Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is meant to raise awareness of the problem of dog bites and possible solutions. A Bangor Daily News article reports that the United States Postal Service is helping to promote the event, hoping to prevent the thousands of dog bites that affect its employees each year.

Over 2,800 postal employees in the United States reported being bitten in 2009. In addition, according to a veterinary organization, over 333,000 people are admitted to the E.R. each year for dog-related injuries. Almost one-half of the victims are under twelve years old. People with dog-related injuries that end up in the E.R. cost over one hundred and two million dollars per year.

Letter carriers are allowed to limit delivery to a home and force people to pick up mail at the post office if they fear for their security because of a dog. Additionally, a postmaster can choose to cut back mail delivery to neighborhoods where dogs are allowed to go free if letter carriers that deliver there feel threatened by the neighborhood’s dogs.

The post office recommends some steps for dog owners to take to stop their dogs from biting. Dogs should be kept inside and away from the front door when a letter carrier arrives. Children should not be allowed to accept mail from carriers in the presence of a dog. Dog owners should teach obedience training and give their dogs plenty of attention. Spaying or neutering dogs also helps prevent biting.

Dog bites in Missouri can be very serious. Pet owners can be held liable for medical expenses, as well as other costs if a dog attacks someone and causes serious injury. If you or someone you know has been injured by a dog, contact the St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Page Law today by calling 314-322-8515. We will work hard to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Each year in the United States, about 4.7 million people, or about 2% of the U.S. population, suffer a dog bite injury. Each person in the U.S. has a 1 in 50 chance each year of being bitten by a dog, usually by a dog belonging to a friend or family member in a place the person has visited before, such as the dog's home. In nearly two-thirds of cases, the dog bite is the dog's first outward display of aggressive behavior. Dogs that are nervous, scared, or feel threatened are more likely to bite than naturally aggressive dogs that possess these similar qualities of unease. This is why it is important for dog owners to be familiar with dog bite statistics in Missouri and on a national level.

One out of every six dog bites each year, or 800,000 bites, are serious enough to require medical attention. Nearly 368,000 people seek emergency room care each year for a dog bite – that's more than one thousand people a day, on average. Dog bites are the second most common reason children need to visit the emergency room.

While dog bites are not usually fatal, they did claim the lives of 304 people from 1979 to 1996. For every fatal dog bite treated by a physician, 230,000 bites occur that are never presented to a doctor for treatment.

Dog bites are also expensive. Dog bite claims cost U.S. insurance companies over $1 billion each year. The average insurance payment on a dog bite claim is $16,600, which may or may not cover all the necessary medical treatment, including treatment for mental or emotional trauma, and other expenses incurred by the dog bite.

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog in Missouri, you need to make sure your legal rights are protected. The experienced St. Louis dog bite injury attorneys at Page Law will review the details of your case and can advise you of all your legal options. They'll also stand by you and help you hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. Call Page Law today at 314-322-8515 today for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.

Recently, the FDA approved the sale of Chantix, a stop-smoking aid produced by Pfizer. Chantix is a medication that binds to some of the nicotine receptors in the brain, which reduces the body's craving for nicotine and helps people addicted to nicotine quit smoking. Although Chantix may help some smokers kick an unhealthy habit, it may cause disturbing, dangerous, or even life-threatening psychiatric symptoms in others.

According to Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, the drug may cause “agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or ... suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion.” These symptoms may begin when you start taking Chantix, or they may begin after you've been taking Chantix for several days or weeks. A few patients even experienced symptoms after they had finished taking Chantix.

If you experience any of these changes in your mood, thoughts, or behavior, Pfizer recommends you stop taking Chantix and consult your doctor immediately. If you already suffer from depression, Pfizer suggests that you avoid taking Chantix altogether, as Chantix is known to make depression worse in some patients. In addition, if you take Chantix and begin thinking or feeling like you're going to hurt yourself or someone else, contact a trusted adult who can supervise you until you reach a doctor, or call 911.

The side effects of Chantix can be life-threatening. If you or a loved one has suffered dangerous side effects from taking Chantix, please don't hesitate to call a Page Law injury attorney. We have access to the experts necessary to hold negligent parties responsible for the damaging effects of medication side effects. Call Page Law today at 314-322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation of your personal injury case.

Nissan Motor Company is planning to issue a recall of several models of its 2010 trucks and sport utility vehicles, according to a recent article from Missouri news outlet KMOV. The recall is due to a suspension part malfunction that results in rough, noisy travel and might cause an accident.

The recall, which is expected to begin in mid to late May, covers 48,700 trucks and SUVs produced in the United States. Vehicles expected to be covered by the recall include Nissan's 2010 model year Armada, Frontier, Titan, Pathfinder, Xterra, and Infinit QX56. Nissan is currently working out the details of the proposed recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In many of these vehicles, the lower suspension control link may have been welded improperly. The improper weld may cause the bushing collar in the suspension to crack, resulting in excessive noise and a jolting, bumpy ride. No vehicle accidents in St. Louis or throughout the United States have been reported relating to the improperly welded link or to cracked bushing collars in Nissan vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues vehicle recalls when a part of a vehicle is found not to meet NHTSA quality standards, or when a defect makes the vehicle dangerous to operate. Although federal law gives NHTSA the power to require recalls of defective or dangerous vehicles, manufacturers may also choose to issue a recall voluntarily if a vehicle does not meet the manufacturer's or NHTSA's standards.

The Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law monitor vehicle recalls, especially those that are linked to St. Louis auto accidents. If you believe that you've been injured by a defect in your vehicle, please do not hesitate to contact Page Law today at 314-322-8515. Our skilled Missouri accident attorneys will examine the circumstances of your accident and advise you accordingly. Call today for a free and confidential consultation.

The U.S. Postal Service has announced its dog bite prevention campaign, according to a recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The event, which takes place every year, coincides with National Dog Bite Prevention Week. It is designed to raise awareness about the large number of dog bites suffered by postal workers each year. In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service notes that 2,863 letter carriers were bitten by dogs.

Most owners say their dogs are friendly and will not bite; however, the types of dogs that bite do not just include the more commonly recognized aggressive breeds. According to the Postal Service, this may be true for family members, but the situation is different for a postal worker, who is a stranger. Even friendly dogs act instinctually to protect their territory and may bite a stranger if they believe that person is threatening the dog's home or family.

To prevent dogs from biting letter carriers, the Postal Service recommends that owners move their dog to another room when the mail arrives. Keep the dog in a room that does not have access to the front door, the letter slot or mailbox, or any route the letter carrier must take to make a delivery. Also, if children are allowed to take the mail from the letter carrier, do not let the dog see them do it. The dog may interpret the transaction as a threat to the child and act accordingly.

About 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. each year. If you or a family member have suffered a dog bite, it's important to know your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses and other losses. The experienced dog bite attorneys in Missouri at Page Law can help. Call Page Law today at 314-322-8515 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Tragically, a motorcycle rider was killed April 29 in an accident in Jefferson County. According to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the 26-year-old man was driving too fast for road conditions around 9 p.m. on Highway 21, near Route A in Hillsboro. He lost control of his Honda motorcycle and hit the emergency vehicle crossover. He and his motorcycle then crossed over the median and into southbound lanes on Highway 21. He slid into oncoming traffic. Three vehicles attempted to avoid the motorcycle, but all three ended up striking the man and the Honda.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the victim dead at the scene. There were no other injuries as a result of the accident.

Motorcycle injuries in Missouri are often much more serious than injuries from automobile accidents. Approximately 80 percent of motorcycle crashes result in injuries or deaths, whereas only 20 percent of auto accidents result in injury or death. When a motorcycle falls, several common types of injuries can occur, including concussions and brain damage, joint injury, soft tissue damage, biker’s arm, and facial disfigurement.

Continue reading " Jefferson County Motorcycle Accident Kills Man " »

A Joplin woman who was attacked by pit bulls was rescued by a nearby electric crew, reports a Joplin Globe article. On April 13, the woman was walking her female Yorkshire terrier in her neighborhood. Two pit bulls escaped from their enclosure in her neighborhood and ran straight towards the terrier, attempting to bite her. The woman crouched to protect her dog and was attacked by one of the dogs. During the Missouri dog attack, she remembered seeing an Empire District Electric Company crew working nearby. She started screaming.

A lineman elevated in a bucket heard the screams and yelled the victim’s location to workers on the ground. The workers raced towards the victim. One of the workers stuck his hand, which was covered in work gloves, into the pit bull’s mouth to try to get it to let go of the woman. They finally removed the attacking dog from the woman and then secured both pit bulls. The terrier was unharmed. However, the pit bull broke the woman’s finger. Her finger required stitches. A bite on her arm also required stitches.

The crew involved in the rescue all received awards for their bravery. The pit bulls are under quarantine, and a judge will determine what happens to the dogs.

If you have been bitten by a dog in Missouri, it’s important to contact an experienced St. Louis dog bite injury attorney as quickly as possible. Many different factors are involved in determining whether the dog owner is legally liable for your injuries. If the owner is liable for your injuries, you may be able to recover for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Contact an experienced Missouri dog bite lawsuit attorney today at Page Law by calling 314-322-8515.

A tragic workplace accident happened May 12 in Kansas City, Kansas at the Fairfax Industrial District. Unfortunately, two workers there were sprayed with extremely hot asphalt. The men were unloading hot asphalt at an Owens Corning facility. According to a Kansas City Business Journal story, the men were unloading the asphalt from the top of a truck to a storage tank. The equipment apparently malfunctioned, causing both employees to be sprayed with the asphalt. The asphalt was reportedly between 350 and 480 degrees. The two men had to be rescued from the top of the truck. According to the fire chief, in general, hot asphalt keeps burning until it is removed.

The injured men were transported to the University of Kansas’s Burn Hospital, where they remain in critical condition. Owens Corning plans an investigation into the incident.

Workers who are injured on the job in Missouri are entitled to fair compensation. Most employers are required by law to provide worker’s compensation insurance for their employees. Injured workers are entitled to receive compensation for their medical expenses as well as lost wages for time off from work due to the injury. If they are permanently injured, they are entitled to receive additional compensation, depending on the type of injury.

St. Louis workers’ compensation cases can be complicated. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job in Missouri, you need a dedicated St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney to insure you receive all the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact Page Law today at 314-322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation. We will work hard to defend your rights.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week in the U.S. is May 16 to 22, according to this PRWeb press release. Organizations across the country will be calling attention to a serious problem – dog bites. Some experts estimate that half of all children will be bitten by a dog by age 12. The majority of these bites will be from the family dog or another dog familiar to the child.

One of the organizations promoting the week, Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent dog bites through education, is offering some tips to help keep children safe.

First, it’s important to teach your children some simple rules when they are around dogs. Children should not kiss or hug dogs around the face area. That is a common cause of St. Louis child dog bites. Instead, children who want to be affectionate with their pets should scratch the dog on the chest or side of the neck. In addition, if a strange dog approaches, children should “be a tree” and stand still. Doing this should bore the dog and encourage it to eventually wander away. Finally, children should not tease a dog, or disturb one that is eating, sleeping, or protecting puppies.

Some important steps parents can take with their own dogs are to supervise the dog carefully and to train the dog with positive reinforcement. Other dog owners should have their dogs spayed or neutered, which makes dogs less likely to be aggressive. Owners should also supervise their dogs, and condition them to be active in the world, which means providing lots of varied experiences and positive reinforcement.

If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog in Missouri, you need to protect your rights and understand potential legal options. Contact an experienced Missouri dog attack attorney at Page Law. Call us today at 314-322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation. We can help.

The Missouri Department of Transportation recently reported that that state experienced a dramatic drop in motorcycle deaths for 2009 with a 21.5 percent decline. On a national level, motorcycle fatalities have lowered by at least 10 percent as statewide efforts to raise motorcycle accident awareness and prevention has increased.

According to accident statistics, 85 individuals lost their lives in Missouri motorcycle collisions in 2009 with 99% of those who died in accidents involving a motorcycle being the motorcyclist. With ten percent of fatalities in Missouri for 2009 having involved a motorcycle, it is clear that safety issues must still be promoted to increase motorist awareness and accident prevention.

The MoDOT Director of Highway Safety has reminded all drivers that more motorcyclists will be taking to Missouri’s roads as the weather continues to get warmer in the upcoming months. To further support road safety and help motorcycle fatalities to continue with its decline, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is working with federal, state and local highway safety, law enforcement, and motorcycle organizations in recognizing May 2010 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Continue reading " Missouri Motorcycle Fatalities Significantly Decline " »

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently launched the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) program. The TACT program is an optional program for states to implement with the federal government’s guidance. The program is designed to increase safety on the roads by focusing on aggressive car and tractor-trailer drivers who make the roads less safe.

The Department of Transportation recommends that a state’s TACT program focus on “unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failing to signal lane changes, failing to yield the right of way, speeding, and aggressive driving (a combination of two or more of these behaviors).” The state should also identify and target driving behaviors that make its particular roadways unsafe.

The federal government makes grant funding available for states wishing to implement TACT programs, including funding for advertising campaigns to inform drivers about how to share the road safely and avoid a TACT ticket.

Aggressive driving jeopardizes the control of a large tractor-trailer and puts lives at risk. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving aggressive driving by a truck driver, please contact the experienced Missouri tractor-trailer accident attorneys at Page Law. Our attorneys will stand by you in the fight to hold aggressive and negligent drivers accountable for their actions and earn you the recovery you deserve. Call Page Law at (314) 322-8515 today for a free consultation.

New research indicates that Reglan, a drug commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disorder and diabetic gastroparesis, is being prescribed to patients who have migraine-associated nausea, reports OpposingViews.com. The report also indicated that the drug can be used during pregnancy. However, Reglan has also been closely linked to causing tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements of the face and extremities.

Other symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include lip smacking; grimacing; difficulty breathing, swallowing, walking or talking; twitching; and rapid eye blinking. These side effects are, unfortunately, irreversible, as there is no known cure to date. People who are at risk for Reglan-induced tardive dyskinesia are the elderly and women who have been taking the drug for extended periods of time.

On February 26, 2009, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement indicating that all drugs containing metoclopramide, including Reglan, were to place black box warnings on the packaging. Reglan and other metoclopramide drugs are also used to treat heartburn and symptoms of diabetes.

Sufferers of tardive dyskinesia find some daily tasks difficult due to the inability to complete control their extremities. Others are unable to continue work, especially if the job requires steady use of hands or legs.

If you suffer from tardive dyskinesia and have been taking Reglan, you may want to consult an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you. The St. Louis injury lawyers at Page Law have the skill and sensitivity required to handle your case and ensure that your rights are protected. Call 314-322-8515 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Due to the mass quantities of Toyota Motor Company recalls, congressional lawmakers said Tuesday, April 27, 2010 that they would drive new legislation to increase auto safety, reports Reuters. Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman and Chairman of the Senate Committee John Rockefeller are the two main advocates of new legislation. The first draft is expected before the next Toyota hearing on May 6.

The new provisions would strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), allotting for more resources and funding. Other policymakers feel that the bill should set uniform standards for vehicle electronic data recorders, authorize testing systems that ensure brakes will work over acceleration and increase fines for safety violations.

Still, fines are said to not have much effect, considering that Toyota had agreed to pay a $16.4 million fine but would not admit fault. Both Toyota and the NHTSA have been criticized heavily in their actions and reactions to the recall. Both Waxman and Rockefeller have hopes that this new legislation will prevent such wide-scale defects from occurring in the future.

Regardless, car manufacturers have a responsibility to consumers to ensure that their products are free of defects and are safe. If you have been involved in a Missouri car accident as a result of a Toyota brake pedal defect, you may want to consult an experienced St. Louis injury lawyer who can provide you with the legal guidance required to help you recover compensation for your losses. The experienced MO personal injury attorneys at Page Law can help. Call 314-322-8515 for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your case.

The Missouri House recently passed a bill that imposes misdemeanor crime charges against pet owners whose animals bite or attack people, reported the Kansas City Star. Owners could be penalized with up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine for a pet’s first offense and six months and a $500 fine for the second. The bill does not apply to cases where teasing, attempting abuse or other provocation took place.

Every year, dogs bite over 500,000 people, killing an average of twelve. The majority of MO dog bite victims are children under the age of ten. Even though many dogs do not show signs of aggression, every dog is capable of biting.

Legislation surrounding dog bites can often be difficult to understand. Some states impose a three-bite-rule while others do not. Other factors such as provocation, what county in which the bite occurred and use of “Bad Dog Behavior” warning signs may affect how a judge will rule. This new bill would add a new element to Missouri dog bite law.

If a dog has bitten you, or someone you love, clean the wound and consult a medical doctor to help in case of a rabies infection. You also may be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses, post traumatic stress disorder or any monetary loss. The dog bite St. Louis attorneys at Page Law have a wealth of experience in handling dog bite claims and will ensure that yours, or your child’s, constitutional rights are protected. Call today at 314-322-8515 for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your case.

An Empire Electric employee was awarded for his act of bravery in rescuing a woman and her dog from rampaging pit bulls on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Joplin, MO. According to the Power of 7, the man and a coworker had heard the woman screaming for help, and he immediately ran to her, discovering that a pit bull had been attacking both the woman and her dog. He then managed to wrestle the dogs away from the two victims.

For his bravery, Joplin Chief of Police awarded the man the Chief’s Achievement Coin, given only to those who show extraordinary acts of courage. Only the Chief of Police gives out these coins, and the Empire Electric employee is the first civilian to receive one. There is no further news as to the condition of the woman or her dog.

Unfortunately, dogs can bite at any time. Pit bulls have one of the highest bite rates when compared to other dogs. This may be due to a number of factors, including behavioral training, increased popularity in owning pit bulls and provocation. Every state and county is different in how it handles dog bites in terms of the legal rights of dog bite victims.

If a dog has bitten you, you may be entitled to recover compensation for any medical expenses or trauma. Filing a personal injury claim can be complicated. The experienced Mo dog injury lawyers at Page Law can help you file a claim and ensure that your rights are protected. Call 314-322-8515 today for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your case.

A recent article published on bnet.com reported that the suicide of a Catholic priest might be linked to his use of the antidepressants, Paxil. The priest had begun taking the drug because he was distraught over a child sex abuse scandal that occurred at his parish. The deceased’s sister has since sued GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturers of Paxil, over the death of her brother.

A federal judge ruled that the priest likely committed suicide because of the Paxil side effects and not from the stress of the church’s cover-up. In her complaint, the sister alleged that the drug maker had known of Paxil’s potential for akathisia - psychosis or violent self harm in which patients are unable to rest and believe they are hopeless - as early as 1990.

In addition to risk of akathisia, Paxil has also been known to cause severe birth defects in infants whose mothers had taken the drug during pregnancy. In 2005 the FDA advised medical professionals that Paxil is unsafe if taken during the first three months of pregnancy.

Continue reading " Paxil Increases Risk of Suicide and Birth Defects " »