Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

With mid-term elections on the horizon, politicians have their campaigns in full swing. While it's not quite the dominating story it was last year, healthcare reform continues to be a political lightning rod and the notion that tort reform will drastically reduce costs continues to crop up in interviews and campaign ads.

Generally when the words tort reform are used, it is in reference to capping the damages that can be awarded from a medical malpractice case. The reasoning, according to tort reform supporters, is that frivolous lawsuits and malpractice insurance premiums are driving up the cost of healthcare. If there was a cap on damages, they say, the malpractice insurance premiums would go down and the cost of healthcare for the average person would go down.

The fact of the matter is that malpractice costs make up only 2% of the total cost of healthcare in the United States. Even the most aggressive tort reform proposals would stand to save very little money overall. In fact, in states where damages for injuries caused by medical errors are limited, there hasn't been a dramatic drop in healthcare cost for the average person. Sure, malpractice insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals fall in some cases, but they are such a small percentage of overall cost that the savings aren't passed on to the consumer.

The real tragedy is that these money saving measures can keep injury victims from getting the help they need. If payouts are reduced arbitrarily, it becomes financially impractical for personal injury attorneys to take on certain cases, even if the claims are meritorious. These victims are then left without legal representation and can't get the help they need to recover.

Another benefit of malpractice lawsuits is that they hold negligent doctors accountable for their errors. Most doctors do wonderful work most of the time, but mistakes are made and some doctors have a pattern of negligent practices. Actually, the majority of malpractice cases are brought against a small percentage of doctors. There are also cases where the negligence is so great that punitive damages above and beyond the economic cost of the errors is the only way to properly hold those responsible accountable. These are the types of cases where a foreign object is left in a person's body after surgery or disease is spread because a clinic didn't dispose of syringes after they were used in order to save money.

Tort reform advocates like to say they are trying to lower costs, but if they restrict the ability of malpractice lawsuits to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable, there's a great chance that we will only see an increase in the number of medical errors. 98,000 people already die each year as the result of medical error, making it the sixth highest preventable cause of death in the country. That's the cost we can't afford.

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Posted In: Healthcare , Medical Malpractice , Personal Injury News

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Rain soaked roads and a hydroplaning car are being blamed for triggering a chain reaction Missouri car accident on I-70 in Columbia that ultimately involved 22 separate vehicles and sent nine people to the hospital.

Many of the details are not yet available as investigators are still trying to determine the exact sequence of events. An injury accident of this size with so many collisions could take weeks of investigation before all the facts are known, but the Columbia Police Department has issued a statement with their preliminary findings.

According to the CPD, the pileup began in the westbound lanes when a Pontiac Grand Prix began to hydroplane and spin out of control. The Grand Prix hit a guardrail before returning to the roadway where it was hit by a Dodge truck. As other cars slowed to avoid the accident, a tractor-trailer hit a stopped car setting off another chain reaction of collisions.

Nine people were taken to the hospital and three of them were described as having serious injuries.

While the rainy conditions seemed to play a role in this Columbia injury accident, weather is not seen as a legal defense in crashes like these. Drivers still must be in control of their vehicles regardless of wet or icy conditions just like they are responsible for their cars when the weather is nice.

When dangerous driving conditions arise, there are several simple steps to take that can greatly reduce your risk of being involved in an accident. Make sure your headlights and wipers are in good working condition at all times and use them when it starts to rain. Being able to see the road ahead and making sure other drivers can see you is an important factor in these situations. Also, give plenty of extra space between your car and the vehicles ahead of you. So often these chain reaction crashes are the result of drivers following too closely, especially on slick roads. Finally, if you don't feel comfortable driving in the current conditions, pull over at the next exit. It's not worth putting yourself or others in danger when you can wait 20 minutes for the worst part of a storm to blow over.

Even if you are a responsible behind the wheel, that doesn't mean you are completely safe from other negligent drivers. If you have been the victim of injury due to someone else's negligence, it is in your best interest to contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer to make sure your rights as an accident victim are protected.

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

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John Norris, 79, was killed in a Missouri railroad crossing accident when he attempted to cross tracks in Saline County on Tuesday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Norris was driving a 2006 Dodge and approached the marked crossing on English Street shortly after 11:00 a.m. The investigating officer said the lights and bells at the crossing were working at the time of the crash, but Norris failed to stop and his car was hit by the train.

Norris was pronounced dead at the scene. The train, which was a single engine GP40 locomotive from KC Southern, sustained only minor damage and was later driven from the scene.

While the initial accident report described the lights and bells as working, it is not known whether the train conductor sounded his horn as he approached the crossing.

Missouri is one of the ten most dangerous states for railroad crossing accidents, according to fatality rates. A recent report found that the state has more than 2,000 dangerous crossings that are unguarded with no lights or warning signals.

Even crossings with lights and crossing guards have been known to produce accidents. Malfunctions with the automatic warning systems and signage that is obscured by overgrown trees can leave even the most attentive motorist unaware of an approaching train. Once a car crosses into the path of a train, there is little a conductor can do to slow down as a fully loaded freight train can take up to a mile to come to a full stop once brakes are applied.

If you have questions about a railroad crossing accident claim, it is important to consult an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney who has a background with such accidents.

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

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Photo by KMOV TV

A day of celebration turned into a horrific and tragic incident for students in the St. James School District who were involved in a fatal Missouri school bus accident on their way to Six Flags. Initial reports say two people have been killed, one a female student and another in a GMC pickup, and up to 50 people have sustained injuries.

The investigation is still in the very early stages, but some details have already begun to emerge. The two buses were carrying band members from John F. Hodge High School on an annual trip to Six Flags. Ahead of the buses was a Volvo tractor cab without a trailer that had slowed or stopped due to traffic caused by a construction zone. The GMC pickup collided with the back of the stopped truck. According to numerous local media sources, the driver of the first school bus, which carried all the female members of the band, was changing lanes due to a stalled vehicle and was unable to stop before hitting the pickup and truck tractor. The second bus then rear-ended the first bus, which was pushed on top of the smaller pickup.

The female student who was killed was sitting in the back of the first bus and likely sustained her fatal injuries when the second bus crashed into the first. The driver of the pickup truck was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The rest of the accident victims, including students, bus drivers and the truck driver, were treated at various local hospitals. At least one student was flown to St. Louis Children's Hospital for emergency treatment. More than 30 students were transported by charter bus to Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Others were taken by ambulance to hospitals in Washington, Creve Coeur and Fenton. Many of the injured students were fortunate to escape the wreck with relatively minor bruises and cuts and will not need to be hospitalized.

Climate Express Inc. operates the truck that was initially hit. Examining their safety profile shows the company is above average in their safety inspection ratings. The company has 118 drivers and has been involved in four injury accidents in the past two years.

Our thoughts go out to all those who were involved in this terrible accident and their families.

Officials say it could be up to two weeks before an accident reconstruction can be conducted to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this terrible accident.

From the perspective of a St. Louis personal injury attorney, there are many questions that still need to be answered. We do not know what speeds the vehicles involved were traveling at. We also don't know what caused the pickup driver to crash into the back of the Volvo truck in the initial collision. Why did not one, but two school bus drivers fail to see an accident on the road ahead in enough time to stop? How far apart were the vehicles when they were moving?

The NTSB reported they will launch an investigation concerning the probable contributing circumstances surrounding this Missouri bus crash. The NTSB made it equally clear they would not be commenting or making any conclusions concerning fault or liability. Both fault and liability are legal terms and investigators are hesitant to extend their conclusions into this arena.

The investigators request any witness to this crash immediately contact the Missouri Highway Patrol or the NTSB with any additional information. Sometimes, people are hesitant to give oral statements to investigators because they simply don't want to be involved. However, it is extremely important to overcome this hesitation and realize you have a unique opportunity to help understand how this St. Louis bus crash occurred and who is at fault. Unfortunately, neither the Missouri Highway Patrol or the NTSB have opened the door to emailed information. If you have information concerning this St. James Missouri bus accident, if you dont feel comfortable contacting the authorities, feel free to email me and I will immediately contact officials with your information.

Posted by Ryan Bradley | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Missouri Bus Accidents , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Trucking Accidents , Personal Injury News

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A near-miss at an entrance ramp eventually did result a Missouri car wreck when two vehicle crashed on Highway 50 in Cole County.

Christopher Guinther, 40, was heading eastbound on Highway 50 in a 2000 Chevrolet truck when a FedEx truck attempted to merge ahead of him. According to the initial crash report, Guinther swerved to miss the FedEx truck and ended up in the northbound lane of Route U. Theresa Loschky, 42, was driving on Route U at the time and was unable to avoid the collision with Guinther's truck.

Both Guinther and Loschky suffered serious injuries and were taken by ambulance to Capital Region Hospital for treatment. No information was listed about the FedEx truck or its driver.

More investigation will be needed to determine any liability issues around this Missouri injury accident. If the FedEx truck driver made an negligent maneuver in trying to merge, he or she could be found at least partially responsible for the damages caused. In a car wreck, you don't necessarily need to actually collide with another vehicle to be held responsible. For instance, if you run a red light causing other vehicles to swerve and miss your car, you may be liable for damage they sustain while avoiding you.

Since car accident claims can become very complicated, it is important to have good legal advice from an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney. Most offer free consultations where you can discuss your case and get advice on protecting your legal rights as an accident victim.

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

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Carolyn Flynn, 38, was killed and a man riding with her was injured after a Missouri car wreck on Route J in Morgan County.

The accident took place around 1:16 p.m. at the intersection of Route J and Webb Road. According to the investigating officer, Flynn was driving a 2000 Chevrolet eastbound with a man named Todd Stenzel, 47. Another vehicle, a 2010 Ford driven by William Donnelly, 67, was heading westbound toward Flynn's vehicle. For an unexplained reason, Donnelly's vehicle crossed the center line and struck Flynn's vehicle, forcing is off the side of the road where it overturned and came to a rest in a ditch.

Flynn was pronounced dead at the scene. Stenzel was taken by ambulance for emergency treatment. Donnelly was not listed as injured on the initial crash report.

Neither Flynn nor Stenzel was wearing a seat belt at the time of this deadly Missouri traffic accident.

Whenever there is a fatality in an accident like this, additional investigation is supposed to follow, including an accident reconstruction and alcohol testing for the drivers involved. Insurance companies will also get involved to determine what they will be paying out to cover damages and, many times, they will be looking to reduce the amount they owe to the injured parties. Because of all the complicated legal and financial issues involved, it benefits anyone involved in a serious accident to contact an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney to discuss you rights as an accident victim.

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

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Photo by Houston Herald

Stephen Thompson, 61, was killed and another man, Douglas County Deputy Steven Zehner, 29, was seriously injured when the county patrol vehicle they were riding in was struck by a trailer that had separated from a pickup.

According to the officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local media outlets, Thompson was an inmate being transported by Zehner on Highway 63 when the fatal Missouri car accident occurred. A northbound pickup, driven by Gary Miller, 65, was pulling a trailer unit that drifted across the center line of the highway. It collided with a southbound tractor trailer and another pickup before being pulled from Miller's truck. The towed unit continued into the southbound lanes where it slammed into Zehner's car.

Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene. Zehner was taken by ambulance for emergency treatment at a local hospital. Both were wearing seatbelts.

No other drivers were listed as injured, according to the initial crash report of this Missouri trailer accident. All drivers were tested for alcohol in accordance with the law.

Trailer accidents claim 400 to 500 lives across the country each year. The most common trailer accident occurs when a trailer is not properly hitched and drifts away from the towing vehicle. At high speeds, trailer units can be deadly obstacles as we were tragically reminded by this latest accident on Highway 63. Other accidents are caused when the weight of trailer catches the driver off-guard and he or she is unable to brake in time to avoid a collision.

In response to the number of trailer accidents, several states have modified their laws to make trailer regulations stricter. According to a USA Today report, the state of Virginia has recently passed one such law and other states, including Alabama, Hawaii, Louisiana and Tennessee, have measures being considered by state legislators.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Trucking Accidents , Personal Injury News , Wrongful Death Lawsuits

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Four people were injured during a lab experiment on the campus of the University of Missouri when an explosion erupted in a lab located in Schweitzer Hall.

According to local media reports, a group of lab technicians were conducting an experiment with bacteria and hydrogen. While the precise cause of the blast is still under investigation, initial impressions of the investigators seem to indicate human error lead to the explosion.

The four people who were injured during the experiment have not yet been identified. All four sustained injuries, but one lab technician in particular, who took the strongest hit from the blast, had severe injuries including burns to the face.

To give you an idea of the power of the explosion, 17 windows in Schweitzer Hall were blown out and an adjacent lab also sustained damage.

From the perspective of a Missouri personal injury attorney, this case presents an interesting question of whether the school could be held liable for an incident like this. Every case is unique and we certainly don't have all the details around this accident, but there have been lawsuits in the past dealing with lab accidents on school campuses.

Basically, a personal injury lawsuit makes the claim that a defendant had a legal duty to the injured party and failed to live up to that duty. As a direct result of that breach of duty, an injury was sustained by the plaintiff. In serious injury cases occurring on school campuses, the biggest question is defining the type of legal duty the school has with regard to their students.

The question of duty changes depending on the age of the students and the school setting. An elementary or high school teacher, for instance, will be held to much stricter standards than a professor working with adult graduate students. Untrained students working with potentially hazardous materials should be under constant supervision, while highly trained students may be reasonably considered as fit to work without such strict observation. These are just a few things to consider and anybody with more specific questions about an injury case should contact an experienced Missouri personal injury lawyer.

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

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More states will soon have anti-texting-while-driving laws go into effect in an attempt to reduce the number of car accident injuries, according to an NPR report. Six laws will go into effect in just the next month, including a ban in Georgia.

Missouri is among the more than thirty states with at least some type of texting ban. Missouri's law is only a partial ban, however, restricting texting by drivers under 21. Tractor trailer drivers have also been banned from texting under a recent federal regulation.

Georgia's new law is a total texting ban, according to the NPR report, and will allow cell phone records to be subpoenaed in some instances after a serious car crash.

The wave of laws is in response to a growing problem of distracted driving. The Department of Transportation says that accidents caused by distracted driving resulted in 6,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries in 2008.

The report says even though the laws are getting tougher, the statistics haven't shown much improvement in states with texting bans. A study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute looked at the effect of anti-texting laws in three states and Washington, D.C. and concluded that there has been little to no reduction in accidents due to the new laws. Previous studies have shown clearly that texting or talking on a cell phone while driving increases the chance for an accident, yet laws curbing this behavior have yet to garner results. This may simply be due to the fact that people are ignoring the new laws and continuing to use cell phones while driving.

As more state laws go into effect and more research is done, a clearer picture should evolve around the issue of distracted driving and how we can limit its consequences.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law a reform of the state's DWI laws that aim to be stricter on repeat offenders and limit the number of serious Missouri car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Some of the key components of the new bill are:

-Cases involving repeat offenders must be moved from a municipal court to a state court, where the penalties are tougher.
-All law enforcement agencies across the state must participate in a DWI reporting policy to better track the number of drunk driving wrecks across the state.
-All municipal court judges must complete a course focused on drunk driving laws.
-Special DWI courts will be created specifically for driver's who plead guilty and new penalties for drivers with a blood alcohol content of .15 or above.

Aside from those main changes, several procedural changes to how DWI cases are handled will be enacted as well. For instance, the law closes a loophole that allowed DWI offenders to have prior offenses expunged.

The bill comes after Gov. Nixon held a summit of state officials to come up with a plan to reduce drunk driving accident injuries in Missouri.

According to nationwide data, Missouri ranks in the bottom half of all states in terms of the number of drunk driving accidents and the percent of fatalities involving a drunk driver.

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

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Authorities are looking for information on an ATV driver that hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene in Dent County.

According to the Highway Patrol, the Missouri hit-and-run injury accident took place on County Road 5160 a little after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. Ronald Conaway, 44, was walking along the roadway when he was struck by an unknown ATV. The ATV then continued driving and left the scene heading east.

Conaway was flown to St. John's Hospital in St. Louis for emergency treatment. His injuries were considered serious.

Police are still looking for information about the ATV and its driver. At the moment, they don't have even much of a visual description. If you have any information that would be helpful in tracking down the driver, please contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (573) 751-3313.

Drivers that cause and then flee an accident scene are often charged with severe criminal penalties whether they are on an ATV or a larger vehicle involved in a Missouri car accident.

As far as paying for medical bills after a hit-and-run accident, the injured party may be able to make a claim against their own insurance policy's uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is designed to protect people should they get involved in a wreck with somebody that doesn't have adequate insurance to pay for their emergency medical bills.

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Posted In: Hit and Run Injuries , Personal Injury News

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Photo by KMOV-TV

A terrible Missouri tractor trailer crash occurred Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 55 leaving two people dead and another five with significant injuries.

The accident took place at the McNutt Street exit near Herculaneum. According to the initial crash report on file with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the driver of the tractor trailer was Jay Valentine, 32. He was driving northbound on I-55 and approached a line of cars that had stopped due to traffic congestion. Valentine became distracted, according to media reports, and didn't see the traffic ahead until he was too close to stop. He attempted to avoid a collision by quickly changing lanes, but he still plowed through the back end of several vehicles. In all, seven other vehicles besides the tractor trailer were involved in this fatal St. Louis area truck accident.

Charles Martin, 52, was driving a Ford Focus which was one of the cars first hit by the big rig. The car was dragged the length of a football field and completely devastated. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other fatality was Alana McKnight, 28, another driver in the line of cars. Her car was struck in the chain reaction that ensued after the initial crash. She was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment, but was unable to recover.

There were five others listed as injured on the report: Cathy Hawn, 53; Terry Hawn, 58; Alice Falk, 79; Mary Davis, 65; and Mark London, 51.

Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and with the injured parties still making a recovery. Hopefully they will be able to fully heal their injures and not be left with any permanent disabilities.

The tractor trailer appeared to belong to a trucking company call Western Express, Inc. This large company, based out of Nashville, has been involved in over 100 serious injury accidents in the past couple years. Six of these accidents resulted in fatalities.

An investigation into this incident is ongoing and could take weeks to complete. Until then, we won't have a detailed description of how this crash occurred, but officials at the scene have been quoted as saying the truck driver was distracted and looking to the right just before the wreck. A full investigation will also be able to determine if any motor carrier regulations were violated.

Since these types of accidents can become incredibly complicated from a legal standpoint, it is often advisable to seek a professional consultation from a Missouri personal injury attorney before talking to the insurance companies.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Trucking Accidents , Personal Injury News , Wrongful Death Lawsuits

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A Fox 4 Kansas City report has revealed Missouri has more than 2,000 dangerous railroad crossings without working warning lights or bells.

The report is a follow up to a story of a Trenton, Missouri railroad crossing accident that claimed three lives. At that intersection, there were no warning lights or automatic crossbars. Drivers have to stop before crossing to make sure no trains are approaching, but this can be more of a problem than it first seems. The crossing sits at the crest of a small hill and this can make it hard to stop in wet or icy conditions. Visibility may also not be 100% and it's not unreasonable for a safe and defensive driver to come to a full stop, scan for trains, and still miss an oncoming locomotive.

According to the Fox 4 report, the reason for so many unregulated crossing with only a warning sign is funding disputes. The state will pay to put up warning systems, but these automatic lights are expensive. Only a handful are installed every year across the state due to budget limitations. The railroad companies can also install warning systems themselves, but often fail to do so, leaving drivers to fend for themselves at these dangerous intersections.

Aside from the lack of crossing guards, a number of other risk factors contribute to Missouri railroad crossing crashes. Bushes and overgrowth can build up at crossings to obstruct the view of drivers and train conductors may fail to sound their horn as they approach the crossing.

Another problem seen at certain crossings is when companies park their trains near an intersection. Drivers get used to seeing a parked train near the road and eventually ignore it. When you look at a train head-on, it's often hard to tell how fast it's moving or whether it's even moving at all. Drivers may then mistake a moving train for one of the parked trains they are used to seeing and make a deadly mistake.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a Missouri railroad crossing collision, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your rights as an accident victim. Holding railroad companies responsible for dangerous crossings may be the only way to fix this deadly problem and prevent more lives from being lost.

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Posted In: Missouri Train Accidents , Personal Injury News

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It's nearly Memorial Day weekend and that means the kids will be finishing up school, the pools will be opening and the barbecue grills will be hot. It also means that a lot of people will be out on the roadways.

Memorial Day is a very busy traveling holiday, especially for motorists. The long weekend lends itself to a road trip, and millions of Americans take advantage. Tens of millions of people leave home for the holiday every year.

This year is expected to be even bigger with AAA predicting more than a 5 percent increase in travelers. As many as 32 million Americans will be traveling this holiday weekend. The increase, according to some experts, can be attributed to the economy that, while not nearly totally back on track, is a little brighter than this time last year.

All those extra cars on the road also means more serious car accidents. There is always a spike in accident numbers over the holiday weekend due largely to the increased traffic and the fact that a lot of Memorial Day festivities involve alcohol. Memorial Day is also the start of the summer driving season which is especially notorious for being a bad time for teens getting injured in car crashes.

Be sure your holiday doesn't take a tragic turn. Don't drink and drive and be aware of others on the roadway who may not be so responsible. Even if you typically have a lead foot, make this weekend be the one where you stay under the speed limit and don't take any chances.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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Two people were seriously injured in a Missouri car accident late Friday afternoon in Clay County.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Nation and 144th Street. According to the investigating trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Chris Wickerson, 57, arrived at the intersection in a 1994 Geo Metro. He stopped at the stop sign and then began to cross the intersection. As he crossed 144th street, a 2002 Ford Explorer, driven by Robert Munzt, 25, failed to stop at the stop sign and slammed into Wickerson's car. Munzt's car crashed into the passenger side of Wickerson's car.

Both Wickerson and Munzt were taken to Liberty Hospital for emergency treatment. Luckily, both drivers were wearing a seatbelt in the in this side impact accident.

According to the initial crash report, an investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

Under the law, the liability insurance of the at-fault driver pays for damages incurred by the injured party in an accident. While the initial report in this wreck seems cut and dry, Missouri injury accidents can quickly get complicated when insurance companies get involved. To make sure your rights as an accident victim are protected, it is in your best interest to contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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A new nationwide study of young drivers shows that driving at night is the biggest risk factor and causes the most fatalities in serious car accidents. While it may seem obvious that driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day, what is surprising is the degree at which the risk rises. Controlling for all other variables, driving after dark contributes to more fatalities than drinking, speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.

What's alarming about this bit of information is the fact that teens driving at night are also more prone to engaging in those other risky driving practices which raises their chances of being injured in a car wreck exponentially.

The authors of the study claim that a big contributing factor is cell phones. Driving at night provides its own challenges, but those risks are compounded when a driver's attention is divided by a cell phone.

Here in Missouri, we have taken steps to limit this risk factor by banning texting behind the wheel for any driver under 21. The graduated license system we adopted several years ago also places restrictions on new drivers at night.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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Since Missouri banned drivers under the age of 21 from texting behind the wheel last year, the debate has focused on whether to ban texting for all drivers. The state legislature has decided, for now, that it will not ban texting for adult drivers.

Laws against texting and driving have been adopted in numerous states around the country as a way of combating distracted driving and the serious car accident injuries it can cause. 42 states have at least considered such laws, with 24 adopting some type of texting regulation, while federal agencies have banned texting for commercial truck drivers and federal employees driving state-owned vehicles.

Since the Missouri law banning minors from texting took effect, only a few tickets have been issued. It's too early to tell what type of effect the law has had on crash statistics.

Nationwide, over 6,000 people are killed every year by car accidents caused by negligent distracted driving. In Missouri alone, there were over 500 injuries related to distracted driving crashes.

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Two people were injured and hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after a Missouri car crash on Route 47 in Franklin County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Mark Taylor, 49, and Ashlea Spires, 29, were each driving on Route 47 at the time of the accident. Taylor was heading northbound in a 1991 Mazda Miata and Spires was driving a 1990 Toyota Camry southbound. As they approached each other, Taylor lost control of his car and crossed the center line. The drivers were unable to avoid a collision with each other and the two car collided nearly head-on.

Both Taylor and Spires were injured and taken by ambulance to St. John's Mercy Hospital for treatment. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

Hopefully both drivers can make a full recovery from this St. Louis area injury accident.

While the initial reports have a basic series of events, determining any liability and settling insurance issues is going to require further investigation. For instance, we don't know the speed of the two vehicles or what caused Taylor to lose control of his car. Under Missouri law, the at-fault driver's liability insurance should pay the medical bills and other costs incurred by the injured party.

Cases that seem simple at first can sometimes become very complicated when insurance companies get involved. When that happens, you'll want the legal advice of someone on your side to make sure your rights as an accident victim are upheld. The best way to do this is to consult a Missouri personal injury lawyer.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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The Centers for Disease Control has issued a report stating that serious car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Over a third of all teenage deaths can be attributed to traffic accidents.

According to the report, over 16,000 teens die each year from car accident injuries. That equals about a third of all teenage deaths, beating out the other leading causes of death including non-car related accidents, homicide, suicide, cancer and heart disease. Accidents in general, both car related and not, are to blame for over half of all teen fatalities.

The numbers also show that male teens are much more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than female teens. At 16, males are about twice as likely to be in a fatal car accident and that disparity only widens as they get older. By 19, males are three times as likely to be killed in a car crash.

While the numbers are disheartening, especially since the loss of life of among teens is a such a tragic occurrence, there is room for optimism. Car accidents are a preventable cause of death. Safety advance through the years have done a pretty good job at preventing serious accidents. No advances in car engineering or safety technology will ever take the place of responsible driving. Teens need to receive plenty of practice in a supervised setting before being on the road on their own. Parents need to make sure to pass on safe driving tips and a encourage their children not to engage in risky or negligent driving practices.

Here in Missouri, state laws have also stepped in to try and prevent these tragic accidents. The graduated license system was implemented in the last decade and in just the last year, teens were banned from texting while driving.

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

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Viola Dudenhoeffer, 72, and Kennith Eichholz, 47, were injured and hospitalized after a Missouri car accident between a car and John Deere Tractor on Highway 63.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred around 8 a.m. on Friday as Eichholz was driving his tractor on the highway. Dudenhoeffer was also driving on the highway behind Eichholz in a 2009 Ford. Eichholz attempted to make a left turn onto County Road 511 at the same time that Dudenhoeffer attempted to pass the tractor. The car crashed into the left side of the tractor as it tried to make the turn.

Both Dudenhoeffer and Eichholz were taken to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment. Both drivers were wearing safety belts.

Living in Missouri, seeing tractors on roadways is a common sight. While they are generally slower than the other traffic on the road, it doesn't mean that the presence of large farm equipment has to result in a dangerous situation or major car accident injuries. Both drivers just need to respect one another and follow the rules of the road.

Likewise, passing on highways and country roads is also legal, but can be dangerous if not done with extreme caution. You have to make sure that you know what the other driver is going to do and if there are any incoming cars.

When there is an accident, it is a wise decision to contact a Missouri car accident injury lawyer. Crash cases can quickly become complicated, especially when it comes to dealing with insurance companies, and consulting with a legal professional a good way to make sure your rights as an accident victim are preserved.

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A three-car, chain reaction Missouri crash sent two people to the hospital Monday evening in Pulaski County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, all three vehicles involved were traveling eastbound on Missouri highway 28 at around 6:00 p.m. Among the drivers were Kendra Cunningham, 20; Sharon Shamblin, 26; and Jared Sabatasso, 28. The initial crash reports says Sabatasso's 2007 Toyota Solara rear-ended Shamblin's 2006 Mazda 3. The impact then sent Shamblin's car into the back of Cunningham's 2006 Hyundai SGX.

Shamblin suffered serious injuries and was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital. Cunningham was also hospitalized, but with less serious injuries. Sabatasso was not listed as injured on the report.

Our thoughts are with the injured parties. Hopefully they are able to make a full recovery.

In these types of chain reaction crashes, the rear-impact collision doctrine often applies. This doctrine states that in rear-impact collisions, negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver. The basis for this is that every driver should be in control of his or her vehicle and should leave plenty of space between it and the vehicle ahead.

Unfortunately, not all injury accident cases are so simple. There may be extenuated circumstances to every crash and details besides what was listed on the initial crash report. Because of the complicated nature of traffic and injury law, it is often advisable to get a free consultation from a personal injury attorney. Many will discuss your case with you at no charge and with no obligation to hire.

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Two people were hospitalized after a serious Missouri car accident on Highway 50 in Jackson County.

Beverly Cathcard, 80, was driving northbound toward the intersection of Highway 50 and Smart Road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Also approaching the intersection was Jill Powell, 26. According to the investigating officer, Cathcard failed to yield to traffic as she entered the intersection. Cathcard's 1989 Ford F350 pulled into the path of Powell's 2007 Pontiac G6. Powell was unable to avoid smashing into Cathcard's vehicle.

Both Powell and Cathcard suffered serious injuries and were taken to Research Medical Center for emergency treatment.

Powell was not wearing a seat belt.

An investigation into this Missouri traffic injury accident is ongoing. Charges are pending.

Further investigation is often needed in traffic accidents to corroborate the details of the initial crash report. The description of the accident made by the investigating officer is just that officer's opinion based on initial comments at the scene. In court, it is considered hearsay unless the officer actually witnessed the crash, is trained in accident reconstruction or the report is backed up by other physical evidence. Because accident cases can quickly turn complicated, it is in your best interest to contact a car accident injury lawyer after a serious wreck in order to discuss your case and make sure your rights as an accident victim are protected.

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After a Missouri car accident, many people would like to assume that they can rely on their insurance company to take care of them. That's what their customers are paying them for, after all. The mistake people sometimes make is to assume these companies, with their ads claiming that they will protect you in any situation, are not going to be looking for any way to not pay you the amount you deserve.

Insurance companies are working to make a profit and those profits are affected by each serious injury accident they have to pay for. Insurance adjusters will sometimes give you an inadequate settlement offer to see if you accept. Other times, they may try and get out making any kind of settlement at all.

Personal injury lawyers are there to work with you and make sure your rights as an accident victim are protected while allowing you to get the settlement you need for a full recovery. But when should you hire an attorney?

Unfortunately, personal injury law is very complicated with many nuances that can only be understood with years of experience. Every case is different and no blog post will be able to tell you whether you absolutely need representation.

Not every case needs a lawyer and some minor claims can be settled fairly easily. If you have any questions whatsoever, though, about your case, there is almost no risk in contacting a personal injury attorney as they mostly offer free consultations with no obligation to hire. You can discuss your case and the lawyer will be able to determine your best course of action. Sometimes this means he will offer to represent you, while other times, he may give you some free tips on how to handle the case yourself.

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David Presley, 35, was seriously injured Sunday in a Missouri motorcycle accident on Route YY in Franklin County.

According to the investigating trooper of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Presley was riding a 2007 Kawasaki Motorcycle eastbound on Route YY at the time of the accident. At the same time, Mary Bowman, 56, was driving a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup truck westbound on the same road. As the two vehicles approached Route C, Bowman attempted to make a left turn. The pickup pulled into the path of the motorcycle and Presley was unable to avoid a collision. Presley's motorcycle slammed into the passenger side of the pickup.

Presley was seriously injured and taken to St. John's Hospital for treatment. Bowman was not injured.

Motorcycle injury accidents can be devastating to those involved. With nothing to protect to the rider, they are often seriously injured or worse. Hopefully Presley can make a full recovery.

Many times, motorcycle crashes are caused because other drivers didn't see the motorcyclist until it was too late. Larger passenger cars will merge vehicles off the roadway or cut in front of the smaller motorcycle which leads to an accident. In this particular case, while the accident was caused when Bowman made a left turn, some more details need to be fleshed out before liability can be determined. The speeds of the two vehicles as well whether either driver broke any driving regulations needs to be determined. None of this information is available on the initial crash report.

Sometimes, insurance companies will not be cooperative in making sure accident victims get the assistance they need for a full recovery. In these cases, victims should contact a St. Louis area motorcycle accident lawyer to make sure their rights are protected.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking to collect $16.4 million in fines from Toyota for not disclosing the nature of potentially dangerous product defects that may have lead to serious car accidents and could be linked to numerous deaths.

The fine is the largest allowed under federal law for this type of case. Under federal regulations, car manufacturers are required to notify the NHTSA within five days of recognizing a defect with the potential to cause injury. Judging by documents obtained by federal investigators, Toyota waited to notify the NHTSA for at least four months that the gas pedals on several of its models had a tendency to stick.

If you'll remember, Toyota has issued several recalls over the last six months to combat a sudden acceleration problem in many of their models. Initially, the company claimed all of the problems were being caused by floor mats, but the newly obtained documents prove that they knew about a mechanical problem with the gas pedal even as they blamed the sudden acceleration reports on floor mats.

Toyota has not yet indicated if it will try and appeal the fines.

While the proposed fine may be the maximum allowed by federal law, it is just a tiny fraction compared to the huge profits brought in yearly by the world's largest automaker. Outside of these fines, there are numerous product liability lawsuits aimed at the company as well.

If companies are negligent in producing a product, they must be held accountable to ensure that lives are not lost and more people don't suffer injury. If you or someone you love has bee injured by a product defect, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible for a consultation on your case.

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A recent article on Wired's website about multitaskers caught my eye both for the information in the article, and how some people might interpret that information.

The article focuses on the findings of a recent study saying that a small percentage of people are exceptionally good at multitasking behind the wheel. These so-called supertaskers are able to perform well on benchmark driving tests while doing other distracting tasks such as talking on the phone or solving math problems. While the average person's response time when braking is reduced 20 percent when multitasking behind the wheel, supertaskers seem to be unaffected.

The idea that driving performance can be unaffected by cell phone use flies in the face of recent legislative trends to restrict the use of phones behind the wheel. Missouri recently banned minors from texting and driving, while commercial truck drivers have been banned from texting by a federal regulation as a way of preventing fatal traffic accidents.

And that's precisely the concern with the article. Most people are definitely not supertaskers. The average person's reaction time while talking on the phone is equivalent to that of a drunken driver and texting while driving is even more dangerous. Only about two percent of people studied had this unique talent, but chances are, a much higher percentage of people reading that article will get the idea that they, too, are multitasking prodigies.

While the science behind brain function and the existence of supertakers is interesting, don't make any assumptions on your own ability. Distracted driving is incredibly negligent and in the vast majority of cases will increase the chances of a serious car accident.

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Two people were hospitalized Monday afternoon after a Missouri motorcycle crash on Highway 112 near Cassville.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as Arthur Brophy, 38, and Melissa Brophy, 30, were riding their 1996 Honda motorcycle northbound on the highway. A 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, driven by Shawanna Hains, 25, was approaching the motorcycle in the southbound lanes. Hains attempted to make a left turn and pulled directly into the path of the motorcycle. Brophy was unable to avoid a collision and crashed into the side of the car.

Both Arthur and Melissa Brophy were taken to St. John's Hospital for treatment. Hains was uninjured in the crash.

Motorcycle accidents are often caused by other drivers not realizing a motorcycle is present and then turning or merging into them. Most drivers only quickly glance to look for other cars and don't notice the smaller motorcycle that might riding next to them or approaching them. Every driver needs to make sure that they share the road with motorcycle riders.

Hopefully the Brophys can make a full recovery from this motorcycle injury accident. Fortunately, they were wearing their helmets at the time of the crash.

While the description of the accident gives some details, we don't know exactly who is at fault for this accident. Why didn't Hains see the oncoming motorcycle in the middle of the day? Was Arthur Brophy driving at an excessive speed? Did Hains make her left turn without signaling? All these questions need to be answered by further investigation.

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Laccey Umfleet, 41, was seriously injured Saturday morning after his truck collided with a John Deere tractor in Cape Girardeau County.

This Missouri injury accident occurred at 9:45 a.m. on Missouri 25 near Dutchtown. Umfleet was driving a 2007 Chevy pickup southbound on Missouri 25 when he came upon a John Deere tractor, driven by Joshua Veussink, 23. Umfleet began to pass the tractor, when Veussink attempted to make a left turn. The tractor clipped the side of the pickup and sent it veering off the roadway. Umfleet's truck went off the right side of the road and overturned.

Umfleet was seriously injured and taken to St. Francis Medical Center for emergency treatment. Veussink did not sustain any serious injury.

Umfleet was not wearing a seat belt.

Typically, in Missouri traffic accidents, the at-fault driver's liability insurance will pay for damages sustained by the injured party. Not every accident is so clear cut. The initial crash report in this crash will need to be corroborated by further evidence to fill in the missing details like the speed of Umfleet's truck and whether Veussink made a negligent maneuver in making his left turn.

If you are ever involved in an injury accident and want legal guidance, contact a Missouri personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Many will offer a free consultation in which you can discuss your case without any obligation to hire.

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Being in a serious car accident is stressful enough under normal conditions. You are worried about your health and the safety of those riding with you. Then your thoughts wander to how you are going to pay for the damages and what you need to tell the insurance company. Generally, you call the police to have a report written up and then the at-fault driver's liability insurance will take care of many of the expenses arising for the injured party. But what happens when the at-fault driver doesn't stay at the scene? It can be a helpless feeling to be left injured on the side of the road while the other person illegally drives away.

Your first priority should be to ensure your safety and the safety of those riding with you. Get out of the roadway if you can and make sure that emergency responders are notified.

If there are witnesses, make sure to get their information and see if they can give the police a statement. It is incredibly helpful to have additional people corroborate your account of the crash.

Be sure to write down everything you know about the car that hit you. If you got the license number, that's great, but any information is helpful. Knowing the make, model and color can all help track down the person that hit you. Don't rely on your memory at this stressful time. Be sure to write everything down.

Even if authorities never find the at-fault driver, you can file a claim with your own insurance company's uninsured motorist coverage. By law, your plan must include this coverage that protects you should you be involved in a Missouri car crash with a driver that doesn't have insurance or attempts to flee the scene of the wreck.

Unfortunately, insurance companies may still try and not pay the claim even if you followed all the steps above. If this happens to you, contact a Missouri car accident lawyer as soon as possible and he will be able to help you preserve your rights as an accident victim.

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Three people were injured in a Tuesday evening Missouri car accident on Highway 21 in Jefferson County, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred around 6:15 when Joey Holmes, 47, slowed his northbound 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee to turn into a private driveway. Behind Holmes was Darrell Hasty, 26, who was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo northbound on Highway 21 as well. Hasty failed to see Holmes' Jeep slowing down and was unable to avoid smashing into the back of the Jeep.

Holmes was injured and taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment. Hasty and a passenger in his car, Hayden Hasty, 2, were also injured and taken to Jefferson Regional.

The initial crash report did not give a reason why Hasty failed to see Holmes' Jeep slowing down.

Unless further investigation reveals extenuating circumstances in this Missouri rear-end collision injury accident, the case would probably fall under the rear impact collision doctrine which states that negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver in all accidents of this type. The rationale behind this rule is that all drivers should be in control of where their vehicles are heading and leave plenty of space between themselves and the car ahead of them. That way if there is a sudden stop or turn, the rear driver will have time to avoid an accident.

While these types of cases may seem pretty straight forward, there may be complications not readily apparent, especially once insurance companies get involved. To ensure that your rights as an accident victim are upheld, it is usually a good idea to contact a St. Louis based personal injury lawyer for a consultation after any injury. Often they will provide the consultation for free with no obligation to hire.

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In what was probably Winter's last gasp, a massive snow storm dropped up to a foot of snow in some places in the state causing dozens of Missouri car accidents.

Local media reports, predominately from southern Missouri, listed dozens of crashes in the area. At least 25 vehicles had to be towed just along Interstate 44 after they spun out of control into the median or roadside. The Joplin Globe reported that some emergency dispatch centers were receiving triple the amount of calls normally received on a busy night.

The storm was the mix of rain, sleet and snow that is so often a problematic mixture for drivers. Roads become wet due to the rain and freeze as the temperature lowers. The ice can appear so suddenly that drivers don't realize it's there and lose control of their vehicles. Also, after a couple weeks of milder weather, drivers might have been overconfident and convinced the roads wouldn't freeze again.

Overconfidence in bad weather is often a problem for drivers of SUV's and large trucks. Many times a driver will report that since he had four-wheel drive and solid gripping tires, he felt safer and drove at a faster speed. Despite the added traction that is sometimes featured in SUV's, a solid sheet of ice is still just as slick.

While the Winter weather may be over for the year, as we move into Spring we will start to see thunderstorms and driving rain showers. These can prove to be dangerous for drivers as well. While weather can contribute to a Missouri injury accident, it is not a defense if you cause an accident. If the weather is too severe for your driving ability, stay off the road until it passes.

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Becky Burkhart, 28, was seriously injured Wednesday when she was hit in a rear-end collision accident by a driver who was texting behind the wheel.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Burkhart was driving southbound on Missouri Highway 5 in a 1995 Toyota when the accident occurred. Just behind her in a 1997 Ford was Teddy Newell, 29. According to the initial crash report, Newell was text messaging causing him to rear-end Burkhart's vehicle and cause major damage.

The impact of the crash was severe enough to seriously injure Burkhart, who was taken to University Hospital in Columbia. Newell was not severely injured.

If the information in the initial crash report is true, then this Missouri car accident is the result of negligent driving decisions on the part of Newell. Texting behind the wheel has become more of a problem as high-tech phones become ubiquitous among young drivers. While texting, a driver is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Because of these risk factors, legislators around the country are looking to limit the use of cell phones and text messaging behind the wheel. Missouri has already banned texting by minors while they drive and a national ban on texting for truck drivers was recently established. This trend of regulation only looks to pick up steam with the eventual total ban of texting behind the wheel for all drivers just over the horizon.

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A car manufacturer just issued a recall for a potentially dangerous product defect, but this time it wasn't Toyota.

After months of expanding recalls for Toyota vehicles, Honda Motor Company has issued its own recall specifically relating to the brake systems in the Odyssey minivan and Element SUV. Drivers have issued complaints of the brake pedals feeling soft and three crashes are being investigated to see if there is a link to a brake malfunction.

As of now, no fatal injuries have been reportedly caused by a brake malfunction.

According to the automaker, the problem develops when air leaks into the brake systems causing them to not be as responsive. Reports claim that the pedal feels like it needs to be pushed further down to stop the car the longer the driver has owned the vehicle.

The recall affects approximately 412,000 vehicles in the U.S.

After numerous accidents for Toyota vehicles led to investigations and personal injury lawsuits, the entire auto industry could face tougher scrutiny. It appears Honda doesn't want to be accused of dragging its feet in issuing a recall. We may continue to see companies acting quickly to respond to complaints in the wake of the Toyota fiasco. This new motivation could produce a very positive trend of corporate responsibility, at least in the short term, that may save lives.

If you own a Honda Odyssey or Element, contact your dealer for more information about the recall.

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Tiffaney Fisher, 18, was killed Friday evening after she was hit by a 2004 Ford while walking along the roadway in Dunklin County, Missouri.

Many of the details are not available at this time, but what we do know is that Fisher was walking along Missouri 164 around 7:21 p.m. when the fatal Missouri pedestrian accident occurred. Trenton Burns, 17, was traveling westbound in the 2004 Ford and struck Fisher as she was walking, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene. Burns suffered no physical injuries.

Our thoughts go out to the families of both Fisher and Burns. This is a terrible incident for anyone to endure.

There are several other details not addressed in the initial crash report that need to be fleshed out in order to get a better idea of how this tragic Missouri car accident happened. We need to know if Fisher was walking alongside the roadway or if she was trying to cross the road. We also need to know if Burns was traveling the speed limit or if he was possibly distracted by something else in his car.

It is important to determine what caused any serious accident, whether on the roadways or elsewhere, for several reasons. First, if we know what caused an accident, maybe similar incident can be prevented in the future. Second, in some cases liability isn't clear and needs to be determined for legal reasons. If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious injury accident, it is in your best interest to contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer to discuss your rights as an accident victim.

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Marjorie Harris, 89, was killed Wednesday morning in a Missouri car accident on the corner of Hillsboro House Springs Road and Tishomingo Road.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Harris was a passenger in a 2005 Ford Explorer heading eastbound through the intersection around 11:10 a.m. A 2006 Ford F150 pickup, driven by Charles McDaniel, 23, was heading northbound toward the intersection at the same moment. McDaniel failed to stop at the stop sign, according to the initial crash report, and the pickup struck the SUV in the passenger side.

Harris was taken to St. Anthony's Medical Center where she was pronounced dead by hospital staff. Nobody else involved in the accident suffered serious injury.

Under Missouri law, the at fault driver's liability insurance should pay for the funeral cost and any other accident expenses for the injured party. It seems from the initial crash report that McDaniel violated traffic regulations by running a stop sign, which lead to the accident. An initial crash report alone is not solid enough evidence, however, as it is considered hearsay in court. A full accident reconstruction will be conducted to determine the exact sequence of events and who was truly at fault for this fatal SUV accident.

Accident cases can quickly become complicated, especially if the insurance company tries to lower the amount it is paying out for damages. Those involved in an crash should seek the counsel of an experienced Missouri car accident attorney.

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As Toyota continues to come under fire from federal safety officials for potentially dangerous manufacturing defects, the automaker has presented evidence that it says shows the sudden acceleration problems is mechanical and not an electronic glitch.

Recently, officials have become concerned that faulty electronic throttle controls may be at the heart of the problem that has reportedly caused numerous fatal car accidents. Some investigators have even recreated the glitch in a lab setting.

Toyota claims that the scenarios that were recreated in the tests are not plausible in real life and are the result of tampering by the investigators. They claim that relying on those tests could set back the investigation and distract from the real problem.

After a fatal SUV accident in California last year was caused when the vehicle began accelerating wildly, the automaker blamed the incident on driver's side floor mats getting caught on the pedal. Only after many more reports came in did the automaker admit that the problem was a defect in the gas pedal mechanism. Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles since last fall and made repairs that is says will fix the problem. Recently, though, dozens of reports have come in from car owners who have had the recall fixes done but are still experiencing the acceleration problem.

Dozens of wrongful death lawsuits, personal injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits have been leveled at Toyota so far. A recent Associated Press report says that the automaker stands to lose billions of dollars if the suits are successful. Hopefully the investigation by federal officials and pressure from the lawsuits eventually leads to a clear diagnosis of the problem so no more lives are lost.

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A tragic Missouri motorcycle accident took the life of a Missouri teenager and left another in serious condition Saturday evening in McDonald County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Michael Dutton, 17, was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle on Bear Hollow Road at the same time Camron Bridges, 17, was approaching on a Kawasaki four-wheeler. They struck head on, totaling both vehicles.

Both victims were taken to a local hospital. Bridges was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday while Dutton remained in serious condition.

Neither victim was wearing a helmet, according to the initial crash report.

No description of what actually caused this serious Missouri motorcycle crash was given in the report. It was late, so visibility was low and could have contributed, but it is not certain which driver was out of his lane to cause the head-on collision.

Dutton was tested for alcohol in accordance with Missouri law after a fatal traffic accident. An investigation into the crash continues.

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More than a dozen reports of sudden, uncontrolled acceleration incidents have been sent to officials concerning Toyota vehicles that had supposedly been fixed under the massive recalls of the past few months.

According to an AP report, at least 15 people have had sudden acceleration problems, though no indication was given as to whether these incidents resulted in a serious car accident. At the moment the reports are unconfirmed, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is following up with these drivers to determine if a dangerous vehicle defect exists even after being repaired under the recall guidelines.

This announcement will surely come as a blow to the auto maker, which is looking to move past this whole episode with an aggressive advertising campaign designed to regain credibility.

Toyota, for the moment, is standing by their recall fixes and has sent investigators of their own to check out these new claims. The company has been on the defensive this whole process, constantly changing the diagnosis for the acceleration problem. First they claimed the problem was misplaced floor mats or driver error, then they admitted the problem was likely in the pedal mechanism. Now the concern is that there are problems with the vehicle's software systems, though Toyota has denied these claims.

The NHTSA says that 52 people have been killed in car accidents related to a sudden acceleration glitch, according to the Associated Press report.

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Three cars were involved in a Missouri injury accident on Highway 30 in Jefferson County Tuesday afternoon. At least two people sustained significant injuries in the wreck.

The accident occurred on Highway 30 just before Old Sugar Creek Road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Two vehicles had stopped in preparation of making a left turn. The first vehicle was a large Ford Econoline van, driven by Charles Kersten, 26, and behind that was a 2005 Dodge Ram, driven by Bruce Finkes, 56. A third vehicle, a Chevy 1500 driven by Martin Gsell, 56, approached the line of cars from behind. Gsell's pickup slammed into the back of Finkes' truck causing serious damage.

Both Finkes and Gsell suffered serious injuries in this Missouri car accident and were taken to St. Anthony's Hospital for treatment. While Finkes' truck was pushed forward into Kersten's van, Kersten didn't suffer any significant injuries, according to the investigating officer.

The initial crash report didn't say what caused Gsell to crash into a line of stopped cars. Generally when this happens it means that a driver was not paying attention to the road ahead or was driving too fast to slow down in time. There may be extenuating circumstances, though, and this case may be more complicated than it first appears.

Because there are so many complications and nuances to Missouri accident law, it's important to seek the advice of a professional when handling the aftermath of a crash. Consulting an experienced St. Louis area car accident lawyer before settling with the insurance companies is the best way to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the chance at recovery you deserve.

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Two people were injured, one seriously, in a two-car Missouri car accident in Jefferson County Saturday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on southbound Highway 67 near Meyer Road. Sandra Doty, 38, was heading southbound on the highway in a 2004 Kia Sedona. Approaching the highway heading eastbound was a 1998 Ford Escort, driven by Holly Mann, 23. Mann attempted to pull into the highway and it doing so crossed into the path of Doty's vehicle. Doty was unable to avoid a collision and slammed into the driver's side of the Escort, totaling both cars.

Mann was seriously injured by this Missouri car crash and taken to St. Louis University Hospital for treatment. A passenger in her car, Jeremy Racette, 24, was also injured and taken to a local hospital. Doty was not listed as injured on the initial accident report.

Side impact collisions can cause devastating injuries to the passengers of cars, even when compared to head-on collisions. This is because while numerous safety technologies like air bags and crumple zones are designed to protect riders in front end crashes, there's just not a lot to protect passengers from the side. Hopefully the injured parties will be able to make a full recovery.

The initial crash report does not indicate who had the right of way or if one driver in this accident was driving negligently.

After a car accident, insurance companies will quickly try and contact those involved and settle claims as cheaply as possible. To make sure you understand your rights before you lose money that may be needed for a recovery, consult a Missouri car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

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Members of the United States Congress held two days worth of hearings this week that including a question session for the head of Toyota, Akio Toyoda.

The Federal Government has gotten involved in investigating the vehicle manufacturer after thousands of reports of potentially dangerous vehicle defects leading to instances where Toyota vehicles have accelerated uncontrollably. As many as 39 deaths have been reportedly linked to the acceleration problem.

In the question session, Toyoda was apologetic and sorry for any accident that Toyota owners have had. He even admitted that some problems may have arisen because of the company's extraordinarily rapid growth over the last decade.

Toyota is Japan's largest company and also the world's largest automaker.

Toyoda refuted the claim that electronic system errors in Toyota vehicles were to blame for any of the fatal car accidents. When reports of the sudden acceleration problem first became national news, the company blamed misplaced floor mats that caught on the accelerator. As the months wore on and reports from all over the country began to stream in, the automaker expanded its recalls and admitted that part of the accelerator mechanism itself was the problem. Now, as the company has recalled nearly 10 million vehicles, concerns are arising that the computer systems that help control cruise control and other vital operations are faulty.

Hopefully investigators can get to the cause of all these incidents before we have more serious crashes. Toyota also needs to be held accountable if they knew about potential problems and didn't act to fix them before people were hurt or killed. When a company negligently sells a dangerous product, it falls under the area of product liability law. If you believe that you have been injured by a dangerous product defect, you should consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

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More specifics about Sunday evening's deadly St. Louis area plane crash are beginning to emerge, including the names of the victims.

Authorities have tentatively identified the victims as former head of the Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development, Donald Estell, 65, and Robert Clarkson, 68. The identifications are being labeled as tentative because they are based on circumstantial evidence until genetic testing can confirm them definitively.

Estell, an experienced pilot, was flying the plane according to the flight records. Records also show that the flight left Vero Beach, Fla. an hour later than scheduled.

According to an Associated Press report, officials say they plane encountered a light rain just before they were supposed to land in the St. Louis area, but that the weather shouldn't have been a serious factor for an experienced pilot like Estell.

Officials from the FAA and NTSB will continue to investigate the cause of the crash, though a full report on the fatal crash might take months.

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Photo by St. Louis Post Dispatch

A small private airplane that was bound for St. Louis Downtown Airport crashed Sunday evening into a Belleville home several miles short of the runway. Two people were believed to have been on board the plane. There were no survivors, according to authorities.

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch report on this St. Louis area plane crash, the plane had left from Vero Beach, Fla. and was scheduled to land at St. Louis Downtown Airport around 6:30 p.m. The plane was a single-engine Piper Meridian based at Downtown Airport and registered to a Clayton company, according to the Post Dispatch.

The plane began to dive and witness reports state that the plane was making whining noises as it dove towards the home of John and Mary Elliott in the Aero Estates development. Thankfully, nobody was home at the time of the crash.

The plane crashed into a hanger attached to the home that housed two planes and an antique car. Flames quickly spread from the hangar to the house, which was completely destroyed.

Names of the victims have not yet been released.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash. It was raining and foggy at the time, though no indication has been made that weather contributed to the fatal plane crash.

In 2007, there was a Missouri plane crash also involving a Piper Meridian. In that incident, the wings separated from the body of the plane in mid-air causing the plane to crash. The Piper Meridian has also been the target of concerns over the nose landing gear which reportedly caused several planes to turn hard uncontrollably upon landing.

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Area residents have called for safety improvements on Highway DD in St. Charles County in the past. Before Sunday, there had been five deaths on the rural roadway in the last five years. Tragically, after Sunday that number was raised to six.

Daniel Windler, 61, was killed Sunday evening while walking along Highway DD after his own car had slid off the road. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, he called for a tow truck and was walking back to where his car was stuck when a 17-year-old girl also lost control of her car on the icy road and slid into him.

Windler was pronounced dead at the scene. The girl was uninjured and will not be charged for this fatal Missouri car accident.

According to the Post Dispatch, Windler was among the residents who were calling for improvements to the road. Highway DD is extremely windy and hilly with no shoulder or guardrails in many places. It has made lists of the most dangerous roads in the state and we have even commented about it here on the blog.

The Missouri Department of Transportation already has plans to do safety upgrades on the road to prevent car and truck crashes, but residents have been spreading a petition to get MoDOT to fast track these improvements. According to the Post Dispatch, Windler had recently signed the petition.

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Christopher Hausermann, 35, was injured and hospitalized after a three-car Missouri wreck in St. Louis County Wednesday evening.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Hausermann was driving his 2003 Ford F150 southbound on I-270 at the time of the crash. He was in a line of cars with Linda Ferber, 59, who was driving a 1999 Nissan Altima; and Brandon Smith, 24, who was driving a 2004 Nissan Maxima. Smith tried to pass the other two vehicles on the right, but lost control of his car. In an attempt to regain control, Smith overcorrected and slammed into the median in front of Hausermann. Hausermann attempted to avoid a collision with Smith’s vehicle and, in doing so, collided with Ferber’s Altima. The impact of Smith’s car into the median also propelled it back into the roadway where it hit Ferber’s car.

Hausermann was taken to St. John’s Medical Center for treatment. Fortunately, despite the multiple collisions and high speeds, Hausermann’s injuries were not considered life-threatening and neither Smith nor Ferber sustained serious injury.

The report did not say what caused Smith to lose control of his car while passing the other vehicles. Perhaps this Missouri injury accident was caused by driver error and could have been prevented.

In accidents like this one, where there are multiple collisions, determining liability can be complicated. It is advisable that anyone injured in an accident consult a St. Louis car accident attorney to discuss their rights before making a comment to the insurance companies.

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Three people were hospitalized Saturday in a two-car Missouri injury accident on Highway 94 in St. Charles County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when Jason Gamarin, 32, failed to yield to another vehicle at the intersection of Highway 94 and South Breeze Lane. Gamarin pulled his 2002 Chevrolet S10 into the path of a 2010 BMW 328I, driven by Jacob Haman, 27. Haman was unable to avoid a collision and crashed into the side of the pickup truck.

Haman was injured and taken by ambulance to St. John's Mercy in Creve Coeur. Two passengers in his car, Jennifer Hawkins, 25, and Dylan Hawkins, 6, were also injured and taken to St. John's Mercy. Haman and Jennifer Hawkins' injuries were described as relatively minor, but Dylan Hawkins' injuries were more serious. Gamarin was not listed as injured on the initial crash report.

Typically, the at-fault driver's liability insurance would pay the injured party for any medical bills or other expenses arising from a Missouri car crash. The description of the accident in the initial report needs to be corroborated by further investigation, though, as the initial crash reports are not definitive descriptions of an accident and they alone can't prove liability.

Often, insurance companies will look for ways to lower the amount they pay out for an accident. It is advisable not to talk to the insurance representative until you have consulted a St. Louis area personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights.

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Ray LaHood, the Department of Transportation Secretary, has issued a statement saying that drivers who own one of the recalled Toyota models should bring their cars back to their local Toyota dealers to have the cars fixed as soon as possible, according to a CNN report.

Some earlier reports had quoted LaHood as more sternly warning Toyota owners to stop driving the vehicles at all. LaHood later said this was a misstatement, according to the report.

Either way, the pressure on the car manufacturer has ramped up considerably over the last couple weeks over concerns that a dangerous vehicle defect in several of their models could lead to a serious car accident. Numerous reports have come in describing the accelerator pedal in some Toyota sticking and causing the cars to speed uncontrollably.

Toyota initially blamed the problem on improperly installed floor mats, but has since issued several more statements that indicate the problem may have to do with the actual pedal mechanism wearing down. Millions of cars have been listed in the recall and you should consult your dealer to see if your model is one of them.

The problem garnered national attention after a fatal car accident in California, but some are reporting that hundreds of rapid acceleration accidents have occurred with Toyota vehicles over the last decade. A report by Safety Research and Strategies Inc., which used data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Association among other agencies, says that as many as 815 crashes since 1999 may be linked to some sort of uncontrollable acceleration in a Toyota vehicle. 19 people died in those crashes and more than 300 were injured.

Toyota, or any other vehicle manufacturer for that matter, needs to be held accountable if a dangerous defect exists which could end up costing lives, especially if the defect is something the company has known about for some time. Toyota owners need to be diligent and look for signs that their accelerator pedal is sticking or returning slowly after being pressed. Contact your dealer and ask what they can do to fix your vehicle and don’t get behind the wheel if you feel unsafe at all.

If you have been injured by a vehicle defect in a Toyota or any other car, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Product liability cases need to be well documented and handled very quickly so don’t delay in having your case examined.

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Melissa Spain, 41, and Gayle Cantrell, 56, were both injured Saturday afternoon in a Missouri rear impact crash on Highway 25, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The initial crash report describes the accident as a rear end collision. Cantrell had slowed her 1995 Dodge to make a left turn when she was struck in the rear by Spain's 1995 Plymouth. The impact of the crash caused both vehicle so spin off the roadway.

Both Spain and Cantrell were taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment.

Spain was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck, according to the crash report.

It is unclear what exactly caused Spain to hit Cantrell's vehicle and cause this Missouri car accident. It could have been weather related or Spain simply could have been inattentive. A more thorough report of the crash will be needed to fill in the details.

In most rear end collision cases, though, the rear end collision doctrine applies which means negligence is assumed on the part of the at fault driver. This is based on the reasoning that all drivers should be in control of where there vehicles are heading at all times and leave enough space between them and the vehicle ahead of them. A Missouri personal injury lawyer would need only prove that the doctrine applies to any specific rear end collision case and that no other extenuating circumstances helped cause the accident.

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Three people were hospitalized with serious injuries after a Missouri car crash Wednesday morning on Highway 221.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 11 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 221 and Henson Road. Anthony Hedrick, 34, was traveling northbound in a 2004 Ford F-150 when he lost control of his vehicle. Hedrick's truck began to travel off the right side of the roadway and, in an attempt to regain control, Hedrick over-corrected and sent his truck screeching back across the roadway. Gracie Haus, 33, who was driving a 1992 Jeep Cherokee southbound on Highway 221, was unable to avoid a collision with Hedrick's truck.

Both Hedrick and Haus were seriously injured and flown to local hospitals for emergency treatment. Patricia Helms, 36, a passenger in Haus' Jeep, was also seriously injured and flown to a local hospital.

Helms was the only passenger wearing a seat belt in this serious Missouri injury accident.

The initial crash report does not say what caused Hedrick to lose control of his truck in the first place. If negligence on the part of either driver helped cause this accident, a Missouri car accident attorney may be called in to help the injured party recover damages to pay for medical bills and other expenses.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation is trying to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving using a new website, www.distraction.gov.

The site has an extensive list of statistics and facts about distracted driving and the serious car accidents they lead to. Talking on the cell phone and sending text messages are two distractions that have been featured prominently in the news, but the site warns against other activities that take your eyes off the road such as eating or applying makeup.

As the laws around these distractions continue to evolve, the site will update visitors on local regulations.

Recently, the Department of Transportation banned texting by all commercial truck and bus drivers as a way of cutting down on tractor trailer crashes.

According to the Department of Transportation, 80 percent of all automotive crashes are caused by distracted drivers and almost 6,000 people died in 2008 as a result of inattentive drivers.

Educating drivers on the dangers of distracted driving is one step toward limiting these incidents, but some people will undoubtedly continue to participate in these behaviors. Negligent drivers need to be held accountable. If you have been involved in a serious car accident and would like to learn your legal rights, consult a Missouri car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

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Right on the heels of another large Toyota recall, Chrysler has issued a recall of their own involving more than 24,000 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles over brake failure concerns.

A potentially dangerous product defect has been discovered by the company in which some vehicles could have faulty brake booster rod retaining clips or, in the case of the Ram pickup truck, the vehicle may not have the part installed at all. The clip is important for normal function of the brakes and the defect could cause brake failure and a serious car or truck accident.

The recall applies to some late model Sebrings, Avengers, Dodge Nitros, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and Ram pickups. Not every vehicle in each line is subject to the recall so if you own one of these vehicles, contact Chrysler or the NHTSA to see if it is involved in the recall.

According to a statement made to the NHTSA, the problems were discovered by company workers and the recall is not in response to any crashes or injuries caused by a mechanical defect.

Reports say that factory workers doing safety tests discovered that some of the vehicles with the defect had the potential to lose all braking power.

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Toyota Motor Corporation has issued a recall for approximately 2.3 million vehicles sold in the U.S. due to the potential danger of sticking accelerator pedals causing serious car accidents.

Toyota has already issued a recall last year for vehicles that may have a defect which caused floor mats to jam the accelerator pedals causing the car to accelerate uncontrollably. This is also the fourth major recall by Toyota in the past two years.

The most recent recall is in response to a potentially dangerous mechanical defect that may cause the accelerator pedal to stick when pressed down. When Toyota issued the recall last year, it claimed that the rapid acceleration problems were caused only by mismatched floor mats, despite concerns that additional mechanical problems existed. This latest recall seems to confirm some of those concerns.

Vehicles involved in the recall include the 2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 RAV4, 2008-2010 Sequoia, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2009-2010 Matrix and 2007-2010 Tundra.

Toyota will continue to investigate potential problems relating to the accelerator. It is unclear if this latest recall was spurred on by any recent car accident injuries or if the recall is just based on concerns arising from in-house product testing.

If you have any questions regarding your vehicle, contact your local dealer for more details.

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Liberty White, 29, was injured in a Missouri car accident when her vehicle crashed into another on Highway 47 on Monday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, White was driving a 1993 GMC Jimmy northbound at the time of the injury accident. A 1999 Ford Expedition, driven by Marilyn Smith, 66, was backing out of a private driveway onto the highway. According to the initial crash report, Smith failed to yield to White and pulled in front of her SUV. White was unable to avoid the collision.

White was taken to Lincoln County Medical center for treatment. Smith was not listed as injured in the report.

If Smith was at-fault for the accident, her liability insurance will pay for the damages sustained by White. While the initial crash report says Smith failed to yield, this is just the opinion of the investigating officer and will need to be corroborated by further investigation should liability be disputed. If you have been involved in a similar accident and have some questions about how to handle your case, contact a Missouri car accident attorney as soon as possible.

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Brandy Phillips, 21, was killed Saturday afternoon in a Missouri car accident after another car crashed head-on into hers.

This tragic crash occurred on Route WW in Boone County around 1 p.m., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Phillips was driving her 1991 Ford Festiva eastbound at the time of the accident. An oncoming vehicle, a 1995 Geo Prizm driven by Byron Young, 38, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into Phillips' car.

Phillips was pronounced dead after being taken to University Hospital. Young was also taken to University Hospital, though his injuries were listed as moderate.

Young was driving without insurance, according to the initial crash report. The report did not go into detail about any citations or what may have caused Young to cross the center line into oncoming traffic.

Typically, the liability insurance of the at-fault driver will be used to pay money to the injured party, but in cases where the driver is uninsured or under-insured it may be a little more complicated. In these cases, the injured party will need to make a claim against their own insurance policy's uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is required by law. If you have any questions about your rights after a crash, contact an experienced Missouri car accident attorney. Many offer free consultations where you can discuss your case.

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Arguments on a case that could have big ramifications for medical malpractice laws in the state of Missouri were heard today by the Missouri Supreme Court. At the heart of the issue is the question of whether the state's $350,000 non-economic damage cap is fair to consumers and whether the cap can be applied retroactively to injuries sustained before a limit was in place.

As we reported earlier, the case was initially filed by James and Mary Klotz of Arnold, Missouri. James Klotz won a medical malpractice lawsuit after massive complications arose from an operation to insert a pacemaker. While the jury awarded Klotz $1 million, the non-economic damages were reduced to just $350,000. While the actual lawsuit was filed after the 2005 cap was put in place, the personal injuries were sustained in an operation that occurred in 2004.

Those opposed to the damage caps, including consumer advocates and Missouri medical malpractice lawyers, say that the caps are unfair and unconstitutional. They could also be seen as restricting access to the court system, especially for people earning lower to moderate incomes. If non-economic damage awards are reduced arbitrarily to $350,000, it makes it financially unfeasible to take a case to court, a process which could cost tens of thousands of dollars in itself.

It also seems particularly unfair to limit the award given to the James Klotz since his injuries were sustained prior to the cap being in place. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the argument was made before the Supreme Court that limiting the Klotz award was similar to placing a limit on damages for accident victims the day after a bridge collapse. The defense argued that lawsuits arising from that hypthetical situation were different than the actual medical malpractice case before the court.

We will be sure to follow up on this story as it develops.

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Five people were injured Sunday afternoon in a two vehicle Missouri car accident on I-29.

According to the initial report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred just before 4 p.m. as Eric Martin, 21, was traveling northbound in a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am. He was traveling faster than the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer in front of him and struck the Blazer in the rear. The force of the impact caused the SUV to travel off the side of the road, overturn, hit a guardrail and come to a rest on its side.

Martin and two passengers in his car, Jeffrey Book, 21, and John Rockwell, 21, were taken to Heartland Regional Health Center for treatment. The driver of the Blazer, Hassan Mwanabaji, 28, and his passenger, Paul Dujinja, 51, were also taken to Heartland Regional for treatment.

Everyone injured in this Missouri car wreck was wearing a seat belt.

The rear-end doctrine typically applies to rear-end collision accident cases. This states that negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver. A Missouri car accident attorney would need only to prove that the doctrine is applicable in a particular case.

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Three people were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, after a Missouri car crash on Highway 71 at Route B on Saturday evening.

Emily Howell, 21, was driving a 1996 Honda Accord northbound on Highway 71 when the crash occurred. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Brent Furst, 20, was heading westbound on Route B in the direction of Highway 71 and Howell's car. The reached the intersection at the same time and Howell's car crashed into the driver's side of Furst's 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. After the impact, both cars slid off the roadway into the median.

Furst was seriously injured and flown to Heartland Regional Health Center for emergency treatment. Howell and a passenger in her car, Kelsey Sanders, 20, were also injured and sought treatment at Heartland Regional.

All passengers were wearing seat belts and the initial crash report didn't mention any citations for this crash.

With the details initially available, it's hard to determine which driver is at-fault for this Missouri injury accident. More information needs to be gathered like the speed of the two vehicles and whether the intersection was controlled or not. Once this information is determined, the injured party may want to contact a Missouri car accident lawyer to discuss their rights and ensure that they receive compensation for their injuries. Many personal injury attorneys offer free consultationsto discuss your case.

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Rosland Watson, 40, was killed and another woman was seriously injured Thursday in a Missouri car accident at a car wash in the city of Grandview.

According to a KSHB-TV report, the two women were were sitting on a bench waiting for their cars to be cleaned, when an out-of-control SUV struck them upon leaving the washing area. The SUV was being driven by its owner away from the washing area when it accelerated rapidly and jumped the curb.

Watson was pronounced dead at the scene. The second woman, whose name has not been released, was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries to her leg.

The name of the driver has also not been released, but reports are that he is cooperating fully with authorities as they try to determine whether this fatal car accident was the result of driver error or some sort of mechanical malfunction.

We have previously reported on rapid acceleration issues with Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has issued a series of recalls and statements after a few incidents and tests. One tragic case of rapid acceleration killed four people in San Diego last summer.

Authorities will no doubt be investigating the possibility that this latest Missouri car accident is the result of rapid acceleration caused by faulty manufacturing.

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Three people were injured, including an infant, when a car collided with a farm tractor on a narrow bridge in Clark County, Missouri.

This Missouri car accident occurred Monday evening on Missouri 81. According to the initial crash report, a 1995 Ford, driven by Michelle Rigg, 20, and a 1998 Case Farm Tractor, driven by Burnell Olberholtzer, 21, attempted to cross a narrow bridge at the same time. They met in the middle and without enough room to pass each other, the two vehicles collided head-on.

Rigg was seriously injured and flown to Blessing Hospital for emergency treatment. Two other passengers in her car, Rhonda Slocum, 15, and the infant Kailey Wayson, were also injured and hospitalized, though their injuries were less serious. Olberholtzer was not injured, according to the crash report.

Only the infant was using a safety device as all others were without a seat belt.

Hopefully Rigg and the passengers in her car can make a full recovery from their personal injuries. Part of their recovery, though, will involve discussing the accident with insurance companies and trying to settle all the medical bills arising from this injury accident. The liability insurance of the at-fault driver is supposed to pay for the bills of the other driver, but liability in this incident may be hard to determine. Accident investigators will need to look at the crash to see who had the right-of-way to cross the bridge and if either driver violated any road regulations. An experienced Missouri personal injury attorney will be able to examine the case and advise accident victims on how to handle insurance companies.

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The biggest question after a serious Missouri car accident is usually “Why did this happen?” Accidents can be caused by any number of factors including driver error, mechanical failure or weather conditions, to name just a few, and are often a mix of numerous causes. It’s important to learn the cause of accidents for a couple reasons. First, if we understand the cause, we can prevent the accident in the future. This is often the case when a mechanical failure causes a crash. The other reason is to determine legal liability. Accident reconstructions are used to help determine the cause.

An accident reconstructionist will use physical evidence and photographs of the crash site to map out the exact sequence of events that lead to a crash. Tire skid marks and debris patterns can, with an extensive knowledge of physics, tell investigators the exact path and speed of vehicles involved in a crash. Reconstructionists can also use this information to determine if any driving violations occurred or if the vehicles could have avoided the crash.

Forensic pathologists investigate the passengers and their vehicles to determine what exactly caused the injury. They will be able to tell if internal components of the vehicle contributed to the injuries sustained. It is here where we can learn of a dangerous defect in vehicle manufacturing that can be corrected to save others from a similar accident.

One way to prevent accidents is to use the civil courts system to hold people accountable for their negligent actions. Experienced personal injury attorneys can use the information gathered by accident reconstructionists to prove liability and recover damages for the injured party.

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One Missouri man was killed and another was seriously injured this morning in a two-car St. Louis accident at the intersection of Hall Street and Adelaide Avenue.

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the name of the deceased was Ricky Prosser, 35. The name of the second man has not been released by authorities.

While some details are sketchy, it appears that Prosser was heading northbound on Hall Street in a 2004 Ford Escort when his car veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a 1999 Mazda.

Prosser was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver of the Mazda was taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment.

Police initially suspected slick road conditions as a potential contributing factor, but now the Post Dispatch is reporting that alcohol may have played a role. A definitive answer may not been known until the accident reconstruction report is released which could take up to three months.

Icy road conditions can contribute to accidents, but are typically not a defense in a personal injury lawsuit as drivers should be aware of the conditions and drive accordingly. Should alcohol have been involved, that is a clearer sign of negligence, but until the full accident report is released it remains to be seen whether that was the case in this St. Louis area car accident.

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Three people were hospitalized after a four-car Missouri injury accident on Interstate 55 in Pemiscot County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The initial accident report describes the accident as a chain of rear end collisions as several cars were stopped due to traffic. Megan Fielder, 25, was driving her 2007 Buick southbound and was unable to stop before slamming into the back of the line of cars. The force of the collision pushed one car into another and, in all, four cars were involved.

In the third car was Robin Roberts, 25, and three members of her family. Rhonda Roberts, 26, Rheyna Roberts, 3, and Riley Roberts, 4, were all injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. According to the investigating officer, no one else in the other vehicles sustained serious injury.

The description of this Missouri car crash did not say why Fielder was unable to stop before hitting the line of cars. The roads may have been slick or she simply could have been inattentive and not seen the backup in front of her. Initial crash reports are, as their name suggests, just the initial opinion of the investigating officer. Further investigation may reveal another reason Fielder was unable to stop.

Unless another explanation is found, however, this case may fall under the rear-end collision doctrine which states that negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver in rear end collision cases. That does not necessarily mean the case will be cut and dry so the injured parties might benefit from contacting a Missouri car accident lawyer to discuss their rights.

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Arguments for lifting Missouri's noneconomic damage cap based on they claim it may be unconstitutional will be heard early in 2010. Currently, there is a $350,000 award limit in medical liability cases.

This challenge to the current system, put in place through a tort reform movement in 2005, comes on the heels of large medical malpractice verdict from 2008. In that case, James Klotz received a $1 million dollar jury verdict after complications from an operation to insert a pacemaker. His pacemaker became infected and he had to suffer through brain hemorrhages and the amputation of his right leg. His wife also had to quit her job in order to care for him. Due to the noneconomic damage cap on Missouri medical malpractice lawsuits, however, the amount of money Klotz would actually receive will be far less should the cap not be lifted.

Those in support of tort reform due so largely on the assumption that limiting damage awards will lower costs for doctors and insurance companies who will then pass the savings on to the consumer. Since the 2005 tort reforms in Missouri, though, these assumptions have only been proven half true. Some doctors claim their malpractice insurance premiums have dropped by as much as 25 percent and the average malpractice award has dropped overall. These changes have not benefited the average person, though, as health care costs for the consumer have continued to rise unchecked.

So unless the damage caps are eliminated, we will continue to have a system where awards are arbitrarily limited in order to save money for hospitals and insurance companies while the average person receives no financial benefit. Additionally, those like Mr. Klotz who are unfortunate enough to suffer a personal injury due to a medical error will not be protected and not receive the full compensation determined by a jury.

Similar results have also been seen in other tort reform states like Texas. The financial benefits promised by tort reformers are simply not there while legitimately suffering people are left without full compensation. It's time to let Missouri personal injury lawyers and the civil court system go back to doing their job of holding negligent medical institutions accountable.

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Harley-Davidson Inc. has issued a recall for more than 100,000 motorcycles manufactured in the last year because the danger of leaking gasoline after a motorcycle crash.

Specifically, the recall affects bikes manufactured from June 6, 2008 to November 19, 2009, including some touring models.

The problem occurs in front-end motorcycle accidents when stress is placed on the fuel tank. There is a chance that the fuel tank could rupture in this scenario, which could leak gas and ignite causing serious personal injury to the rider.

According to Harley-Davidson Inc., they are not aware of any incidents related to this problem, but issued the the recall voluntarily once the problem was discovered. As part of the recall, customers can have their bikes modified with braces on the gas tank to prevent the leaks.

Contact Harley-Davidson for more information.

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A terrible collision between a van and another vehicle killed one person Wednesday evening in Callaway County, Missouri and left seven others injured, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

This fatal Missouri van accident happened at the intersection of Highway 54 and Route T at around 7:40 p.m. A 1991 Ford van, driven by Fredtonya Rodgers, 41, was traveling on Highway 54 at the time of the crash. As the van approached the intersection with Route T, a 1997 Dodge attempted to cross the highway and struck the van on the driver's side. The force from the side impact collision sent the van off the road where it overturned.

One passenger in the van, Michelle Lee, 38, was killed when she was ejected from the van after it overturned. Rodgers was seriously injured and taken to University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Four others in the van were seriously injured including Martha Krampe, 39; Jamie Jaegers, 30; Cynthia Hopkins, 51; and Martha Gardener, 64. The two people in the Dodge, Tyler Wilson, 20, and Danielle Hosenfelt, 16, were also injured, though their injuries were not life threatening.

Several of the people involved in the accident, including Lee, were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

My condolences go out to the family of the deceased and hopefully the people that sustained injuries will make a full recovery.

Even if a full recovery is made, the medical bills from a serious injury accident like this will likely be extraordinarily high. Under Missouri law, the bills arising from an accident must be paid by the at-fault driver's insurance. More investigation into this accident is needed to determine liability, but if Wilson, the driver of the Dodge, is found to be at fault, there might be an issue with the insurance claim. On the initial report, Wilson's insurance was listed as 'unknown', which may mean he was driving without insurance. If this is the case, the injured party may be able to make a claim on their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Sometimes a defendant may invoke the seat belt defense in cases like these to reduce the amount of damages that must be paid to the inured party. The seat belt defense is a form of comparative negligence that says the injured party could have prevented some of the injury had they been wearing a seat belt. Some states allow for this defense while others explicitly restrict it. Anybody that is interested in learning more should contact a personal injury attorney to learn their legal rights.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Missouri Van Accidents , Personal Injury News , Wrongful Death Lawsuits

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Nichole Royer, 21, was injured during Monday’s rush hour when her car was hit by another driver who then fled the scene, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The Missouri hit-and-run accident occurred on I-70 near Mid Rivers Mall Drive. Royer had stopped her 1989 Buick Park Avenue for traffic which had built up during the afternoon rush. An unidentified driver, who presumably was not paying attention to the traffic, slammed his vehicle into the rear of Royer’s. The impact sent Royer’s car forward into a third vehicle which sustained moderate damage.

The driver that caused the wreck fled the scene and no description of the driver or the vehicle was given by the Highway Patrol. If you have any information that may help locate this driver, please call the patrol’s Troop C headquarters at (636) 300-2800.

Royer was taken to St. Joeseph’s Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, despite the fact that her car was totaled and rear impact collisions have been known to cause serious injury, Royer suffered only non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the third vehicle was uninjured.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense and hopefully the driver will be found and face criminal charges for this cowardly act. Even if the driver is not found, Royer can obtain civil relief by contacting a St. Louis area personal injury attorney who can assist her in preparing a claim against her own insurance company’s uninsured motorist policy.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Hit and Run Injuries , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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Andrew Crowe, 3, and Dylan Crowe, 7, were injured in a Missouri car accident on County Road 355 in Thayer, Missouri.

The children were riding with Elaine Crowe, 26, who was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor southbound when the accident happened. A second vehicle, a 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by Cheryl Stutts, 27, pulled out in the path of Crowe's car. She was unable to stop and slammed into the side of Stutts' car.

Both children were injured and received treatment at local hospitals. Andrew's injuries were the most severe and he was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injury. Neither of the the drivers were listed as injured on the crash report.

While the initial crash report seems to indicate that Stutts pulled out in front of Crowe suddenly, which caused the accident, more investigation is needed to truly confirm liability. Should this accident turn into a personal injury case, for instance, the initial crash report would be considered the opinion of the investigating officer and not be treated as admissible evidence. An accident reconstruction would have to back up the initial claims.

The report did say that Stutts was driving without insurance. Typically when an accident occurs, the at-fault driver's insurance will pay the medical bills of the injured party. In cases where the at-fault driver is uninsured, however, the injured party can make a claim against their own insurance plan's uninsured motorist coverage. Contact a Missouri car accident attorney if you have been involved in a wreck and would like to learn more about this process or discuss other details relating to your accident.

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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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Three people were killed Wednesday morning in a Missouri railroad crossing accident in Trenton when the car they were riding in was hit by a freight train.

The three people killed in this accident were Nancy Groves, 24, Adam Romesburg, 30, and Nina Spencer, 28. All three were riding together in a 2001 Plymouth Neon that attempted to cross the railroad tracks on First Street.

According to reports filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local media, the car was crossing the tracks at an uncontrolled crossing, which means there is no automatic arm or lights to warn motorists. They crossed into the path of the train which engaged its brakes, but was unable to stop before hitting the car. The train finally came to a stop a couple thousand feet down the tracks.

This news comes on the heels of another fatal Missouri train crossing accident last week. In both cases, the crossings did not have automatic arms to block motorists from the tracks when a train approaches.

In the wake of the Trenton crash, many residents are sending condolences, but some are expressing concern that the crossing was a known danger due to the fact that there are no lights to warn motorists and snowfall could obstruct the signs and tracks themselves.

Transportation officials and locomotive companies have as much a responsibility for preventing accidents as the drivers themselves. Accidents should be investigated by authorities and Missouri railroad crossing accident lawyers to see if they were caused by driver negligence or an existing dangerous situation at the crossing itself.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Missouri Train Accidents , Personal Injury News , Wrongful Death Lawsuits

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Jennifer Liles, 23, Michael Omara, 37, and Michael Poch, 27, were all hospitalized after a Missouri car accident on Route CC.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Omara and Liles were traveling westbound in a 1995 Chevy Suburban. Omara, who was driving, attempted to pass a slower moving vehicle by passing into the eastbound lane. In making the pass, he pulled into the path of Poch's 1986 Ford Mustang and the two vehicles collided head on.

Poch sustained the most serious injuries and was rushed to Ozark Medical Center. Omara and Liles also sought treatment at a local hospitals, though their injuries were not as serious.

Both drivers were tested for alcohol.

We seem to be having a string of these types of injury accidents in Missouri where a car attempting to pass causes an accident. This is a legal maneuver on most rural roads in the state, but it is also a dangerous maneuver. As the passing driver, you must be absolutely sure the oncoming traffic lane is clear, otherwise you could can cause a serious accident like the one here in West Plains. Hopefully all involved can make a full recovery.

Even if the injured parties make a recovery, their medical bills will need to be paid. Generally, the at fault driver's insurance will pay for the injured party's bills that result from the accident, but sometimes it gets more complicated than that. An insurance company may try to find a way out of paying the claim or the amount of insurance may not cover the high cost of emergency medical care. If a driver would like assistance in filing a claim and dealing with these potential problems, he or she can contact a Missouri car accident injury attorney.

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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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The writing has been on the wall for some time and it now seems more likely than ever that Missouri will see some sort of comprehensive texting while driving ban to prevent Missouri car accidents.

At least three bills will be filed and up for debate in the early 2010 legislative sessions. Some media reports suggest that up to five or more bills will be filed before all is said and done.

The high number of bills tackling the subject speaks to the complicated nature of trying to regulate this fairly new technological distraction. It's easy to say that texting while driving is dangerous and should not be allowed, but the details of such a ban will be the main point of debate. For instance, should drivers only be banned from typing texts, but be allowed to read them? Will the ban be for all roads or just highways? What about devices like the iPhone, which are capable of sending and receiving texts as well as playing music through a car's speakers?

Currently, Missouri has a ban on sending and receiving texts for drivers under 21 while they are behind the wheel. Since that ban took effect in August, the Highway Patrol has issued eight citations, according to a KRCG report.

Whatever plan eventually comes out on top, hopefully it will do something to curb the number of Missouri car and truck crashes caused by distracted drivers. Studies show that drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident if they are attempting to text while driving. Four out of five crashes caused by driver error are the result of distracted driving.

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

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A fatal Missouri railroad accident has claimed the life of Kristy Willis, 33, and seriously injured injured her daughter, Kelsey Turner, 8.

The crash occurred at 3:35 p.m. Friday afternoon on Greenbriar Drive near Highway 60 in Seymour, Missouri. According to local media reports and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Willis was driving a pickup truck with three children, including Turner, as passengers. The truck attempted to cross the railroad tracks when a train, initially unseen by Willis, slammed into the side of the vehicle.

Willis was killed by the crash. Turner, who was riding up front in the truck, was seriously injured and taken by helicopter to St. John's Hospital. The two other passengers, Tiffany Bowden, 15, and Carl Bowden, 16, were riding in the truck's bed and were able to leap to safety moments before the crash.

Witnesses say that Willis had gone to pick up the children from the bus stop. There are also witness reports that say the train failed to blow a whistle or sound any sort of warning horn as it approached the crossing.

While drivers need to exercise extreme caution when approaching a railroad crossing, the burden of safety does not fall squarely on their shoulders. The tracks and crossing should be be free of obstructions so drivers can clearly see if it is safe to cross. Not every crossing has automatic warning bells, so conductors should also sound the onboard horn to warn motorists. This appears to be something that didn't occur in the Seymour crash. If any negligence on the part of the locomotive company is suspected, the incident should be investigated by a Missouri train accident attorney to help ensure that similar accidents don't take place in the future.

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

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Clarisa Pardee, 38, was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a multi-car Missouri injury accident on Mo. 83.

The crash involved three vehicles and occurred at the intersection of Mo. 83 and Christina Street in Benton County, Missouri. Pardee had stopped her 1983 Ford Fairmont to make a left turn when Robert Clymer, 66, crashed his 2002 Ford F250 into the back of her car. The force of the impact sent Pardee’s car across the center line, where it was struck a second time by a 2002 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Jeanette Boulet, 44.

Pardee was flown to University Hospital in Columbia for life threatening injuries. According to the crash report, neither Clymer nor Boulet sustained serious injury.

All involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts.

No indication was given as to why Clymer would have rear-ended Pardee’s vehicle. There may be extenuating circumstances, but in many cases like this, one driver is just being inattentive. Negligence is often assumed in rear-end collision cases. If Clymer was at fault, his insurance will be obligated to pay for Pardee’s medical bills. If Pardee chooses, she can contact a Missouri car accident attorney to assist her with the claim and make sure the payment she receives is enough to cover the extensive medical bills from the accident.

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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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Studies published by federal agencies show that men are more likely to be involved in deadly car accidents than women, especially during their teenage years, according to a NPR report. Teenage boys are twice as likely to be in a fatal crash and more likely to participate in risky driving such as speeding.

According to the report, 6,000 15 to 20-year-olds were involved in a fatal car accident nationwide, with the majority being male.

Here in Missouri, the statistics mirror the national averages with male drivers being in more accidents, particularly our many rural roads.

Other studies cited in the report show that the discrepancy between men and women continues among older demographics. Male drivers are more likely to be in a fatal collision until the age of 60, which is when the rate for female drivers finally equals the male rate.

Some researchers claim the differences are the result of aggressive driving patterns caused by testosterone. Men are also more prone to drinking and driving.

To lower the number of youth driving deaths, many states, including Missouri, have gone to a graduated license systems which restricts younger drivers from full privileges until they mature while still allowing them to learn behind the wheel. Parents are being held responsible as well. In some cases where a minor causes a fatal accident, a personal injury lawyer’s investigation will discover evidence that the parents knowingly allowed the minor to driver outside of the graduated license restrictions or under the influence of alcohol.

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Five people were hospitalized Friday, two with serious injuries, after a series of collisions on I-55 in Jefferson County south of St. Louis.

The St. Louis area injury accident occurred when Jolene Hancock, 31, pulled her 2009 Toyota Tundra to the shoulder of southbound I-55, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. While Hancock’s vehicle was on the side of the road, a southbound 2007 Hyundai Elantra, driven by Melina Clark, 16, traveled off the side of the road and crashed into the back of the parked Toyota.

The force of the impact pushed Hancock’s car back into the highway where it was struck by a tractor trailer, driven by Roger McIrvin, 54. The tractor trailer immediately pulled over to the shoulder, but Hancock’s car stayed on the highway where it sustained a third collision, this time from a 1993 Ford Explorer driven by Joshua Cheli, 30.

Jolene Hancock and two passengers in her car, Christopher Hancock, 34, and Tristan Hancock, 10, were taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Jolene sustained the most serious injuries of the three.

Clark was taken by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center with moderate injuries. Cheli was also transported to St. Anthony’s with serious injuries.

McIrvin, the tractor trailer driver, was uninjured.

This Missouri rear end collision car accident is very complicated with multiple collisions that may take much more investigation to determine liability. The initial accident report doesn’t say why Hancock was on the shoulder of the road or what caused Clark to suddenly veer off the highway. Both are important factors that should be investigated by authorities and possibly a St. Louis area personal injury attorney.

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Four people were injured, one seriously, by a Missouri car accident on I-70 in which one driver fled the scene.

The hit-and-run injury accident occurred in Lafayette County at around 1:15 Wednesday afternoon. Kenneth Dusch, 42, was driving eastbound in a 1995 Chevrolet with a boat trailer. Behind Dusch was 27 year old Erik Myhill who was driving a 2007 Toyota. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Myhill overtook Dusch's vehicle and crashed into the boat trailer. The impact caused Dusch's vehicle to overturn and flip into the median. The trailer detached and was flung off the south side of the roadway.

Riding with Kenneth Dusch was his family including Theresa, 41; Jackson, 15; Samuel, 11; and Lily, 9. Theresa Dusch suffered the most severe injuries and was flown to an area hospital for life-saving treatment. The other members of the Dusch family sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken by ambulance to local medical centers.

After the wreck, Myhill fled the scene of the crash. He was later stopped by police and charges are pending.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Myhill made a bad situation much worse for himself by fleeing the scene. It is illegal to leave the scene of a Missouri car accident whether you think you are at fault or not.

Now, instead of staying at the scene, calling for help and cooperating with authorities, Myhill will almost certainly be facing serious criminal charges. If the description of the accident in the initial report is accurate and Myhill is found to be at fault for the accident, the Dusch's may be able to contact a Missouri car accident lawyer to help them recover damages to cover medical bills and other expenses stemming from this incident.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Hit and Run Injuries , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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A University of Michigan study has found a correlation between the number of homicides and the number of fatal car accidents in a state. This study comes right on the heels of a yearly survey of crime rates that has St. Louis ranked as the 2nd most dangerous city in the United States.

The researchers behind the Michigan study looked at data from the top states in traffic fatalities and compared several different factors. Among the factors was proportion of male drivers, proportion of older drivers, income and several others. The strongest correlation and best predictor of a high rate of traffic fatalities, though, is a high rate of homicides.

A representative of the researchers says a link could be made to aggression. High homicide rates reflect highly aggressive areas with more aggressive drivers.

So where does Missouri fit in and does the crime rate reflect the number of fatal Missouri car accidents? Well, the NHTSA has the Missouri traffic fatality rate at 1.4 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. That is a little above the 1.27 national rate. Government crime data shows the state's homicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000 people, which is also slightly above the national average of 5.7. On the surface, the Missouri statistics seem to fall in line with the Michigan study.

Further proof can be found in Louisiana, a state with one of the top rates in both homicides and deadly car and truck accidents.

Not every state follows the trend, however. Montana has the highest traffic fatality rate, yet it also has one of the lower homicide rates.

This study may turn out to be more of a case of loose correlation not equaling causation, but any attempt to determine and eliminate the cause of tragic car accidents is a noble one. As technology evolves and more accidents are investigated by crash experts, car accident attorneys, and policy makers, we may be able to come up with solutions to the traffic fatality problem. In fact, the national rate of traffic deaths nationwide for 2008 was the lowest it's been in more than 40 years.

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

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Thanksgiving is a time for being with family and friends and this often means lots of traveling. In fact, 33 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles by car to see their loved ones, according to a NPR report. This extra traffic will be accompanied by a tragic increase in the number of car accident deaths and injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 people were killed in car and truck accidents last year over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend. Many more were injured.

These facts should not scare anybody from their holiday plans. The vast majority of people embarking on a Thanksgiving trip will arrive safely and without incident. What these numbers should do is cause drivers to pause and examine their driving habits. Safe driving practices can dramatically reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.

Depending on which demographic group you look at and your definition of driver error, 70 to 95 percent of all car accidents are caused by a driver error. This means that 70 to 95 percent of accidents are preventable and can be eliminated if drivers were simply more aware of their unsafe habits. Negligence behind the wheel such as excessive speeding, overly aggressive driving and being distracted by portable electronic devices are major causes of these preventable accidents.

If someone is injured by another driver's negligence, the at-fault driver's insurance is required to pay for the damages caused to the injured party. This procedure may sound simple enough, but often it is more complicated. Negligence or fault may be hard to determine or both drivers may share a portion of liability for the accident. Insurance companies may also look for ways to avoid paying for an accident. Other times the at-fault driver's insurance may not be enough to cover the medical bills after a serious accident or the driver may have no insurance at all. All of these potential complications are good reasons to consult a car accident attorney after an accident.

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Four people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a two-car accident on Highway 94 in St. Charles County, Missouri.

This Missouri injury accident occurred just east of Route DD when Jo McCall, 66, lost control of her Jeep Cherokee, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. McCall's Jeep crossed the center line into the path of a 2008 Saturn Outlook, driven by Timothy Barrett, 53. Barrett was unable to avoid the collision and the two vehicles collided head-on, totaling both the car and Jeep.

McCall and Timothy Barrett both suffered serious personal injury in the wreck. Also in the Saturn at the time were Mark Barrett, 27, and Deborah Barrett, 54, who both sustained serious injury as well. All four were transported to St. John's Hospital in Creve Coeur for emergency treatment.

As of now, we don't have an indication as to what caused McCall to lose control of her Jeep. As this accident is investigated, more details should emerge as to whether McCall was simply distracted, or if another driver contributed to the crash. Since liability and negligence are often complicated issues to prove after a car accident, a St. Louis area car crash lawyer is a vital adviser to have if you are involved in such a scenario. Crash victims often can't rely on insurance company representatives to help them after an accident as they are often more concerned with the bottom line than with the well being of crash victims.

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A Missouri construction accident killed Ryan Goodman, 35, and injured Shane Wagener, 30, last week, temporarily bringing a halt to construction on the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.

According to officials cited in the Kansas City Star, a portable boom lift with a basket designed to raise workers up to 100 feet in the air fell over while the two men were inside. The basket was extended to around 50 feet while the men were placing beams on the new building before it fell. Both men fell away from the basket as the equipment tipped over.

Goodman and Wagener were both taken to local hospitals. Goodman died at the hospital while Wagener suffered serious injuries and is still being treated.

Crews removed the lift from the accident site yesterday, but investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing to investigate the cause of this tragic accident.

The site, operated by J.E. Dunn Construction Co., has not had any injuries or serious incidents in the past. The men were employed by Midwest Steel.

These types of crane accidents kill more than 80 workers every year, according to data from OSHA. We reported on a similar St. Louis construction site accident earlier this year.

The big question in all construction site injury accidents is whether they could have been prevented. If certain safety procedures had been followed or if faulty machinery had been inspected, would the accident have occurred?

It may take months of investigation, but the answer will be revealed if the best experts are called in to investigate. Experienced construction accident lawyers will have the connections and knowledge to determine if negligence caused the needless death of a worker.

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

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Ricky Taylor, 51, was killed and three others were injured in a three-car Missouri injury accident on Highway 90 in Barry County, Missouri.

Taylor was driving his 2003 Chevrolet Impala westbound, according to investigators, when he came upon a slower moving pickup, driven by David Wickman, 70. Taylor attempted to pass Wickman by going into the eastbound lanes. As he did so, he crossed into the path of a 2007 Honda Civic, driven by Vang Lee, 57. The two cars crashed head-on. The violent impact pushed the Civic into Wickman's pickup, which was also damaged in the wreck.

Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene. Vang Lee and two others in his car, Pazoe Lee, 15, and Yee Thao, 47, were all injured and taken to Cox South Hospital.

While it is not illegal to pass other vehicles on two lane roads, great care must be taken to ensure you do not attempt this maneuver when an oncoming car is approaching. This should certainly not be attempted on a winding road or over the crest of a hill when you can't see very far ahead of you. If the initial crash report is accurate, it appears that Taylor attempted to pass negligently and caused this accident. If this is true, his liability insurance will be responsible for paying damages to the injured parties.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are not always as concerned with the well being of those injured in Missouri car accidents as they are with their own bottom line. They will often look for ways to reduce the amount they repay injury victims. There are also cases where the at-fault driver's liability insurance simply isn't enough to cover the cost of catastrophic injuries. In these cases, the injured party will have to file a claim against their own insurance policy's 'under-insured motorist coverage'. Working through these issues can be complicated, which is why it is a good idea to consult a Missouri car accident lawyer before talking to the insurance companies. Many attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss your rights as a victim and to better educate you on your options with no obligation to hire the attorney.

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Ronnie Engle, 46, was killed Monday in a Missouri car accident when his tractor was hit by another car on Route K near Liberal, Missouri.

According to the initial report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Engle was riding his John Deere farm tractor on Route K when he was struck from behind by a car. The car was a 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by Dillon Duffy, 18, of Arcadia, Kansas. After impact, both cars traveled off the roadway and Engle's tractor overturned.

Engle was pronounced dead at the scene. Duffy did not sustain any significant injuries, according to the accident report.

Engle was tested for alcohol by the investigating officer.

Typically, Missouri rear-end collision cases follow a doctrine that says negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver. All drivers should be focused on where their vehicle is heading to avoid such collisions. Each specific crash must be examined thoroughly to determine whether this doctrine should apply.

Many times, accident cases are more complicated than they first appear and the initial crash reports may leave out crucial details that could shed light on how an accident occurred. Because of this, it is important to contact a Missouri car accident injury lawyer to make sure you and your family get the help you need after a serious or, in many cases, tragic accident.

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A serious and tragic Missouri car accident claimed the lives of two Missourians late Saturday evening on Missouri 32 near Lebanon.

The accident occurred when Kaleb Barber, 16, fell asleep at the wheel of a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer, according to the investigating officer from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. His vehicle drifted over the center line and struck a 1996 Mercury Cougar head-on. Riding in the Cougar was Kenneth Kimrey, 51, and Patricia Kimrey, 72.

Both Kenneth and Patricia were pronounced dead at the scene and taken to a local funeral home. Barber was seriously injured and flown to St. John's Hospital for treatment.

All of the people involved in this fatal Missouri car wreck were wearing a seatbelt.

If the initial crash report is correct and Barber did indeed fall asleep at the wheel, that is a very serious sign of negligence as a driver. The initial crash report by itself is only considered hearsay, though, so further investigation into this accident, including a crash reconstruction, will determine exactly how this accident occurred.

From a Missouri personal injury lawyer's perspective, this crash is also complicated by the fact that Barber is a minor. In some cases, the parents of a minor who causes an accident may be held liable. More information must be gathered before this determination can be made.

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More information has come to light regarding a story we've been following involving possibly unsafe Toyota vehicles.

Federal regulators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have issued a statement that certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles may have defects in their design that can lead to uncontrollable acceleration.

Toyota had previously issued a statement in response to a fatal August 28th accident that the driver side floor mats in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles can cause the gas pedal to get stuck if they aren't installed properly. This appeared to be the case in the fatal car accident in San Diego that killed four people when a mat designed for an SUV was accidentally installed in a smaller Lexus sedan. The Toyota statement seemed to imply that the floor mats were the only concern and that no other design flaws are present.

This may not be the case, according to the NHTSA, and some Toyota and Lexus vehicles may have other problems with the accelerator mechanism and the design of the foot well itself.

The problem, of course, is owners of these vehicles may have been mislead by Toyota's statement and believe that by simply removing the floor mat in their vehicle, they will be immune to this acceleration problem. In fact, they may still be driving a car that could suddenly speed out of control due to some other factors.

Toyota spokesmen continue to say that the improperly installed floor mats are the only known cause of the problem with no evidence being yet found to support the theories that other design defects exist.

The NHTSA is continuing to investigate the matter.

If you believe that you or a family member have been the victim of a dangerous vehicle defect, it is in your best interest to contact a product liability attorney as soon as possible.

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Alton police were forced to kill a pit bull that became threatening Sunday afternoon, according to a St. Louis Post Dispatch report. Officers also wounded a second dog, that was later euthanized, and deployed a Taser on a third.

Police were investigating the home of Jason Edwards, 22. He was keeping more than three dogs, which was the limit allowed by a city ordinance. He also violated several other ordinances including failing to obtain licenses for the pit bulls.

The report says that police may pursue charges against Edwards for these numerous violations.

The reason police take these charges so seriously is that pit bulls can be extremely dangerous animals. 800,000 people are treated for dog bites in the United States and about 20 die every year. Nearly two thirds of dog bite victims are children. Pit bulls are considered to be one of the most dangerous dog breeds and are commonly used in illegal dog fighting rings.

Because of these dangers, many places have enacted legislation to limit certain breeds, such as pit bulls, and reduce the number of animal attack injuries. Alton, for instance, only allows an owner to keep three dogs and Illinois state law prohibits convicted felons from owning vicious animals.

Owners of dangerous animals may be held strictly liable if one of their animals causes a serious personal injury. This means the fact one of their animals caused an injury is enough to show liability. The owner doesn't have to be negligent to be held responsible.

If you or someone you know has been injured by a dangerous animal that was not properly restrained by its owner, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss whether you can recover damages to pay for medical expenses caused by the attack.

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Michael Prater, 33, was killed and two others were injured Thursday night in a Missouri car crash on Highway 100 in Franklin County.

Prater, a St. Charles resident, was driving his 2004 Chevrolet westbound on Highway 100 near Jones Lane when the accident occurred. An eastbound 2002 Pontiac, driven by Nicole Feldmann, 17, crossed the center line and struck Prater's vehicle, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Prater's vehicle spun out of control and into the path of a third vehicle, a 1997 Ford driven by Terry Robinson, 36. Robinson was unable to maneuver the accident scene and also hit Prater's vehicle.

Prater was taken to St. John's Mercy hospital where he was pronounced dead. Feldmann and Robinson were also taken to St. John's for treatment, though their injuries were not considered life threatening.

There are a few unknowns about this Eastern Missouri car accident. The initial crash report does not give a reason for Feldmann's car to cross the center line. It could have been due to negligent driving on her part or due to some other extenuating circumstances. Also, it is not known which collision proved to be fatal for Prater.

Since there was a fatality a team of investigators will perform an accident reconstruction to determine exactly how this accident occurred. The investigators will use physical evidence such as tire skid marks and debris patterns to determine the speeds of the vehicles at the time of the wreck and what led to the crash.

As in any Missouri accident case, if negligence on the part of one of the drivers caused the accident, the injured party may be able to recover damages from the at-fault driver's insurance. The family of the deceased may also be able to contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer to recover damages to pay for funeral costs.

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Brad and Rita Weber, of Perryville, Missouri, were both injured and hospitalized Sunday evening in a Missouri highway car accident.

According to the initial crash report filed by the investigating officer, the accident took place on Interstate 55 in Perry County. The Webers were traveling northbound in a 2005 Buick Rendezvous. Behind them was a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Betty Taggart, 64. Taggart attempted to pass the first car when Rita Weber, who was driving, changed lanes in front of her. The front of Taggart's car hit the rear of Weber's and this sent both vehicles out of control. They eventually both ended up in the center median.

Brad Weber was seriously injured and flown to St. Francis Medical Center. Rita Weber was also injured and taken by ambulance to the same hospital. No injury information was given for Taggart.

From the details given in the initial report, it is hard to tell who was at fault for this Missouri injury accident. If Weber merged into Taggart, she could be considered responsible, while Taggart might be considered to blame if she rear-ended Weber's car. Most times negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver in rear end collision cases.

More investigation into this case is necessary before liability can be determined. In cases like these, it is helpful to seek consultation from an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney who can offer you advice on how to proceed with handling your case.

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Three people were seriously hurt Friday evening after a Missouri car accident on Route Y in St. Francois County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's crash report, Gary Abt, 43, was traveling westbound in a 1997 Chevrolet S-10 when a second car crossed the center line in front of him. The other vehicle was a 1999 Ford Escort, driven by James Nash, 37. Since Nash was heading eastbound, the two cars collided head-on.

Abt, Nash and a passenger in Nash's car, Richard Savage, 31, were all seriously injured and flown to local hospitals for treatment. Abt and Savage were taken to Barnes Jewish and Nash was treated at St. Louis University Hospital.

No indication was given as to why Nash crossed the center line.

This multi-vehicle Missouri injury accident is still under investigation. If no other explanation is given, Nash could be considered at-fault for the wreck. Under Missouri law, if someone is injured by other person's negligent driving, they can receive compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance. Cases are not always so cut and dry and insurance companies will try to limit damage awards so it's a good idea to consult a St. Louis area personal injury attorney before agreeing to any settlement.

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Tasers, a popular brand of stun-gun used by police, have generally been seen as a non-lethal alternative to the standard sidearm. In the wake of hundreds of deaths, however, the question of just how safe Tasers are is in question and now Taser International is issuing warnings to law enforcement officers.

According to an AP report, an Oct. 12 training manual released by the company warns against firing at a suspect’s chest and acknowledges there is a risk of negative effects on the heart.

Since stun-guns have become commonplace in recent years, 350 people have died after being shot by them. Many of these deaths were heart related and in at least 50 of these cases a medical examiner has said the shock emitted by the stun-gun played a role.

The statement by Taser International marks a big change in the way stun-guns are viewed. As stated above, most police and security companies view tasers as a safer alternative that will subdue a suspect without causing long-term personal injury or death. Demonstrations have even been given where officers or even television reporters are voluntarily shocked.

Law enforcement agencies often tell their employees to use tasers only when the suspect is threatening to cause severe harm to the officer or another civilian. In practice, though, we have seen officers use the guns excessively and in situations where the suspect is not a threat.

One similar case occurred here in Missouri last year. Stanley James Harlan, 23, died after being hit twice with a taser by police after being pulled over on a suspected DUI. If Harlan was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he should have been arrested and faced charges, but this alone does not justify the use of deadly force. This is just one of countless horror stories surrounding the use of stun guns.

Despite all the deaths and question marks about safety, personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits have been largely unsuccessful due to the perception that tasers are non-lethal instruments. Dozens of suits against stun-gun manufacturers have been dismissed with Taser International losing only a single case, which is under appeal, according to the AP. Sovereign immunity rules also make it hard to recover damages from police departments.

This recent concession by a major stun-gun manufacturer may be a sign that the perception of these devices is changing. If you have lingering effects of being shocked or have lost a family member to a taser incident, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your case.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News , Product Liability Cases , Wrongful Death Lawsuits

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Pedro Arriola, 34, was injured along with two others in a Missouri car accident on Highway 6 near Novinger, Missouri.

According to authorities responding to the crash, Arriola was traveling eastbound in a 2001 Oldsmobile when he attempted to pass another car on the road. As he did so, he crossed into the path of a 1995 Plymouth, driven by Lorrie Whittaker, 45. The two cars collided nearly head-on. The third car that Arriola was trying to pass was not hit in the collision.

Whittaker was seriously injured and taken to Northeast Regional Medical Center. A passenger riding with Arriola, Walter Hernandez, 14, was also seriously injured and was flown to University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Arriola suffered only minor injuries and is seeking his own medial treatment.

It is legal to pass on many of Missouri’s roads, particularly the more rural routes. All drivers must be conscious of their surroundings before they do, however, or accidents like this will continue to happen. Use the lines on the road as a guide. If there is a broken or dashed line, it is an appropriate place to pass if there is no oncoming traffic. If the line is solid, the road does not provide enough visibility to pass at that spot.

If you are injured in a Missouri car wreck due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to consult a Missouri car accident attorney and pursue damages to relieve your medical bills. The insurance of the at-fault driver should cover you, but things are not always so simple and the insurance company may make a move to try and deny you the money you are owed.

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Linda Rogers, 45, was killed Saturday night when she was hit by a driver who then left the scene, according the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Rogers was walking along I-70’s eastbound lanes near the I-170 junction when the accident happened. An unknown vehicle traveling in the eastbound lanes hit Rogers as she walked and then left the scene.

Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

The driver in this Missouri hit-and-run crash is unknown and no details about the vehicle were listed on the initial crash report. If you have any information related to this accident that may be helpful to authorities, call the Highway Patrol’s Troop C headquarters at (636) 300 - 2800.

Leaving the scene of a Missouri car accident or pedestrian accident is a serious offense. If the driver is ever located, he or she will likely face criminal charges as well as a possible civil suit.

If the driver is never found, Rogers’ family may be able to make a claim with her own insurance company’s uninsured motorist coverage. Every insurance company has to provide uninsured motorist coverage that will protect you if you are injured in a car crash with a driver without insurance or an unknown driver, as in a hit-and-run case.

Dealing with these claims can be complicated and your insurance company may be difficult to work with. Because of this, it is a good idea to speak with a St. Louis area personal injury attorney and learn your legal rights before dealing with the insurance companies.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Hit and Run Injuries , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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Four people were hospitalized after two cars collided on Missouri 19 in Gasconade County, Missouri. Reports indicate that one of the cars was traveling on the wrong side of the road.

According to the initial crash report on file with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tyler Krull, 21, was driving his 1998 Dodge northbound in the southbound lanes of Missouri 19. A 2003 Kia was traveling southbound at the same time and the two cars crashed head-on about a mile from Highway 50.

The four people in the Kia were all taken to St. John’s Hospital in Washington for treatment. Those people were Kyle McCracken, 23; Taylor Graves, 19; Amanda Perry, 17; and Jamie Wood, 16. Krull was not injured, according to the investigating officer.

The Highway Patrol did not offer a reason as to why Krull was driving on the wrong side of the road. No citations were noted on the crash report.

This incident is similar to several others that have occurred in the St. Louis area where a driver has turned up on the wrong side of the road and caused a car wreck. In several of these cases alcohol was involved.

Until more details are released about this Missouri car crash, we will not know why Krull was driving on the wrong side of the road. Given that the accident took place at 3 a.m. any number of causes could be to blame from fatigue to low visibility.

If no other explanation is given and Krull is found to have been negligent in driving his vehicle, the injured party could contact a Missouri car accident attorney to collect damages to pay for medical bills arising from the accident. Anybody involved in a car accident should consult a personal injury attorney before talking to an insurance company to make sure all their rights are understood.

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Three people were injured, two seriously, after a two-car crash in Jefferson County, Missouri on Sunday.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 30 and Little Brennan Road near Murphy, Missouri. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened when Rafal Pryk, 32, drove his 2001 Mercedes ML320 through a red traffic signal. As he did so, he broadsided a 1998 Saturn that was also entering the intersection.

Joey Freeman, 44, and Que Huynh, 44, were passengers in the Saturn and were seriously injured. They were taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center for emergency treatment. Pryk’s injuries were minor, but he also sought treatment at St. Anthony’s.

All three people involved were wearing seatbelts.

This case is a clear example of how dangerous broadside collisions, also called side impact crashes, can be. Modern cars have lots of protective barriers if the impact comes from the front of a vehicle. Missouri drivers sustain injury more commonly and more severely from side impacts since there are less safety measures to protect passengers.

The investigating officer noted that the Pryk ran a red light, though he did not say if he issued a citation. If a Missouri personal injury lawyer is called in to investigate this case, he will have to make sure that Pryk did indeed run a red light and that the light was operational at the time of the crash. In some rare occasions, lights can malfunction sending the wrong signal to drivers thus causing an accident. Contacting a car accident attorney and getting the light inspected as soon as possible is the best way to make sure of the light’s functionality at the time of the crash.

1,000 people are killed each year and another 90,000 are injured as a result of drivers running red lights.

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Laura Akers, 63; Guy Bellistri, 50; and Patricia Collins, 49, were all taken to the hospital Tuesday with injuries after a head-on Missouri car crash in Jefferson County.

According to the initial crash report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident began when Akers’ 2008 Pontiac G6 crossed the center line on Romaine Creek Road. Akers was traveling westbound and when her car crossed the line, it collided with an eastbound 2003 Toyota Corolla, driven by Collins. Bellistri was a passenger in Collins’ car.

Akers, Bellistri, and Collins were all taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center for treatment. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

No indication was given as to why Akers suddenly drove into oncoming traffic. This Jefferson County car accident will need further investigation before the exact cause is determined. Initial crash reports typically don’t have a detailed description of crashes and don’t stand up in court unless the officer filing the report actually witnessed the accident or is a trained accident reconstructionist.

If this accident, or any Missouri car accident, is found to have been caused by negligence on the part of one of the drivers, the injured party may be able to hire a personal injury attorney for help recovering damages. Thankfully there were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries, but less serious injuries can still result in gigantic medical bills and keep people sidelined from work for extended periods of time.

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After pointing out some dangerous intersections in yesterday’s post, I read an article published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch about another particularly dangerous Missouri roadway, Highway DD.

Highway DD is a two lane rural road in St. Charles County that goes past the Busch Wildlife Area. If you’ve ever been out to one of the wineries in Augusta, you’ve probably driven on Highway DD.

According to statistics cited in the Post Dispatch report, Highway DD is one of the most dangerous roads in the state and has an accident rate twice the average for other roads of its type.

DD has no shoulders and steep drop offs on either side of the roadway, which becomes a deadly combination when mixed with numerous sharp turns and hills.

The Highway has seen over 140 accidents resulting in five fatalities over the last five years.

Local residents have petitioned to add safety improvements and MoDOT has plans to add shoulders and turn lanes along certain sections of the highway, according to the Post Dispatch.

These future improvements can’t bring back any of the lives tragically lost in previous Missouri car crashes.

Sometimes when a roadway is particularly treacherous and it can be proved that the state knew about the dangers prior to a deadly crash, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit may be brought against the state. These cases are very complicated and fairly rare, though there was a similar high profile case recently. The family of Andrea Whitehead brought a case against the Missouri Highway Commission after a fatal Missouri car accident in 2008.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, it would be wise to consult a St. Louis area car accident lawyer to learn your rights and have professionals examine your case including the road conditions and, if another car was involved, the role of the other driver.

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My personal injury firm helps people who have been injured in a Missouri car accident, but we can only do so much after an accident to help victims recover. It is up to drivers to do their part to avoid accidents and prevent injuries before they happen. One way to do this is to be prepared for a potentially dangerous situation.

To help you do that, here is a list of the 10 most dangerous intersections in Missouri, according to a State Farm Insurance report:

1.) Gravois and Lindbergh Blvd. – Sunset Hills
2.) Glenstone Ave. and Sunshine St. – Springfield
3.) Clarkson Rd. and Manchester Rd. – Ellisville
4.) Highway 141 and Big Bend – Twin Oaks
5.) 23rd St. and State Highway 291 – Independence
6.) Battlefield Road and National Ave. – Springfield
7.) Kansas Expressway and Sunshine St. – Springfield
8.) Patterson Rd. and Lindbergh – Florissant
9.) Highway K and Highway N – O’Fallon
10.) Highway 94 and Jungermann Rd. – St. Peters

Looking at the list, we find the St. Louis metro area and Springfield have most of the more dangerous intersections in the state. If you live in these areas, you probably know these roads well.

Now that you know where Missouri injury accidents are most likely to happen, you should be extra vigilant when approaching these intersections. You should always obey traffic laws, but it’s especially important at these locations that you don’t try to beat a yellow light or speed through even when it’s green.

Even the safest drivers can’t totally eliminate their risk of accidents. You can take all the steps possible to prevent a crash, but another driver can be negligent and run into you. If you have been involved in a crash, contact a Missouri car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights.

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Five people were hospitalized Saturday evening after a Missouri injury accident on the north outer road of Highway 40 just west of Highway 94 in St. Charles.

According to the investigating officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Katherine Tate, 30, entered the outer road heading into oncoming traffic. She was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane in her 2001 Volvo. At the same time, a 2007 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Robert Hill, 78, was entering the westbound lanes of the outer road from Highway 40. Hill was unable to avoid Tate’s car and the two vehicles crashed head-on.

Tate was flown to Barnes Hospital in St. Charles for emergency treatment. Hill and three others in his car, Deborah Hill, 77; Rebecca Koch, 32; and James Vanvelzer, 33; were taken to St. John’s Mercy in Creve Coeur.

The Highway Patrol report does not indicate why Tate was heading into oncoming traffic or if there were extenuating circumstances that forced her there.

If further investigation reveals that Tate was driving negligently, Hill and the other injured parties may be able to consult a Missouri car accident lawyer to help recover damages that can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.

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James Bauer, 63, was killed Sunday evening when his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle was hit by another car.

Bauer was traveling eastbound on Missouri 52 about two miles from Route T when the accident occurred. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 1998 Chevrolet, driven by Eric Wilbanks, 18, hit Bauer’s motorcycle from behind. No specific details regarding how fast the vehicles were going or what could have caused Wilbanks to hit the motorcycle were available.

Bauer was taken to University Hospital in Columbia where he was pronounced dead.

Since this Missouri motorcycle accident resulted in a fatality, there will be an accident reconstruction to determine exactly what happened.

Bauer was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

While rear-end collisions usually indicate negligence on the part of the at-fault driver, we will have to wait to see if further investigation backs up the accident description in the initial crash report. If Wilbanks is found to be liable for the accident, Bauer’s family may be able to contact a Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer to file a wrongful death claim and recover damages to help pay for funeral expenses and other bills resulting from the crash.

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The issue of medical malpractice lawsuits and the push by some for tort reform has been an ongoing battle for decades. With the recent debate for health insurance reform in Washington, tort reform has once again been thrust into the mainstream spotlight. President Obama and others have hinted that tort reform compromises may be necessary to pass health care reform.

If health care reform comes at the cost of limiting patients’ rights through tort reform, then this whole health care debate will have amounted to two steps forward and two steps back for the well being of medical patients in this country.

Here are some myths often spread by tort reform supporters and the facts debunking them:

Myth: Medical malpractice lawsuits are frivolous or unnecessary.

Fact: 98,000 people die each year from preventable medical errors. That is 98,000 human beings who lost their lives due to a hospital’s or doctor’s mistake. The CDC doesn’t include preventable medical errors on its list of causes of death, but if it did, it would be the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. Any system that attempts to hold doctors accountable and prevent these deaths is absolutely necessary.

As far as the claim that most suits are frivolous, that is simply not true. Very few claims are even filed in potential malpractice incidents and of the ones that are filed, the vast majority are meritorious. Frivolous lawsuits are weeded out by laws already on the books.

Myth: Patients filing suits for large damage sums are just looking to make it rich.

Fact: Patients just want justice. Those unfortunate enough to suffer injury from medical malpractice only want to be made whole again and have their resulting medical bills covered. Punitive damages are only leveled against the most negligent doctors to hold them accountable. One study cited by the American Association for Justice states that 70 percent of patients who experience an injury due to medical error were not told at the time by their doctor. It has been shown that doctors and hospitals that operate under full disclosure and apologize for medical errors are sued about half as much.

Myth: Tort reform would lower costs

Fact: Research shows that malpractice claims have been steady for years yet medical malpractice insurance premiums have continued to rise. States that have enacted caps on damages have still not seen a decrease in costs as patient bills and premiums continue to rise. Even if the most aggressive tort reform plans were to pass, there would only be about a 0.5 percent savings on nationwide medical spending. Those savings would likely come at the cost of thousands of lives as preventable medical errors would increase without the civil justice system keeping them in check.

A better way to lower health care costs would be to prevent medical errors. Billions of dollars would be saved if we could reduce the number of medical malpractice incidents nationwide.

Myth: Medical boards can punish bad doctors so we don’t need punitive damages.

Fact: The accountability structures for medical professionals often fail to punish negligence as effectively as the civil justice system and personal injury attorneys. Two thirds of doctors with 10 or more negligence payments have never been formally disciplined. Half of all hospitals have never reported a single disciplinary action against one of their own doctors. The civil justice system holds doctors accountable when other oversight programs fail. It is not meant to scare off good doctors. In fact, just six percent of doctors are responsible for 60 percent of medical negligence. Weeding out this small number of negligent doctors will benefit the entire medical industry from overall costs to patient health.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Healthcare , Medical Malpractice , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Personal Injury News

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All Toyota and Lexus dealerships have been told to investigate the floor mats in all the vehicles they sell after a fatal car accident last month in San Diego County.

Four people were killed when a floor mat got caught on a gas pedal in a 2009 Lexus ES 350. The driver, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, could not un-wedge the gas pedal from the mat and the car began to accelerate uncontrollably. The car reached a speed of 120 mph before hitting an SUV.

Saylor and three other members of his family who were riding with him were killed in the crash. The driver of the SUV suffered only minor injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did an investigation into the crash that revealed the floor mat installed in the car Saylor was driving was longer than the standard mat for that particular vehicle. Since the car was being loaned to the Saylor family while their normal car was in repair, they had no experience with it and probably did not notice anything unusual until it was too late.

The floor mat that was installed was actually part of a 2007 safety recall by Toyota because of the potential for the mat to interfere with the pedals.

Accidents caused by defective and dangerous products fall under an area of law called product liability. A product liability lawsuit is directed at the manufacturer, distributor or seller of a product that has potential to cause personal injury or wrongful death. If you or your family has been the victim of an accident that you believe was caused by a product defect, contact an experienced product liability lawyer as soon as possible.

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Two people were injured, one seriously, after a two-car injury accident in Columbia, Missouri on Sunday that was apparently caused by a mechanical failure.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Myrick Denhartog, 62, was traveling westbound approaching Highway 63 in a 1997 Ford. As he approached the intersection, Denhartog’s car experienced an unexplained equipment malfunction and failed to stop at a stop sign before rolling onto Highway 63. Janet Jungermann, 50, was heading northbound in a 2006 Toyota and was unable to avoid a collision with Denhartog’s car.

Jungermann was seriously injured and taken to University Hospital for emergency treatment. A passenger in Denhartog’s car, Dwayne Couch, 20, also suffered minor injuries and was treated at Boone Hospital. Denhartog was uninjured, according to the initial crash report.

Jungermann was wearing a seatbelt, but Couch was not.

The initial crash report does not specify what type of mechanical or equipment failure Denhartog’s car experienced, but it does indicate that it played a role in this Missouri car accident. It may have been a malfunction with the brakes or steering column causing Denhartog to lose control of the vehicle and cross into the highway unexpectedly.

In cases where an injury is caused by an equipment malfunction, a personal injury attorney will have to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash to determine liability. Every driver is responsible for inspecting his own car to make sure it is road-worthy with no potentially dangerous mechanical flaws. If Denhartog failed to have his car regularly inspected or knew about potential problems and failed to fix them, he may be held responsible. If, however, the car had been worked on by another mechanic or the equipment failure was the result of a defect in the car’s production, liability can shift. The mechanic could have been negligent in his repairs or the auto manufacturer could be sued under a product liability claim.

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A wrongful death case is one that deals with a death that resulted from the negligence of another person or, in some cases, a company or larger group. The unexpected death of a loved one brings a profound sadness, but along with the emotional distress comes more practical issues such as financial hardship. Not only do medical and funeral expenses need to be paid, but the lost wages can leave a family in fiscal insecurity that could take years to stabilize.

Many times, the surviving members of the family or a representative can file suit on behalf of the deceased. The success rate of these cases is actually fairly low. Despite the image of the multi-million dollar personal injury lawsuit that is often portrayed in movies and news media, most damage awards fall well short of a million dollars. Because of these facts, it is important that you seek an experienced personal injury attorney to assist you with your case because your family’s future could literally depend on it.

In order for a wrongful death suit to be successful, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty that was breached, and that this breach caused the death. This can happen in a fatal car crash, a medical malpractice case, premises liability, product liability, airplane crashes or any other situation where somebody’s recklessness caused the death of someone else.

The standards that apply to determining whether a duty was breached differ from situation to situation. Medical professionals are held to high standards when diagnosing and treating their patients while the average person on the street only has to be responsible for a reasonable amount of care for another person. A driver operating his personal family car is not held to the same standards as a commercial shipping truck driver who operates a tractor trailer for a living. In fact, for businesses that are involved in shipping or public transportation, there is a special category called ‘common carriers.’

Even when you have classified a driver as a common carrier, things are not cut-and-dry. The drivers have different levels of expected care for their own passengers as they do toward other drivers on the road.

All these exceptions and complications further illustrate the need for competent and skilled personal injury lawyers on your case. Do your research and contact a lawyer for a free consultation. Most attorneys will sit down and talk to you for free with no obligation to hire. This first hand experience is the best way to judge whether you want to hire an attorney.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Medical Malpractice , Missouri Bus Accidents , Missouri Car Accidents , Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer News , Missouri Trucking Accidents , Personal Injury News , Product Liability Cases

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Katie Johnson, 26, was seriously injured Sunday in a two-car Missouri crash on Highway 7 in Cass County, Missouri.

According to the investigating officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Johnson was traveling eastbound in a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu approaching the intersection of Missouri Highway 7 and Sycamore Grove Road when the accident happened. Richard Sheppard, 52, failed to yield at the intersection and drove his 1991 Chevrolet Pickup into Johnson’s car. The truck slammed into the driver’s side of the Johnson’s Malibu.

Johnson was taken by Life Flight helicopter to St. Luke’s Hospital for emergency treatment. Sheppard suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, charges are pending. An investigation into the Missouri injury accident is ongoing.

Hopefully Johnson is able to make a speedy recover from this terrifying incident. Once the investigation of her crash is complete and the charges are filed, we will have a better idea of what exactly happened and what the drivers should do next. If it turns out that Sheppard was indeed negligent in driving his truck into the intersection, then Johnson may be able to recover damages from his insurance to pay the medical bills stemming from the crash.

The initial crash report that said Sheppard failed to yield is not admissible evidence as it is considered just the opinion of the investigating officer. Drivers that are injured in Missouri car accidents should contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer to follow up on the full investigation of their crash.

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Police are looking for information to help them identify the driver of a pickup truck who was involved in a hit and run crash Friday night on Route E in Lafayette County, Missouri.

The crash happened near the intersection of Route E and Keith Road when the unidentified driver crossed the center line and struck a 1994, driven by Gregory Hoffman, 48. The truck slammed into the side of the Ford causing extensive damage before fleeing the scene of the accident.

Hoffman and a passenger, Rheanna Chapman, 25, were both injured and taken by ambulance to Centerpoint Hospital for treatment.

No information about the truck or driver is known although there should be at least some minor damage to the front of the truck from this Missouri car crash. If you have any information that could help identify the driver or locate the truck, please call the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop A headquarters at 816-622-0800.

If the driver is ever found, he will likely face severe criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident. A personal injury suit may also be brought to allow the injured parties to recover damages and pay for medical expenses.

If he or she is not found, however, the injured parties may still make a claim on their own insurance. All insurance companies in Missouri are required to provide uninsured motorist coverage to protect you in the event you are in an accident with somebody who does not have liability coverage equal to the legal minimum. This also applies to hit and run crashes where the other driver is never found. Since filing these claims can be tricky, it is best to consult a Missouri personal injury attorney before any decisions are made.

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President Obama’s highly anticipated speech on health care ended with some comments on tort reform, a highly debated topic in the legal and medical professions.

The president indicated that malpractice reform may be a way to cut rising health care costs and that doctors could focus on medicine if the spectre of a medical malpractice lawsuit wasn’t looming over them. President Obama did not offer any specifics on how he thought this reform should look, but said he is open to the idea and will suggest different reforms be tested in individual states.

Let’s hope that health care reform doesn’t come at the cost of patient’s rights. Medical malpractice lawsuits are designed to help innocent patients recover from disastrous medical errors and punish the most negligent hospitals and doctors. Tort reform supporters often suggest caps on damages despite the fact that some patients who are legitimately in need of care after a doctor’s mistake will not receive the money they need for recovery. Damage caps would also remove the punitive sting from these lawsuits and the deterrence factor for negligent hospitals would be lost.

These types of suits have been smeared by supporters of tort reform as being frivolous and a major reason health care costs are so high. Both of these statements are untrue or exaggerated. There are already laws on the books to limit frivolous lawsuits and only the more egregious medical errors result in malpractice suits. On the issue of costs, malpractice lawsuits and the insurance that doctors carry to protect themselves from it only amounts to about 1% of health care costs.

Opponents of tort reform and personal injury lawyers will point to another statistic: the number of deaths each year as a result of a preventable medical error. While the definition of a preventable medical error is debated and somewhat ambiguous in these studies, conservative estimates have the number of malpractice deaths at 98,000 annually. Some studies, though, have that number closer to 150,000.

The vast majority of doctors do great work for their patients, but this does not change the fact that there is the occasional case of gross negligence. Patients in these cases have the right to recover damages that will take care of their resulting medical bills.

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A two-car collision in Jefferson County, Missouri sent two men to the hospital with life threatening injuries on Sunday.

Injured in the Missouri car accident were Richard Scott, 55, and Jonathan Vierling, 18. Scott was driving a 1988 Chevy Celebrity and Vierling was in a 1996 Toyota Camry. The injury crash happened on the West Outer Road just a little north of Miller Road.

According to the initial report, Scott was traveling northbound and Vierling was traveling southbound when Vierling crossed the double yellow center line for unknown reasons. Scott was unable to avoid the collision and the two cars hit nearly head-on. The intense forces of the accident sent the vehicles spinning off opposite sides of the roadway.

Both drivers were listed as having serious injuries. Vierling was flown by Arch Helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital for emergency treatment. Scott was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

Vierling was wearing a seat belt while Scott was not.

While the time after a serious accident is an extremely stressful and scary period, the family of the injured parties in any car crash should consider consulting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If anyone is injured by another person’s negligence, they may be entitled to damages that cover medical expenses, lost wages and any other fees that might need to be repaid to make the injured party “whole” again.

The investigating officer of the Jefferson County crash seemed to indicate that this accident was caused by Vierling unexpectedly crossing the center line. Much more investigation must go into the incident by a St. Louis area car accident lawyer before this can be proven true. There may be extenuating circumstances that complicate the accident and any evidence should be collected as soon as possible.

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Four people were hospitalized, two with serious injuries, after a head-on car crash Friday on Highway 67 near Fredericktown, Missouri.

The accident took place shortly before 11 p.m. as Emily Hoss, 18, drove her 2002 Dodge southbound on the highway, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. For an unspecified reason, she crossed the center line and her car collided head-on with a 2002 Chrysler, driven by Benjamin Minkel, 33, that was heading north.

Hoss and Benjamin Minkel both suffered serious injuries and were taken to separate local hospitals for treatment. Natalie Minkel, 28, and Haley Minkel, 3, who were riding with Benjamin Minkel, were also treated at the hospital, but for less serious injuries.

All of the people involved were wearing a seatbelt. Both cars were totaled.

There has been a string of accidents involving cars crossing the center line of country highways. Many times, this is caused by negligence on the part of one of the drivers. Sometimes a third car will be involved that is driving erratically and forces one of the cars into oncoming traffic. In any case, if one driver’s negligence leads to another person’s injury, those injuries are to be covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance.

Unfortunately, in many cases this process is not so cut and dry. Issues of liability arise as the parties debate who was truly at fault. Insurance companies will also do all they can to limit the amount of damages they pay out. Because of these challenges, it is important that anyone injured in a Missouri car accident seeks the advice of a qualified personal injury lawyer.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Wal-Mart have announced a recall for their discount Durabrand DVD player line after concerns of potential fire or explosion arose.

While no personal injury or product liability suits have been filed, there have been numerous reports of the DVD player overheating and, in some instances, starting a fire. In at least seven cases there was some reported property damage due to a fire caused by the player. Thankfully, though, no one has been hurt.

No indication of what the total amount of property damage has been since these DVD players first came on the market in 2006, according to an AP report.

This is actually not even the first recall involving this particular Durabrand DVD player. A couple weeks ago, the silver design model was recalled by the CPSC. Today’s announcement expands the recall to cover the pink and purple colored models as well.

Here are the serial numbers to look for on your product:
-UPC 1799901002, model number 1002
-UPC 1799934100, model number 1002 PINK
-UPC 1799932100, model number 1002 PUR

If you have one of these players, don’t risk a potentially serious burn or personal injury by continuing to use the device. Unplug it immediately and contact Wal-Mart for a full refund.

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Two Missouri men were seriously injured Saturday when the dump trucks they were driving crashed on Highway 24 near Moberly, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, David Underdale, 61, and Jeremy Imler, 33, were each driving Freightliner dump trucks on Highway 24 at approximately 10:45 a.m. Underdale, who was traveling eastbound, had to make an evasive maneuver when a third vehicle pulled into his path. As he did so, his truck crossed the center line and struck Imler’s dump truck, which was heading westbound. The third vehicle was not hit by either truck.

Both Underdale and Imler suffered serious injury and had to be airlifted to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment.

The driver of the third vehicle was not identified on the initial crash report and it is not known whether authorities have any information on the third vehicle.

Generally you hear about tractor trailer and large truck crashes causing serious injury to people in smaller passenger cars. This is an unfortunate example of how the power of these large trucks can be dangerous to even other large commercial and industrial vehicles. An investigation into this Missouri truck accident should determine whether the drivers where following proper safety regulations and hopefully find out who was driving the third vehicle and what his or her role was.

If either truck driver is found to be at fault, or if the driver of the third vehicle is found and evidence shows that he or she was negligent and caused the crash, a Missouri trucking accident lawyer may be able to recover damages to help the injured party cope with medical expenses, lost wages, and other hardships related to the crash.

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A new law banning texting while driving will take effect today in Missouri. The law states that nobody under the age of 21 can send, receive or read a text message while they drive.

This law is aimed at preventing serious injury accidents caused by inattentiveness. A large number of car wrecks are caused by drivers simply not paying attention to the road. One of the most infamous incidents in the St. Louis area over the last couple years took place last summer when a tractor trailer driver plowed through a line of cars while allegedly reaching for his cell phone. This tragic incident killed three people and injured 15. Charges were filed earlier this year in relation to that crash.

This new law would not have affected that incident as the driver was over 21. While several other states have bans or partial bans on cell phone use or texting, only Missouri is restricting use by a particular age group.

The fine for violating this law is set at $200.

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Two people were seriously injured in a two-car Missouri accident in Randolph County shortly before noon on Tuesday.

The injury accident, which took place on Route JJ, occurred when a 1999 Mitsubishi, driven by Ashley Link, 18, attempted to make a left turn. As Link attempted to make the left, she crossed into the path of Denita Fox, 47, who was driving a 2005 Chevrolet westbound. The two cars collided and both were totaled.

Fox was wearing a seat belt, but Link was not.

Link was flown to University Hospital with life threatening injuries. Fox also sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Moberly Regional Medical Center for treatment.

From the initial crash report on file with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, it is unclear who exactly is at fault for the accident. Even if fault was indicated in the report, further investigation would need to be done by a Missouri car accident lawyer as the crash reports are just the opinions of the investigating officer.

Under the law, the insurance of the driver at fault will need to compensate the injured party. This can be a very complicated issue at times and in some cases the insurance companies will try and contact you to get a statement after you have been injured in a car accident. It is advisable to consult a personal injury attorney before talking to an insurance company representative as the things you say may be used to limit the compensation you receive. Many firms offer free personal injury consultations so that you can become better educated on your legal rights before you make any commitments.

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While we continue to work on a case involving a young man being injured while using a weight lifting machine, I wanted to talk a little bit about other similar incidents, personal injury claims and product liability cases involving exercise equipment.

Every year, there are millions of sports related injuries in the United States. This shouldn't come as a surprise since participating in sports requires physical exertion and the chance for a genuine accident is high. Where a personal injury lawyer would get involved is in cases where somebody's negligence led to another's injury. If the case involves a defect in equipment that causes injury, it falls into the category of product liability law.

Last year there were over 400,000 injuries related to exercise or exercise equipment. Particularly dangerous, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's database, were weight lifting machines. They accounted for over 79,000 of these accidents. While many of these could be due to operator error, some may be due to the fact that a weight lifting machine has a dangerous design flaw. In these cases, a product liability lawyer should be contacted immediately to investigate.

If you are injured by faulty equipment and seek damages, the company may offer you a settlement. Make sure you have consulted with your attorney about your wishes if a settlement is offered. Some personal injury firms are more likely to suggest settling, but often the damage payout will be much less. It is not greedy to try and pursue higher rewards as punitive damages are what gets a company's attention and forces them to ensure their products are safe. Lives may be saved thanks to a personal injury lawsuit revealing a dangerous design flaw.

One specific case was Schmitt v. Dudley Sports Co. An automatic pitching machine was purchased by a high school and the pitching arm accidentally fired when the machine was unplugged and in storage causing serious injury to a student. There was no warning that the pitching arm may fire even when unplugged so the company was found to be negligent. This case likely caused other sports equipment companies to take notice and include more specific warning labels.

Aside from product liability, there are many other cases where an injury was not the fault of the person who sustained it. If you feel that you have been the victim of someone's else's negligence, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

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Adrienne Ford, 20, was killed Friday when her car was hit by a pickup and forced off the roadway as she drove Highway 65 in Northern Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ford was driving southbound in front of a pickup driven by Omar Miller, 54. As they approached an intersection, Miller attempted to pass Ford. In the process of doing this, he struck Ford's car on the driver's side and both cars traveled off the roadway and down an embankment.

Ford was airlifted to Truman Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Miller was not listed on the injury report according to the investigating officer.

Ford was not wearing a seatbelt.

Further investigation from a Missouri car accident lawyer is needed to truly determine whether Miller was negligent in trying pass Ford. If he was, Ford's family may be able to recover damages to help pay expenses after this tragic accident.

The fact that Ford was not wearing a seat belt does not have the legal ramifications in Missouri as it would in other states. Some states say that if you are injured in a car accident without a seatbelt, you are partially responsible for your injuries since taking that precaution could have prevented injury.

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Our law firm represents a young man who was severely injured while using a Cybex International, Inc. smith machine, model 5341.

We would like to hear from anyone who has experienced an incomplete latching, sometimes referred to as a "false engagement" of the hook that rests on top of the pin, which holds the bar. When a false engagement occurs, the hook actually rests on the top of the pin- not fully over it- which can cause the bar to unexpectedly fall on the user.

There have been numerous incidents of false engagements and incomplete latching with both the 5340 and 5341 models.

We would like to hear from anyone who has experienced this type of incident or knows of this type of incident occurring.

Please feel free to call us at 314-721-9111 or by email at ryan@thebradleylawfirm.com.

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If you or a family member sustain a serious personal injury, it will likely be one of the most stressful and challenging events in your life. When evaluating personal injury attorneys to help you through this complicated time, there are several qualities that you should look for.

The first thing you want in a lawyer is extensive experience in the specific practice area related to your case. If you were involved in a car accident, make sure to find someone with numerous car accident cases under his or her belt. If you are dealing with a premises liability case, make sure the attorney is qualified in that area and so on. Each area of tort law and personal injury law is very different and it would benefit you to have representation well versed in that particular area.

You also want to get a sense of the attorney’s track record when it comes to handling similar cases. You’ll want to find out how many cases they have tried and how often they go to trial. Of course you’ll also want to know how successful he or she has been when they do go to trial.

It is also important to get a sense of the attorney’s reputation in the profession. If he or she has a poor reputation among fellow lawyers, that is a very bad sign. Ask other lawyers about your potential hire and check to see if the attorney you are considering is a member of any respected professional organizations like The American Trial Lawyers Association.

Last, but certainly extremely important, you’ll want to find a personal injury lawyer that makes you feel comfortable and cared for. As stated above, this will likely be one of the most stressful periods in your life and you’ll want a lawyer that is genuinely concerned for your personal health and well being and not just the settlement. Some large firms with many lawyers on staff tend to lose this sense of connectedness as they tend to be focused on finding the fastest way to settle and move on to the next profitable case.

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The number of deaths as a result of car accidents in construction zones is rising steadily each year. Over 1,000 people are killed each year and 40,000 are injured in construction zone crashes. That is up from just over 800 deaths in 1999.

Of those killed and injured, more than 80 percent are drivers or passengers. Workers are very much at risk as well, but the accidents are mostly rear-end collisions between cars in the work zone. A vast majority of crashes are caused by driver inattentiveness. These drivers will be carelessly talking on a cell phone or preoccupied with something in the car and won’t realize traffic has stopped for an upcoming work zone. This driver negligence is what causes injury accidents.

Lawmakers are split over how to deal with this problem. Some want better training for construction workers and wider lanes in construction zones. Others say driver education programs and advertisements are essential in showing drivers they need to slow down and stay alert.

Transportation officials in some states are also advocating that more roads are completely closed when construction is ongoing, rather than trying to funnel traffic through these congested areas. They have also started using longer lasting pavement to reduce the amount of maintenance needed on the roadway.

Since most work zone crashes are the result of driver negligence, those who are injured can often contact a personal injury lawyer to recover damages after the accident. You can reduce your chances of being in an accident by being attentive in work zones, but if you are still injured by someone else’s negligence you should contact a car accident attorney as quickly as possible.

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Seven teenagers were injured in a Missouri school bus crash when a small bus run by a river resort crashed Sunday morning on Moon Valley Road near Bennett Springs, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the bus was carrying the teens westbound near the Fort Niangua River Resort. The driver, Steven Newman, 53, moved to the right to avoid an oncoming vehicle. In doing so, he ran off the side of the roadway and down an embankment where the bus overturned, coming to a rest on its roof.

Brittnie Pratt, 17, and Chloe Schmidt, 17, were the most seriously injured. Among the others that were injured were Colleen Armstrong, 16; Chelsea Bryant, 17; Brittney Green, 17; Lauryn Salts, 17; and Elizabeth Wadsack, 17. Most of the girls were taken to St. John’s Hospital for treatment.

While many of the girls knew each other from attending Camdenton High School, they were not attending a school function and the bus was not affiliated with the school.

The initial crash report indicates the bus moved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, but it did not list the second vehicle’s driver or if authorities even know who it was.

School bus crashes are relatively rare and usually riding the bus is a safe mode of transportation. When accidents like this happen, however, the people that are injured need to contact an experienced bus accident lawyer as soon as possible. There are several ways to pursue a claim in this situation. If an investigation into the injury crash reveals the bus driver was negligent in operating the bus, the girls and their family may be able to make a claim against him or the river resort. If the bus was indeed forced off the road by a second car and that driver can be located, he may be held responsible for the injuries sustained in the crash.

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Steven Messenger, 31, and Matthew Alexander, 18, were both seriously injured Monday after being involved in a four-car injury crash on I-55 near Reavis Barracks Road.

The accident began when Juanita Roberson, 43, attempted to change lanes on the highway in her 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada. As she did so, she crossed behind Messenger’s 2001 Chevrolet Blazer and rear-ended his vehicle. Messenger’s car was forced into a 2005 Dodge Ram, driven by Jeffrey Orf, 28, that was just in front of him. The chain reaction continued as Orf was unable to avoid crashing into Alexander’s 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Messenger and Alexander were the only two that suffered any injury according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Their injuries were listed as serious, however, and both were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

Those involved would be wise to contact a St. Louis injury accident lawyer as soon as possible. This could be a complicated case since there were multiple collisions and injuries in different vehicles. Often in chain reaction type accidents like these, each driver is responsible for the damages to the vehicle in front of him that he hit. This is due to the rear end collision doctrine. A personal injury attorney would need only to prove that the doctrine applies. There may be extenuating circumstances not detailed in the initial crash report, however, and that is why the case should be thoroughly investigated by a legal professional as soon as possible.

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Jeffrey Johnson, 23, and his two young children were injured Sunday in a Missouri head-on collision on highway 142 near Doniphan, Missouri.

Johnson was driving his 1995 Geo eastbound on highway 142 when the accident occurred. He approached a hill crest at the same time as a 2005 Ford, driven by Benjamin Ressel, 32, who was traveling westbound. As they came over the hill, they collided head-on.

Johnson was flown to St. Francis Hospital with serious injuries. His children, ages 1 and 2, both sustained less serious injuries and were taken to Ripley County Hospital. Ressel was uninjured according to the investigating officer.

Johnson was not wearing a seatbelt which probably contributed to his injuries being more severe. Fortunately, everybody else involved was wearing a seatbelt.

From a Missouri personal injury lawyer’s perspective, the first thing to notice about the initial crash report is that it offers no indication as to who is at fault for this accident. The investigating officer from the Missouri State Highway Patrol simply states that the two vehicles collided on a hill crest. He did not indicate which car crossed the center line or explain how they crashed.

Before any personal injury suit could be pursued, this basic information would need to be investigated. Crash reconstructions can look at debris patterns and tire skid marks to determine exactly where each vehicle was and approximately how fast they were traveling.

Should Johnson try to pursue damages for his injuries, the fact that he wasn’t wearing a seat belt makes no legal difference here in Missouri. Some states, though, have a seat belt defense that assigns comparative fault to people who fail to wear a seatbelt. This basically means a person can be considered partially responsible for his injuries by failing to take the necessary precautions and not buckling his seatbelt.

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Advertisements for legal services like personal injury attorneys appearing in print, radio and television ads may soon face stricter guidelines if the Missouri Bar and Missouri Supreme Court adopt newly proposed regulation.

Currently, all legal advertisements must have the disclaimer “The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisement.”

According to the Missouri Bar Board of Governors, the new regulation would dictate how that disclaimer is included within the advertisement. For instance, if it is a print ad, the disclaimer must be in high contrast to the background and at least one-third the size of the advertising lawyer’s contact information. Television and radio ads that speak the disclaimer must say it no faster than the ad speaks the phone number of the advertising lawyer.

The use of celebrities as spokesmen would also be banned in legal advertising.

The proposal has sparked a debate in the Missouri legal community over the amount of regulation that should govern legal advertisements. Supporters of the proposal say that it is important to make special rules for legal advertisements because the public could easily be mislead regarding complicated legal matters. Opponents say it is a challenge to free commercial speech and it goes too far.

Regardless of whether or not these new rules are implemented or even necessary, the disclaimer does promote some useful advice. If you or a loved one have been injured by another’s negligence and you are seeking a Missouri personal injury lawyer for legal advice, you should thoroughly research all potential lawyers before making a decision. Don’t rely simply on ads as many attorneys do little or no advertising. Find a listing of St. Louis area attorneys and give them a call. Most will provide a free consultation of your personal injury case that will tell you more than any 30 second radio ad ever could.

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Glen Clark, 53, was seriously injured Tuesday evening after the riding lawnmower he was using was hit by a car.

The Missouri injury accident took place on County Road 123 around 8:25 p.m. The investigating officer said that a 1995 Dodge, driven by Mark Parks, 48, was traveling southbound behind Clark. Parks’ car hit Clark’s mower from behind and ejected Clark.

Clark suffered serious injury and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Parks was uninjured.

If the initial crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol is accurate, then this is a rear impact collision case. Negligence is assumed on the part of the at fault driver in these cases. If a Missouri personal injury attorney is brought in to recover damages, the driver that initiated the rear end crash will have a hard time defending himself. The rear impact collision doctrine is in place because all drivers should be aware and in control of where the front of their vehicle is traveling. They should always leave enough space between them and the vehicle in front of them.

This lawnmower incident may have extenuating circumstances not detailed in the initial crash report. These additional facts are important and evidence must be collected quickly by a personal injury lawyer.

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Five people were killed late Saturday night in a two-car accident on Route OO near Farmington, Missouri.

Walter Barker, 57, and his wife Bessie Barker, 59, along with Norma Holloway, 60, were riding in one car. The other car contained Yvonne Fulton, 46, and her husband Gregory Fulton, 48.

Yvonne Fulton was flown to St. John’s Mercy in Creve Coeur where she was pronounced dead. Gregory Fulton was pronounced dead at Mineral Area Hospital. All others were pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation into this fatal Missouri car crash is still underway, but the initial crash report filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates that Walter Barker, who was driving a 2004 Pontiac GTO, crossed the center line of the roadway as he drove northbound. Yvonne Fulton was driving a 1999 Cadillac Deville southbound and was unable to avoid the fatal head-on collision.

Walter Barker and Norma Holloway were the only passengers not wearing a seatbelt.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch report on the crash says that investigators do not believe that alcohol played a role in the crash. That being the case, they still do not know what may have caused Barker to cross the center line. If further investigation reveals negligence on the part of either driver, a Missouri personal injury attorney could be contacted by the family to file a wrongful death suit and recover damages to pay for funeral and other expenses.

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Photo by KTVI, St. Louis

The family of Andrea Whitehead is suing the Missouri State Highway Commission over a 2008 fatal Missouri car crash that resulted in her death.

Whitehead was driving along I-55 in June of last year when she lost control of her vehicle. She drove off the side of the roadway and, since there was no guardrail at this particular point along the highway, her car went off the side of a bluff and fell nearly 100 feet. Whitehead was killed but her two children miraculously survived.

Here is a link to our post here on the Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog when the accident happened in June of last year. We speculated then that a wrongful death lawsuit could be brought against the state in connection to this tragic incident.

The suit alleges that the Missouri State Highway Commission knew this particular stretch of highway was dangerous but was negligent in not installing any guardrail or other protective barrier. The wrongful death suit is seeks damages in excess of $25,000.

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Jose Merediz, 32, was killed and two others were seriously injured Monday in a two-car head-on crash on the outer road along I-55 in Jefferson County, Missouri.

Merediz was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt southbound on the west outer road. As he passed Turner Camp Road, a 2003 Ford Ranger, driven by David Cox, 22, approached from the opposite direction. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Merediz crossed the double yellow line into the northbound lanes a crashed head-on into Cox’s car.

Merediz was pronounced dead at the scene. Cox and a passenger in Merediz’s car, Westina Barnes, 31, were seriously injured and taken to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.

All involved were wearing a seatbelt.

The investigating officer did not give a reason as to how Merediz could have lost control and drove into oncoming traffic. Another vehicle may have forced him or he simply could have been inattentive at the wheel. Even if the initial crash report did describe the cause of the accident, it would need to be corroborated by further investigation. Initial crash reports are just the opinions of the investigating officer and do not hold up in court as part of a personal injury lawsuit. Since there was a fatality, there will be an accident reconstruction to determine who caused the accident and if either driver should be held liable. A St. Louis area car accident injury lawyer could then be contacted to recover damages for the other victims.

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Two people were seriously injured in a head-on collision likely caused by a cell phone call Sunday in Cole County, Missouri.

The accident, which occurred on Route B, occurred when Jeffery Anderson, 33, tried to make a phone call while driving his 1999 Nissan. According to the initial crash report, Anderson took his eyes off the road and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. There, his car crashed head-on into a 2008 Chrysler with passengers Sylvester Redel, 80, and Juanita Godsy, 78.

Redel and Godsy were both seriously injured and taken to Capital Region Medical Center. Anderson did not suffer significant personal injury according to the investigating officer.

This accident is the type of incident that is fueling debate now over cell phone use in cars. Many groups are lobbying for a state or federal ban on cell phone use behind the wheel. These groups cite studies that claim cell phone use is an impairment to drivers on the same level as being legally drunk.

Despite the fact there is not yet a ban on cell phone use, if a personal injury attorney can prove a driver lost control of his vehicle due to talking on the phone, that driver may be considered negligent and forced to repay damages to the other drivers.

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The Center for Justice and Democracy recently published an article with some statistics about personal injury lawsuits that might surprise people who do not work in a profession related to civil litigation. For all the stories of frivolous lawsuits or how litigious our society has supposedly become, the numbers show that it is not quite the epidemic that some would have you believe. Tort reform advocates especially like to claim that the number of civil lawsuits is getting out of hand, but the numbers show that this is not the case. In fact, in most areas of personal injury law, the numbers are on the decline.

Here are just of few of the statistics pointed out in the article:

- Only one out of every ten people that suffer a serious personal injury ever file a claim for compensation and only two percent turn into lawsuits.

- It the area of medical malpractice, only twelve percent of people that suffer a medical malpractice injury ever file a claim and only six percent receive compensation.

- 44,000 to 98,000 people die every year due to medical malpractice or medical errors in hospitals.

- Studies by academic groups including the Harvard School of Public Health show that the idea of rampant frivolous lawsuits is an exaggeration.

- There has been a decrease in tort filings since the early nineties.

- Tort cases make up only five percent of the total number of civil cases. In contrast, contract dispute cases make up over 27 percent.

- The number of personal injury cases (which include car accident cases, product liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death) that go to a jury trial is less than four percent.

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Four people, including two children, were seriously injured Tuesday in a two-car Missouri car crash on Highway B south of the St. Louis metro area.

The cars involved in this injury accident, a 2000 Ford Explorer and a 2009 Honda Accord, were traveling towards each other on the highway around 5 p.m., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The roadway was wet and slick from rain that had moved through the area and the driver of the Explorer, Brandy Bruenger, 22, lost control of the vehicle and began to slide out of control. The SUV began sliding in a clockwise rotation and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The driver of the Accord, Kelly Gandy, 36, was unable to avoid the other vehicle and crashed into its driver’s side.

Bruenger and a small child in her SUV, Gerald Withers, 2, were flown to St. John’s Mercy in Creve Coeur. Kelly Gandy and a child in her car, Alexandria Gandy, 10, were taken to separate area hospitals for treatment.

Despite the fact the investigating officer cited the wet roadways as a cause of the accident, in a legal sense the drivers are still responsible. You have to be aware of road conditions and alter your driving accordingly. Sliding on a wet or icy roadway can be avoided if you follow certain precautions. Drivers that don’t follow those steps and cause an accident may be liable for damages if a St. Louis personal injury attorney is contacted and injury suit is filed.

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Thao T. Huynh, 27, and Leann T. Nguyen, 30, were injured and hospitalized Sunday after the car they were riding in was rear ended and forced off the road into a cable median.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on Interstate 435 in Clay County, Missouri. Christopher Jackson, 16, was driving a 2000 Ford northbound on the highway and lost control of his car sending it off the left side of the roadway. As he tried to regain control, Jackson crossed back into the highway where he struck the 1998 Acura that Huynh and Nguyen were passengers in.

After the impact, the driver of the Acura, Ai Tham Nguyen, 27, also lost control of her car and went off the left side of the roadway. The car crashed into a cable median and came to a rest before crossing into oncoming traffic.

Huynh was taken by ambulance to Liberty Hospital for treatment. Leann Nguyen suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. Ai Tham Nguyen and Jackson were not listed as injured on the initial crash report.

The Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident and charges are pending.

At the moment, it is not known what caused Jackson to lose control of his vehicle. Typically, in rear-end collision car accidents, negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver. If the investigation turns up further signs of negligence or the charges pending are against Jackson, a Missouri personal injury lawyer may be able to recover damages for those injured in the accident.

This accident could have resulted in more serious injuries or even a fatality if the second car had crossed into oncoming traffic. The investigating officer said the car was stopped by a cable median. We have previously commented on the safety of cable medians in earlier blog posts.

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Tracy McCain, 47, was killed and two others were seriously injured Wednesday in a two-car accident on Missouri Highway 13.

The fatal Missouri car accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 13 and Russell Avenue where McCain was preparing to make a left turn in his 2008 Buick. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2005 Chevrolet driven by James Trent, 42, was also approaching the intersection. Trent was traveling at a high rate of speed and crashed into McCain’s vehicle as McCain was making the left turn.

Both cars were forced off the road and into a light pole where they came to a rest.

McCain was pronounced dead at the scene. James Trent and his passenger, Brooke Trent, 16, were both seriously injured and taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The investigating officer notes that Trent was driving his car at a high rate of speed, but does not say specifically how fast in the initial crash report. Further investigation by a Missouri car accident lawyer will be needed to determine just how fast he was traveling and how quickly McCain pulled out in front of him. Before liability can be determined and damages paid, these details must be examined.

There is also a possibility of comparative fault. In comparative fault cases, both drivers are essentially given a percentage of the blame for the accident and damages are paid accordingly. This might be the case should it be discovered that both drivers in the Johnson County crash were negligent in driving toward the intersection.

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Gary Weston, 36, and his wife Lea Weston, 37, both suffered serious injury Wednesday after a Missouri car accident on Farm Road 1090 in Barry County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Westons were traveling south in a 2007 Buick Rainier and approached an uncontrolled intersection. At the same time, a 2001 Ford pickup, driven by Steven Mattingly, 23, was also approaching the same intersection. Neither vehicle stopped and they collided in the intersection.

The Westons were taken to Cox South Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Mattingly did not sustain any significant injury, according to the initial crash report.

Since the intersection was uncontrolled, meaning it had no traffic lights or signs, different rules apply. The vehicle on the right always has the right of way when two vehicles are approaching an uncontrolled intersection. This is only if both vehicles are going to enter the intersection at the exact same time. If one car is clearly ahead of the other and enters the intersection first, they have the right of way.

The drivers in the Barry County crash should consult a personal injury attorney and describe the accident in detail to him or her. If one of the drivers negligently entered the intersection without the right of way, the other driver could be entitled to damages to cover any medical costs arising from the accident. Of course, the testimony of the driver may not be enough to win the case so a resourceful Missouri car accident lawyer will probably contact experts to conduct an accident reconstruction and prove which vehicle entered the intersection first and how fast the cars were going.

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A disturbing side effect of the bankruptcy filings of General Motors and Chrysler is popping up across the country as well as here in Missouri. As part of their bankruptcy proceedings, both automakers will be able to dodge liability for all pending personal injury lawsuits relating to vehicles produced prior to the bankruptcy.

Reports are popping up all over the country of people’s lawsuits being essentially canceled as a result of this legal loophole. Most of these people have suffered a serious personal injury caused by any number of product defects such as tire failure, seat belt failure, unexpected fire, and airbag malfunctions.

These types of personal injury suits fall under the broader category of product liability.

Fox News 4 in Kansas City recently reported on one of these cases here in Missouri. According to a Fox 4 report, Don Wren of Liberty, Missouri had his personal injury lawsuit suspended only days before it was set to be heard in trial. Wren lost his leg in a 2004 Missouri car crash while riding in his 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass. His lawsuit claimed that his car lacked frame rails to absorb head-on crashes, a safety feature that was standard on every Cutlass prior to and after 1994.

For the thousands of people in Wren’s position, there is little in the way of a backup plan. They will become unsecured creditors, which means GM or Chrysler will be able to pay out other larger bank debts first before even addressing the people on hold with lawsuits. Even then, the unsecured creditors will be taken care of in order of the size of their claim and will get only the bare minimum in return which may be too little, too late for people in extreme situations like Wren.

The other negative side effect, aside from thousands of innocent victims not getting their day in court, is that it provides no incentive for the automaker to recall defective cars and may actually lead to more personal injuries. Product recalls are issued by companies in response to the number of accident claims. Without these claims, the statistics won’t back up the need for a safety recall and thousands of potentially dangerous vehicles will remain on the roadways.

These large automakers are being let off the hook in a big way and those victims with serious injuries are the ones paying for it.

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My personal injury firm, The Bradley Law Firm, was recently honored by being invited to join The American Trial Lawyers Association.

The American Trial Lawyers Association is a national organization that is made up of the top 100 trial lawyers from each state. Only attorneys who meet certain qualifications of reputation, stature and accomplishment are extended a nomination by colleagues in the profession.

The group consists of both criminal defense lawyers and civil plaintiff attorneys.

As a member, I will have access to numerous resources and networking opportunities including national seminars and conferences. The association prides itself on developing programs to help train lawyers to face current issues and many of their publications will be beneficial to me as a Missouri personal injury lawyer.

Needless to say, we are very honored to be invited and hope to use this opportunity to help our firm grow and be able to help more people recover financially from the burdens that come with a serious personal injury.

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Most people are fortunate to never have to think about the process of hiring a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, accidents happen and if you or a loved one should be injured by somebody else’s negligence, you’ll want to find quality legal representation to ensure that you can recover damages to pay for your medical bills.

The first question people ask is regarding the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney. Most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that they get a percentage of the award if they win the case. If they don’t win, they don’t receive a fee. This percentage varies and can be up to 40% of total award. While this seems high, the personal injury award a skilled lawyer can earn is usually many times higher than what an insurance company might offer you to settle the case without getting a lawyer and going to trial.

There may be other costs associated with specific lawyers aside from the base percentage fee so make sure you discuss this with any attorney you consider hiring.

A lot of personal injury and accident lawyers will offer you a free consultation as well the first time you contact their office. They will hear the basics of your case and determine whether or not they feel they should represent you, if they know another lawyer who would be better suited for your case, or if you even need an attorney at all. If they recommend another lawyer, they may earn a referral fee if the second attorney takes your case and successfully represents you.

After you have found an attorney and scheduled a consultation, be sure to ask a few questions. Find out the lawyer’s area of specialization and if they often handle cases similar to yours. As mentioned above, make sure you are absolutely clear on all the fees and costs before you sign anything. Also ask if they will respect your wishes when considering whether to take a settlement instead of going to trial.

You’ll also want to ask for a written retainer agreement and should read it carefully. Remember, don’t sign anything you don’t understand. Your attorney works for you so make sure they explain everything and that you are comfortable with every step of the process.

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A Missouri boat accident on the Current River over the weekend killed two, including a young boy, and injured three others. The accident took place on the river near Doniphan in Ripley County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Water Patrol, who are investigating the crash, the accident occurred as a 2005 Blazer Utility boat, driven by Radeena Proffer, 27, was traveling downstream. At the same time, a 2003 Blazer Utility boat, driven by Chad Mikel, 26, was traveling upstream. Both drivers tried to avoid a collision, but Proffer’s boat still crashed into Mikel’s on the port side.

Jerry Mote, 11, was thrown overboard and killed. His body would later be recovered by divers a half mile down from the accident scene. Josh Burson, 25, was also killed in the accident.

Neither of the deceased was wearing a life jacket at the time of the crash.

Proffer suffered moderate injures and was taken to Ripley County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Two other passengers, Michelle Lafferty, 32, and Michael Preslar, 35, were injured and taken to local hospitals. Lafferty’s injuries were listed as serious while Preslar’s were listed as minor.

The Missouri State Water Patrol is still investigating the exact cause of the crash. If one of the drivers is found to be negligent and caused the crash, the families of the deceased and injured may be able to recover damages by contacting a Missouri boat accident lawyer.

Often, Missouri boating accidents and resulting in a wrongful death are caused by inexperienced drivers who don’t know how to react in the face of an imminent crash. No details were released as to how experienced either driver was. Neither driver owned the boat he was driving and the boats’ owners were not onboard. The first boat was owned by Drew Proffer and the second was owned by Rachel Mikel.

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Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill today that would have allowed many Missouri motorcycle enthusiasts to ride without a helmet.

The bill had passed both the Missouri House and Senate and had been waiting on Nixon’s approval for several weeks. We commented on the bill in a post last month about motorcycle safety laws.

The bill would have repealed many of Missouri’s existing helmet laws and allowed anybody over 21 to ride a motorcycle without a helmet if they so choose. Under Missouri law, all motorcyclists must wear a helmet at all times to protect themselves from motorcycle injury accidents.

Nixon said he made the decision that was the most safe and cost-effective one for Missouri. He believes that more motorcyclists would die in accidents and treating the additional injuries would cause health care costs in the state to rise.

A similar bill was vetoed by former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan in 1999.

Several studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have shown that personal injuries and fatalities related to motorcycle accidents increased in states that have limited or repealed helmet laws.

Overall, motorcycle crashes are on the rise across the country. Over three thousand people die each year due to injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. Sometimes these are wrongful death cases where another driver doesn’t see the smaller motorcyclists and pulls his vehicle into the path of the bike causing the tragic incident.

Supporters of the bill to repeal the helmet laws say they will continue to push for their cause.

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Mathew Stone, 16, was seriously injured Wednesday when his 2006 Kawasaki Ninja crashed into a car on Route KK in Lincoln County, Missouri.

According to the investigating officer from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the car was a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by Virginia Anderson, 53. Anderson had been stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Walker Road and Route KK. As Stone traveled southbound on the motorcycle, Anderson attempted to make a left turn onto Route KK and pulled into the path of the motorcyclist.

Stone suffered serious personal injury and was flown to St. Joseph West Hospital in St. Charles for treatment. Anderson was uninjured in this Missouri motorcycle accident, according to the crash report.

It is not known how fast Stone was driving his motorcycle. An accident reconstruction will be able to determine how fast Stone was driving and how much time he had to react to Anderson pulling out in front of him.

If Anderson is found to be negligent in pulling her car onto Route KK, Stone may be able to recover damages to cover medical expenses. Even if Stone was speeding himself, a St. Louis area personal injury lawyer may be able to get some damages awarded based on the comparative fault system. These laws allow for multiple parties to be at fault for an accident with damages being paid based on their level of negligence and proportion of responsibility for the accident.

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A new law in Missouri will require people with multiple drunk driving convictions to install breathalyzer interlocks in their cars, according to the Hannibal Courier-Post.

These interlocks keep the car from starting until the driver breathes into a detector that measures blood alcohol content. If they are above the legal limit, the car will not start. The driver will have to re-test every 15 minutes while the engine is running to make sure the driver stays sober.

The interlock will also record data about the driver’s sobriety and driving habits and this data will be available to authorities.

About 70,000 people will be affected, according to the Hannibal Courier-Post. This includes people who have reapplied for licenses that had previously been revoked and people convicted of involuntary manslaughter for causing a fatal Missouri car crash while drunk.

The law takes effect on July 1 and the state will send out notices to all those affected.

Missouri joins Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and Louisiana as the only states with mandatory interlock laws.

Drunk driving car accidents are a major problem on Missouri’s roads. We have commented on these tragic accidents in other posts on this blog. Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all fatal car accidents in Missouri and roughly 500 people die each year in alcohol related crashes.

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Marilyn Walters, 61, was killed and two others were injured Saturday in a Missouri car accident on Highway 40 in Jackson County, Missouri.

The accident took place at the intersection of Highway 40 and Bowlin Road. Jerry Walters, 60, was driving a 2001 Saturn eastbound on Highway 40. At the same time, Richard Baldinger, 49, was traveling northbound on Bowlin Road in a 2009. Baldinger’s car broadsided Walters’ car in the passenger side.

Marilyn Walters, who was riding with Jerry Walters, was flown to Centerpoint Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Jerry Walters was also taken to Centerpoint with relatively minor injuries. A third passenger in the Saturn, Christina Hainley, 29, was also injured, but she was taken to Research Hospital. Baldinger did not suffer any significant injuries, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

According to the initial crash report on file with the Highway Patrol, this side impact injury accident is still under investigation. Charges are pending.

If charges or a citation are issued, it will go a long way towards pointing out what happened. If a Missouri personal injury attorney can prove that Baldinger was negligent and caused the accident, the passengers in the other car may be able win damages to cover medical and funeral expenses.

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Photo from Baxter Bulletin

A Chesterfield, Missouri man, his son and another teenager were killed Friday when their five-passenger plane crashed during takeoff from a grass airfield in Arkansas.

The pilot was Warren Langford, 52 and his son was Brendan Langford, 15. Both were pronounced dead at the crash site. Jacob Ritz, 15, was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas where he was also pronounced dead.

Two others, Donald Beckerle, 43, and his son, Joshua Beckerle, 15, were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Joshua Beckerle’s injuries were considered very serious, but his current condition was not available, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

The plane they were flying was a Piper Cherokee Lance owned by Propaire Inc., a St. Louis based company. The Piper Cherokee Lance is a small, single-engine plane designed to carry five to six passengers. It has a range of 1000 miles. According to the Post Dispatch, Langford and the others had flown down to an Arkansas resort earlier in the week and were taking off for their trip home when the fatal plane crash occurred.

According to witnesses in the Baxter Bulletin, the plane was tilting back and forth as it tried to take off. It then crashed through a fence at the end of the runway before hitting some trees.

Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the deadly plane crash, but no cause has been released yet.

FAA and NTSB investigators will look into the various mechanical and structural problems that could have contributed to this crash. If it turns out that negligence on the part of Piper Aircraft Company or Propaire Inc. contributed to this incident, the families of those onboard may be able to hire an aviation accident lawyer to help recover damages. These investigations can be long, complicated and difficult processes, especially in the case of a fatal accident, but they are important to help make sure a similar accident doesn’t happen in the future.

The Piper PA-32R line of aircraft, which includes the Cherokee Lance involved in the Arkansas crash, has been at the center of a couple high profile incidents. In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr. and two others were killed when a Piper Saratoga, a variant of the Piper PA-32R, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. A 2008 Piper Saratoga crash in Ohio claimed the life of Michael Connell, a communications and technology expert for leading Republicans including George W. Bush, John McCain, and Karl Rove.

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A two-vehicle Missouri car accident on Dulin Creek Road in Jefferson County sent two people to the hospital this afternoon.

The two drivers that were involved were Patrick Demsko, 44, and Brian Barner, 32, both of House Springs, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Demsko was traveling northbound on Dulin Creek Road in a 2003 Dodge Caravan when he crossed the center line of the road. Barner was heading south at the time in a 2002 Chevrolet K20. Demsko’s vehicle crashed head-on into the front of Barner’s.

Demsko was flown to St. John’s Hospital in Creve Coeur for treatment. Barner was taken by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

Fortunately, both drivers involved in this wreck were wearing a seatbelt.

The description of this Missouri injury accident on the Highway Patrol’s initial crash report is very brief. There are no details about why Demsko’s vehicle would’ve crossed the center line. If one of the drivers contacts a St. Louis area personal injury lawyer he will have to expand the details of crash by gathering any witnesses and possibly performing an accident reconstruction.

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Three people suffered serious personal injury when three motorcycles crashed into a John Deere Tractor on Missouri 139 Saturday afternoon.

The accident occurred in Carroll County, Missouri as the tractor, driven by Donald Cooper, 55, entered the roadway ahead of a group of motorcycles. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the first motorcycle, a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by Robert Ely, 33, crashed into the rear of the tractor. Wade Beers, the driver of the second motorcycle, attempted to avoid a collision by laying down his motorcycle and sliding off the roadway. The third motorcycle and its driver, George Pease, 52, then hit the tractor as well.

Ely and a passenger on his bike, Laura Lisby, 30, were seriously injured and taken to University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri for treatment. Pease also suffered serious personal injury, but was taken instead to Carroll County Memorial Hospital.

All riders in this motorcycle accident were wearing a helmet.

No summons information was provided by the investigating officer.

The question for a Missouri personal injury lawyer is whether or not the tractor driver negligently pulled his tractor in front of the group of motorcyclists. By performing an accident reconstruction, authorities will be able to determine the speeds of the motorcycles and just how long the drivers had to react to the tractor being in the roadway in front of them.

If the driver of the tractor was issued a summons, that would also be an indication that he was likely at fault for this Missouri motorcycle crash.

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Updating a story we commented on earlier, a Sunset Hills police officer is being sued for wrongful death in connection to an accident on March 21 that killed four people, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

The suit alleges that Christine Miller, 41, was drinking heavily at a bar before driving the wrong way on Dougherty Ferry and allegedly causing the accident.

Criminal charges were filed against Miller last week. She faces four counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and one count of second-degree assault stemming from injuries suffered by the other car’s driver who survived the wreck.

The passengers in the car were all natives of India and most were students at Eastern Illinois University. The four that were killed were Anusha Anumolu, 23; Satya Chinta, 25; Anita Veerapaneni, 23; and Priya Muppavarapu, 22. Nitesh Adusumilli, 27, was the driver and lone survivor of the second car.

O’Leary’s Restaurant is also being sued in connection with the accident, according to the Post Dispatch. The suit claims that the bar’s employees continued to serve Miller alcohol after she was intoxicated and did not prevent her from driving.

When a personal injury attorney feels a bar was negligent in allowing its customers to drive drunk, he might pursue a suit under ‘dram shop law’. This area of law governs the liability of liquor stores and bars when their patrons have alcohol related car accidents. Each state handles this area of law differently, which is why it’s important to hire an experienced Missouri car accident lawyer. Under Missouri law, for a dram shop case to be successful there must be proof that the person who later caused an accident was demonstrated significant impairment while at the bar.

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President Obama delivered a speech today before the American Medical Association. He talked about the need for health care reform in many areas including lowering costs of medical procedures. One way this might be accomplished, according to the president, is by putting more restrictions on medical malpractice cases.

Tort reform advocates and malpractice reform supporters have long claimed that the threat of a lawsuit is a major cause of outrageous medical costs. Doctors, in fear of being sued for not being thorough enough, will order dozens of unnecessary tests for their patients. All the excess demand for things like MRI’s and EKG’s drives up the price, they say.

Obama was quick to point out that he doesn’t believe caps on malpractice awards are the solution. He said that this is often unfair to people who have been wrongfully harmed by a doctor’s negligence.

The president did say he will explore many options that will keep patient safety first, but also allow doctors to practice medicine without fear of a medical malpractice lawsuit.

From a personal injury lawyer’s perspective, I believe the consequences of reform should be carefully weighed. It’s good to hear that president Obama is not in favor of placing limits on malpractice awards. All these arbitrary limits do is keep some people from getting the help they need and take the punitive sting away from lawsuits meant to expose a negligent doctor or hospital. Limiting the types of malpractice suits allowed could have a similar effect if not handled correctly.

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Hallie Johnson, 30, was killed Friday when the 1987 Ford Thunderbird she was riding in was hit by another car on Highway 60 in Shannon County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as John Johnson, 44, who was driving the Thunderbird, was preparing to make a turn onto Sunset Street from Highway 60. A 2006 Ford 500, driven by Sally Adams, 36, was approaching from behind. Adams attempted to pass some other traffic and struck the Thunderbird sending it spinning out into the grass. Hallie Johnson was thrown from the car.

Hallie Johnson was flown to Ozarks Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. John Johnson was also flown to Ozarks Medical Center with serious injuries. Adams did not sustain any serious injuries according to the initial crash report.

Neither Hallie nor John were wearing a seatbelt.

There are at least a couple things to learn from this tragic Missouri car crash. First, always wear a seat belt. There’s no way to know whether Hallie Johnson would have survived had she been wearing a seat belt, but her chances would’ve improved dramatically. Second, use extreme caution when passing on rural highways and roads. It’s perfectly legal to pass slower traffic on two-lane roadways, but only on stretches of road where it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to pass unless you can clearly see the road ahead of you. If are negligent in passing another vehicle and cause an accident, you and your insurance will probably be responsible for paying damages should a personal injury lawsuit arise from the crash.

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Three people were seriously injured, including one child, in a Missouri car accident on Missouri 64 in Dallas County, Missouri.

The crash occurred when a 1988 Lincoln Continental, driven by Tina Hughling, 42, crossed the center line of the roadway. According to the initial crash report, her car struck a 1983 Chevrolet S10 Pickup head on after crossing into oncoming traffic.

No indication was made as to why Hughling lost control of her vehicle and crossed the center line.

Brian Stafford, 28, was driving the pickup and sustained serious injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Central Missouri Hospital. Tina Hughling and her daughter, Ruby Hughling, 6, were both airlifted to Cox South Hospital with serious injuries.

Neither Tina Hughling nor her young daughter were wearing a seatbelt. Everybody should wear a seatbelt every time they get in a car. Not only will it protect you from serious injury, it is the law. Furthermore, if you are injured in a car accident and are found to have not been wearing a seat belt, you can be found to be comparatively negligent and your damages may be reduced.

The initial crash report submitted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol only has the basic information on this crash. It does not say why Hughling crossed the center line or what the speeds of the two vehicles were. There is simply not enough evidence to assign fault yet, which is why the drivers should contact a Missouri personal injury attorney to investigate the crash.

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Robert Phelps, 77, was killed Friday afternoon after the pickup he was in crashed into the side of a tractor trailer on Highway 60 in Carter County, Missouri.

The accident occurred at a Quick Stop gas station’s driveway. Phelps was traveling westbound approaching the Quick Stop. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the tractor trailer, driven by Douglas Gresham, 51, pulled out of the gas station and into the path of Phelps’ 1992 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. Phelps crashed into the trailer section of the big rig.

Phelps was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Gresham was uninjured.

An investigation into the Missouri tractor trailer crash is ongoing.

Should a personal injury attorney be called in to investigate the case, the biggest question would be how much time did Phelps have to react to the tractor trailer. If Gresham was inattentive and pulled the tractor trailer out in front of Phelps, he may be held liable for the accident. However, if Phelps was not paying attention, he may be considered at fault for the accident.

Authorities and a Missouri tractor trailer accident lawyer will likely look at the results of an accident reconstruction to answer these questions. Gresham’s log books will also be investigated to make sure he was following all motor carrier regulations.

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Missouri Senate Bill 202, a bill that would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet, is still awaiting a signature from Governor Jay Nixon.

The bill passed through both the House and Senate last month and will become law if Nixon doesn’t veto it.

The bill will change two motorcycle related laws in Missouri if passed. The first, and most publicized change, is that anybody over 21 will have the option to wear a helmet when riding their motorcycle. Currently, all riders must wear a helmet at all times to protect against motorcycle injury accidents.

The other major element of Senate Bill 202 that’s not getting as much attention from the media, though it’s certainly getting the attention of Missouri personal injury attorneys, is the effect the bill will have on insurance law.

Under current law, if a motorcycle was involved in an injury accident with a car, an insurance company could deny the cyclist a large portion of their insurance claim on the grounds that a motorcycle is a hazardous vehicle. Insurance companies could do this even if the motorcyclist was fault-free in the accident.

Legislators found this discrepancy unfair to motorcyclists so the bill would close this loophole and force insurance companies to treat cyclists the same as car drivers.

If signed by the governor, the law would take effect this year and expire in August 2014 giving the Missourians time to see the ramifications with regard to public safety and insurance law before renew or rewriting the law.

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A total of six people were hospitalized Monday evening after a head-on collision on Missouri 86.

The accident, which took place near Racine, Missouri, occurred when James Giberti, 22, lost control of his eastbound 2000 Oldsmobile and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. Cynthia Weaver, 46, was traveling westbound in a 1998 Toyota and was struck head-on by Giberti’s car, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Weaver was driving with her husband, Daniel Weaver, 49; her son, James Weaver, 6; and Eunice Powell, 91. All of the passengers in Weaver’s Oldsmobile suffered significant injuries and were treated at local hospitals. Cynthia Weaver was flown to Freeman West Hospital while the other passengers were taken by ambulance to St. John’s Hospital.

Giberti and his passenger, Caleb McGuffey, 22, suffered less serious injuries but also sought treatment at St. John’s Hospital.

The investigating officer did not indicate what might have caused Giberti to cross the center line.

If there are no extenuating circumstances and the accident is found to have been caused by Giberti, his insurance may have to pay damages to the Weavers and Eunice Powell. Whenever someone is injured in a Missouri car accident by another driver’s negligence, the liability insurance of the at-fault driver is required to pay medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses of the injured party. Local authorities and a Missouri personal injury attorney will look at this case to determine who is to be held liable.

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Steven and Tina Johnson, 40 and 39, were hospitalized Saturday after the Harley Davidson motorcycle they were riding on crashed into a 1995 Buick LeSabre that was pulling out of a private drive in St. Louis County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s investigating officer, Daniel Witte, 63, was pulling the Buick out of a private driveway onto Highway F near Lake Tickawatha. The Johnsons were riding their motorcycle southbound on Highway F and Steven Johnson tried to stop before hitting the car. He applied the brakes, but was unable to stop the bike from sliding into the car.

Tina Johnson was flown to St. John’s Mercy Hospital with serious injures. Steven Johnson was also taken to St. John’s, but he was transported by ambulance with more moderate injuries. Witte was uninjured.

The task now for authorities and for a personal injury attorney will be to investigate the scene and determine who is at fault for this accident. The initial crash report lays out the basic information, but leaves out some vital details like how fast the Johnson’s were going on their motorcycle.

If Witte was inattentive and pulled his car out directly in front of the Johnsons, he may be liable for damages and the Johnsons may be able to recover their medical fees. An investigation into this injury accident may also show that Steven Johnson was driving the bike too fast and was the one more at fault for the wreck.

One way that investigators and a motorcycle accident lawyer can get this information is by performing an accident reconstruction. By looking at the skid marks on the road and the debris patterns, experts can pretty accurately determine the speeds of both vehicles and how much time Steven Johnson had to react to Witte’s car coming into the roadway.

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A complicated accident involving four vehicles on eastbound I-70 in St. Charles County, Missouri sent four people to the hospital on Friday.

The Missouri car accident began when a 2007 Ford Focus, driven by Leon Finch, 25, ran off the south outer road and through a chain link fence along the highway. Finch’s car entered the eastbound lanes of I-70 where it first struck the front of a 2009 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Patricia Ward, 57. The impact sent Ward’s vehicle into the path of Marcus Deeker, 56, and his 2001 Ford F-150.

Deeker’s pickup was towing a boat which hit another pickup driven by Timothy Steimel, 22. Steimel then hit Finch’s car and both vehicles came to a rest off the roadway.

Injuries were sustained by four people, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The most seriously injured were Ward and her passenger, Catherine Wineinger, 52. Finch suffered moderate injuries and Steimel was described as having minor injuries. All four people listed on the injury report were taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s East Hospital in St. Charles, Missouri.

Obviously this is a complicated crash for authorities for a personal injury attorney to analyze. There are many questions that need to be answered by an accident reconstruction or other investigation before liability can be determined. A Missouri car accident attorney will need to look at each individual collision, find out why Finch lost control of his vehicle in the first place and how fast all the other vehicles were traveling.

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Posted In: Missouri Car Accidents , Personal Injury News

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As each week passes, we are starting to see more signs that summer is here. Baseball season has started, the pools are opening, and students are getting out of school. Amusement parks across the state are also gearing up for the busy season. If a park visitor is not careful, though, serious injury and even death can occur at a place which is normally associated with fun and excitement.

Many people have different reactions to theme park rides. Some people are daredevils that feel safe going on any thrill ride, while others swear those big roller coasters are just an accident waiting to happen.

The truth is that theme parks are relatively safe as long as both the guests and the park staff are attentive and use good judgment. This, as you probably suspect, doesn’t always happen and that’s when there’s a problem.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 10,500 people are seriously injured each year on rides at both permanent amusement parks and traveling carnivals combined. This data is only an estimate as a true number would be very hard to calculate. Injury accidents at theme parks aren’t always reported and rules about documenting them vary widely from state to state.

Tragically, 5 people die each year in accidents at parks like these. Just last week, in fact, a young boy drowned in a pool at a Wet n’ Wild amusement park in Anthony, Texas.

You might guess traveling carnivals, with those rickety mobile rides that collapse and reassemble in mall parking lots, might be less safe than a fixed-site theme park. This too is hard to gauge due to lack of information. We know fixed-site rides account for about 6,500 of the total injuries each year compared to only 4,000 or so for the mobile amusement rides. Fixed-site parks, though, presumably see more visitors a year, so they may be statistically safer. It’s impossible to know the exact rate for mobile parks as their attendance figures are not documented completely.

From a personal injury lawyer’s perspective, the big question is, “Why are these accidents occurring?” The CPSC cites a few main causes for the incidents. A large number of injury accidents were blamed on rider behavior. Generally this means that a park guest did something reckless like standing up on a ride or removing safety restraints. Another main cause of accidents is negligence on the part of the ride operator. If a ride operator fails to properly secure a ride’s passengers, serious injury is often the result. Most of the remaining accidents are caused by mechanical failure.

If someone is injured by a theme park staff’s negligence or a mechanical breakdown, they may be entitled to damages through a personal injury lawsuit. A claim against a theme park or traveling carnival will probably fall under the category of a "premises liability" case. These cases are brought against business or land owners when an injury results from dangerous conditions on their property. Even if the accident might have been caused by a park guest’s actions, they should still contact a injury accident attorney to learn their rights as they still may be entitled to compensation.

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Posted In: Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer , Missouri Premises Liability , Personal Injury News

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Three people were injured Tuesday afternoon when a Chevrolet pickup truck slammed into the back of an Isuzu Trooper in Phelps County, Missouri.

The Missouri injury accident occurred on Highway 63 near County Road 5340. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the driver of the Trooper, Melissa Wiley, 18, had slowed to make a left turn. Tony Goodfellow, 28, was following in the pickup, but failed to slow or stop and crashed into the rear of the first vehicle.

As a result of the impact, a leaf spring on the Trooper flew open and struck a third vehicle.

Wiley’s vehicle came to a rest overturned in the roadway, and Goodfellow’s traveled off the road into a house. Both were totaled.

Wiley and her passenger, Nikki Shaw, 11, were both injured and taken to Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment. Goodfellow was also injured and taken to Phelps County Regional. Nobody in the third vehicle was injured.

From an injury accident lawyer’s perspective, this seems to be a simple rear end collision case. In the majority of cases, negligence is assumed on the part of the at-fault driver in rear-end collision cases. While only the basic information on this crash was released by the highway patrol, you can see that not only did Goodfellow rear end the Isuzu Trooper, he did it with enough force to total both vehicles and flip over Wiley’s vehicle.

Should a personal injury attorney be called in to investigate, the first thing he or she will do is gather more information about the speed of both vehicles and how they were both driving just before the accident.

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Esteban Hernandez, 19, was killed Saturday night in Laclede County when an unknown vehicle hit him on Missouri 5 and then left the scene.

According to the investigating officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Hernandez was walking along the southbound lanes of Missouri 5 when he was hit by the unknown driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later when his body was discovered.

As of right now, the Highway Patrol does not have a vehicle description nor have any witnesses come forward.

Leaving the scene of a Missouri car accident, even if you do not think there were any injuries, can result in felony charges and jail time. It is grossly irresponsible to leave the scene when a fellow driver or pedestrian may have been hurt.

Hopefully the driver is found and justice is served for this tragic incident. If you have any knowledge that would be helpful in finding the hit-and-run driver, please contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop I headquarters at (573) 368 – 2345.

To help pay for funeral expenses, Jones’ family may be able to pursue a claim on his own auto insurance policy for uninsured motorist benefits. Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you should you be involved in an accident with an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, but filing the claim can be complicated. A personal injury attorney should be contacted as soon as possible to provide advice on how to properly handle these claims.

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Posted In: Hit and Run Injuries , Personal Injury News

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reporting complaints that safety training consultants are shortening the hours on a required safety course, according to the Springfield Business Journal.

According to the report, some trainers are giving workers two hours of instruction and giving them bogus certification for a normally 10-hour safety course.

While the article focused on trainings given here to prevent Missouri work place injuries, skimping on required training hours is a national problem for OSHA. A case in New York City had a safety trainer deliver a 10-hour course in a mere just a couple hours over drinks at a bar.

The reason this kind of cheating has become more rampant is that a law that takes effect August 28 will require all construction companies that are taking stimulus money to have their workers complete the training course. Safety trainers overwhelmed with training session requests have been shortening their sessions in order to schedule more and make more money.

The work place and construction injuries that this course is aimed at preventing can be a devastating problem for Missouri workers. If someone is hurt on the job by another’s negligence, not only will medical bills pile up but many are not able to work and generate money during their recovery. Consulting a personal injury attorney may be beneficial in these situations to ensure that your rights are protected.

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

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A two-car crash on Route HH near Piedmont, Missouri seriously injured three people Saturday afternoon.

According to the investigating officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the two cars, a 1999 Dodge and a 2000 Ford, were traveling towards each other on Route HH. The driver of the Dodge, Kayla Hawver, 18, crossed the center line and struck the other car head-on.

The second vehicle had two passengers: Ted McKinney, 68, and Marilyn McKinney, 63.

All three people involved were seriously injured and needed to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. Hawver was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The McKinneys were taken to St. Francis Medical Center.

It is not known why Hawver seemed to lose track of her vehicle and crossed the center line. Authorities will continue to investigate the crash and determine what exactly happened. A Missouri car accident attorney will also be able to use this information to prove liability should a personal injury suit arise from this incident.

Even though modern cars have many safety features to protect drivers in a head-on collision, they are still one of the most common and dangerous types of accidents on the roadway. The possibility of head trauma is high even with an air bag. The exact nature of the injuries in the Wayne County crash are unknown.

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Four people were hospitalized Thursday morning when one car rear-ended another on Missouri 96 near Halltown, Missouri.

The accident occurred when Melinda Hulbert, 31, failed to slow her 2003 Saturn before striking another car, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Hulbert’s car struck the rear of a 2004 GMC Sonoma and sent it off the roadway where it hit an embankment and overturned. Hulbert’s car remained in the roadway.

The driver of the second car, Sharon Evans, 45, suffered moderate injuries and was taken St. John’s Hospital. Evans’ two daughters, Misti and Krystal, 13 and 16 respectively, were both seriously injured. Both girls were also taken by ambulance to St. John’s Hospital. Hulbert suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Cox Medical Center South.

A Missouri personal injury attorney will need to review more details in this case, but from the description in the initial crash report, the Evans family may be able to recover damages for their injuries. Often, negligence is assumed in Missouri rear-end collision cases. There may be other important facts about this crash left off the initial report, though, that may affect the case.

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The Missouri House and Senate have both passed a bill that would allow motorcycle riders to ride without a helmet except on highways. The law will go into effect if Gov. Jay Nixon doesn’t veto it.

Under the current law, all riders must have a helmet at all times to protect themselves from motorcycle injury accidents.

If the new law is put in place, anybody over 21 will have the option to wear a helmet when they ride their motorcycle. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, 30 other states have similar partial helmet laws or no helmet laws.

Supporters of the change say riders should have the freedom to choose without the government becoming a nanny-state and legislating personal safety.

Opponents say that the costs associated with fatal and serious injuries sustained in Missouri motorcycle accidents are passed along to non-riders by increased insurance premiums and taxes.

In 2007, over 2,300 accidents involving motorcycles occurred in Missouri. 93 people were killed in these accidents and over 2,000 were injured. According to the Post Dispatch, Arkansas and Texas both saw sharp declines in helmet use after they loosened helmet laws in recent years. Fatalities in both states increased by 25 percent in the year after the laws were passed.

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A Missouri car crash that killed four people on March 21 is still being investigated by authorities and the final report may not be ready for months.

The accident in question is one that we commented on involving several international students from Eastern Illinois University. The accident took place on Dougherty Ferry road when Christine Miller, 41, who was driving her car the wrong way in traffic, crashed into the side of a 1997 Honda Accord killing four of its passengers.

Miller and the driver of the second car, Nitesh Adusumilli, 27, were the only ones to survive wreck. Among the dead were Anusha Anumolu, 23; Satya Chinta, 25; Anita Lakshmi, 23; and Prya Muppvarapu, 22.

According to the Eastern Illinois University news website dennews.com, the Highway Patrol is investigating where Miller was prior to the crash. It is suspected that she had been drinking before the accident.

Miller may face criminal charges, especially if it can be proven that she was drinking prior to the crash. The information gathered in the final report could also be used by a St. Louis personal injury attorney should a civil lawsuit arise from this tragic accident.

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Columbia police shot and killed a pit bull after responding to reports that several people had been chased or attacked by the aggressive dogs, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.