Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A Missouri car accident on Interstate 70 recently killed a 51-year-old man. According to police, the 51-year-old, of Wright City, was killed because a negligent, drunk driver was traveling over 100 mph and collided into the decedent’s car.

The alleged facts of the case are as follows:
1. A 29-year-old was driving a Mustang on I-70, near Bryan road;
2. The Mustang driver was allegedly going at least 100 miles per hour in the center lane of traffic when he came up behind a tractor trailer;
3. He was traveling too fast to slow down and prevent hitting the tractor trailer, so he switched into the right lane;
4. Upon switching lanes, the Mustang struck the rear of the decedent’s car, throwing the decedent’s car off of the right side of I-70;
5. The decedent was killed on impact and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Mustang driver also sustained injuries in this car accident. His car ran off the left side of I-70 and hit a median wall. He fled the scene of the accident but was arrested shortly thereafter. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.27 an hour and a half after the wreck and was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of a drunk driving accident in Missouri.

Continue reading " Missouri Car Accident on Interstate 70 Kills Man " »

A St. Peters man is in critical condition after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash. This Missouri motorcycle accident occurred in St. Charles County on Highway 79. Allegedly, the 24-year-old motorcyclist was driving south on Highway 79 at Route Y when he suddenly slowed down. A pickup truck following behind the motorcyclist rear-ended the motorcycle.

The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and rammed into another vehicle. The motorcyclist was airlifted to St. Johns Mercy Medical Center for injury treatment. Neither the driver, who rear-ended the motorcyclist, nor the driver of the car the motorcyclist ran into, was injured in the collision.

This accident scenario is similar to the outcomes of many St. Louis motorcycle crashes in that the motorcyclist is seriously injured while others riding in automobiles are not harmed at all. In most motorcycle accidents, motorcyclists are injured through the negligence of other drivers on the road.

Thousands of motorcycle accidents occur every year, most of which are not motorcyclists’ fault and most of which injure those motorcyclists. As a founding partner of Page Cagle, a Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, an avid motorcyclist, and skilled St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer, I aggressively represent those injured in motorcycle accidents, and I will do the same for you.

Call me for a free consultation at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.MotorcycleInjuryLawGroup.com for more information.

Between 2000 and 2006 alone, over 65,000 product liability lawsuits have been filed against prescription drug makers. This totals more lawsuits than in any other industry. Although there are no medications that are completely free from side effects, the dangers of Ortho Evra birth control patch have proved to be life altering and outweigh any potential benefits of the drug.

Most birth control prescriptions carry side effects such as mood swings and weight gain. However, in addition to these common uncomfortable side effects, Ortho Evra has been linked to potentially life-threatening conditions such as Deep Vein Thrombosis. Blood clots caused by Ortho Evra can lead to medical complications, including strokes, pulmonary embolisms and even death.

Despite the fact that most birth control pills do carry the risks of blood clots, many people using the Ortho Evra patch weren’t aware that using the patch instead of other birth control methods means serious medical conditions are three times more likely to occur. An experienced personal injury attorney in Missouri will be able to help determine whether you have a case against the drug manufacturer.

A 2004 study on birth control methods and the patch concluded that there was a 300 percent increase in both blood clots and cardiovascular complications in women who used the patch over the pill. In November 2005, the FDA issued a warning of this finding to consumers and also encouraged Johnson & Johnson to strengthen the drug’s warning label. .

Continue reading " Ortho Evra Dangerous Drug and Product Liability " »

A car veered onto a sidewalk, striking two Cahokia teens, killing one and injuring another as they were walking to a friend’s house. According to this report, an 18-year-old male and 17-year-old female were walking between the 700 and 800 blocks of Falling Springs Road near Cahokia around 7:50 in the evening when a car left the road and traveled along the sidewalk where it struck the 18-year-old male victim. Cahokia Police officials are still investigating the car accident in Illinois, but reports state that the vehicle dragged the male victim about 100 feet until the car hit a tree.

The female victim sustained bone fractures and received treatment at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis.

The male victim’s family has been unable to make funeral arrangements because they cannot afford to pay for the costs of a funeral. According to the report, a family friend established a trust for the funeral costs at a local bank.

Law enforcement officials have not issued any charges related to the car accident, but expect to after completion of a report from an accident reconstruction team investigating the incident. It is unknown whether the driver was ill, driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but the evidence suggests that the driver was negligent in the operation of the vehicle.

Continue reading " Cahokia Car Accident Kills One Teenager, Another Wounded " »

A recent Missouri motorcycle accident injured a 66-year-old Nixa man. A truck driver allegedly caused this two-vehicle motorcycle crash, which occurred in Stone County. Missouri Highway Patrol reports allege a Chevrolet truck pulled out of a driveway, directly into the path of a Suzuki motorcycle. The 66-year-old motorcyclist was unable to avoid the large truck that pulled in front of him and struck the front of the Chevrolet.

The motorcyclist, of Nixa, MO, was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered motorcycle accident injuries in Missouri and was transported to Cox Medical Center-South in Springfield, Missouri for treatment. The 17-year-old driver of the Chevrolet truck was not injured in this Missouri accident. The accident occurred on AA Highway, 10 miles north of Galena.

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents like this one are relatively common. Statistics indicate that over 7 million motorcyclists are on roads nationwide. With the number of motorcyclists on the road growing, motorcycle accident statistics have also increased in number.

Continue reading " Missouri Motorcycle Accident Injures 66 Year Old Man " »

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website says it is important to remember that the risk for injury is not necessarily gone when dangerous drug Levaquin or Cipro use is discontinued. Cases have been reported in which tendon problems occurred up to several months after individuals have stopped taking the medications.

Levaquin and Cipro are drugs prescribed by doctors to treat serious bacterial infections. Both medications just received a “black box” warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for issues of product liability. Although it is an FDA term, the “black box” warning is the strongest warning the FDA can give a drug short of an all out recall.

Both medications fall into a group of drugs known as quinolones that fight infections by targeting the infected area and eliminating or limiting the amount of bacteria present. By doing so the drugs assists the body in fighting off the infection. Levaquin is a third generation quinolone, which means that its antibacterial spectrum is wider than that of Cipro, yet both have been linked to tendon damage and ruptures with injuries particularly focusing on the Achilles tendon, the biceps, the rotator cuff (shoulder), as well as the hand and thumb.

If you are currently taking, or have taken, one of these drugs and experience pain, swelling, or the inflammation of a tendon or tendon rupture, immediately discontinue use of the medication and contact your health care professional right away. Then contact the top St. Louis personal injury lawyers at Page Cagle for a free consultation by calling 314.322.8515 or 1.800.500.4658.

A tractor trailer driver, who suffers from a medical condition that causes him to lose consciousness easily, recently caused a tractor trailer accident in Temple, Texas. Big rig crashes caused by driver medical complications, similar to this one, have led to increased demands from FMCSA regulations, requiring more rigorous routine medical checkups for CDL holders. Although FMCSA standards for medical checkups have recently been revised, statistics for accidents caused by tractor trailer drivers either taking medications while driving or experiencing medical complications while driving have still increased.

In this Texas tractor trailer accident, the 50-year-old truck driver lost consciousness and lost control of his commercial vehicle. The 18-wheeler continued traveling on I-35, hit a concrete embankment and went airborne for over 100 ft before crashing into a hotel. The big rig slammed into the Temple hotel, injuring hotel patrons and throwing hotel workers onto the ground.

Firefighters had to extricate the driver through the wreckage. The tractor trailer driver was injured and transported to the hospital. Luckily, none of the injuries suffered were life-threatening. Many tractor trailer accidents caused by medicated drivers and drivers experiencing complications from medical conditions end with more grim results.

Continue reading " Missouri Truck Accident Attorneys " »

Heparin, a blood thinner regularly used to prevent blood clots during medical procedures, has been linked to hundreds of severe adverse reactions and even cases of wrongful death. Reports of adverse side effects from Heparin reached an all time high of 150 reports in January 2009 alone, so Baxter, maker of Heparin, recently recalled specific types of this blood thinner.

Hemorrhages are also often a serious complication that can result from Heparin use and cause serious personal injury. Additionally thrombocytopenia has been reported to occur in Heparin patients and can lead to skin necrosis, gangrene, which can lead to extremity amputation, stroke, and even death. At this time, Heparin has been linked to at least four deaths.

Although countless patients have reported experiencing dangerous side effects associated with taking Heparin, the drug is still regularly administered because other blood thinners do not work as quickly as Heparin, nor can their administration be reversed as easily.

Continue reading " Heparin Dangerous Drug Linked to Severe Adverse Reactions, Caused 4 Deaths " »

Regardless of the hundreds of defective product lawsuits in Missouri and throughout the nation linking Prozac to suicidal and violent behavior, approximately 38 million people in over 100 countries take Prozac for a myriad of disorders and afflictions. While primarily prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic attacks, Prozac has even been approved to curve eating disorders.

Created by Eli Lilly and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987, it is the only antidepressant approved to treat certain disorders in children, such as major depression disorder (MDD) and OCD in kids. Prozac is also used for several “off-label” purposes, such as to treat alcoholism, sleep problems, attention deficit disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Because of the substantial range of illnesses Prozac is used to remedy, it is no wonder why critics often call it the most over-prescribed drug in the world. Now Prozac users are experiencing drug injury in Missouri and across the U.S.

How It Words and Side Effects
Prozac works by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin between neural connections in the brain, which leaves more serotonin available to transfer neural electrical messages more smoothly and effectively. Over-prescription, however, is not the only problem that has been associated with Prozac. The drug currently carries a black box warning regarding the risks and dangers of suicidal and violent behavior.

In 2001, a man reportedly committed suicide after taking Prozac for only 3 days. He eventually threw the pills away, but when his body was found 4 days later, high levels of fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, were found in his blood. The lawsuit, brought by the family, alleged that Eli Lilly knew that some people have a hard time metabolizing the drug, yet concealed the information in order not to hinder sales, which resulted in the wrongful death of their son.

Additionally, multiple Prozac users have claimed that the drug made them commit violent acts. In one example, the “Prozac” defense was used by an insurance agent, in 2000, who robbed a bank and was subsequently acquitted because he had been prescribed Prozac and Xanax.

Continue reading " Prozac Product Liability Lawsuits " »

A St. Louis man driving the wrong way on I-255 caused a head-on accident that killed three people, including a 9-year-old boy. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the driver was obviously drunk and had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. The driver has been charged with 14 criminal offenses, including reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence (dui) of alcohol and aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm.

Drunk driving charges have been filed according to a report on this Missouri drunk driving accident.

According to authorities, the driver in this case has an extensive record for driving under the influence and had previously served five years in jail for drunk driving. When this accident occurred, he was still serving court supervision and was driving with a revoked license.

Continue reading " Missouri Car Accident Kills 3 People " »

Bicyclists are gaining a significant presence on the road. With this presence, come increased risks of accidents with motor vehicles. In a recent New York personal injury lawsuit, a bicyclist filed suit against a truck driver for personal injuries after the truck driver collided into the bicyclist on the road.

In this case, evidence proved the truck driver was at fault for the bicycle accident. The truck turned left, failing to yield right-of-way to the bicyclist, who was prudently pedaling through a crosswalk with a walk signal in her favor. This accident caused two non-placed fractures near the bicyclist’s knee and also ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in that knee. X-rays along with other medical records and testimony from an orthopedic surgeon proved all of these severe injuries were directly caused by the accident. The jury found for the bicyclist. The Plaintiff was awarded $400,000 for the injuries, including medical bills, pain and suffering.

When a bicyclist is injured in a motor vehicle collision, the injured biker will typically seek to recover from the driver of the vehicle, as in the case above. However, under some circumstances, a biker can also seek damages from other persons who are legally responsible for the driver’s operation of the vehicle, such as a truck driver’s employer. Additionally, governmental entities can also be held liable in a bicycle accident lawsuit in St. Louis where maintenance of a road, or premises, is inadequate and unsafe, and manufacturers can be held liable in the case of a defective bike part.

Continue reading " Missouri Bicycle Accident Attorney " »

A St. Louis County tractor trailer crash injured five high school students and their bus driver. The accident occurred on eastbound Interstate 70 near Bermuda Road. According to St. Louis Post Dispatch reports, the bus carrying 12 students slowed down because of a car accident on the road ahead when the bus was hit from behind by a tractor trailer.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the tractor trailer driver was allegedly not paying attention to the road or the car crash ahead and rear-ended the bus. The bus driver and five injured Parkway West High School students were taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the bus accident in Missouri.

Over the past twenty years, the number of tractor trailer accidents nationwide has increased almost annually according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports. Reflecting the same statistics is the rise in tractor trailer accident injuries and deaths. In 2007 alone over 4,000 people were killed in tractor trailer crashes; most of these accident victims were in passenger vehicles.

If you or a loved one is involved in a tractor trailer accident you owe it to yourself to contact an experienced tractor trailer crash lawyer in Missouri to represent you. As founding partner of Page//Cagle, a St. Louis, MO Personal Injury Law Firm, I aggressively represent clients injured in tractor trailer crashes, as well as the families of those killed in big rig accidents. Call me for a free consultation at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.truckaccidentlawgroup.com for more information.

New information indicates that Chantix (Varenciline Tartrate), a chemical anti-smoking drug, has been linked to possible psychological side effects that could greatly increase the risk of suicide, suicidal ideation and aggressive behavior. Several reports have been made documenting users’ infliction of serious injury to themselves or committing suicide while taking the dangerous drug Chantix.

Chantix has raise so much concern for its product liability that a Public Health Advisory has been published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) educating health care professionals, patients, and care givers about the serious side effects associated with the drug. Additionally, in February of 2008, the FDA requested that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Chantix, update its warning label to include information about potential psychiatric side effects, such as possible changes in behavior and mood, along with information regarding suicide and suicide attempts.

Chantix was approved by the FDA in May of 2006 as a smoking cessation drug. The medication provides some nicotine effects to ease smoking withdrawal symptoms by acting in the areas of the brain affected by nicotine; however, not all of the effects have been positive.

The FDA website notes that, “[I]t has become increasingly likely that the severe changes in mood and behavior may be related to Chantix.” The FDA News also stated, “[I]t appears increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms.”

In addition to the public health advisory, the FDA has documented 491 cases where users reported suicidal thinking or suicidal behavior, 420 of which are from the United States. Of the reported cases, 39 were suicides, 34 of which were from the United States.

If you, a family member, or a friend committed suicide, suffered serious self-inflicted injury, or experienced suicidal thoughts as a result of taking Chantix, contact a medical professional immediately. Then contact the skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyers at Page Cagle for a free consultation.

An injured driver recently filed a tractor trailer injury lawsuit against a big rig driver and the driver’s employer. The plaintiff was allegedly driving west on Interstate 44 in Franklin County, MO when a tractor trailer driver traveling in the same direction lost control of his vehicle. The big rig allegedly collided into the plaintiff’s vehicle, forcing it into a bridge wall.

The plaintiff sustained several severe injuries in this large truck crash in Missouri, ranging from his neck to his back and legs. Allegedly, medical treatment for these injuries cost over $26,000. The injury lawsuit also alleges the plaintiff lost his ability to enjoy and pursue regular daily activities.

The plaintiff claims the tractor trailer driver was negligent because he was speeding, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to keep his vehicle under control and drove with inadequate brakes. The plaintiff also filed suit against the tractor trailer driver’s employer because the driver was working for M & D Freight, Inc. at the time of this Missouri tractor trailer crash; therefore the employer could be held liable for negligence through its employee.

Continue reading " Franklin County Tractor Trailer Crash Results in Lawsuit " »

An Achilles tendon rupture is an extremely painful injury that happens when the Achilles tendon is torn from its positioning at the calf to the heel bone. Achilles tendon ruptures often require surgery, in addition to physical therapy and other ongoing rehabilitation efforts to regain normal ankle use.

Although Achilles tendon ruptures are not typically common injuries, a disturbing number of these tendon ruptures have occurred in conjunction with taking certain antibiotics, like Cipro and Levaquin. Cipro and Levaquin are both commonly prescribed antibiotics that are associated with increased risks in tendon injury and rupture. Of the reported tendon ruptures associated with dangerous drugs Levaquin and Cipro, 60 percent were attributed to using Levaquin and the most common tendon rupture was the Achilles tendon. An experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer will be able to help you with your Cipro or Levaquin lawsuit.

The manufacturers of these drugs failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks of tendon damage and injury, which has led to several personal injury lawsuits. The FDA now requires warnings about antibiotics that cause tendonitis and other severe forms of tendon injury, but these warnings are too late for some patients.

Continue reading " Defective Drugs, Cipro & Levaquin, Causing Achilles Tendon Rupture " »

A St. Louis woman died after her truck was hit by an Amtrak train as she tried to cross railroad tracks. According to this news report, the woman was on her way to conduct soil tests at a pipeline construction site when she was hit by an eastbound Amtrak train in Hartford. She was pregnant at the time of the train accident. No one in the train was injured.

The crossing where this auto accident occurred is marked but has no lights or gates, according to the news report. Some say it is tough to see approaching trains at the crossing because of vegetation, but Hartford police say they haven't had a train accident at that crossing in 25 years. The fatal accident is still under investigation.

If an accident occurs when a worker is on-the-job or on the way to his or her job then he or she would be entitled to workers compensation benefits. In cases where the accident is fatal, the victim's family would be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Missouri workers compensation laws and procedures can be confusing and complicated. But a knowledgeable and top workers compensation attorney in Missouri can advise you about your rights and how to go about getting the compensation you rightfully deserve.

In auto accident cases that involve other parties or other vehicles, a skilled Missouri personal injury attorney will be able to look at all aspects and scenarios to determine who should be held accountable for the accident and injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri auto accident, please call Page & Cagle to find out about your legal rights and options. We offer free consultations and case evaluations.

A car accident victim recently appealed a judgment after she was not awarded damages for pain and suffering from two car accidents, although economic damages were awarded for medical bills. Medical records established the girl suffered head, neck, back and jaw injuries in two automobile accidents that were within the same year; thus, the Plaintiff alleges that the refusal to award damages for pain and suffering was not supported by the evidence.

The facts are as follows: Plaintiff’s car allegedly collided with Defendant 1’s car when Defendant 1 pulled out from a parking lot without looking. Plaintiff’s head whipped back and forth and hit the headrest. The next day, Plaintiff sought medical treatment for head, neck and back pain. Plaintiff saw a chiropractor and her primary care physician, and both diagnosed her with myofascial pain syndrome resulting from the car accident.

Seven months after the accident with Defendant 1, Plaintiff was a passenger in a stopped car that was rear-ended by Defendant 2. In this accident, Plaintiff’s neck was jolted back and forth, and the next day her head, neck and back pain increased. She sought medical treatment and noticed that her jaw was also in constant pain after the accident. She sought constant care for her injuries through dentists, doctors and physical therapists, to name a few.

Because of the increasing pain and complications arising with the injuries Plaintiff suffered through the car accidents, she sued Defendant 1 and Defendant 2 for said injuries. Plaintiff alleges that she suffers regularly from debilitating headaches and pains that impact her daily life choices as well as career choices and participation in social activities.

Plaintiff produced medical testimony at trial and the only medical matter disputed was the diagnosis of pain. Some doctors testified Plaintiff suffered from temporomandibular joint disorder (extreme jaw pain) and others diagnosed her with myofascial pain syndrome that occurs from soft tissue damage. Neither of the Defendants presented material to dispute the whether the accident caused Plaintiff’s injuries.

Continue reading " Car Accident Victim Awarded Medical Compensation " »

Death by lung cancer or suicide? Seems like a lofty subject and daunting outcome in either case, but for users of dangerous drug Chantix, who hoped to quit smoking, these two depressing choices could be the options they face. Chantix, a drug that has been prescribed to many seeking help in quitting smoking, has been shown to not only decrease nicotine addiction, but also to increase suicidal thoughts- a gamble most patients were not aware of before taking the drug.

After reports of Chantix causing suicide were released, several lawsuits ensued against Pfizer, maker of Chantix, because several patients killed themselves while using the drug. The widow of a man who killed himself while taking the drug brought the first of these lawsuits in July 2008 and several others have followed in taking the same action. An experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer will be able to help determine if you have a Chantix case.

The makers of prescription medications have a duty to make sure all of their products are reasonably safe for the intended use by consumers. Although all product liability issues are taken seriously, prescription medications present a stronger issue than other products. Most patients taking such drugs are under a doctor’s orders and the patient’s generally feel the drugs are safe.

The FDA required Chantix warn consumer of these psychological side effects in 2008, but for many patients it was already too late. If you are a loved one has been affected by the drug Chantix, call the skilled Missouri personal injury attorneys at PageCagle for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit www.injuredclient.com for more information.

A recent Missouri car crash killed four and critically injured two. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, the Des Peres accident was caused by an off-duty Sunset Hills police officer, who was allegedly drunk. Police are considering filing manslaughter charges against the police officer, whose negligent actions killed four female college students. Civil cases have not yet been filed.

Although the Missouri State Highway Patrol will not definitively comment on whether or not the officer was drunk, they have confirmed that there are strong suspicions she was drunk at the time of the auto accident in Missouri. The 41-year-old police officer, from Kirkwood, is still in critical condition. Additionally, the police officer’s son is currently facing manslaughter charges because he drove while drunk and killed a passenger in his vehicle last year.

In this case, the police officer was driving her Mitsubishi Eclipse at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday when she crashed into a vehicle carrying five people. The police officer was driving the wrong way on the road when she crashed into the other vehicle, carrying graduate students from Eastern Illinois University. Those killed in the accident were all females under the age of 25, and the one survivor in the vehicle, a 27-year-old female, is listed in serious condition at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.

Continue reading " Missouri Car Crash Kills Four, Injures Two " »

With the recent “black box” warning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has applied to Levaquin and Cipro, it is important for those who are taking, or have taken the medications know the signs and symptoms of a possible medical problem. Although it is an FDA term, the “black box” warning is the strongest warning the FDA can give a drug short of an all out recall due to issues of product liability.

More than half (approximately 60%) of the tendon ruptures that were reported to the FDA were caused by the use of Levaquin. Additionally, although both medications have been linked to tendon ruptures in the rotary cuff, biceps, hands and thumbs, the Achilles tendon, the tendon that attaches the calf to the heel bone, has been the most prominent tendon to rupture.

An Achilles tendon rupture is an extremely painful injury that often requires extensive surgery to repair. In addition to undergoing the knife, months of rehabilitation and therapy are often both necessary in order to return to a point where the ankle is functional. It is also not uncommon for an individual who has ruptured an Achilles tendon to experience ongoing pain and tendon problems, even after undergoing surgery to mend the rupture.

Continue reading " Levaquin and Cipro: Signs and Symptoms of a Problem " »

Two people were injured in a rollover accident in Missouri on southbound Highway 63. According to this news report, one auto rear-ended another car. Authorities suspect one of the drivers was drunk at the time of this auto accident. So far they have not arrested the suspect or issued any summons. One of the cars went off the road and rolled over, while another hit a fence, the news report states. The Missouri car accident is still under investigation.

If you or someone you love has been struck and injured by a drunk driver in Missouri, then you are the victim of someone else's negligence. It is crucial that you know and understand your rights so that you and your skilled St. Louis DUI victim lawyer can effective pursue claims for injuries and damages resulting from the DUI auto accident. In the state of Missouri, it is illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

The first action you need to take if you have been injured because of a drunk driving accident is to immediately seek medical treatment. Once you receive the medical care and attention you need, please contact a Missouri DUI victim attorney as soon as possible. A skilled St. Louis personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and determine which claims you may be able to pursue. Please call me, John Page, today to schedule your free consultation. It won't cost you anything. We don't charge any fees unless you get compensated for the personal injuries you suffered.

FDA’s Recent Actions…Black Box Warnings on Levaquin and Cipro: Antibiotics that Cause Tendon Damage and Rupture

On July 8, 2008 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new warnings for Cipro, Levaquin, and other quinolone antibiotics, concerning the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon ruptures affiliated with the use of these drugs. The product liability evidence now shows that side effects of Levaquin and Cipro have and can leave patients incapacitated and requiring major surgery.

Levaquin and Cipro are drugs prescribed by doctors to treat serious bacterial infections. Both medications fall into a group of drugs known as quinolones that fight infections by targeting the infected area and eliminating or limiting the amount of bacteria present. By doing so the drugs assists the body in fighting off the infection. Levaquin is a third generation quinolone, which means that its antibacterial spectrum is wider than that of Cipro, yet both have been linked to tendon damage and ruptures in users with injuries particularly focusing on the Achilles tendon, the biceps, the rotator cuff (shoulder), as well as the hand and thumb.

Continue reading " FDA Issues Black Box Warnings on Levaquin and Cipro " »

In a recent move, the Missouri Senate voted to permit motorcyclists the option of riding a bike without using a helmet. According to a report in the News-Leader.com (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090313/BREAKING01/90313005/-1/rss), a Missouri motorcycle rider can now go without a helmet, provided they are not on an interstate highway and they are at least 21 years or older.

The new law reportedly reverses the previous decades old requirement of mandatory helmet use for all motorcyclists. Apparently, the effort to repeal the old law was in place for some time with lawmakers opposing it on the grounds of violation of civil liberties.

A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report on Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness states an increase in the efficiency of helmets as potentially saving an estimated 11,915 lives over the period 1982 through 2002. However, the study finds that the declining rate of helmet use among motorcyclists has contributed to rising numbers of rider fatalities from motorcycle accidents in Missouri and throughout the nation, despite the improved life saving qualities of helmets.

Continue reading " Missouri Compulsory Motorcycle Helmet Law Ended By Senate " »

A car accident lawsuit attempts to place fault on a state trooper. Allegedly, the trooper’s careless driving practices seriously injured two Fayetteville, Illinois residents on I-64. The injury suit claims that the state trooper was negligent for failing to keep a lookout and for failing to keep his vehicle under control in addition to speeding.

Allegedly, the plaintiffs were traveling west on I-64 when the trooper in route to another collision, crossed the median and crashed into the plaintiffs’ car. The injury suit claims the trooper was driving 126 miles per hour seconds before causing the collision.

It was reported that both plaintiffs were transported to the hospital and treated for injuries. One of the injured victims sustained injuries to her leg, which required surgery, in addition to later experiencing complications in giving birth, as she was in the third trimester of pregnancy when the accident occurred.

Continue reading " Illinois Car Accident Seriously Injures Pregnant Woman " »

The antibiotics Levaquin (Generic: levofloxacin) and Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) have recently been under the governmental microscope because of the disturbing number of reported serious side effects now on file with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Specifically, Levaquin and Cipro have been linked to tendon damage and ruptures with injuries particularly focusing on the Achilles tendon, the biceps, the rotator cuff (shoulder), as well as the hand and thumb.

Levaquin and Cipro are drugs prescribed by doctors to treat serious bacterial infections. Both medications fall into a group of drugs known as quinolones that fight infections by targeting the infected area and eliminating or limiting the amount of bacteria present. By doing so the drugs assists the body in fighting off the infection. Levaquin is a third generation quinolone, which means that its antibacterial spectrum is wider than that of Cipro, yet both have been linked to harming users and are in question of product liability.

If you are currently taking, or have taken, one of these drugs and experience pain, swelling, or the inflammation of a tendon or tendon rupture, immediately discontinue use of the medication and contact your health care professional right away. Then call the skilled St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Page Cagle for a free consultation.

Two Granite City residents were both killed when a suspected drunk driver rear ended their car forcing it onto oncoming traffic in a recent drunk driving accident in Illinois on Route 111 near Pontoon Beach, according to a report from the St. Louis Dispatch. Another individual of Granite City was driving southbound on the two-lane highway when he struck the rear of the vehicle the two decedents were driving, officials said.

The impact of the collision pushed the auto transporting the two individuals into the path of a third vehicle. They died at the scene of the Illinois car accident, while four occupants of the third car were taken to an area hospital for treatment. The man who caused the accident was speeding at the time and has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Tragically, the woman killed in the accident was nearly five months pregnant.

An August 2008 report issued by the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis estimates that of the 1,325 total fatalities in Missouri vehicle traffic crashes that occurred in 2007, 315 or 23.8 percent involved alcohol impaired drivers. In the United States, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). These deaths constitute 31.7 percent of the 41,059 total traffic fatalities in 2007.

Continue reading " Madison County Multi-Vehicle Auto Accident Caused by Suspected DUI Driver " »

Recent analysis of a 2002 study conducted by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) has revealed that short term exposure to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications are in fact linked to the development of breast cancer. In addition to the researchers previous findings, concluding that long-term exposure to HRT medications can and do have severe adverse effects, the new analysis is the first to warn of the dangers of short term exposure.

Although the original study was published in 2002, its findings and subsequent analysis still send shock waves through the medical community because despite the manufacturer’s original claims that long-term HRT use could actually provide cardiovascular benefits to women suffering from the side effects of menopause, women who use the drugs have become disproportionately ill when compared to non-users.

The study discovered so many dangerous side effects, in fact, that the research was actually terminated at least two years prior to the expected conclusion date because of concern for the health and safety of the women who were participating. The risks and exposure to personal injury simply outweighed the benefits.

Prempro is a popular HRT introduced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in 1996. The medication was originally dispensed to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats. The major problem is that upon the drug's introduction to the market, there had not been any large clinical trials to scientifically test and research its long term affects. The aforementioned study was the first to document that Prempro, and similar hormone related drugs, dramatically increased the risk of stroke, blood clots, heart attack and breast cancer.

Continue reading " Prempro, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer " »