Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A little boy, aged 6, of Williamsburg, Missouri was hit by a school bus on his way home from school. Witnesses say that the young man was crossing in front of the bus after exiting. Tragically, he died Tuesday afternoon after sustaining catastrophic injuries. It is assumed that his small stature made him invisible to the driver as he crossed.

Children should never walk in front of a bus after exiting. By teaching your children some basic traffic safety rules, a disaster like this can be avoided.

LearningActivitiesForChildren.com offers some delightful suggestions for making road safety fun for children. They suggest beginning by teaching all children to hold the hand of their adult companion as they cross the street. Of course, so many children have an independent spirit and fiercely resent having to hold a hand. In this case, they recommend playing a pretending game with the child with toy cars and people. The characters in the game go for a walk, and each time they cross the street, they hold hands. As time goes on, the safety part of the game should become something your child mimics in real life. Eventually, traffic safety will be second nature to him.

The death of a child is a horrible tragedy. If you have lost a child or someone you love because of the careless actions of another, Page Law can help. Nothing can ever replace your lost loved one, but an experienced Missouri wrongful death attorney at Page Law will help you hold negligent parties responsible for their actions. Contact Page Law today for a free consultation at 314-322-8515.

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the U.S. Bariatric surgery in general has become so common that many individuals aren’t aware that there are some serious risks and side effects involved.

As with any surgical procedure, there are some very serious risks involved with gastric bypass surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some of the dangers of gastric bypass surgery include dehydration, gallstones, bleeding stomach ulcers, hernias, kidney stones, low blood sugar, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and not being able to tolerate certain foods any longer.

There are also some very rare, but serious side effects that are associated with the most common form of gastric bypass surgery. With gastric bypass surgery, as with any operation, there is always a risk of death. Another condition that can occur is blood clots in the legs, which can occur in overweight people. If those clots move to the lungs, death or damage to the lungs can result. Pneumonia can also result after the surgery.

A severe complication that could occur is leaking at one of the staple lines in the stomach, which could require emergency surgery. Gastric bypass surgery can also trigger an unpleasant syndrome called “dumping syndrome” which causes nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.

Bariatric surgery can have some serious complications and poor success rates. If you believe you have been the victim of gastric bypass surgery medical malpractice, contact the Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law, LLC by calling 314-241-2273. We will advise you of your legal rights and the best course of action for your specific case.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from Tiny Greens Organic Farm, located in Illinois, according to CNN. The sprouts have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella infections in several states. Most of the cases appear to have originated from sprouts eaten at Jimmy John’s restaurants.

The sprouts have been distributed to customers in Missouri, as well as some other Midwestern states. The FDA is recommending that anyone with the sprouts throw them away in a sealed container in order to prevent animals from eating them. The FDA is examining the problem in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since 1996, there have been at least 30 cases of foodborne illnesses associated with various types of sprouts, both raw and cooked. The majority of the illnesses were caused by either salmonella or E. coli. In fact, the threat from sprouts in general is so serious, the FDA recommends that children, the elderly, and pregnant women avoid eating raw sprouts.

Most people who contract the salmonella virus get diarrhea, cramps, and a fever. These symptoms typically last between four to seven days. Although most people get well on their own, some require hospitalization.

People who contract foodborne illnesses from improperly prepared or processed food can recover damages from the food manufacturer or restaurant. Have you been sickened by a foodborne illness that may have been due to someone else’s negligence? If so, contact the St. Louis injury lawyers at Page Law, LLC today at 314-241-2273 for a free consultation about your case.

The federal government receives thousands of complaints from the public every year about dangerous products on the market. For the first time in history, those complaints are going to be made public, according to The Washington Post.

Starting in March 2011, the complaints will be available online at www.saferproducts.gov, courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This program was passed into law in 2008, but has taken time to implement. Up until now, if consumers wanted to learn about safety complaints, they had to file requests with the CPSC.

Now, the complaints will be posted within 15 days after receipt. When a consumer files a complaint, the CPSC will notify the manufacturer within five days, who has 10 days to respond. The manufacturer’s response will be published with the complaint online.

The database will not include information about who complained, or any complaints about quality of the products – it will only include information about defects that could cause injury. The database will only include consumer products, which does not include food, drugs, or cars.

If you are considering purchasing a product, this database could be very helpful in alerting you to whether other consumers have experienced injuries while using it. However, some people in the business community are worried the database will contain fictitious complaints filed by competitors. Proponents of the database note that it will serve as an early warning system for consumers.

Have you been injured by a defective product? If so, you may have a case against the manufacturer. Contact the St. Louis defective product injury attorneys at Page Law, LLC for a free consultation by calling 314-241-2273.

Of all the breeds of dogs that bite, pit bulls seem to have the worst reputation. A sizable proportion of all reported dog bites that require medical treatment are caused by unneutered pit bulls. However, this fact does not necessarily indicate that pit bulls are the most vicious of breeds.

First, consider the size of a pit bull compared to most other breeds. The sheer size and power of these dogs means that when moved to attack, they are capable of causing serious damage to the human body. A Yorkshire terrier in the same blind rage simply cannot cause a comparable level of injury.

Further, for some owners, the appeal of the pit bull seems to be their rumored tendency for aggression. They are often used as guard dogs or fighting dogs. Dog fighting is animal abuse, and using a pit bull as a guard dog simply shows a lack of understanding for the breed. Pit bulls were bred to be companions for humans. Because they are large, well-muscled, and imposing, some people assume they are mean or aggressive, but like any other dog, pit bulls are social pack animals. They crave love and attention.

Leaving them out alone or chained wears away at their resolve and natural tendencies to show affection. Before too long, a companionable pet becomes a dangerous animal, and the fault can only be placed with the humans who performed such treatment or neglect, treatment that, arguably, caused the dog to be prone to attack.

This is why the responsibility for the attack rests with the dog owner. In Missouri, dog lawyers no longer have to establish previous aggressive behavior of the animal in question. The fact is, dogs bite when they feel scared or threatened. If the dog’s owner had the poor judgment to abuse the animal so badly that it is cowed and antisocial, and thus prone to biting, the fault is all theirs.

It’s important to remember that while most dogs seem harmless, they can still bite. If you or your child has been bitten by a dog in Missouri, contact a hard-working St. Louis dog bite lawyer at Page Law, LLC. We can help you determine whether the dog’s owner can be held liable for your injuries. Call us today at 314-322-8515 for a free consultation.

Drug manufacturers Johnson & Johnson announced on January 14 that they were recalling 43 million packages of Tylenol, Benadryl, Sudafed, and Sinutab because of prior manufacturing problems, according to The New York Times. In addition, four million packages of Rolaids were recalled because of incomplete labels.

According to the company, no health problems have been reported with the recalled drugs and claim that consumers can continue to use the products. The products were recalled because of manufacturing issues in the past, like improper equipment cleaning systems.

This recall is the latest in a string of recalls for Johnson & Johnson. About 225 million bottles of their over-the-counter drugs were recalled last year, as well as approximately 288 million drug product units, which include items such as bottles, vials, and other objects. Johnson & Johnson claims that these recalls have been planned since last summer in order to make its operations comply with federal law. As a result of the overhaul, the company closed a plant in Pennsylvania temporarily and has hired consultants to look at its quality control procedures.

Although Johnson & Johnson allege that no one has been affected as a result of its latest drug recall, plenty of consumers have been injured in prior years by defective drugs, such as Fen Phen, Chantix, Levequinn, Cipro and Ortho Evra. Consumers who are injured by unsafe over-the-counter or prescription drugs may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

If you have suffered serious side effects from an unsafe or recalled drug, you may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact a Missouri product liability attorney today at Page Law, LLC. Call 314-241-2273 for a free consultation about your case.

Personal injuries unexpectedly affect St. Louis residents in a variety of ways. Injuries can be sustained in a range of circumstances including mishaps at work and car accidents. Initially the primary concern for victims of a personal injury will be the physical health of the individual. When you are injured in any circumstance, it is important to seek the proper medical attention.

Stress often accompanies injuries inflicted upon you that are outside of your control. When injured in an accident you will often be forced to miss days of work and limit your physical activity. Stress can stem from the changes to our daily lives that were forced upon us by personal injuries. Even after physical recovery from such injuries, you may still feel further stress resulting from wanting to know how to recover from the additional affects of your personal injury.

A key factor in minimizing the stress associated with your personal injury is finding an experienced and comforting St. Louis personal injury attorney.

It is important that your attorney has experience dealing with personal injury cases. There are essential steps associated with building your case and recovering fully. You need to obtain detailed information and you need to understand the jurisdictional subtleties that accompany personal injury cases in St. Louis, MO. In addition to finding an experienced attorney, in order to minimize your stress, it will be helpful to find an attorney who will comfort you throughout this process.

Attorney’s workloads often get the best of them and a common complaint of attorneys in Missouri is the lack of attentiveness devoted to their clients. You want to find an attorney who is polite, quickly responds to any questions or concerns you have, and is able to empathize with you and your situation. An attorney with such experience and characteristics will help minimize the stress associated with your personal injury by providing assurance that your case will be dealt with timely and effectively. Moreover, the attorney’s knowledge and attentiveness will allow you relax during this process.

John Page is a St. Louis injury lawyer and a senior partner at Page Law, LLC. As a personal injury attorney, he handles St. Louis personal injury cases on a daily basis. John has been a lawyer for personal injury victims his entire career. In addition to handling his own personal injury caseload, John spends a great deal of time training personal injury lawyers at his firm. John can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 314.322.8515 or 800.500.4658. He can also be reached by emailing him at john@thepagefirm.com or by visiting him online at http://www.injuredclient.com.

Last Thursday, several people were injured when two cars collided on Interstate 70 near Kingshighway in Saint Louis. Traffic authorities are saying the weather is to blame. One of the drivers is thought to have slid on ice and collided with the median. For unclear reasons, the driver behind lost control and crashed into the already-damaged car. Multiple people were injured; though, thankfully, there were no critical injuries.

The weather last week was cold and hazy, and this week it has been treacherously icy. A Missouri auto accident like the one above can usually be avoided if drivers follow a few safety tips. According to AAA, it is important to make sure your tires are properly inflated, to keep your gas tank at least half full, and to never use cruise-control on slippery or dangerous roads.

Surprisingly, one of the most dangerous things to do on Missouri highways, or anywhere else, is to drive while fatigued. Being extremely tired behind the wheel of a car can be as dangerous as driving drunk. You are less aware of your surroundings and your reflexes are slower. Though this situation is dangerous any time of the year, winter driving conditions exacerbate the already dire situation.

If another driver’s fatigue has caused you or a loved one to endure an injury in an auto accident, you have certain legal rights. The experienced St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Page Law can help you understand your rights after an accident and will fight to protect your rights in court, as well as seeking the compensation you need to move on after a tragedy. Please don’t hesitate to call Page Law at 314-322-8515 for a free case evaluation.

Saturday night, MetroLink trains west of downtown were not running in St Louis. Metro riders were bussed between the Union Station and Grand MetroLink stops. The delay was caused when a St. Louis driver collided with the westbound train at South Ewing, west of Jefferson. Five people were seriously injured.

Some common injuries in a Missouri train accident like this are brain and spinal injuries. Some of the tell-tale symptoms of brain injury are scalp wounds, a stiff neck, nasal discharge, and loss of consciousness. Spinal injuries are no less dangerous. Some symptoms of a serious spinal injury are difficulty breathing, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and numbness in limbs or abdomen. If you have been injured recently, and you suspect a brain or spine injury, seek medical attention immediately.

When someone is injured on public transportation, the injuries incurred should be taken seriously. It’s a good thing that St Louis authorities are currently performing a detailed investigation, and surprisingly, it appears that the warning systems (guard arms, flashing lights, bells, etc.) were fully operational at the time of the crash.

An injury in a train crash can change your life and your family’s. If you or someone you love has been in a railroad or train accident in Missouri, you may have a personal injury claim and could be entitled to compensation for medical bills and financial and personal losses. Contact an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer at Page Law at (314) 322-8515 today for a free and comprehensive evaluation of your case.

There’s nothing better than curling up on a cold winter night in your well-heated home with a good book or to watch television, right? With unbearably cold temperatures in recent weeks, the people of Saint Louis are staying inside. Unfortunately, an unexpected danger could be lurking in the comfort of your home.

Recently, White-Rogers recalled almost 200,000 programmable thermostats. Due to short-sighted design, the model in question continuously charges its back-up power source: batteries. After hours of charging, the batteries heat to the point of leaking. The dripping, heated fluid can cause a very serious fire hazard. This fire hazard is a menacing threat when heating systems are constantly running such as this winter in Saint Louis. White-Rogers’ recall is in response to three separate incidents of property damage.

With such products, liability is the question. Is a product recall all that is indicated? This programmable thermostat was intended to keep the homes of Americans warm, but this tepid response to the damage caused is receiving a chilly response from the consuming public.

Product recalls are an embarrassment for a company and an inconvenience for consumers. Embarrassment and inconvenience, however, appear trifling next to the thought of losing everything or getting injured in a house fire. Millions of homes burn to the ground every year, and faulty, dangerous products are an unnecessary contributing factor. If you or someone you love has been injured or has died because of a faulty product, contact the St. Louis product liability attorneys at Page Law at 314-322-8515 for a free consultation on your case.

When analyzing a dog bite case in Missouri, it can be very important to first determine if the owner of the dog was the owner of the premises or just renting. This can be important in determining liability and what insurance would be available to assist in paying that pile of medical bills.

Fortunately for victims of dog bites, Missouri law has recently made a switch in making dog owners strictly liable to the victims. This means that they can be found personally liable for the violent actions of their dogs whether or not the dog has had a propensity for violence in the past or not. This is particularly true in instances where the attack occurred on property in which the dog owner personally owned.

Likewise, if the dog’s owner is renting the property where the dog bite occurred, it would seem to make sense that one would be able to hold the owner of the property liable for this attack as well. However, Missouri law has made it difficult to attribute liability to the true owner of the property if that person is simply renting it out to the dog owner. In order for the home owner to be held liable, the burden is on the victim to prove the home owner actually “harbored” the animal. This term seems ambiguous and is subject to debate, but for now courts have held it to mean actual control over the animal.

While it can be helpful to show that the dog owner had knowledge the dog was there, in most cases it just isn’t enough. Therefore, the focus of any victim of a dog bite should be on the actual owner of the dog, and if that person was a renter, it is crucial to immediately determine whether that person has renters insurance.

In most situations, if you are not personally familiar with the dog’s owner, it can be difficult to judge whether the person actually owned the home or was a renter. With the help of our investigators, the St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Page Law can help you make that determination and give valuable advice on how to pursue your case.

Childproofing a home can be an overwhelming job for new parents. The list of potential dangers can seem endless. However, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has compiled a helpful list of 12 safety devices it recommends using to make your home safe for children.

First, be sure to install safety latches or locks on cabinets and drawers that contain any medicines, cleaners, matches or lighters, knives, or other sharp objects. To help prevent children from coming into rooms that contain dangers, use door knob covers or door locks.

Water can be dangerous in several ways for children. First, use anti-scald devices for shower heads and faucets. If you have a pool or spa, completely surround the area with a tall fence with self-closing, self-latching gates.

In order to prevent injuries from falls, use corner and edge bumpers to prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges. Safety gates can prevent children from falling down the stairs, or can keep children from getting into rooms. To prevent falls from balconies, decks, or windows, use safety netting or window guards.

There are also many other hidden dangers for kids. It’s important to install carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning or fire injuries. Although many parents don’t think about it, window blinds can pose strangulation hazards. It’s important to use a tassel on each cord. Many parents also don’t consider the dangers of furniture or appliances tipping over onto children. To prevent this, anchor the products to the floor or attach them to the wall. Electrical outlets can also pose a risk of electrocution – be sure to use outlet covers or outlet plates.

Although childproofing may seem overwhelming in the beginning, with the right safety devices you can ensure your home is safe for your children. If your child has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, you may have a claim against the manufacturer or the retailer of the product. Contact the Missouri product liability attorneys at Page Law, LLC by calling 1-314-488-2433.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating some automobile accidents that occurred on New Year’s Day in southwest Missouri, according to memphisdemocrat.com. However, overall Missouri highway statistics were greatly improved from New Year’s Day 2010 to New Year’s Day 2011.

On the evening of New Year’s Eve through New Year’s Day 2010, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported four fatalities from traffic accidents. In addition, there were 319 crashes, 92 injuries and 113 arrests for drunk driving. During that same period in 2011, there was one fatality, 157 crashes, 70 injuries, and 90 arrests for drunk driving. The fatality that occurred this year was caused by a driver who hit a tractor trailer head-on, and both vehicles caught on fire. The driver of the tractor trailer wasn’t injured, but the other driver died at the scene of the collision.

The motor vehicle accidents the Missouri Highway Patrol are investigating occurred on New Year’s Day. In one of the accidents, a driver failed to yield at an intersection and collided with an oncoming car. No one was seriously hurt. In the second accident, a teenage driver ran off the right side of the road and struck a bridge railing. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Although New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are notoriously dangerous times to be on the road, accident statistics in Missouri for this time period seem to be improving. If you are involved in an accident on Missouri’s roadways due to another driver’s negligence, you may have a potential claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact the St. Louis injury accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC. Call us today at 1-314-488-2433 for a free consultation.

Ambassador Steel, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, recently won a Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award from the state’s Department of Labor. The award is given to businesses that meet strict state and federal guidelines for workplace safety.

Ambassador Steel, which makes steel rebar for buildings, has been working with the Division of Labor Standards for several years in pursuit of a SHARP award. Among other things, the company had to put together a health and safety management program for all its employees and their workspaces. Division of Labor safety specialists also performed on-site inspections at Ambassador Steel’s request, providing feedback about ways the company could further improve workplace safety. Any Missouri company with fewer than 250 employees is eligible for consultation with safety professionals via the SHARP program.

The SHARP award comes with special privileges for employers. Companies that win the SHARP award pay lower workers’ compensation premiums, and they are exempt from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections for a limited period of time following the awards grant. Thirty-six other Missouri workplaces have also won SHARP awards in the past. The Department of Labor describes the award-winning businesses as “the best of the best” at maintaining safe workplaces.

Workplace accidents can cause serious injuries. If you need help navigating the maze of workers’ compensation or seeking compensation from another source, the experienced Missouri workplace injury lawyers at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a consultation. The consultation is free, and anything you tell us remains confidential.