Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

A Chesterfield Missouri car accident resulted in serious physical injuries for a popular teacher and her son. Janet Esrock, a teacher and coach at Whitfield High School, was leaving a football game on Friday night in a 1992 Infinity when the accident occurred. Her son, sophomore Jonathan Esrock, was an occupant in her vehicle. Esrock’s vehicle was hit by a speeding Chevy Tahoe that was careening down Wildhorse Creek Road. The accident was a Chesterfield Missouri head on collision. According to local reports, the driver of the speeding Chevy Tahoe was 53 years old. The Chesterfield police stated that the accident could have been alcohol-related. The Missouri State Highway Patrol did not release a crash report for the St. Louis County Missouri car accident.

Esrock and her son had to be extricated from the vehicle by Monarch Fire Protection District paramedics. Both accident victims were taken to St. John’s Mercy hospital. Esrock reportedly needed a respirator to breathe as of Wednesday. Her son underwent surgery for broken bones. According to an email written by Mrs. Ruth E. Greathouse, the Interim Head of School at Whitfield School, both accident victims were under heavy sedation and could not see or speak with anyone from the broader community. The email was made public.

Missouri car accidents may be distressing for entire communities. The accident victim herself has to deal with the physical pain and suffering caused by personal injury. The accident victim and her family have to struggle with the financial consequences of numerous medical bills and an inability to work. Other members of the community – friends, colleagues, students – have to struggle with the uncertainty of the accident victim’s health outcomes. When intoxicated, distracted, and unsafe drivers injure accident victims by negligently causing Chesterfield Missouri car accidents, they harm the entire community that surrounds the accident victim.

Missouri car accident lawsuits cannot heal a community after an accident, but it may alleviate the financial losses sustained by the accident victim. Under Missouri law, accident victims may obtain compensation for the medical expenses resulting from the accident. Accident victims may recover compensation for any wages lost due to missing work because of the accident. Accident victims may even recover compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the accident. Accident victims should contact a Missouri car accident attorney to discuss their legal options after an injurious accident.

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Six people were sent to local area hospitals after a Lincoln County Missouri car accident on August 27, 2011 at 7:40 pm. The injured parties included two adults, three young teenagers, and a child. The injuries resulting from the Lincoln County Missouri car collision ranged from serious to minor.

The accident occurred as 19-year-old Angela S. Linhorst of Elsberry, Missouri drove through a stop sign on Highway 47 at Gravens. Linhorst drove a 1999 Ford Taurus into the intersection. In the intersection, the front of Linhorst’s vehicle slammed into the front end of a 2003 Ford F150 driven by James E. Koeneman of Winfield, Missouri. The Lincoln County Missouri front impact car accident totaled Linhorst’s Taurus and resulted in moderate damage to Koeneman’s F150.

Six people sustained physical injuries in the accident. Minor injuries were sustained by Linhorst and three of her occupants – Nichole Lindhorst, 13, Alex Schnieder, 10, Heather Schnieder, 15. Douglas J. Koeneman, a 30-year-old occupant in Koeneman’s F150, suffered moderate injuries. Abigail Schnieder, 13, suffered serious injuries and was sent to Children’s Hospital by Air Evac. The other injured parties were taken to St. Joseph West Hospital by Lincoln County Ambulance.

Running a stop sign involves a heightened risk of a Missouri stop sign car accident. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians reasonably assume that a vehicle nearing an intersection will stop at a traffic control device (e.g. stop sign, yield sign, etc.) if a traffic control device is present. If those drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians enter the intersection relying on that assumption and the vehicle disobeys the traffic control device, a serious Missouri car accident may result. The accident victims may be seriously injured.

Running a stop sign is a violation of Missouri traffic law. Missouri statute 304.271 requires that Missouri drivers obey traffic control devices: “The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of the law.” If a driver violates this statute while causing a Missouri car accident, the statute violation may be used to prove negligence in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

There are a few exemptions to Missouri’s traffic control device laws, but they do not apply to most Missouri stop sign car accidents. Drivers may disobey posted traffic control devices while they are being “directed by a traffic or police officer.” Traffic and police officers may direct traffic when a traffic light malfunctions. Traffic and police officers occasionally direct traffic against the traffic control devices when a special event creates an atypical amount of traffic. Another exemption only applies to drivers of “authorized emergency vehicle[s].”

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Beverly J. Brown, a 77-year-old woman from Pleasant Hill in Missouri, was killed in a Missouri wrong way accident when a driver drove the wrong way in her lane. The Cass County Missouri head-on collision occurred on Missouri Highway 7, north of Short Rd.

The accident began when teenaged driver John T. McConnell of Pleasant Hill drove a 1997 Ford on southbound MO-7. McConnell failed to negotiate a curve and drove into the northbound lane of the roadway. McConnell crashed his vehicle head-on into the 2010 Mazda of Beverly J. Brown. Both vehicles were totaled in the Missouri front impact car accident. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by the Pleasant Hill Fire Department. According to reports, the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted an investigation into the Missouri front end collision.

In Missouri, a fatality caused by the negligence of another person is a wrongful death. Wrongful death claims may be filed after fatal Missouri car accidents, since negligence is often the cause of fatal traffic accidents. Missouri’s wrongful death laws are governed by Missouri Statute 537.080. The statute regulates which loved ones and family members may recover compensation for the loss caused by the wrongful death.

The Missouri’s wrongful death statute defines which loved ones are Missouri wrongful death preferred class members. Class 1 family members are the decedent’s spouse and children. No other family member may file the wrongful death claim if the decedent has a surviving spouse or a surviving child after the accident. Other family members, including siblings and parents, are divided into lower classes.

In most cases, the spouse or child may file a Missouri wrongful death claim without many exceptional issues beyond the typical stress and expense of litigation. However, conflicts may arise between Class 1 family members.

Class 1 family member conflicts may arise during Missouri wrongful death lawsuits, especially if the decedent did not have a standard nuclear family before the accident. If the decedent left behind a surviving spouse and children from previous relationships, those surviving family members may disagree on who should file the wrongful death claim.

Class 1 family member conflicts may arise if the decedent was in the middle of the divorce process when the accident occurred. Typically, the spouse recovers compensation after a wrongful death. However, the decedent’s Class 2 family members may attempt to recover since the marriage between the decedent and the spouse was dissolving. Family members may be advised to have their own individual lawyer involved in the wrongful death process because of the risk of family member conflict.

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Three people were injured in a Henry County Missouri rear end collision on the afternoon of August 23, 2011. Two of the injured people were from the state of Kansas, while the third injured person was from Kansas City, Missouri.

The Missouri rear end collision occurred as a 2000 Chevrolet S10 and a 2006 Chrysler drove on eastbound MO-7, north of 571 Road. 78-year-old Donald J. Cupp of Olathe, Kansas slowed the Chevrolet, which caused Connie L. Mize of Kansas City to rear end his vehicle. Cupp travelled off the roadway after the impact and overturned. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that an investigation was continuing after the accident, but there is no arrest information available.

Three people were injured. Cupp and his occupant Martha M. Cupp sustained serious injuries. The Cupps were transported to the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri by Life Flight air ambulance. Mize suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Golden Valley Hospital by Golden Valley Ambulance. The injured parties were assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Henry County Sheriff Department.

Missouri rear impact car accidents often result in serious injury. Both vehicles in a rear end accident are subjected to strong, sudden forces. The rear vehicle undergoes an abrupt change in velocity as it slams into the vehicle before it. The front vehicle in the rear impact accident is suddenly exposed to jolting forces. The abrupt forces of the collision are transferred to the bodies of the vehicles’ occupants. As a result, rear impact accident victims often suffer from neck injuries.

Missouri car accident neck injuries are relatively common after a Missouri rear end car accident. The sudden forces of a rear end accident jerk an accident victim’s head. Muscles may stretch beyond their intended range and tear as a result. The discs of the neck’s vertebrae may become painfully herniated. Symptoms for Missouri car accident neck injuries are varied. Most accident victims with neck injuries experience headaches on the side of the head. Accident victims with neck injuries may additionally suffer from lower back pain, facial pain, dizziness, insomnia, or even ringing ears.

Accident victims should always accept medical treatment after a Missouri rear end car accident because of the risk of neck injuries. Neck injury symptoms may not appear for hours, days, or weeks. While the accident victims may not easily feel the neck injuries, medical professionals are trained to look for neck injuries after an accident.

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Two men were seriously injured in a Franklin County Missouri motorcycle accident on Sunday afternoon. Three motorcycles were involved in the Franklin County Missouri motorcycle accident that occurred on August 21, 2011 at 3:40pm.

The accident began as the three motorcycles travelled on eastbound I-44. Daniel J. Friedman of Robertsville, Missouri drove a 2012 Harley Davidson. Anthony J. Grossman of Ballwin, Missouri drove a 2010 Harley Davidson. Keith E. Frazier of Robertsville, Missouri drove a 1971 Harley Davidson.

Friedman slowed his motorcycle because of the presence of traffic ahead. Grossman was distracted and crashed into the rear of Friedman’s motorcycle. The impact caused both vehicles in the Missouri motorcycle accident to overturn. Friedman and Grossman were thrown from their motorcycles. The third motorcycle, driven by Frazier, struck Friedman.

Both Friedman and Grossman were seriously injured after being ejected in the Missouri motorcycle accidents. Meramec Ambulance took Friedman and Grossman to St. John’s in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Grossman wore a safety device during the accident, while Friedman did not.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes information about traffic fatalities to prevent future injuries and reduced traffic accidents. According to fatality data from the NHTSA, more than 10% of traffic fatalities in the United States involve motorcycles. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 4,595 traffic fatalities in 2009 alone. The risk of seriously injury and death in a Missouri motorcycle accident is apparently high.

The state of Missouri has passed several laws to improve motorcycle safety and to reduce the risk of serious injury and death from motorcycle accidents. Missouri statute §302.020 requires that drivers have a valid license to operate a motorcycle on public roadways. A valid license may show that the driver has passed a special motorcycle operation test. Missouri statute §302.020 additionally requires that motorcyclists wear protective headgear. Protective motorcycle headgear must meet the reasonable standards established by the government.

Regardless of the steps taken to reduce motorcycle injuries, some motorcycle accidents may happen. Missouri law allows motorcycle accident victims to sue for compensation when another driver is at fault for an accident. Missouri law additionally requires that motorcyclists carry liability insurance. Coverage must include $25,000 for bodily injury liability coverage and $10,000 for property damage liability. These requirements attempt to insure that accident victims may recover for their injuries.

Continue reading " Two Seriously Injured in Franklin County Missouri Triple Motorcycle Crash " »

A Saint Louis County Missouri multivehicle accident injured two people on eastbound I-64 near Timberlake Manor Parkway. The three-vehicle St. Louis County Missouri front impact car accident occurred late Wednesday night on August 17, 2011 at 11:31pm.

The Saint Louis County Missouri wrong way accident began as Susan Dunakey drove a 2000 Jeep Cherokee westbound on eastbound I-64. Dunakey, who is from Chesterfield, crashed head on into a 1993 Ford Escort driven by Darnell L. Warner of Hazelwood. The impact caused Warner’s vehicle to rotate into the path of a 2002 Peterbilt tractor trailer. The 18-wheeler slammed into the passenger side of Warner’s vehicle before crashing off the interstate highway and into a sign.

23-year-old Darnell Warner was hospitalized in serious condition after the accident. Monarch Ambulance took him away from the scene of the accident. Warner was transported to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

Chesterfield wrong way driver Susan Dunakey failed a sobriety test after the St. Louis County Missouri drunk driving accident. According to reports, there was evidence of alcohol involvement at the scene. 50-year-old Dunakey was arrested by troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol the following day. A local hospital had already treated and released her, since she sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Hundreds of Missourians die each year in alcohol-related traffic accidents. Even more Missourians are injured. In 2010, the Missouri legislature strengthened Missouri’s driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws in several ways. The law prevents alcohol-related offenses from being expunged from the record of anyone with another alcohol-related contact. The law prevents municipal courts from hearing intoxication offenses for anyone with two or more intoxication-related offenses. The law also takes away driving privileges under certain circumstances after a DWI.

DWIs may affect an accident victim’s claim for compensation. When an accident victim is injured in a traffic accident, the accident victim obtains compensation by showing that the defendant’s negligence caused the injuries. Negligence may be easier to prove if the defendant was driving while intoxicated.

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A teenaged scooter driver lost his life in a Butler County Missouri car accident on Sunday night. 18 year old scooter driver Alexander C. Metzig was hit by an unknown driver on MO-142. The Butler County Missouri car accident occurred on August 14, 2011 at 9:50pm.

Metzig slowed his motorized scooter on MO-142 to make a right turn off the roadway at the beginning of the Missouri scooter car accident. As he slowed, his scooter was struck in the rear by a dark blue truck. The dark blue truck then left the scene of the accident. Metzig was pronounced dead by the Butler County Deputy Coroner Joe Chapman. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the driver of the dark blue truck that struck Metzig’s motorized scooter is still unknown.

As in all states, committing a hit and run accident is a crime in Missouri. Missouri statute §577.060 is the state law that prohibits leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The statute states that a driver commits a hit and run when “knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his [information].” If a driver leaves the scene of an accident knowing that someone has been injured, the driver has violated Missouri hit-and-run laws.

Hit-and-run accidents may be punished criminally. Typically, leaving the scene of a Missouri car accident is a misdemeanor offense. A hit-and-run driver will only be charged with a misdemeanor if the collision only causes minor property damage. For example, a misdemeanor violation of §577.060 may include hitting a mailbox at a low speed before leaving. However, leaving the scene of an accident may be punished as a class D felony under certain circumstances.

Leaving the scene of an accident becomes a felony under three circumstances. If the hit-and-run driver has any previous violation of §577.060, leaving the accident becomes a felony. If the hit-and-run driver causes property damage more than $1000, leaving the accident becomes a felony. Most importantly, if the hit-and-run driver caused physical injury to another party, leaving the accident becomes a felony. When a hit-and-run car accident results in a fatality, the authorities may punish the hit-and-run driver severely.

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Two Lake St. Louis residents were taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center by Joachim Plattin ambulance after a Jefferson County Missouri car accident. The Jefferson County Missouri single vehicle accident occurred on I-55 near US-61 on August 13, 2011 at 12:55pm.

Cynthia K. Mcavity drove a 1998 BMW Z3 on southbound I-55 this Saturday morning. She swerved around debris in the roadway only to overcorrect. The BMW drove off the right side of I-55 into a rock bluff. After impacting the rock bluff, the car overturned several times.

Cyntian Mcavity and her occupant Peter M. Mcavity suffered moderate injuries. The BMW was totaled. According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, no other vehicles were involved in the Lake St. Louis Missouri car accident.

Single vehicle accident victims may avoid pursuing compensation for their injuries, even when the single vehicle accident was not their fault. Unfortunately, accident victims may assume that legal recourse is impossible because they were not hit by another driver. Skilled Missouri single car accident lawyers understand how to investigate the facts of a single vehicle accident to determine whether another party is actually responsible for the accident.

If a single vehicle accident occurs because a driver had to swerve to avoid a road obstruction, the driver may be able to recover compensation from the party that caused the obstruction. For example, debris may fall onto the roadway from a commercial motor vehicle like an improperly loaded tractor trailer. If a single vehicle accident occurs because drivers must swerve to avoid the tractor trailer’s debris, the accident victims may be able to recover compensation for their injuries.

When tractor trailer debris causes an accident, the truck driver may be liable for failing to properly inspect his vehicle. The trucking company may be liable for the negligent actions for its employees. The manufacturer of the security devices may be liable for a defective product. The single vehicle accident victim may have legal recourse for related injuries, even though there was not a Missouri multi-vehicle accident.

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On August 3, 2011, a serious Missouri rear impact car accident resulted in a fatality and three injured Missourians. The Bates County Missouri car accident occurred as both involved vehicles – two 2007 Fords – travelled westbound on Route D, near County Road NE7003. The vehicle driven by Dakota L. Moyers of Clinton, Missouri rear ended the vehicle driven by Ruth E. Althoff of California, Missouri. Moyers then drove off the side of the road and crashed into a tree.

The accident proved fatal for Misty D. Vann of Clinton, Missouri, an occupant in Moyers’s car. She was transported to Cass County Medical Center by LifeFlight Eagle for medical treatment. However, she was pronounced dead in the emergency room by a doctor. Kimberly L. Stout, another adult occupant in Moyers’s vehicle, was seriously injured. Stout was taken to Research Medical Center.

Two minors were injured in the Missouri rear end collision. Justice Rove, a one-year-old occupant in Moyer’s vehicle, suffered moderate injuries. Teenaged driver Moyers sustained serious injuries. Rove and Moyers were taken to Children’s Mercy by Air Ambulance.

Traffic accidents are traumatic for accident victims and their loved ones. Accident victims may suffer serious mental distress as a result of their accident. Anxiety while driving or riding in a motor vehicle after an accident is common. Sleep problems and nightmares may plague an accident victim. Some accident victims may even suffer symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Obtaining compensation for mental distress after a Missouri car accident is possible, but insurance companies will fight the attempt. Accidents should take care to have a Missouri car accident lawyer involved early in the process.

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Two Doniphan residents were taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center after they were involved in a double motorcycle accident on August 1, 2011. The Ripley County Missouri motorcycle accident occurred on US-160, at Ballpark Road.

Robert M. Patrick, 39, drove a 1991 Harley Davidson on US-160. The Missouri motorcycle accident occurred when Patrick crashed into a 2005 Harley Davidson driven by John R. Brouk, 51. The motorcycles came to rest on the roadway.

Brouk was moderately injured in the accident. Dawn L. Jackson, the 36 year old occupant on Brouk’s motorcycle, was seriously injured. They were both transported to the hospital by EMS for medical treatment. There were no reported injuries for Patrick. All parties involved were from Doniphan, Missouri.

Missouri motorcycle accidents can be especially injurious. Motorcycles cannot provide the structural safety features that passenger cars can provide. Passenger cars are equipped with crumple zones to absorb the forces of a collision. The crumple zones of the car are crushed by the forces of the accident so that the people inside the car may be spared. Motorcycles cannot provide the same protection. Motorcyclist accident victims are more exposed to the strong, damaging forces of a collision. As a result, motorcyclists are more likely to suffer serious injury or death.

Traffic studies show that motorcycle riders are twenty-one times more likely to die in an accident than occupants of other types of vehicles. Motorcycle crashes are four times more likely to result in injury. Moreover, not all injuries are immediately apparent. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are often the result of Missouri motorcycle accidents, but TBIs often have delayed symptoms. A motorcycle accident victim may feel comfortable after the accident, only to discover symptoms hours or days later. Motorcycle accident victims should always accept medical treatment and call a Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer after a collision.

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