Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

School starts soon, and so do school sports and other extracurricular activities. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), eye injuries are the number-one cause of blindness among school-age children.

About 100,000 children require emergency care for eye injuries each year. Most of these injuries are suffered while playing a sport, often for school or in a physical education class.

The NEI estimates that 90 percent of sports-related eye injuries can be prevented by requiring players to use proper protective eyewear.

Continue reading " Help Protect Kids from Eye Injuries This School Year in Missouri " »

In the wake of several tire blowouts leading to deaths and injuries in double-decker commercial bus accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a warning bulletin to bus companies. The bulletin points out that when a double-decker bus is fully loaded with passengers, its weight might exceed the weight limits on its tires, increasing the risk of a serious bus accident.

The bulletin came out after two separate Megabus accidents caused injuries and deaths within a week of one another. On August 2 in southern Illinois, a blown tire sent a bus careening into a bridge pillar, taking the life of a passenger. One week later, on August 8, a Megabus in Georgia caught fire after a blown tire accident.

Continue reading " FMCSA Issues Emergency Bulletin Regarding Double-Decker Bus Overloading " »

Most Missourians know that there are several state laws that apply to riding motorcycles in MO on public roads. However, you might not know that Missouri also has state laws that affect when, where, and how you can ride smaller motorized vehicles on state roads. Knowing the Missouri laws on motorized bicycles, scooters, and off-road vehicles can help you keep yourself and your family safe.

In Missouri, a “motorized bicycle” or “scooter” is a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine size of 50 cc or less and that has a top speed of 30 miles per hour or less. The motorized bicycle or scooter must have a motorcycle endorsement, and its rider must have a valid Missouri driver’s license in order to drive on public roads. A helmet is not required, but proper safety gear can help prevent injuries in the event of an accident.

Continue reading " Missouri Motorized Bicycle and Scooter Safety " »

The dangerously low levels of water in Table Rock Lake and other Missouri lakes and rivers has resulted in an increase in MO boating accidents and injuries this summer, according to a recent article from KSPR.

This past summer, Table Rock Lake dropped to under 910 feet at its deepest point, when it is usually around 917 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers predicts that if the dry weather continues in August, evaporation and hydroelectric power demands on the lake will cause the water level to drop another 3.5 feet - further increasing the risk of accidents.

Continue reading " Dangerously Low Water Levels Cause Spike in Missouri Boating Accidents " »

A recent Megabus accident on Interstate 55 near St. Louis, Missouri claimed the life of a 25-year-old student, according to a recent article from St. Louis Today. The bus was carrying 72 passengers, 47 of whom were taken to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries following the crash.

Now, investigators from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) and the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are combing the bus’s maintenance records and other evidence from the crash to determine what happened.

Continue reading " Missouri State, Federal Investigators Examine Megabus Crash " »

Road rash, or road burn, consists of skin injuries caused by friction. If you fall from a motorcycle without adequate protection between your skin and the road, road rash can easily result.

While some road rash injuries are minor, others can cause permanent scarring, chronic pain, secondary infections, and even death. Road rash takes off one or more layers of skin in the areas that rub along a rough surface, like pavement. When only the top layer of skin is removed, a “skinned knee” type injury results, which will usually heal on its own if kept clean.

Continue reading " Protecting Yourself from Road Rash in a Missouri Motorcycle Accident " »