Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

Four people were injured to varying degrees in a double head-on car accident in Jefferson County, Missouri on Missouri Route 185. The accident occurred January 30, 2012 at 11:35am when a vehicle crossed the centerline of the roadway and crashed head-on into two separate vehicles.

Walter G. Cates of Washington, Missouri and John W. Woodcock of Ballwin, Missouri were driving their vehicles on southbound Missouri Route 185, south of the Meramec River. Russell B. Mercer drove a 2002 Nissan Xterra across the centerline into oncoming traffic. First, the Xterra crashed into the 2006 Ford Taurus driven by Cates. Then, the Xterra crashed into the 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Woodcock.

Four people were ultimately injured in the collisions. Mercer suffered serious injuries. Cates and Woodcock suffered moderate injuries. Paula J. Woodcock, an occupant in Woodcock’s vehicle, suffered minor injuries. All of the injured parties were taken to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, Missouri. The sole exception was Mercer, who was taken to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur Missouri.

When multiple accident victims suffer moderate to serious personal injury in a Jefferson County Missouri accident, there is a significant chance that at least one of them suffered a brain injury. Car accidents are a major cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. Car crashes are a cause of 40% of brain injuries in Missouri. In all, over 2 million people suffer from some sort of brain injury in the United States.

TBI can dramatically alter the course of an accident victim’s life. The brain is the control center of the human body. When the brain of an accident victim is injured, the accident victim may suffer from issues that affect their ability to function in some capacity. Even mild TBI can require hospitalization and long term medical treatment. Anyone who suffers TBI as a result of a truck accident should contact an experienced St. Louis brain injury lawyer or have a loved one contact the attorney.

Kelvin E. Wooten, 43, of Dexter, Missouri was killed in a Missouri train accident on January 25, 2012. The train crash happened in Stoddard County, Missouri at 2:00pm.

Wooten was driving a 2004 Pontiac on County Road 657, 2 miles west of Dexter. A Union Pacific train slammed into the Pontiac. The force of the impact caused the Pontiac to overturn off the county road. Wooten was not wearing a seatbelt during the accident. The railroad crossing was only marked by a sign. There were neither warning lights nor other automatic warning devices at the crossing.

Train accidents at railroad crossings caused the death or personal injury of the lives of roughly 2,000 Americans each year. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there can be nearly 3,000 collisions at railroad crossing in a single year.

Train accident victims often wonder who is liable for a Missouri train accident? Train accidents are most common at railroad crossings. Some railroad crossings are equipped with automatic warning devices, but many crossings are only marked by sign. However, merely posting signs at railroad-roadway intersections may not be enough to prevent deadly accidents.

Posting signs at intersections is not enough to completely prevent accidents. The signs must be check regularly to be effective. If left unchecked, the signs may fall over during inclement weather. A negligent driver may hit the sign and leave it on the ground. Nearby foliage may grow and cover the sign from view. Signs at intersections must be maintained and checked to provide adequate warning to drivers.

Victims of Missouri train accidents should contact a Missouri train accident lawyer for more information about their options. Our attorneys are well-versed in Missouri’s personal injury laws and provide free legal consultations to accident victims.

A Pleasant Hope woman was killed in a Polk County Missouri schoolbus accident on January 24, 2012 at 3:55pm. The accident was reconstructed by a crash team to better understand how the accident occurred.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2001 Dodge pickup truck skidded out of control across Route H, south of Pleasant Hope, Missouri. The pickup truck skidded into the path of a 2000 GMC schoolbus. The schoolbus crashed broadside into the pickup truck.

Tracy L. Bauer of Pleasant Hope was killed in the accident. She was pronounced dead by Pok County Coroner Roy Harms. Bauer was the driver of the pickup truck. Wilfred S. Hardiman of Buffalo, the drive of the school bus, suffered moderate injuries. Hardiman was taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri for medical treatment. No children were injured in the Missouri school bus accident.

Missouri school bus accident liability may be difficult for an accident victim to understand. One complication is the concept of governmental immunity. Essentially, governmental immunity means that governmental units cannot be sued, unless they consent to be sued. Governmental immunity presents a definite hurdle for schoolbus accident victims, since schoolbus drivers may be employees of a local government.

The State of Missouri enacted state statute § 537.600 to emphasize that governmental immunity for the state (also known as “sovereign immunity”) is still in effect: “Such sovereign or governmental tort immunity …shall remain in full force and effect.” However the statute then waives that immunity for injuries that result from negligent motor vehicle operation by public employees. If the municipality that employs the bus driver has a similar statute, an accident victim may be able to file a lawsuit against the bus driver and the municipality.

A woman from the rural area surrounding Granby, Missouri drowned after a Newton County car accident on January 23, 2012.

Jennifer and Robert Youngblodod were driving on Old Scenic Drive near Fremont Lane. Robert, who was driving a Honda Accord, became distracted while driving. The Honda drove off the east side of the roadway, down an embankment, and into nearby Shoal Creek.

The couple called 911 while still in the vehicle in the creek. The couple did not know exactly where they were. Investigating authorities believe that both Jennifer and Robert managed to escape the vehicle after it crashed into the creek. However, Jennifer never made it to the bank. When the authorities arrived, Jennifer had drowned and was swept down the creek.

Car accidents are often harrowing for accidents. Car accidents that involved a body of water are even more terrifying. The moments after any kind of motor vehicle collision are confusing for accident victims. If the accident victim is inside a sinking vehicle, the confusion can be life threatening.

Studies indicate that panic is a common cause of death in car accidents that involve bodies of water. While the situation is harrowing for anyone, understanding how to react can reduce the amount of panic that the accident victim feels.

First, the accident victim should lower the windows. In most modern cars, the windows are controlled by the vehicles electrical system. Like all electrical devices, the vehicle’s electrical system will begin to malfunction in water. Lowering the windows first will create an effective escape route for the accident victim. If the power window function is no longer working, the accident victims should use a heavy object to break the window.

Next, the accident victim should remove his or her seatbelt. Escaping from the vehicle with the seatbelt on is impossible, but many accident victims forget this step while panicking. Removing the safety devices from any child occupants is always important at this stage.

Finally, the accident victim should quickly escape the vehicle from the window. A vehicle can fill up with water in 60 to 120 seconds. While the vehicle still has air, the accident victim should take a breath, exit the vehicle, and swim to the surface as quickly as possible.

If capable, the accident victim should contact emergency services for medical treatment. Trained medical professionals can identify and treat the injuries resulting from the accident. After receiving medical treatment, the accident victim should contact a St. Louis Missouri accident attorney for a legal consultation about the accident.

A woman from Imperial, Missouri and a woman from Hillsboro, Missouri were hurt in a Jefferson County Missouri injury car accident on January 19, 2012 at 2:40pm. The Thursday afternoon accident occurred when one of them failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of MO-141 and Romaine Creek Road.

Judith A. Fletcher of Hillsboro was traveling westbound on Romaine Creek Road through the intersection. Chastity M. Duncan of Imperial failed to stop at a red light, crashing into the front of Fletcher’s 2008 Chevrolet Impala. The Impala was totaled in the crash.

Both Fletcher and Duncan suffered moderate personal injury in the accident. Rock Township ambulance transported them to St. Anthony’s Hospital for medical treatment.

Red-light running is a major cause of injury crashes in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 2.3 million intersection-related crashes in a single year. Those intersection-related crashes resulted in over 7,500 fatalities. The NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System indicates that more than 700 deaths were caused by running a red light in particular. The problem is so widespread that one in three people say that they personally know at least one person who has been involved in a red-light running crash.

The increased implementation of red light cameras may help accident victims prove liability in a red light intersection accident. Many cities have installed cameras to monitor intersections for red light violations. Some cameras are equipped with sensors. When a car runs a red light, it triggers the sensor, which in turn causes the camera to take a photograph of the intersection. Other red light cameras take a photograph of the intersection at every red light. Either type of red light camera may provide helpful evidence for victims of red light intersection accident.

The process of obtaining evidence for trial is called “discovery.” Obtaining government records like red light camera photographs for trial may be complex, especially for accident victims unfamiliar with the process. Some cities have a very easy process for obtaining documents. Other cities have complicated, bureaucratic systems with strict deadlines. Accident victims should contact a Missouri red light intersection accident attorney as soon as possible for a free legal consultation.

Three people from Pacific, Missouri were injured in a Jefferson County Missouri distracted driver accident on January 18, 2012. The accident occurred on Missouri Route F, south of McNamee School Road.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, driver John W. Reed was inattentive while driving a 2002 Hyundai Accent. The Hyundai drove off the left side of the roadway. After leaving the road, the Hyundai overturned.

Three people suffered moderate personal injury in the accident. Reed, who was not wearing seatbelt during the accident, was transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Two occupants were taken to Mercy as well: Teresa J. Knipe and Lynnette K. Moore. Knitpe and Moore wore their seat belts during the accident.

Distracted driving is becoming an epidemic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 5,000 people were killed in distracted driver crashes in a single year. 20% of all injury-causing crashes involved reports of distracted driving.

A driving distraction is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from operating a motor vehicle. Driving distractions endanger drivers, passengers, and pedestrians because the distracted driving is less capable of safely operating a vehicle. Avoiding accidents takes more than following the rules of the road. Drivers must respond to constantly changing road conditions. If the driver fails to notice the road conditions, the driver cannot respond appropriately. Driving distractions decrease the driver’s ability to notice changing road conditions.

Text messaging is the ultimate driver distraction. Text messaging involves a number of types of attention– cognitive, visual, and manual. A texting driver will use manual attention to direct the finger movements to complete the text message. A texting driver will use visual attention to look away from the road to the phone. A texting driver will use cognitive attention to read a received message and construct a response. Text messaging uses vital types of attention that are necessary to safe driving.

Text messaging is not the only driving distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Other culprits include using a cell phone or smartphone, grooming, adjusting a radio or mp3 player, using a navigation system, eating, and talking to passengers. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident and suspect that distracted driving played a role, contact Missouri personal injury attorneys to understand how that will affect a settlement or lawsuit.

A Warrenton woman was injured after a car stalled on eastbound I-70 in St. Charles County Missouri. The accident occurred on January 13, 2012 at 4:33pm when a 1999 Ford Windstar was stalled on the interstate. A 2003 Durango crashed into the rear of the Ford.

Mary F. Thorn suffered moderate personal injury in the St. Charles rear end car accident. Thorn was the driver of the Durango. She was taken to St. Joseph’s East Hospital for medical treatment. Manuel E. Escobedo of East St. Louis, the drive of the Ford Windstar, was not injured in the accident.

Stalled vehicles are serious hazards for other drivers, especially on interstate highways. Drivers on interstate highways travel at high speeds, making them less capable of adjusting to unexpected road obstructions like stalled vehicles. Missouri drivers are particularly speedy on highways when compared to other Americans. TomTom, a navigation company, released data showing that the average speed on Missouri highways exceeds 67 mph. The personal injury resulting from stalled vehicle accidents can be devastating. Accident victims should contact a St. Louis, Missouri accident attorney.

Stalled vehicles present serious dangers to the occupants of the stalled vehicle as well. If the vehicle stalls on an interstate highway, the occupants may not be able to safely exit the vehicle and seek help. Staying inside the vehicle presents other risks, since another vehicle may crash into the rear of the stalled vehicle.

Drivers who notice signs of stalling or vehicle malfunction should move their vehicles onto the shoulder of the roadway to avoid a collision. Drivers who continue to operate a motor vehicle in hopes that they can make it to gas station or repair shop are making a risky choice for other drivers. If the drivers insist on continuing to a nearby repair shop while driving a malfunctioning vehicle should drive in the lane closest to the shoulder. If the vehicle begins to stall or slow, the driver should immediately pull into the shoulder.

Stalled vehicles may be particularly dangerous under any conditions that diminish visibility, including: blind curves, fog, precipitation (e.g. rain, sleet, and snow), and during the nighttime.

Reduced visibility means that other drivers may take longer to notice the road obstruction caused by the stalled vehicle. When drivers need to suddenly avoid a collision, every second counts.

Caryn N. Hill, a 21 year old from Florissant, was injured in a St. Charles County personal injury accident. The accident occurred on I-70 on the Blanchette bridge.

Hill stopped a 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit behind a stranded motorist on the westbound portion of the interstate highway. A 2008 Honda Civic driven by Kyle P. Kenyon of Lake St. Louis swerved to avoid Hill’s Rabbit. The Honda still crashed into the Volkswagen before changing lanes. When the Honda changed lanes, it crashed into a 2006 Kia Spectra driven by Laron S. Taylor of St. Charles.

The three vehicles involved in the accident sustained damage. There were no reported injuries for any drivers or occupants, with the sole exception of Hill. Hill was taken to St. Joseph East Hospital by St. Charles County Ambulance.

Multi-vehicle accident attorneys understand that the injuries caused by a Missouri multi-vehicle accident can be devastating. Accident victims may be in a vehicle that endures more than one collision. Multi-vehicle accidents may so many cars that accident victims become trapped for long periods of time. Rescue crews have a more difficult time getting to accident victims, so injuries that need quick attention worsen.

Multi-vehicle accidents are even more dangerous on high-traffic, high-speed roadways like interstate highways. Drivers operate their vehicles at such high speeds, often above the posted speed limit, that they cannot stop or avoid the pile-up before making it worse.

Pile-up accident victims often wonder: who is liable in a Missouri multi-vehicle accident? Determining which driver is at fault when multiple vehicles are involved. The complexity of determining fault is detrimental to an accident victim without an attorney. Multiple drivers mean multiple insurance companies and multiple attorneys attempting to take advantage of unrepresented accident victims. Accident victims who are injured in pile-ups should contact an accident attorney as soon as possible.

A car was pushed off the roadway in a Jefferson County two-vehicle car crash on January 11, 2012. The morning accident occurred when Caleb W. Parker-Mathews of Pevely, Missouri was driving on Monticello Drive, west of Metropolitan Boulevard. Parker-Matthews attempted to make a right turn in a 1999 Ford Escort.

The front of the Ford skidded on wet pavement. The Ford crashed into a 2002 Chevrolet Impala driven by Katie M. Presley of Hillsboro, Missouri. The Impala was pushed off the roadway in the accident.

One person sustained personal injury in the accident. Megan L. Hawkins, 20, of Barnhart, Missouri suffered moderate personal injury. Hawkins was taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center by Rock Township Ambulance District. All of the vehicles involved sustained damage.

People who are victimized in the same accident can sue the defendant driver together. The process is called “permissive joinder.” The process is “permissive” because plaintiffs are allowed to join their cases, but are not required to do so. The courts allow permissive joinder because joining together related cases is more efficient. The court can conduct a single trial about the accident instead of hearing two separate trials with large the same facts.

Permissive joinder may be beneficial for accident victims who suffered personal injury in a single accident. If there is no conflict of interest, the plaintiffs may be able to hire one law firm instead of obtaining separate attorneys. The attorney that the two plaintiffs hire can become intimately connected to all of the facts of the case, instead of having to coordinate with another attorney.

Even when both plaintiffs are injured in a single accident, there may be separate issues for each plaintiff for the court to decide. For instance, if both plaintiffs suffered personal injury, the court will have to hear evidence about their individual injuries. If one of the plaintiffs owned a vehicle that was damaged in the accident, the court will hear evidence that only applies to the vehicular damage. Nevertheless, hearing a few separate issues for each plaintiff is still more efficient that hearing two separate trials.

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Dustin K. Burnett of Mineral Point, Missouri lost control of his vehicle in a Washington County Missouri car accident on January 7, 2012. The 18-year-old was driving on travelling on Trockey Road, 100 feet north of Frontier Road in Washington County. Burnett lost control of a 2004 Ford Taurus and travelled off the gravel roadway. The Ford crashed into a nearby tree at the conclusion of the accident.

Burnett was moderately injured in the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt. The Arch helicopter transported Burnett to Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The Ford was totaled.

Driving on unpaved rural roads can be perilous. Fewer cars drive on rural roads compared to suburban and urban environments, so transportation departments invest less in safety devices. As a result, rural roads are well-equipped to handle high-speed traffic.

Rural roads present a great deal of safety hazards to drivers, including:
- steep hills
- sharp curves
- damaged roads

Rural roads lack many features that allow urban and suburban drivers to operate safely. Rural roads are notable for:
- lack of signs
- lack of sufficient width for vehicles to pass
- lack of shoulders
- lack of guard rails

Roads in rural areas may be dirt roads or gravel roads. Either may suffer from corrugations in the road surface nicknamed “washboards.” Washboards occur when roads are not regularly maintained, a common occurrence in rural areas. Rural transportation departments have smaller budgets than city departments, but have more ground to cover.

Washboards have reduced traction and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles. To avoid losing control on a washboard in a rural road, brake before entering potentially washboarded areas like curves or downhills. Use four wheel drive if your vehicle is capable.

If an area near your regular driving route is washboarded, contact your local government to see if the road can be better maintained. If you are injured in a car accident on a washboarded area of the roadway, contact a Missouri personal injury attorney. If the local transportation department failed to adequately maintain the road, the transportation department may be liable for your injuries.

Two Missourians were injured in a Franklin County Missouri personal injury accident on January 7, 2012 at 12:56pm. The afternoon accident occurred on Route HH near Rock Church Road.

The accident occurred as Keith L. McGee, 40, of Ballwin, Missouri drove on southbound Route HH. The 2009 Kawasaki VR100 driven by McGee crossed the centerline of the roadway. The motorcycle crashed into a 2006 Dodge Dakota, driven by Walter F. Lee of High Ridge, Missouri.

Two Missourians sustained moderate injuries in the accident: Delores E. Utley of Osage Beach, Missouri and McGee. Utley, 72, was a passenger in the Dodge. Utley was transported to St. Claire Hospital by Meramec Ambulance. McGee was taken to Mercy in Creve Coeur. Both injured parties were transported by Meramec Ambulance.

Higher gas prices have encouraged many commuters to drive motorcycles. Motorcycle fuel economy tends to be much better than car or SUV fuel economy. Some motorcycles have been documented as getting hundreds of miles per gallon (mpg). However, owning and operating a motorcycle requires prudence.

Motorcycles require careful maintenance. Motorcycle owners should exercise care in choosing a mechanic. Motorcycles should only select mechanics who are competent. Motorcycle owners may be able to read reviews of various mechanics and motorcycle repair shops in making their decision. Negligent motorcycle repair can cause Missouri motorcycle accidents. Negligent motorcycle mechanics may fail to notice that the tires are improperly aligned or that the engine has problems that could lead to a failure. These mistakes may lead to a serious accident.

Motorcycle accidents may also be caused by the driver of a passenger vehicle. Car drivers may fail to notice that the motorcycle is driving on the roadway and crash into it. Car drivers should exercise due care to ensure that a motorcycle is not in their blind spot. Failure to exercise that care constitutes negligence.

Two Missourians were involved in Saint Charles County Missouri personal injury accident on an exit ramp of I-64. Susan L. Morrow of St. Peters, Missouri stopped improperly on the I-64 exit ramp to Highway K in a 2008 Mazda 3. A 2008 Nissan Rogue crashed into the rear of the Mazda. The Nissan was driven by Rebecca S. Tiek.

Both Morrow and Tiek were injured in the accident. Tiek was taken to Progress West by St. Charles County Ambulance. St. Charles County Ambulance transported Morrow to Mercy Medical Center.

MSHP’s crash reports create an effective record of important details concerning a traffic accident. The crash report will specify the drivers involved, the vehicles involved, and the people who suffered personal injuries. If a lawsuit is not filed until a while after the accident occurs, having a written record about the crash is useful. Memories about the accident may fade before the statute of limitations tolls completely. Official copies of the crash report can be obtained from the MSHP. The MSHP posts unofficial, preliminary crash reports online for 29 days.

The crash report will also include a summary of the accident. Occasionally, a MSHP officer will indicate that a particular party is at fault for the accident. For example, the officer who prepared the crash report for the above accident stated that Morrow made an improper stop. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) makes crash reports available online.

Crash reports are very useful in car accident lawsuits. Crash reports are not conclusive evidence of negligence, but they leave a strong impression. MSHP officers are well-trained and experienced with traffic accidents on Missouri’s highways. If a MSHP officer believes one party made an improper turn, the court will be inclined to agree.

Saint Charles County Missouri personal injury lawyers expertly use crash reports to support the cases of their clients. If the officer’s description of the accident coincides with the testimony of an independent accident reconstruction specialist, the crash report becomes strong evidence in court. If you were involved in a car accident and wonder how the crash report will affect your ability to recover compensation, please contact our firm. Our firm provides free legal consultations to accident victims.

Two women were injured in a Jefferson County Missouri accident on January 2, 2012 at 3:45pm. The accident occurred on southbound U.S. Highway 67 at Meyer Road. One vehicle was totaled in the crash.

Gina L. Warhover of Desoto, Missouri slowed her 2000 Ford Ranger to avoid hitting another vehicle. The Ford swerved left directly into the path of a 2010 Hyundai Sonata driven by Kimberly M. Schnitz of Bonne Terre, Missouri. The left of the Ford crashed into the right rear of the Hyundai. The Hyundai travelled off the right side of the roadway. Off the roadway, the Hyundai struck a guardwire and a traffic signal post. The Hyundai then overturned.

Warhover and Schnitz suffered personal injury in the accident. Warhover suffered moderate injuries and Schnitz sustained minor injuries. They were transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center by Joachim Plattin Ambulance.

Even people who consider themselves safe drivers may need the help of a St. Louis auto accident attorney or a defensive driving course. Safe drivers rarely think about how they would deal with a car accident. Safe drivers drive at the speed limit, adjust their choice to weather and road conditions, and check their blind spots before initiating a lane change. However, those driving techniques may not be enough to avoid a Missouri car accident.

Safe drivers may still be harmed in car accidents because of the behavior of negligent drivers. Drivers who carefully obey safety regulations may still be struck by other drivers. A safe driver may be driving prudently in the correct lane, but still be hit by a negligent driver too concerned with a text message to avoid an accident. Learning how to deal with negligent drivers is an important skill.

Defensive driving courses can teach safe drivers how to deal with the behavior of negligent or aggressive drivers. Accident prevention is typically a key focus of defensive driving courses. Students may learn how to identify inappropriate driving behaviors and respond. Defensive driving course students may also learn about automobile safety outside of driving. For examples, the courses may teach student show to change tires or charge motor vehicle batteries.

Often, experienced drivers feel that defensive driving courses are unnecessary. However, even experienced drivers are involved in accidents. Outside of young adults between the ages of 16 and 20, experienced drivers between the ages of 45-54 suffer the highest number of fatalities in car accidents. Experienced drivers should consider taking defensive driving courses.