Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Former St. Louis Cardinals utility player Scott Spiezio pleaded guilty April 7 to DUI and hit-and-run charges in Newport Beach, California.

The charges stem from a December single-car crash in Newport Beach, a tony Los Angeles suburb. According to the Associated Press, Spiezio crashed his car into a curb and a fence, then fled on foot to his condo complex, where he punched a neighbor. He was sentenced to three years of probation, 80 hours of community service, alcohol education and treatment, and $1,700 in restitution and fines.

The plea agreement caps off a difficult year for Spiezio, son of 1967 World Series-winning Cardinal Ed Spiezio. According to the AP, the younger Spiezio was released from his contract by the Cardinals in February, after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the DUI accident. Despite having played on two World Series championship-winning teams, including the 2006 Cardinals, Spiezio agreed to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves in March.

Continue reading "Drunk Driving Catches up to Cardinals Player" »

Posted by John J. Page | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accidents

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A man sustained minor injuries in a truck accident in Lawrence County, Missouri when his vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailor. The driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital after he lost control of his vehicle, misjudged the distance between the vehicles, and ran into a tractor-trailer. Tractor-trailers are among a class that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration separates in terms of regulations and guidelines.

The FMCSA establishes tractor-trailer safety guidelines by evaluating a trucks:
1. size
2. weight
3. route destination
4. length
5. width

The length of tractor-trailers is often a point of confusion because as trailers are added onto various types vehicles, the overall guidelines in terms length may seem to vary to the average citizen. The FMCSA provides tractor-trailer regulations and information at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. The FMCSA has the following guidelines for length involving tractor-trailors:

(a) The length provisions of the STAA apply only to the following types of vehicle combinations:
(1) Truck tractor–semitrailer
(2) Truck tractor–semitrailer–trailer.

The length provisions apply only when these combinations are in use on the National Network or in transit between these highways and terminals or service locations
The length provisions referred to in paragraph of this section include the following:

(1) No State shall impose a length limitation of less than 48 feet on a semitrailer operating in a truck tractor–semitrailer combination.
(2) No State shall impose a length limitation of less than 28 feet on any semitrailer or trailer operating in a truck tractor–semitrailer–trailer combination.
(3) No State shall impose an overall length limitation on commercial vehicles operating in truck tractor–semitrailer or truck tractor–semitrailer–trailer combinations.
(4) No State shall prohibit commercial motor vehicles operating in truck tractor–semitrailer–trailer combinations.
(5) No State shall prohibit the operation of semitrailers or trailers which are 281/2 feet long when operating in a truck tractor–semitrailer–trailer combination if such a trailer or semitrailer was in actual and lawful operation on December 1, 1982, and such combination had an overall length not exceeding 65 feet.

Continue reading "Missouri Man Injured When Vehicle Rear-Ends Tractor Trailer" »

Posted by John J. Page | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accidents

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It’s an uncomfortably familiar scene – snarling traffic, slick roads, and plenty of Missouri auto accidents throughout the Kansas City area. Recent bad weather has caused dangerous driving conditions and countless pile-ups as drivers try to get home through inclement conditions. Spring may be just around the corner, but nevertheless it’s a great idea to review winter driving safety given the prospect of more bad weather ahead.

First of all, assess risk before you leave home or your office. You may want to rush into town for work or to run errands, but your safety should come first. If the road is slick or snow is creating poor visibility, you may wish to call in to work, telecommute, or stay an extra half-hour to see if the storm clears. Don’t perform non-essential driving when the weather is bad – you’re just asking for trouble, injury, and property damage.

If you do have to take to the road, be sure you’re driving in a well-maintained vehicle that has proper tires and windshield wipers. It could be tempting to drive without a properly scraped windshield, but take the few extra moments it takes to properly defrost your car before driving. Once you’re on the road, take it easy. Slow, steady driving is in order – headlights on, additional distance given behind other vehicles, and no cruise control allowed.

If you can’t avoid a St. Louis Car Accident, be smart at the scene. Sometimes winter storms overtax law enforcement, and the police should not be called during a storm unless serious injuries have occurred. However, this does NOT mean you should not file a police report of the accident and collect as much information as possible on the other driver, the incident, and any witnesses.

Continue reading "Weather Related Accidents" »

Posted by John J. Page | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Auto Accidents

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