouri motorcycle crashes, motorcycle riders should observe a number of riding safety tips. Motorcycle riders should take care to be seen by other drivers. Keep the motorcycle’s headlamps on, even during the day, to increase visibility. Wear bright clothing while riding. Position the motorcycle so other drivers can see it – avoid blind spots and the area behind large vehicles. To avoid injury in the event of an accident, wear a motorcycle helmet.

Wearing an appropriate motorcycle helmet may decrease the likelihood of dangerous motorcycle accident injuries. Protective headgear for motorcycle riders is required on interstate highways in Missouri. Protective headgear must be “reasonable” according to the specifications mandated by Missouri’s state government. Wearing a helmet is not required for a motorcycle rider over the age of 21 who is not on an interstate highway. Nevertheless, wearing a helmet whenever riding a motorcycle is recommended to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

Continue reading " Franklin County Three Vehicle Accident Seriously Injures Motorcyclist " »

A man was killed in a fatal Ray County Missouri car accident when a driver fell asleep at the wheel. The Missouri front impact car crash occurred at 5:14pm on May 1, 2011.

Robert G. Aliff from Richmond, Missouri fell asleep behind the wheel of a 1996 Jeep Cherokee on eastbound Business MO-10, east of Swafford Road. Aliff drove the vehicle across the centerline into oncoming traffic. Gladys M. Stafford, also from Richmond, was unable to avoid a Missouri head on collision. Aliff’s Jeep crashed into Stafford’s 1995 Chevrolet Corsica head on.

Bruce W. Sodders, an occupant of Stafford, passed away in the Missouri front end collision. The 59-year-old from Richmond, Missouri was pronounced at the scene of the accident by Ray County Coroner Jim Garrison. His next of kin has been notified. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, he wore his safety device during the accident.

Several parties suffered injuries as a result of the Missouri front impact car accident. Stafford suffered moderate injuries. She was transported by Life Light to Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri. Aliff, the driver who fell asleep, sustained moderate injuries. He was also transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

Drowsy driving causes many Missouri car accidents. Authorities estimate that drowsy driving causes a roughly 1,550 deaths per year and injures over 70,000 people. These estimates may be low considering how difficult it is to determine whether drowsiness contributed to an accident after the fact. States inconsistently report drowsiness in accident crash reports. Missouri, for example, does not have a code for driver fatigue or falling asleep while driving. Most states lack drowsiness identification training for law enforcement officials.

Drowsy driving is a common phenomenon. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adult drivers have engaged in drowsy drowsing in a year. 37% of adult drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel – a figure that amounts to over 100 million Americans. Millions of Americans are affected by drowsy driving each year. When drowsy driving causes a fatal Missouri car accident, the accident victim’s family may be able to file a successful Missouri wrongful death claim. Wrongful death compensation may include damages for funeral expenses and pecuniary loss. Missouri’s wrongful death is limited in who can file a claim after the death of a loved one and when a claim may be brought.

Continue reading " Ray County Man Killed When Driver Fell Asleep at the Wheel " »