Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A study of dog bite injuries nationwide found that the total costs of dog bites in the U.S. each year can be staggering. When averaged over all patients, the cost to treat a severe dog bite can be over $18,000, according to an Insurance Information Institute (III) study.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 337,529 dog bites requiring hospital treatment in 2009, a slight increase over 2008. Only about 16 bites a year are fatal, but of the rest, serious injuries and permanent scarring can result. The CDC estimates that over a million U.S. residents are bitten by dogs each year. Children between ages 5 and 14 are at the greatest risk, but a dog may bite a person of any age.

Dog bite claims are the most frequently-paid homeowners’ insurance claims, according to the III study. In 2010, insurers estimate that dog bite claims topped $479 million for medical bills, lost wages, and similar losses resulting from a dog bite injury. Missouri, like many states, also has a dog bite statute holding dog owners responsible when their dogs bite people in certain situations.

Dog bites rarely cause death, but they frequently cause painful injuries, many of which require hospital treatment. Fear, anxiety, and depression are also very real conditions that may understandably be caused by a dog attack, especially in children. If you or someone you love has been hurt by a dog bite, call the well-versed St. Louis County dog bite injury lawyers at Page Law today to learn more about your legal rights and options. Our number is (314) 322-8515, and your initial telephone consultation is free and confidential.

Watch this video to find out more about Missouri dog bite laws:

Missouri motorcycle accidents cause serious injuries and even death to thousands of people each year. Although most types of accidents are decreasing in number over the years, motorcycle accidents in Missouri stay steady or even rise, representing more people injured or killed on the road.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, motorcycle accidents result in about 100 deaths and 2,400 serious injuries each year. On average, one person is hurt in a motorcycle crash about every 4.1 hours in Missouri. Over 42 percent of these accidents are triggered by a motorcycle and another vehicle colliding while traveling on the road; often, a car crashes with a motorcycle merely because the car’s driver wasn’t looking or paying proper attention to the road.

Missouri motorcycle crashes are slightly more likely to happen in the city than in the country; in 2010, 50.7 percent of crashes were in urban areas and 49.3 percent were in rural areas. However, crashes in rural areas are slightly more likely to be fatal; 56.4 percent of all fatal 2010 motorcycle accidents were in rural areas.

Helmets also make a difference. In 2010, 27.7 percent of helmet-wearing motorcyclists who crashed suffered fatal injuries, but 37.7 percent of non-helmet-wearing motorcyclists who crashed were killed.

A dedicated St. Louis motorcycle accident attorney at Page Law can help you seek compensation after a motorcycle accident. We’ll help you find out what happened and build a strong case that holds any negligent parties responsible for their actions. For a free, confidential consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.

A study recently published in the Annals of Surgery followed 5,000 patients injured in severe accidents and found that those treated at Level I trauma centers had lower rates of disability one year later, according to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune.

The study, which followed patients in Victoria, Australia, focused on those who had suffered head, chest, or spinal cord injuries in a car accident or a fall. The study found that patients who were treated at Level I trauma centers, which must meet specific requirements for providing round-the-clock trauma care services, were 25 percent less likely to suffer death as a result of their injuries.

The study followed the patients for a year after their initial trauma center treatment for their injuries. One year later, researchers found that those who had received care from a Level I trauma center were 22 percent more likely to have an improved recovery, with fewer or less severe disabilities, than those who were treated for similar injuries in other types of emergency care facilities. Thirty-five percent of the Level I trauma care patients reported “good” or better outcomes one year after their accidents.

When a serious accident of any kind occurs, getting medical care is a crucial first step. Afterwards, however, you may find that getting the compensation you need is overwhelming, especially while you’re trying to recover from serious injuries. The skilled auto accident lawyers in St. Louis County at Page Law can help you with every step of the process, from investigating your accident to fighting for compensation from any parties whose negligence may have caused your injuries. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential consultation.

Summer hasn’t officially begun, but reports of children suffering severe injuries or even death from being left in overheating cars have already begun to come in, according to a recent report from MSNBC.

Reports include a story of a 13-month-old boy from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, who lost his life in a hot car after his mother mistakenly thought she had dropped him off at daycare. Outdoor temperatures reached 83 degrees that day in full sun, raising the temperature inside the vehicle to fatal levels. A 7-month-old boy in Texas also lost his life a few weeks ago when his father accidentally left him in the back of a closed pickup truck on a day where temperatures neared 90 degrees.

Experts say that deaths from hyperthermia, or overheating, in hot cars are more likely in the summer, but that they can be prevented. Parents and caregivers should always double-check to make sure there are no children in the car before getting out. When no one is using the car, it should be locked and the keys kept out of children’s reach. About 17 percent of hot-car-related deaths each year occur when children lock themselves in, according to researchers.

Children and pets are more susceptible to serious injury or death from hyperthermia, but anyone can be injured by high temperatures, whether in a car, workplace, or other location. If you’ve suffered injuries due to someone else’s careless behavior, an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney at Page Law can help. Give us a call today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

Portable pools can be a cost-effective way to create summer fun in your own backyard, without the expense and maintenance of a permanent pool. However, portable pool systems also create significant risks of drowning and should be treated carefully, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The CPSC estimates that 11 percent of all summer drowning incidents occur in portable pools. The agency receives about 35 reports of drownings or near-drownings in portable pools each summer that involve children under 5 years of age. Families can help prevent these accidents in several ways:

• Put a fence around a portable pool to prevent children from accidentally falling in. If you cannot fence your pool, empty it completely and store it upside-down whenever you are not using it. Remove the ladder from larger pools and cover them securely.
• Never leave a child unsupervised near any pool or spa, even if the child knows how to swim.
• Make sure children learn how to float, how to swim, and how to protect themselves in the water. All people who cannot swim should wear a personal floatation device (PFD) while in the pool. Never let inflatable pool toys substitute for a properly-fitted PFD.
• Never dive headfirst into a portable pool or let anyone else dive headfirst into one.

At Page Law, our skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping you and your family get the compensation you need after a water accident causes the injury or loss of a loved one. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential consultation.

Two recent accidents in the Joplin, Missouri area have prompted Joplin police to speak up once again about the importance of wearing a proper helmet, according to a news report from KOAM-TV.

One accident involved a rider on a motor scooter who was not wearing a helmet. The other involved a motorcyclist who was wearing only a novelty helmet not designed to protect against serious harm. Both were seriously injured in these MO motorcycle accidents.

Under Missouri law, motorcyclists are required to wear helmets that meet the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) minimum requirements for helmet safety and protection. DOT-approved helmets are designed to fit the head snugly, so they are less likely to fall off in an accident. They are also made of more rugged materials and contain more padding than novelty helmets, increasing the chances that the wearer will avoid death if an accident involving head trauma occurs.

Riders of scooters and other small vehicles with an engine size under 49 cc are not required by law to wear helmets. However, the Joplin police recommend that such riders wear helmets anyway, especially if they plan to ride on public roads where an accident can easily occur.

Motorcycle accidents can cause serious harm. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, call the dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys in Missouri at Page Law today. We’ll help you unravel the details of your case and seek the compensation you need from any party whose negligence caused your injuries. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.

Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain tissue in mammals, including dogs and humans. It is most often transmitted when one animal bites another animal or a person.

About 90 percent of the 8,000 or so rabies cases reported in the U.S. every year involve wild animals, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Missouri sees approximately 50 total rabies cases per year. The rate of rabies in domestic dogs has decreased in recent years because of the widespread use of effective vaccines. Aggressive quarantining and examination of potentially rabid animals and improved rabies treatments for exposed humans have also helped lower the human death rate from the disease.

Rabies in dogs typically takes one of two forms. The first is “silent” rabies, which is generally not transmitted to humans. Silent rabies is marked by slow movements and a slack jaw, often accompanied by drooling. The slack jaw is caused by paralysis, which makes it impossible for the dog to bite.

The second form of rabies in dogs is “violent” rabies, which accounts for nearly all dog bite rabies cases. Dogs with violent rabies become extremely restless and will often do anything to break out of fencing or other restraints. Once free, they may roam for miles, attacking anything in their path. Dogs with violent rabies will bite, often fiercely, causing heavy damage as well as transmitting the disease.

Even if the dog is healthy, a dog bite can cause a human being severe pain, scarring, nerve damage, and psychological trauma. In the most severe cases, dog bites are fatal. If you or a child you care for has been bitten by a dog, a skilled Missouri dog bite injury attorney at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential consultation.

A motorcyclist lost his life in a fatal MO motorcycle crash and his passenger was severely injured when their motorcycle collided with a pickup truck at an intersection northwest of Republic, Missouri, according to a recent article in the News-Leader.

According to investigators, the motorcyclist, a 35-year-old man, was riding along Farm Road 135 outside Republic. He was carrying one passenger, a 34-year-old woman. The motorcycle was navigating an intersection when it collided with a Toyota pickup truck. The accident occurred at about 8 p.m., before it was fully dark outside.

Rescue workers were unable to save the life of the motorcycle’s driver, who lost his life in the crash. He was not wearing a helmet at the time, according to news reports. The motorcycle’s passenger was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. She was not wearing a helmet during the accident either.

The driver of the pickup truck did not report any injuries at the scene and was released to go home. He was wearing his seat belt when the accident occurred, according to investigators.

Motorcycle accidents can cause serious harm to motorcyclists, who have little protection from the force of a crash. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other injuries can cause permanent disabilities or even take a life. At Page Law, our dedicated motorcycle accident lawyers in St. Louis work hard to provide top-quality representation to each client we represent. If you’ve been hurt in a Missouri motorcycle crash, call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential consultation.