Field Fires a Common Cause of Accidents in Rural Missouri
A multi-vehicle accident that occurred in southeastern Missouri over the Labor Day weekend was caused by lack of visibility due to smoke coming from a field fire, according to SEMissourian.com. The accident involved 18 vehicles and 28 individuals were injured.
According to officials, field fires which result in Missouri vehicle accidents are not uncommon. One expert said events such as the one that occurred on Labor Day happen in Missouri every few years. Typically, such an accident is caused when a farmer burns off a field for residue management. A fire will clear the land of residue from a prior crop, getting the land ready for a new crop.
Farmers who wish to burn their fields are required in some areas to obtain permits. In addition, farmers should burn fields in strips, only burning one strip at a time. Besides farmers being prudent about fires, motorists also need to be aware of dangers that can occur when driving through smoke. Obviously, if smoke is so thick a driver can’t see through it, the driver should stop. However, many Missouri auto accidents have occurred because a driver has stopped in the middle of the road due to visibility issues, and another driver rear-ends the stopped vehicle because it can’t be seen. It is important for drivers to safely pull as far off the road as possible until visibility has returned.
Accidents such as the one that occurred over the Labor Day weekend can so easily be avoided. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash due to someone else’s negligence, contact the dedicated Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law today at 314-322-8515.
