Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

According to the National Institute of Health, if a person’s skin is broken by a dog or wild animal bite, that person should get a tetanus shot if he or she has not had a tetanus shot within the past five years.

Tetanus is an infection of the nervous system by a potentially deadly bacterium. The bacterium typically enters the body through a wound and symptoms usually begin to manifest 7 to 21 days after the time of infection. Tetanus usually begins with mild spasms in the jaw, also known as lockjaw. The spasms, in some cases, can also affect the muscles that control breathing. Other symptoms of tetanus include drooling, fever and sweating, hand or foot spasms, difficulty swallowing, and incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder or bowels.

Unfortunately, without treatment, one in four of those infected with tetanus will die. If the wound that caused the tetanus is on the head or the face, it is generally more dangerous than wounds on other parts of the body. However, with proper treatment, less than 10 percent of infected patients die. Treatment can include antibiotics, bed rest, muscle relaxers, surgery, sedatives and other medicines. Sometimes, breathing support is also needed.

If you have been bitten by a dog or other wild animal, and you have not had a tetanus shot in the last five years, you should see a doctor immediately. If you are bitten by a dog, you also have legal rights against that dog’s owner. Contact the Missouri dog bite attorneys at Page Law to learn more about your rights against the owner of a dangerous dog. Call today at 314-322-8515 to learn more.

A new government-funded study shows that drug tests of airline employees are three times more likely to come back positive after a crash than when testing is done at random times, according to Reuters. The study proves that drug violations by employees are connected with the risk of aviation accidents.

The study examined almost 5,000 drug tests taken by employees after accidents from 1995 to 2005. Those results were compared to more than a million random drug tests. After an aviation accident, about 18 out of 1,000 employees tested positive, whereas random testing found only six out of every 1,000 tested positive.

The good news is that results show that drug use among the flight crew is very rare. Only five out of every 10,000 random tests turned up positive. After accidents, less than five tests out of every 1,000 were positive for illegal drug use. The study concluded that one out of every 100 aviation accidents may be attributable to illegal drugs.

The study’s author believes that the very low rates of drug use in the airline industry are partially attributable to the random drug testing programs of the airlines. The authors of the study noted that some illegal drugs can be detected days or weeks after use, so just because an employee tested positive doesn’t mean the drugs were taken on the day of the accident.

Airlines and private pilots have a responsibility to keep their passengers safe. If airline personnel use illegal drugs, airlines can be held responsible for any injuries or damages caused by those actions. If you have been injured in a plane crash in Missouri, contact Missouri aviation accident attorney John Page at Page Law. Call today at 314-322-8515 to learn more.

On March 7, the manufacturer of Skippy peanut butter announced a recall of some of its products, according to Time. The recall came about after a sampling of products showed the peanut butter could possibly be contaminated with salmonella. The recall affects only Skippy reduced fat brands. No illnesses associated with the recalled peanut butter have been reported.

The peanut butter was distributed to retail outlets in 17 states, including Missouri. Consumers who have purchased peanut butter products with certain UPCs should throw out the peanut butter immediately. You can contact the company in order to get a coupon for a free replacement jar.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours of being infected. These symptoms can last four to seven days. Fortunately, most healthy people can recover without treatment. Rarely; mainly in cases involving small children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems; salmonella can be serious or fatal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year about one out of every six Americans, or 48 million people, get sick from foodborne illnesses. Of those, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. About 11 percent of those illnesses are caused by salmonella, which is what was found in the peanut butter.

Food manufacturers have a responsibility to keep the food you eat safe from foodborne illnesses. If you have contracted a foodborne illness due to the unsanitary conditions of someone in the food industry, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Call the St. Louis foodborne illness attorneys at Page Law today at 314-322-8515 to learn more.

Over the weekend, two Ellington, Missouri residents are lucky to have escaped with their lives after a one-car crash. One-car crashes are fairly common and usually result in less serious injuries than those involving more vehicles. However, this weekend’s one-car crash was especially dangerous because the vehicle caught fire immediately after the collision.

A 36 year-old man was driving the vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, when he drove off the road and struck a tree. According to the crash report, he must have been unrestrained because he was thrown from the car. His female passenger was even less fortunate. She was restrained at impact and was trapped in the car as it caught fire and burned. Both were severely injured. The man was airlifted to St. John’s Hospital in Creve Coeur, and the passenger was rushed to Reynolds County Memorial in an ambulance.

Automobiles catch fire upon impact because of the flammable gasses in the engine. Any slight spark can cause a fire. If the battery ruptures or if the grinding metal produces sparks, the gas or fuel lines in the engine can catch fire very easily. Keep in mind that poorly maintained cars tend to catch fire more often than well maintained cars. Leaking gas lines or head gaskets, cracked engine blocks, and cracked radiators are all fire hazards.

Burn injuries after a car crash can turn a seemingly simple injury like a broken arm into a very serious, possibly life-threatening injury. A burn erodes the skin. Our skin protects our internal organs from dirt, debris, liquids, and infection. When an injury like a broken arm is covered in skin and opened by a burn, the injury is at a much greater risk of becoming infected. A blood infection, or septicemia, can be a fatal complication of a burn.

Medical professionals categorize the severity of burn injuries in degrees. A first degree burn affects only the outermost layer of the skin. A second degree burn damages two layers of the skin, and a third degree burn means there is damage to all the layers of the skin and to the tissue underneath. First and second degree burns are very painful, but third degree burns usually do not hurt because the nerves that sense pain have been destroyed.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car fire, contact the top personal injury attorneys at Page Law today. Not every injury claim needs a lawyer, but an experienced personal injury lawyer at Page Law will evaluate your claim with no cost or obligation. Call (314)241-2273 today.

In the United States, approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. About one in five of those injuries require medical attention. Among children, those ages 5 to 9 have the highest rate of dog-bite related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of those bites are from the family dog. However, there are ways to keep your children safe around your dog and prevent Missouri dog bite injuries from occurring.

It helps to keep your children in mind before choosing a dog for your family. If your child seems scared of dogs, it’s probably not the time to get a dog. In addition, extra care should be taken before you bring a dog into a household with infants and toddlers. Once you feel your family is ready for a dog, consult with the family veterinarian or a breeder to see what might be the best breed of dog for your household. Before purchasing or adopting a dog, spend time with the animal. See if the dog is gentle with your children and if they feel comfortable around the dog.

After you have decided on a particular dog, have the animal spayed or neutered, which can reduce aggressiveness. Spend time training and socializing the dog. Teach the dog how to behave submissively. Don’t wrestle or play other aggressive games with your dog or the dog might think it’s acceptable to wrestle with young children.

Has your child been bitten by a dog that did not belong to you? By law, the dog’s owner could be held liable for any injuries suffered as a result of the bite. Contact the St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Page Law to learn more about your legal options. Call our law office today at 314-241-2273 for a free consultation.

Dogs bite almost five million people a year, most of whom are children under four. A study published by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System reports that when small children (ages 0-4 years) are attacked by dogs, the bite wounds are on the head or face 64.9% of the time. March is Save Your Vision Month, and dogs attacks on children account for a startling percentage of children’s eye injuries every year.

Eye injuries caused by dog bites are particularly dangerous. Any doctor will tell you that one of the primary concerns for a dog bite wound is infection. When the injury is to the eye, the risk of infection can cause blindness, disfigurement, or even death. Because of the delicate and spongy skin, dog bite injuries to the eyelid are very easily infected. Such wounds can require surgery, intravenous antibiotic treatment or even hyperbaric therapy in order for the tissue to fully heal.

Most of the time, the victim of the attack is familiar with the biting dog, sometimes it’s even the family pet. That is why it is crucially important to establish a positive child- pet relationship in your home if you have dogs and small children.

Here are some ways to keep your children safe from dog attacks:

1. Establish a “no fly zone” for your children around the dog’s sleeping and eating space. Most often, dogs bite because they feel threatened. Eating and sleeping are times when dogs consider themselves to be vulnerable.
2. Explain to your child the tell-tale signs of an aggressive dog’s body language (i.e. bared teeth, flattened ears, growling)
3. Teach your dog and your child command words like “stop” or “down,” and make sure your child knows when and how to use them.
4. Show your children how to protect themselves should a dog ever attack. (Roll into a ball and protect the face and head)
5. Never leave any child unsupervised with any dog, no matter how gentle, friendly, or old. Remember: any dog can bite at any time, and your child may provoke any dog without understanding the consequences of her actions.

If you or your child has been the victim of a dog bite, you have rights. Under Missouri law, dog owners are strictly liable for the injuries caused by their pet. Time limits for filing a claim exist, so contact the dog bite attorneys at Page Law today. Experienced dog bite attorneys can help you navigate the often confusing and complicated process of dog bite lawsuits. Call (314) 241-2273 today for a free consultation of your case.

St. Louis currently has issues with stray animals, according to STLToday.com. St. Louis closed its dog pound this summer and turned over animal sheltering and adoption services to nonprofits. However, reports are surfacing of roaming packs of dogs.

One official said that during a recession, shelters tend to take in more strays, as many owners abandon pets when they feel they can’t care for them. One shelter operated by a nonprofit has taken in nearly 2,000 animals since June, which represents a large increase. Another nonprofit reports a 75 percent increase in animals. Also, a task force on animal cruelty reports a 30 percent rise in the number of calls they are fielding.

Residents have been complaining that roaming packs of dogs are increasing, which has resulted in several serious Missouri dog bite attacks. Residents also complain that when they report stray animals to the city, they are asked to take care of them. The city is no longer picking up animals, which leads to more animals on the street. Residents are also having a hard time finding or reclaiming their pets, because there is no centralized system to track pets that are picked up by animal control.

To avoid a dog bite attack, if you are approached by a stray dog, be careful. Remain motionless until it leaves. Avoid eye contact. If you are bitten, contact your doctor. About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. each year, and about 20 percent of those require medical attention.

If you have been injured by a dog bite due to the negligence of its owner, contact St. Louis dog bite attorney John Page of Page Law today at 314-322-8515. You have legal rights against the dog’s owner. Call today for a free consultation.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, over 200 Missouri law enforcement agencies will be involved in a special crackdown on drunk driving on St. Patrick’s Day this year.

According to officials, St. Patrick’s Day presents a special problem that usually results in extra drunk drivers on the roads. Many celebrations last all day, and typically large amounts of alcohol are consumed at those celebrations. Last year, during the St. Patrick’s Day crackdown on drunk driving over a three day period, over 200 law enforcement agencies participated. They made 379 drunk driving arrests and issued 1,191 speeding tickets. They also made 66 felony arrests.

If you will be attending a St. Patrick’s Day party and will be consuming alcohol, make plans in advance so that you do not become a drunk-driving statistic. First, designate a driver or call a taxi for your ride home – a taxi ride can be much less expensive than receiving a DUI. If you are going to a party at a friend’s house, pack an overnight bag to stay over just in case.

At the party, try to alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages. Make sure to eat something while you are drinking – food can help curb the affects of alcohol. If there’s any question about whether you are capable of driving safely, don’t take the risk. Sadly, in Missouri in 2010, 234 people were killed and 957 were seriously injured in an accident that involved a drunk driver.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Missouri that involved a drunk driver, call the St. Louis car accident DUI victim attorneys at Page Law. You have legal rights against a drunk driver who caused you harm and may be able to receive compensation for your injuries and accident-related loses. Contact us for a free consultation at 314-322-8515.

Three people were seriously injured when a Missouri driver lost control of his SUV near Portageville in New Madrid County. Authorities say that the driver of the SUV slid across lanes to collide head-on with a pick-up truck. After the initial collision, the SUV rolled several times until it came to rest on its side in a roadside field.

There were two occupants in the SUV, and the driver of the truck was alone. All three people were seriously injured and rushed to area hospitals for emergency treatment. All three remain in critical condition.

According to a report published by CNN, SUVs cause more harm to the occupants of the vehicles than other kinds of automobiles. Even worse: the weight and size of SUVs can cause much worse damage to passenger or compact cars in a collision. Finally, because of the weight distribution of SUVs, they are much more prone to rollovers than other vehicles. A rollover accident has greater potential for serious injury because the potential direction of impact to the human body is from all directions. In short, SUVs are potentially extremely dangerous vehicles when negligently driven. They are simply capable of more damage when involved in a crash.

The two people in Tuesday morning’s car crash were severely injured when their SUV rolled, and the driver of the truck was the unlucky victim of their negligence behind the wheel.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact the experienced car accident lawyers at Page Law today. Not every crash needs an attorney’s attention, but the injury lawyers of Page Law can help you decide is you need professional legal help. Time limits to file your claim exist, so call today for a free consultation of your claim. Call Page Law today at (314)241-2273.

When dogs bite, they most often bite children under the age of four. The bite occurs due to the manner in which the child and the dog react to their environment. Very small children often have little to no understanding that their actions can cause others physical pain, and dogs do not make allowances for children’s behavior like humans do. A child who does not understand how to play nice with animals has invaded the dog’s safety zone. The animal feels threatened and will react instinctually.

Even beloved family pets can become a biting dog when they feel threatened. It is so important for dog owners to understand (and for parents to explain to their children) that dogs are not little four-legged people in fur coats. Dogs are animals with thoughts and motivations completely alien to human understanding.

In Missouri, dog bite lawyers need to show that the victim of the dog attack did not intentionally provoke the dog and that they were lawfully present on the property at the time of the attack. This is called a strict liability view. It means that as long as these two conditions are met, dog owners are fully liable for the actions of their pets. Missouri’s dog bite law is this way for two main reasons.

First, any dog can bite at anytime, and any breed of dog can bite anyone. In fact, Dachshunds are actually the breed responsible for biting people most often. Dog bite attorneys should not have to prove that the dog that attacked someone showed prior aggressive behavior. It used to be that the first person a dog bit was “free.” Now, one dog bite victim, especially if it’s a child, is enough to hold the owner responsible.

Second, biting behavior is mostly caused by poor training by the dog’s owner. For example, Pit Bulls were not bred to be guard dogs, but to interact (albeit fight) with other animals. If a Pit Bull owner leaves the dog alone and isolated, it never receives the socialization it needs to live safely with humans. Any aggressive behavior is then the owner’s fault, and it would still be the owners fault if the attacking dog in question was a Chihuahua.

When dogs bite, it can be confusing and traumatic. If you or your child has been the victim of a dog attack, you should have a talented dog bite attorney by your side in this difficult time. Contact the experienced St. Louis dog bite lawyers at Page Law today. A live person will be available 24 hours a day for a free consultation with no obligation. Call (314) 241-2273 today.

Four South County children were struck by a car this morning as they walked to school. According to a statement released by the school district, the kids were all students of the Bayless School District, and were, in fact, two pairs of brothers. The students range in age from grades 2 through 10.

At the time of the collision, all four boys were walking on the sidewalk, obeying all traffic signals, and almost at their school when a motorist lost control of his car, ramped onto the sidewalk, and struck all four boys. All it takes is one moment of lapsed attention to turn a daily walk to school into a day spent suffering in the hospital.

I’ve mentioned before that car “accidents” don’t exist. Distracted drivers make a conscious choice to answer a phone, to look out the window, to discipline their children. Their attention is not where is should be, and they lose control of their vehicle. People these days drive so much and so often that they forget what they are actually doing is operating a two-ton machine. With every decision, with every second at the wheel, they are holding their passengers’, the surrounding pedestrians,’ and their own life in their hands. Auto collisions are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States today.

The next time you’re cruising down the highway, changing the radio, and telling your kids to quiet down, remember that you’re balancing your life on four tires no wider than a sheet of paper. My high school driving instructor made that analogy, and remembering it has always helped me to be a cautious and vigilant driver.

A pedestrian accident like this morning’s is even more appalling when you consider that the motorist was likely on his morning commute. He has probably driven that road near the school campus hundreds of times and was perfectly aware that there were children around. Even in the surprise snow storm, his momentarily lapsed attention to the road (and those children) surely caused the collision, and four school boys were rushed to the nearest hospital with broken bones.

If you or your child has been the victim of a pedestrian accident in Missouri, contact the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC today. Every claim is different, and a talented car accident lawyer can inform you of your rights, your legal options, and your medical options. Call Page Law today for a free consultation of your claim at (314) 241-2273 today. A live person will be available to take your call 24 hours a day.

Drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson is recalling over 384,000 insulin-pump cartridges in the United States and in France, according to The Wall Street Journal. It was discovered that the cartridges leak as well as give too small of a dose. Johnson & Johnson has received 22 reports of adverse events related to the cartridges so far.

Although the pump has an alarm feature, most likely it didn’t alarm if there was an internal leak. The problem was discovered after Johnson & Johnson received calls about some pump units that seemed to be leaking insulin. Customers complained that the inside of the pump was wet and that they could smell the insulin. After an investigation, the company found that the problem was related to the plunger in the cartridges. According to the company, the cartridges were made by a company in Singapore, and they have set up new quality procedures and protocols since discovering the defect. Johnson & Johnson was able to isolate the problem to a shipment of six lots, and about 5,000 customers are affected. The company is shipping replacement cartridges immediately.

Recently, there has been a surge of Johnson & Johnson recalls. The recalls alone cost the company $900 million in sales last year. The recalls have included Sudafed, Tylenol, Benadryl, Sinutab, Rolaids, Mylanta, contact lenses, hip implants, and more.

Manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure that their products do not harm consumers. If a defect is discovered with one of their products, such as occurred here, the manufacturer can be held liable for any injuries and related losses that result from the defect. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective medical device or other product, contact the St. Louis product liability attorneys at Page Law. We will help you pursue a claim against a negligent manufacturer for your injuries. Call us today at 314-322-8515.

Missouri personal injury law firm Page Law is proud to announce signing with The Chad Carden Group (CCG) to execute “The Page Launch.” At Page Law, we strive to be better for our clients. With implementing a synergistic combination of planning and strategizing connected with our core business beliefs, we look forward to the exponential growth CCG will help bring to our firm. Attorney John Page, a senior partner at Page Law, states, “I have been following Chad Carden’s work for years and I am thoroughly impressed with the projects he has done with many Fortune 500 companies.”

“The Page Launch” is scheduled for March 18, 2011 and with CCG’s assistance, the execution phase of this monumental project is expected to be carried out for 12 months. At that point, CCG will step back from the firm little by little as we meet each goal that we’ve set. In reflecting on the endeavor, John Page states, “I have to admit, this is a game changer. Chad Carden has opened my eyes to what executing with precision really means. Page Law is an outstanding law firm right now, but we are about to take it up a notch with CCG.”

Page Law was recently honored as one of Missouri’s most Winningest law firms by the Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. In adding to this accomplishment, “The Page Launch” will bring the firm to a new level in which John Page further states, “Our firm’s results are outstanding and our client service is stellar. But to truly be a ‘world class’ operation, each and every employee of Page Law must execute with precision at every single level. We will be utilizing CCG’s experience working with much larger and complex corporations, in developing and implementing ‘The Page Launch’.”

Parents all over the United States are checking the model number on their child safety seats this week because a manufacturer of children’s products has just recalled 800,000 safety seats. Brands like Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st are manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group and are among the products affected.

The problem is the faulty design of the safety harness. The safety seats with a center-mounted locking mechanism have components that stick, preventing the lock from setting. Essentially, these sticky parts turn a child safety seat into a just booster seat. The parents who have been using them believed their children to be safe. They have have been unaware that their children were basically unrestrained in the vehicle.

Dorel Juvenile Group’s first response to the faulty product was to offer a “remedy kit” to the owners of the affected model numbers. The kit was a small amount of lubricant to be applied to the sticky parts of the lock mechanism. The purpose of the lubricant is to allow the lock to slide easily into place, securing the harness. What they seem to have failed to realize is that the lubricant will not suddenly become less slippery because a snapping mechanism has been engaged. This solution is no safer than the faulty seat in its original form.

Surely, the remedy kit was not a satisfactory solution because DJG has issued a recall. Hwoever, these remedy kits are still available. Even with their supposed aid, these safety seats are posing a very real danger to the children in our community.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a faulty product, like a DJG child safety seat, you may be entitled to recover a monetary settlement for your losses. Contact the product liabilities lawyers at Page Law, LLC today. Not every case needs a lawyer, but an experienced personal injuries attorney can help you make decisions in this difficult time. Call today for a completely free consultation of your case. Call 314-241-2273.

Dorel Juvenile Group is an umbrella corporation that manufactures and distributes several brand names of products for children. Some of their associated brands include Safety 1st, Cosco, and Maxi-Cosi. Their range of products includes playpens, strollers, bathtubs, and child safety seats. This latter product has made headlines in the last week.

Several hundred thousands of child safety seats have malfunctioned recently. The problem is a design flaw. The button meant to lock the over-the-shoulder harness sticks in its slot and thus does not always actually lock the harness in place. When this happens, the movement of the child in the safety seat loosens the straps of the harness until the child is not strapped in at all. An unrestrained child passenger is at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a car accident. Not only are these malfunctioning seats useless for their intended purpose, but they create a very real danger.

Companies like Dorel Juvenile Group have an obligation to take responsibility for their harmful products. They have issued a recall of nearly 800,000 safety seats. Brands like Saftey 1st, Cosco, and Maxi-Cosi have all been affected by the recall. Check here to see if your child safety seat is included in the recall.

It is important to understand, however, that DJG would not have issued the recall if some unfortunate child had not already been hurt because of their faulty product. If your child has been harmed by Dorel Juvenile Group’s negligence, you may have a claim to recover a monetary settlement for your pain and suffering. Contact a St. Louis product liability lawyer at Page Law today. You can always expect compassion and personal attention from the talented personal injuries lawyers of Page Law because they understand that nothing can ever fully replace the pain of your injured child. Contact a product liability attorney today at 314-241-2273 for a free consultation.

For the third time in less than two weeks, the St. Louis metro area has been the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident. The first occurred in Tower Grove Park. A woman in her 60s was walking her dog when she was struck by what the police believe was an inebriated man. He and the passenger of the car fled the scene only to be apprehended a few days later. The woman, critically injured, was rushed to the hospital and died from her injuries a few days later.

The same week, a woman walking alone in the Midtown area was struck and killed as she crossed the street. Her death was actually preceded by two other fatal pedestrian accidents this winter at the same intersection. Local residents are petitioning to have a crosswalk placed. This woman, too, was the victim of a hit and run.

This week, another St. Louis area pedestrian has died due the carelessness of our motorists. An elderly man was struck and killed Monday night as he crossed the street in Godfrey, IL. Fortunately, the driver who caused this accident stayed at the scene. Police say they suspect had no malicious motives, but simply careless driving.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of a Missouri driver’s carelessness, contact an experienced St. Louis pedestrian accident lawyer at Page Law today. Negligence can be hard to prove in a pedestrian accident claim, so enlist the help of an attorney who has experience and a strong record with pedestrian accidents. Call today for a free consultation. There is never an obligation. Call 314-241-2273.