Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

ATV accidents in Missouri are on the rise, particularly in the summer months. A ksmu.org story mentions that local health care workers have reported seeing an increasing number of ATV accident victims in recent months and years.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a number of recommendations to keep ATV riders safe this summer:

• Take a course. The Commission recommends that ATV drivers take a formal safety course. Course attendance has been shown to reduce the chance of accidents.


• Wear a helmet and proper attire. Missouri law requires those under 18 to wear a helmet at all times on an ATV. Wear a helmet that is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation or the Snell Memorial Foundation. Avoid sandals and shorts. Instead, wear boots, pants, long-sleeved shirts and gloves to protect against cuts or other injuries to the skin.


• Avoid paved roads. Missouri has laws that restrict the use of ATVs on public roads, but many accidents still occur on paved public roads. ATVs are difficult to control on paved roads and collisions with other vehicles can be dangerous.


• Don’t let children ride. Children should not be permitted to ride on or drive an adult ATV. Children are involved in a third of all ATV deaths and E.R. visits.


• No passengers. Don’t drive ATVs with a passenger or ride as a passenger. The majority of ATVs were designed to carry only one passenger. Additional passengers make the ATV more difficult to control.

Stay safe this summer. If you have been injured in a St. Louis ATV accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, or because of a defective ATV, contact the Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law today at 314-322-8515 for a free consultation.

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ABC news affiliate KMBC reported recently that police are still searching for a teenage driver who hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene. The pedestrian was struck in a parking lot at 6900 West 135th Street in Overland Park, Kansas. The accident occurred on Saturday, June 12. Luckily, the pedestrian's injuries were minor.

The pedestrian described the driver as a teenage male, possibly 16 or 17 years of age, driving a light blue Ford Mustang Coupe with chrome wheels. The car is described as a fairly recent model, from the 2005 to 2007 model years. A passenger in the car met the same general description as the driver.

Police encourage anyone with information about the hit-and-run accident to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Hit-and-run auto accidents occur throughout the United States, putting the lives of innocent pedestrians, motorcyclists, and other vehicle occupants in danger. Parking lots can be an especially dangerous place for pedestrians. The lack of traffic signals and other tools to guide driver behavior often makes drivers believe parking lots may be driven through freely, with little attention to other cars and people in the area. Although pedestrians are not hit as frequently by a vehicle as vehicles hit one another, the consequences to an unprotected pedestrian can be even more devastating: in 2006, 76 pedestrians died after being struck by cars in Missouri alone.

Continue reading "Overland Park Pedestrian Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident" »

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According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Traffic Accident Report System (STARS), holidays can be a dangerous time to drive in Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol notes that between 2003 and 2007, every 6.7 hours, a motorist died in a traffic accident during the holidays, which is up from one every 7.7 hours during non-holiday driving.

The summer holidays of Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are among the most dangerous for Missouri roadways. For the five-year period between 2003 and 2007, a total of 197 people were killed and 8,554 were injured on these three holidays combined. On average, the Missouri State Highway Patrol estimates that one person was injured or killed every 8.6 minutes during each of the three summer holidays, compared to one every 10.5 minutes during the winter holidays.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol attributes this increase in traffic accidents to a number of factors. First, traffic increases during the summer holidays, placing more motorists on the roads. Motorists are also likely to leave for their holiday after a full day of work, when many are too tired to pay proper attention to the road. Alcohol consumption increases during the holidays as well, creating more intoxicated drivers and pedestrians.

It pays to drive carefully, especially on holidays. No matter how carefully you drive, however, you may be involved in an accident with a driver who wasn't as concerned for his or your safety. If you or a loved one has been injured in a St. Louis car accident, please don't hesitate to contact the skilled St. Louis vehicle accident lawyers at Page Law. Our attorneys will review the details of your case and help you hold negligent parties accountable for their actions as we seek to win you the compensation that you need to move forward. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

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Each year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol releases its annual report of Missouri auto accident statistics detailing the number and type of traffic accidents that occur on Missouri roads. The State Highway Patrol recently released its 2009 report. The report is intended to give Missouri motorists a clear picture of the risks present on Missouri highways and help motorists protect themselves when they drive.

• In 2008, traffic accidents in Missouri decreased by about 6.14 percent from the previous year. Thirty-two fewer people were killed in a 2008 traffic accident than in 2007.
• Over 40 percent of people who died in Missouri traffic crashes were between 16 and 35 years of age. Most of these wrongful death victims were between the ages of 16 and 20.
• One-third of all accidents resulting in death involved drinking and/or drug use. By contrast, only about one-eighth of accidents involved poor weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, or fog. Nearly three-quarters of all traffic crashes occurred during daylight hours on dry pavement.
• Fifty-seven percent of the fatal crashes in 2008 involved only one car.
• Over 75 percent of all traffic accidents reported in Missouri in 2008 affected only property, not people.
• Jackson County, Missouri reported the most traffic-accident-related deaths in 2008, with 83 fatalities that year.

Motorists have a duty to keep their vehicles under control and avoid driving when it is unreasonably dangerous, such as when the driver has been drinking or is too fatigued to concentrate. If you or a loved one has been injured by a driver who failed to uphold this duty, you have certain legal rights. The experienced Missouri accident injury lawyers at Page Law can help you understand your rights and choose the best course of action for yourself and your loved ones. Call Page Law today at (314) 322.8515 for a free consultation about your Missouri car accident.

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Tragically, an infant died this week when the car in which he was riding drove into the River Des Peres, according to a www.kmov.com story. The infant was 7 months old and was strapped into his car seat in the rear of the car.

His father, age 24, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He remains on life support and is in a coma. He was not breathing when he was pulled from the sinking car. It is not clear how long the automobile was under water. By the time a witness saw the car, it was already sinking. Reportedly, the witness called 911 and spent several minutes trying to flag someone down to watch his three year old daughter so he could attempt a rescue.

According to the witness, he swam in when the first rescue crews reached the scene. The police said that two citizens and a police officer helped get the driver from the vehicle. The men used a knife to cut through a seat belt to pull the adult from the car. The rescuers did not see the infant at the time of the rescue and found him in the backseat later.

The cause of the Missouri fatal vehicle accident is unknown. The accident investigation team will look at toxicology results, the driver’s medical history, and tire tracks, among other things, in their investigation.

Auto accidents in MO that result in an innocent life being lost are heart breaking. If someone you love has been injured or killed in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, help may be available. Contact the St. Louis automobile accident attorneys at Page Law by calling 314-322-8515 today to schedule a free consultation.

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According to the Missouri Highway Patrol and News-Leader.com, a three-car accident resulted in the death of a 41-year-old man and minor injuries to the other parties involved. The man was killed when his vehicle sideswiped another car on Henry County H, and then crossed the center line and was broadsided by the third vehicle. The second car was driven by a 38-year-old Butler woman who only sustained minor injuries, according to the Highway Patrol report. The third vehicle was driven by a 40-year-old man of Clinton. His car overturned and came to rest on the driver's side. The driver and his 14-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries, according to the report. The deceased was not wearing a seatbelt. He probably would have survived the accident if he had been wearing his seatbelt.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, one person dies every nine hours in a car accident in Missouri. The best way to avoid serious injury is to buckle up. They also state that an unbelted person in the front seat of a car involved in a crash going just 30 mph hits the windshield with the same force as someone who falls out of a third story window. It is Missouri State law to wear a seatbelt and violators may be subject to a fine and court costs for not properly using seat belts.

Continue reading "3-Car Accident Results in Fatality" »

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A kplr11.com news report discussed that snowy roads were to blame for a crash near the southwest Missouri town of Neosho. A 54-year-old man died when the SUV he was driving slid off the side of the road, struck the guardrail and flipped over. His passenger suffered minor injuries. The patrol said neither of the men were wearing seatbelts.

This tragic accident stresses the importance of two major highway safety tips: drive carefully according to the weather, and always wear your seatbelt. Driving safely will become especially important this spring, when communities along rivers in the Midwest will be bracing for what could be a record spring flood season. The National Weather Service is currently warning of a "high probability" of major flooding along parts of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries. Trouble spots include the Red River Valley in the Dakotas, the upper Mississippi River from Iowa through at least the St. Louis area and portions of the Missouri River. Many tributaries of the bigger rivers could also reach well above flood stage.

Continue reading "Snowy Road Conditions Blamed for Man's Death in Southwest Missouri" »

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A man was critically injured in an auto accident in Columbia after his vehicle was struck by a city bus. According to an ABC 17 news report, the major injury collision occurred at the intersection of Old Highway 63 and Bearfield Road. Apparently, the bus collided with the car and pushed it up against a telephone pole. As a consequence, the man was trapped inside his car for almost an entire hour. Fortunately, none of the 14 passengers in the bus were injured in the crash.

In such serious car collisions, it is important to look into whether one of the drivers failed to yield right-of-way at the intersection. Failure to yield right-of-way may be caused by driver inattention, recklessness, impairment or distracted driving. The at-fault party in these kinds of crashes may be held financially responsible for the accident and injuries sustained. Victims who are injured as a result of someone else's negligence may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and even long-term care if the injuries are debilitating or lifelong.

Continue reading "Missouri Bus Accident Critically Injures Man" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Toyota Motor Corp stands firm that its electronic throttle system is in no way defective and has not contributed towards the unintended acceleration issues that have recently forced the recall of more than 8 million Toyota vehicles. According to a Reuters news report, independent testing of Toyota vehicles has led some to believe unintended acceleration issues are the result of faulty electronic systems. This belief is being challenged by Toyota, who, after helping fund similar studies, holds onto the claim that a mechanical defect is ultimately to blame.

Reportedly, an engineering expert at Southern Illinois University recently told a congressional panel that he had found a flaw in Toyota's accelerator controls which could enable a vehicle to unintentionally accelerate. However, studies conducted at Stanford University and engineering company Exponent both claim that the findings were not conducive to real-world driving, and that engineering manipulation was required to create such results. As one Exponent engineer explained, "As engineers we could rewire anything, but that is not realistic."

While time will tell whether or not the problems with Toyota vehicles stem from electronic errors or mechanical defects, the fact of the matter is simple: Toyota vehicles have been recalled for various reasons due to safety concerns.

Continue reading "Conflicting Studies Paint Skewed Picture of Toyota Unintended Acceleration Issues" »

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Based on a US News & World Report article, an incident of sudden acceleration due to a sticking gas pedal took place in Southern California on March 8, 2010. According to the report, the driver of the 2008 Toyota Prius dialed 911 to seek help because the gas pedal in his vehicle was stuck and he could not slow down from 94 mph.

Fortunately, this man was not injured and a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer was able to assist him in slowing down the runaway Prius. The article points out that this process took approximately 20 minutes and that the CHP officer instructed the driver through loudspeaker to apply the brakes as well as the emergency brake. Once the vehicle was able to hit 50 mph, the motorist turned off his engine and the vehicle eventually came to a stop.

Although the article didn’t mention whether or not this man’s Prius had received a redesigned gas pedal or a new floor mat, recent speculation and academic studies from outside experts have pointed to electronic malfunction as the origin of Toyota throttle problems. The 2008 Prius involved in the above incident has been included only in the floor mat recall. After learning of the incident, Toyota sent a field technical specialist to provide assistance and investigate the report.

Continue reading "Toyota Prius Involved in Southern California Sudden Acceleration Incident" »

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A recent LA Times article reported that a live webcast on March 8, 2010 will discuss Toyota’s defenses against claims of electronic throttle problems made by an automotive technology assistant professor from Southern Illinois University. According to the article, the assistant professor presented his study results to Congress in February, pinpointing electronic issues as the culprit for recalled Toyota vehicles experiencing unintended acceleration and throttle problems.

While the assistant professor has concluded that wiring failure in recalled Toyota cars is connected to sudden acceleration, Toyota has denied such claims of electronic flaw. Based on the article, the automaker referred to the assistant professor’s study as “completely unrealistic under real-world conditions.” Through the webcast, Toyota is supposed to present their defense by re-creating the study and providing rebuttals made by experts from Stanford University’s Center for Automotive Research.

Auto manufacturers are responsible for designing, testing, and creating vehicles that are free of defect or flaw before putting them on the market. The assistant professor involved in the Toyota throttle study asserts that automotive electronics may cause a vehicle to experience problems if the components are not properly tested to respond to extreme vibrations or temperatures.

Continue reading "Toyota Electronic Throttle Problems Supported by Assistant Professor's Study" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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Without announcing a vehicle defect recall, Chrysler is planning to carry out a "safety improvement campaign" to fix the front airbags on 355,000 minivans, including Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravans. According to a Reuters news report, the move comes after Chrysler found that the front airbag sensor could fail to deploy if it becomes damaged and wet. Chrysler is not currently issuing any recalls and is instead claiming that there have been no complaints or injuries due to this new issue. Chrysler also states that an airbag warning light will alert the driver if there is a defect or issue with the system.

Recalls and corrections have become commonplace in recent months. Chrysler is attempting to fix this safety hazard before there are any personal injuries due to faulty manufacturing. This proactive move by Chrysler may have been inspired by the recent woes of Toyota and Honda. Honda recently had to recall almost half a million of their vehicles due to defective airbags, which caused a number of personal injuries and one reported fatality. Toyota recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles for defective gas pedals that caused unintended acceleration. Car manufacturers are required by law to ensure the safety of their vehicles.

Continue reading "Airbag Product Defect Prompts Chrysler Minivan Fix " »

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Five people sustained injuries in a Missouri auto accident. According to a news report in the Sedalia Democrat, the accident occurred as one driver who was northbound on Route 131 at Highway 50 failed to yield right-of-way to an eastbound vehicle. The injured parties included four adults and one infant. Thankfully, this incident did not involve any life-threatening injuries, according to the news report.

Failing to yield right-of-way is a common cause of Missouri auto accidents. We see this problem occur most commonly in accidents that take place at street intersections. Very often, these types of accidents will involve a driver who fails to yield right-of-way to another or a driver who runs a red light. Both of these circumstances are serious traffic violations under Missouri law. The driver who failed to yield right-of-way in such cases could be determined to be at fault for the accident and could be held liable for injuries, damages and losses suffered by the victims of a car accident. In such cases, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of surgery, physical therapy or other related damages.

Continue reading "Missouri Auto Accident Injures Five" »

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According to a recent article from ozarksfirst.com, a school bus crash in Missouri left five people injured in El Dorado Springs. The collision occurred in the morning, just east of town, on northbound Highway 39. The bus was stopped in a designated school bus area to pick up passengers when a pick-up truck, driven by a student, struck the rear of the bus.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported that the bus had its flashing lights on and stop arm extended. The driver of the truck was allegedly speeding and unable to stop the vehicle in time. Four students from the bus and the student driver were transported to the Cedar County Memorial Hospital for minor injuries. There were 16 total students on the bus at the time of the crash.

Continue reading "Five Injured in School Bus Crash" »

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According to a report, Honda, Japan’s second largest car manufacturer, extended its recall to 437,000 cars due to defective airbags. The initial recall was issued in 2008 and included 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans; it was later expanded in 2009 to include another 510,000 vehicles. The most recent recall mainly impacts the United States and Canada. However, 4,000 vehicles in Japan and 13,000 vehicles in Mexico, Taiwan, and Australia were also affected.

The recall was issued in order to replace the airbag inflator that can cause the airbag to overinflate, and according to the report, result "in metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants." So far, the malfunction has been linked to eleven injuries and one fatality.

The cars that currently fall under the airbag recall include 2001 and 2002 model-year Accord, Civic, Odyssey, Pilot, CL, CR-V and 2002 Acura TL vehicles. The Japanese-only models that are included in the recall are Inspire, Saber and Lagreat. If Honda contacts you about the recall, you should contact an authorized dealership as soon as you receive your notification.

Continue reading "Honda Airbag Recall Extended to 437,000 Cars" »

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According to recent reports, car manufacturer, Toyota Motor, has recalled 2.3 million vehicles due to gas pedal malfunctions, even in the absence of a floor mat. This recall is separate from the recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to correct a gas pedal problem linked to faulty floor mats which allegedly caused the pedal to stick and create unintended acceleration.

Toyota spokesman, Brian Lyons, stated, “The pedal may become harder to press and may become slower to return when released. In the worst cases, it may become stuck in a partially depressed position.” Toyota also claims that unintended acceleration due to gas pedal malfunction is “rare and infrequent,” but can occur after gas petal mechanisms endure excessive use.

Toyota says that owners will be notified when a solution is available and urges people to brake firmly in order to regain control of their vehicle if the gas pedal should become stuck. In such an event, the car should be driven to the closest safe location, turned off, and a Toyota dealer should be contacted.

The following vehicles are currently being recalled: 2009-2010 Toyota Rav4, Corolla, Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia.

Continue reading "Toyota Recalls an Additional 2.3 Million Vehicles" »

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Police in Waynesville are looking for a hit-and-run driver after a car versus pedestrian accident in Missouri, which killed a 51-year-old woman. Officials say that the woman was found lying along the roadside on Highway 17 North. The vehicle that hit her did not stop at the scene of the accident. She was rushed to a local hospital, but did not survive her injuries.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime under Missouri law. Under Missouri Revised Statutes section 577.060.1.: "A person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highway or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his name, residence, including city and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a police officer, or if no police officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest police station or judicial officer."

Continue reading "Missouri Fatal Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident" »

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Five students sustained injuries in a Missouri bus accident after their school bus was struck by a pickup truck. The Springfield News-Leader reports that the accident occurred on Missouri 39 in Cedar Springs just east of El Dorado Springs. The injured students ranged in age from 10 to18 years. The 17-year-old who was driving the pickup truck also sustained injuries. The pickup truck rear-ended the school bus, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. The students were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that between 1996 and 2006, there were 96 school bus crashes nationwide in which at least one school bus occupant died. More than 50 percent of those crashes involved another vehicle. In the 41 single-vehicle crashes, 48 occupants, 14 drivers and 32 passengers died.

Continue reading "Missouri School Bus Crash Injures Six" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus Accident , Personal Injury

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A report card recently released by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety says Missouri has done a reasonable job of enforcing state traffic laws and protecting drivers. But the report card also states that Missouri lawmakers have some work to do in order to save lives on the road. According to a KY3 report, the advocacy group grades each state based on 15 laws addressing teen driving, distracted driving, drunk driving and the required use of seatbelts, child booster seats and motorcycle helmets.

Where does Missouri stand? On a scale of green to red, Missouri is a yellow. The state has continued its requirement of motorcycle helmets and booster seat laws. Lawmakers have also fixed the state's graduated licensing law for teens. However, to move to the next level, state lawmakers must adopt an all-driver texting ban, advocates say. Right now, Missouri only bans texting for drivers under 21 years of age. There are five bills that have been proposed to ban texting for all drivers. The report card also puts a new emphasis on tougher ignition interlock laws for convicted drunk drivers.

Continue reading "Missouri Lawmakers Have Need to Toughen Traffic Laws, Report States" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Cell Phone/Texting Accident , Law & Information , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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An 18-year-old driver who tried to pass on a curve died in a head-on crash January 10, 2010 - and three people in the car that he hit were seriously hurt. The Union youth was fatally injured in the crash on Highway 50 at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The crash site is about a mile west of Route EE in Franklin County. The Missouri Highway Patrol said the victim was driving west on Highway 50 when he crossed the center line to pass another vehicle on a curve. He then hit an oncoming car head-on.

Three people in the oncoming car were seriously hurt. The passengers were not wearing seatbelts and were airlifted to nearby hospitals. The driver who caused the accident had not been wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, one person dies every nine hours in a car accident in Missouri. The best way to avoid serious injury is to buckle up. Violators may be subject to a fine and court costs for not properly using seat belts.

Continue reading "Teen Driver Dies after Trying to Pass On a Curve" »

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Toyota is getting ready to issue a vehicle defect recall on thousands of Prius models for a brake defect. The Japanese auto maker has already recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide because of sticking accelerators. Now a Nikkei business daily report states that Toyota has decided to recall about 270,000 Prius cars in Japan and the United States to repair a brake problem.

In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSA) has already ordered a probe into Prius brake issues. The federal agency has received 124 reports of the hybrid vehicle's brakes failing, especially in situations where a car goes over a bump or when it hits a pothole. The auto maker has faced criticism for the way in which it has handled the recalls involving the gas pedal problem, which is said to have caused unintended acceleration in those vehicles. In fact, the gas pedal defects have been blamed for several accidents, including one in August where four members of a California family were killed in a fiery crash involving a Lexus.

Continue reading "Toyota May Recall Prius Models for Braking Problems" »

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The road to Marble Hill is lined with crosses, common markers of fatal accidents. Teenagers from the area have experienced a string of car accidents in recent years, especially along highways 34 and 51. After the recent death of a friend, one local teenager is advocating improvements of the curvy Bollinger County roads. The 15-year-old girl said she knew seven teenagers who died in car accidents along the twisting roads. The most recent incident was on December 23, 2009, when a girl was killed after her car slid off Highway 51 and into a tree. She was a sophomore at Woodland High School.

The 15-year-old girl wrote a letter and distributed it to politicians and media outlets to bring awareness to the situation. The letter mentioned six fatalities since 2003, "To name a few," it said. She said friends encouraged her to make the statement to prove a point. "If someone finally stands up, they'll have to do something," she said. The girl also stated that she advocates improvements like guard rails, reflective paint and shoulders along the roads.

Continue reading "Road Warrior: Teenager Leads Fight to Improve Deadly Bollinger County Highways" »

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Two women were injured Friday November 20, 2009 when the car they were riding in overturned after sliding off the road, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. The driver of the vehicle swerved to avoid hitting an animal. Both injured women were passengers; one sustained serious injuries, while the other suffered minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle was unharmed. The highway patrol reported that none of the women were wearing a seatbelt.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, an unbelted occupant of a 30 mph crash hits the windshield with the same force as a fall from a three story building. Passengers have died in crashes as slow as 12 mph. The effectiveness of an airbag system is reduced by 40% when the seatbelts are not used. Nationally, car crashes kill 5 people every hour, and in Missouri, one person dies every nine hours in a car accident. The best way to avoid serious injury is to buckle up. Violators may be subject to a fine and court costs for not properly using seat belts.

Continue reading "Two Women Hospitalized after Car Overturns on Polk County Road" »

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A Warsaw man was injured in an accident on November 11, 2009 when the motorcycle he was riding crashed as he tried to avoid hitting a deer. The highway patrol reported that the 57-year-old man was riding westbound on Route BB at Hidden Valley Road when he swerved suddenly to dodge a deer in his path. His motorcycle went into a skid, overturned and slid off the roadway. The victim was airlifted to University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries. Charges are pending in the crash investigation.

Unfortunately, motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable on the road and accidents happen all too frequently. Most often, motorcycle accidents involve drivers of other vehicles, but single-vehicle crashes are not uncommon. Whatever the situation, the best course of action is to contact a personal injury attorney who can assess the circumstances and help the victim navigate through the legal system.

Continue reading "Warsaw Man Injured on Motorcycle Due to Deer on Route BB" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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Four people were killed and four others were injured in a crash that occurred on a snow-covered Missouri highway. According to a report in the News Tribune, the fatal car crash occurred near Smithton when a car that was westbound on the U.S. 50 crossed the centerline, spun counterclockwise and struck the rear of a pickup truck. The car then skidded and crashed into another eastbound vehicle. Missouri Highway Patrol officials said the 32-year-old driver of the westbound car and three of her passengers died. Three children, including two in the westbound car, were taken to hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. Another 33-year-old woman was also hospitalized with injuries.

A number of tragic Missouri car accidents can be avoided if drivers would only slow down during winter weather when snow or ice is on the roadway. The best thing to do in bad weather is to avoid driving. Bur if you cannot, it would be in your best interest to take necessary precautions such as slowing down and maintaining adequate distance between vehicles. If you have been injured or have lost loved ones as a result of another driver's recklessness or negligence, you could file a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "Four Killed, Four Injured in Missouri Auto Accident" »

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The end of each year is marked by holiday cheer. However, during the holidays, statistics show an increase of drivers on the road as well as intoxicated driving. This year, the Missouri Highway Patrol is participating in operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) over the holidays. During Thanksgiving weekend last year, there were 1,736 traffic crashes with 14 killed and 634 injured.

According to Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some point in their lives. In addition, a first-time offender has driven an average of 87 times prior to being arrested. The highest number of drunk driving fatalities fall under the 21-24 age group. In 2007, Missouri had 130 fatalities for that age group, 45% of which were alcohol-related. December holidays and New Years often show an increase in drunk driving accidents.

Continue reading "December Holidays Show Increase in DWI Accidents" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Drunk Driving Accident , Law & Information , Personal Injury

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A woman was killed and a child injured at a private railroad crossing in Webster County, Missouri. According to an article in the Kansas City Star, the Captain of the Southern County Fire Protection District said that the train’s engineer had seen the truck and tried to stop.

Two other children were in the truck bed but had jumped out of the vehicle before the crash. The 33-year-old woman, pronounced dead at the scene, had picked up the children from school and was on her way home. Her eight-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries and was air lifted to Springfield hospital.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports that every two hours, a train hits a vehicle or pedestrian in the U.S. Another terrifying statistic is that you are 20 times more likely to die in a vehicle-train accident than a two-car crash.

Continue reading "Missouri Train Accident Kills One, Injures Another" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Train Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Two semi trucks collided on the shoulder of Interstate 57. A 45-year-old man driving a semi truck hit a parked truck when he lost control of the vehicle and ran onto the shoulder of the highway. The other driver, a 24-year-old man, was in the second vehicle. The two trucks were carrying cargo of butter and lumber. The collision caused one truck’s fuel tank to split open, igniting the cab while the other truck’s trailer spilled sticks of butter on the highway.

The local fire department managed to keep the flames from burning all the cargo. Police and cleanup crew spent two days cleaning the butter spilt onto the interstate. The at-fault driver reportedly ran off the road upon spilling his coffee. Both drivers were hospitalized for serious injuries.

Continue reading "Two Semi Trucks Crash, Spilling Butter All Over Interstate 57" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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A personal injury lawsuit filed by a woman and her husband is underway in Madison County Circuit Court. The couple claims that the other driver, a man, struck the rear end of their vehicle causing the wife to sustain chronic headaches; jaw, back and neck pain and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

The woman has recently added to the claim that she is no longer able to care for her husband who suffers Parkinson’s disease and other neurological degradations. The woman’s conditions, as a result of the accident, have caused her to lose wages, experience a diminished quality of life, incur medical costs, and become incapable of providing services or companionship to her afflicted husband.

The two blame the other driver for causing the rear end accident, driving too fast, and not keeping a careful eye on the road. They are requesting over $100,000 in compensation in addition to attorney’s fees and any other relief the court deems just.

Continue reading "Couple Accuses Driver of Causing Chronic Injuries" »

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A 19 year-old man from Hughesville plead guilty to a single count of involuntary manslaughter and causing a two-car crash on Interstate 70 near Lee’s Summit Road in Missouri last January. The accused, driving a red 2005 BMW M3, hit the right rear of the deceased’s silver 2001 Ford F-150. The collision spun the truck out of control, causing it to veer right and roll several times. The male victim, age 50, was ejected from the truck and died two hours later from head injuries and internal bleeding at a hospital. Witnesses told Missouri police that the alleged was racing another vehicle, cutting in and out of traffic, and reaching speeds up to 100 mph.

Reckless driving poses a threat to all motorists and pedestrians, causing accidents, injuries and, in this case, death. Careless driving is indicative of negligence and the guilty party is responsible for all damages and costs relating to the accident. Over 40,000 people are killed in an estimated five million car accidents each year. Many of these accidents involve teens.

Continue reading "19-Year-Old Driver Responsible for Two-Car Crash " »

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A 38-year-old woman sustained major injuries in a Missouri car accident after her vehicle was rear-ended at an intersection, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Web site. Officials said that the woman's 1983 Ford Fairmont stopped to make a left turn at an intersection when she was struck from behind by a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup truck. The Ford Fairmont then crossed over the center line because of the crash impact and was struck by a 2002 Jeep Wrangler. The woman was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.

In any incident where injuries are caused by someone else's negligence, an injured victim may qualify to seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and even costs of long-term care if catastrophic injuries are involved. Car accidents often occur because of someone else's negligence. In some cases, drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted, or driving recklessly.

Continue reading "Woman Injured in Missouri Car Accident" »

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Two people sustained injuries in a car accident on the Highway 70 after the driver of a Toyota Camry lost control and struck a Chevy Suburban that was pulling a boat. According to a news report, the driver of the Camry lost control and hit the boat that detached from the Suburban. The sport utility vehicle overturned. The driver of the Suburban was airlifted to an area hospital with severe injuries. A passenger in the Suburban was also taken to the hospital with less traumatic injuries. The driver of the Camry fled the scene, but was apprehended shortly after the crash, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said.

Hit-and-run or leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime under Missouri law. Missouri Revised Code Section 577.060 states: "A person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highway or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his name, residence, including city and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a police officer, or if no police officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest police station or judicial officer."

Continue reading "Two Injured in Missouri Car Accident" »

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This autumn, regions in Missouri have been struck by heavy rainfall, especially in Hannibal. The monthly average rainfall for Hannibal increased from 11.37 inches to 11.46. Rain leads to flooding which contributes to poor road conditions. Many roads have been closed and reopened due to excess rainfall. The heavy rain has also been the perpetrator in several car accidents that claimed a few lives. To ensure road safety, the Missouri Department of Transportation has been monitoring road conditions and posting updates on the traveler information map section of its website.

Rainwater coats roads, making them slicker, which can cause tires to lose traction or hydroplane. The best way to prevent a hydroplane is to make sure there is enough tread on your tires and to drive five miles below the posted speed limit, or slower, if conditions are more severe. If you drive too fast in the rain, your tires may not be able to grip the road properly and could skid on the water, causing the vehicle to spin and even accelerate. If this happens, release the gas pedal and drive straight until the tires regain traction.

Continue reading "Tips on How to Drive in Missouri's Heavy Rain" »

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A 20-year-old man from O’Fallon, Missouri was killed in a head on collision with a tractor trailer. The crash occurred westbound on Highway 40 near Barat Haven, shutting down the road for several hours. Police suspect the man had been driving under the influence of alcohol and are waiting for toxicology test results.

The man was driving a 2000 silver Infiniti east at 3 a.m. head on against westbound traffic before striking a tractor trailer, driven by a 48-year-old man from Kansas City. The collision caused an explosion that melted the cab and part of the trailer. The young driver died 40 minutes later at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. The truck driver was not hurt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2007 Assessment of Alcohol-Impaired Fatalities reports that the age group with the highest risk of alcohol-related traffic accident fatalities is 25-34. The age group 45-64 was the only one reported to have an increase in fatalities from 2006 to 2007. Missouri alcohol-related fatalities account for 30-34% of all statewide traffic accident fatalities.

Continue reading "Man Killed Driving Eastbound on Westbound Highway" »

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On Saturday night, a 62-year old man from Humansville, Missouri was killed instantly in a one-car crash, according to a News-Leader article. The driver, a 36-year old man from Bolivar, sustained serious injuries and was taken to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. The Missouri State Patrol reported that the vehicle ran off the right side of the road, causing it to overturn and eject the two men. The report also indicated that neither man was wearing a seat belt.

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that wearing a seat belt reduces fatal injury risks for front seat occupants by 45%. It is a well-known fact that people over the age of five should wear a seat belt; however, seat belt statistics for Missouri are lacking.

A survey taken in 2008 indicated that an average of 77% of people in Missouri wear seat belts, a statistic that has had minimal improvement since the 2004 survey. Missouri is 7% less than the national average (84%). Changes to Missouri seat belt laws have not had positive reactions, being viewed as overly prescriptive.

Continue reading "Missouri Falls Behind on National Seat Belt Average" »

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Mitsubishi has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be recalling 29,353 2008-2009 Lancers and Lancer Evolutions due to faulty front airbag sensors. Apparently these cars pose a risk to those living in states that use road salt. Prolonged exposure to road salt and melted snow can coat and corrode the airbag sensors, causing them to possibly malfunction in the event of a crash. The company will be issuing a geographic recall, which is expected to begin on November 27 in the District of Columbia and 22 states, including Missouri.

On April 1, 1989 the U.S. passed a law requiring all vehicles built after that date to have airbags installed. Since then, the NHTSA has reported that front airbags have saved more than 12,000 lives between 1960 and 2002.

Continue reading "Mitsubishi Recalls Lancers for Defective Front Airbag Sensors" »

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In part-one of our discussion regarding animal-vehicle accident prevention, we mentioned that deer are the most commonly hit large animals in the spate of animal-vehicle collisions that usually occur in the last three months of the year. In the following post, we will discuss ways in which drivers can maintain safe driving skills in the event of encountering a deer, or any other animal, in the road.

Many tips offered to prevent animal-vehicle collisions are useful for all drivers regardless of surrounding animal populations. Some of the most helpful and common tips to abide by include the following:

• Drive within speed limits


• Wear seatbelts


• Reduce distracted and drowsy driving


• Use high beam headlights when driving in deer territories to increase visibility and reaction time


• Note: deer whistles are known to be ineffective and can often distract the driver

Continue reading "Deer Season: Learn How to Prevent Animal-Vehicle Collisions This Fall (Part Two)" »

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In the following two-part blog series, we will discuss the importance of preventing animal-vehicle collisions. The last three months of the year are often marked by an increase in animal-vehicle collisions; and deer are the most commonly hit large animals. Although Missouri is not one of the higher risk states for deer-vehicle collisions, this year Missouri insurance companies are reminding drivers to be aware of animals on the road.

According to the Center of Disease Control, 6.1 million light-vehicle collisions were reported in the US in 2000. About 4%, or 247,000 (excluding animal-motorcycle accidents) of the crashes involved hitting an animal. Animal-automobile accidents also result in an estimated 200 human deaths each year and cost over one billion dollars in vehicle damage.

Deer are most active and likely to cross roads at dawn and dusk, especially in rural areas or near wooded creek bottoms. The increase of deer-vehicle collisions is commonly attributed to hunting and mating seasons as well as the close proximity of highways to habitats; but there is no official reason as to why these accidents increase at the yearend. Regardless, we share the road with animals as well as other motorists and should take necessary precautions when driving.

Continue reading "Deer Season: Learn How to Prevent Animal-Vehicle Collisions This Fall (Part One)" »

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A series of vehicle accidents in October caused a stir in Southeast Missouri. The first crash involved a 49 year-old woman driving southbound on Interstate 55 who veered on the left side of the road, hitting a bridge. The woman was taken to Missouri Delta Medical Center for moderate injuries.

The next accident involved a motorcycle driven by a 33 year-old man who had lost control of the vehicle, overturned and slid into a 1999 Mercury in Chaffee, MO. Unfortunately in most motorcycle accidents, the motorcyclist almost always sustains the worse injuries due to the fact that there is minimal outside protection. The motorcycle driver was airlifted to a hospital where he received treatment for serious injuries. The other driver was not injured.

The third accident, also on I-55, was a two-car crash caused when two vehicles, a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis and a 2005 Buick Rendezvous, attempted to change lanes. Instead, both collided and ultimately landed in the center median. The Mercury driver was treated for moderate injuries. The Buick driver did not suffer injury, but the passenger was airlifted to a hospital due to sustaining serious injuries.

Continue reading "Three Accidents in Southeast Missouri Injure Several People" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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According to a report on Fox 2 Now’s website, a man was killed in a head on collision in Brentwood, Missouri after stealing two cans of paint from the nearby Home Depot. Upon seeing a police officer near the department store, the man, heading south, made a u-turn and accelerated to high speeds despite the fact that police were not in pursuit of the vehicle. He then lost control of his Jaguar and crossed two lanes of southbound traffic before striking an SUV.

Neighbors said that they had known the crash to be a bad one, judging by the piercing sounds that were made. Police believe that the alleged thief is at fault for the crash that resulted in his death. The woman driving the SUV suffered minor injuries and possibly a broken toe. Fortunately, no one else was killed or severely injured.

Continue reading "Fatal Head On Collision Caused by Man Stealing Paint" »

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A 60-year-old man was seriously injured in a Missouri auto accident after he rear-ended a truck that had stopped because of an accident on the Interstate 44 near Marshfield, Missouri. According to an ABC news report, the injured victim was taken to a local hospital with moderate injuries. No one else seemed to have been injured in this two-vehicle crash.

Rear-end car accidents, statistically, are the least fatal type of car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end car accidents account for only six deaths per 1 million registered cars. However, these types of car accidents are far more common than others. About 2.5 million car accidents in the United States each year are rear-end collisions.

In most car accidents, it's very important to determine the cause and who was at fault. Who is at fault for a particular car accident can determine who may be held civilly liable or financially responsible for injuries and damages caused. Rear-end accidents can cause significant injuries including severe back and neck injuries which may require months of treatment and therapy. If your accident and injuries were the result of a negligent driver, you may be entitled to seek compensation to cover your medical costs, loss of earnings and other related damages.

Continue reading "Man Injured in Missouri Auto Accident" »

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Two people were killed in a Missouri car accident after their vehicle collided with a train in Bates County, Fox News reports. Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said the victims - ages 49 and 43 - died when the train struck their vehicle as they crossed a stretch of tracks. Investigators are still talking to eyewitnesses about how exactly this fatal train-car collision occurred. The train's conductor told officials that the car's driver slowed down at the tracks, but didn't stop and continued to go forward. The Kansas City Southern train was traveling at a rate of 55 mph at the crossing. Officials say the lights and bells at the crossing were working, but there were no crossing arms at the intersection.

Each train accident is different and there are a number of factors that play a part in causation. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reports that there are about 3,000 train accidents in the United States each year. About one-third of these accidents are fatal. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates train accidents, about 60 percent of all railroad-crossing accidents that result in fatalities, occur at unprotected railroad crossings. Such crossings are common especially in the rural areas of Missouri. If they don't result in fatalities, auto accidents involving trains often result in serious injuries such as brain injuries, spinal injuries, quadriplegia or paraplegia.

Continue reading "Missouri Train versus Car Collision Leaves Two Dead" »

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An article from madisonrecord.com discusses a recent auto accident case involving a couple that is seeking $200,000 after incurring lost wages of more than $50,000 apiece and medical costs of more than $50,000 apiece. According to the article, the couple was rear-ended by a driver on October 6, 2007 whom they claim was driving too fast at the time of the River Road Route 100 collision. The injured couple also claims that the driver was negligent in that he allowed his car to crash into the back of their vehicle because he failed to keep a proper lookout and did not try to swerve or stop to avoid the accident. As a result of the crash, one of the plaintiffs suffered severe and permanent back, neck, and left shoulder injuries, while the other plaintiff sustained back, neck, and shoulder injuries.

As this auto accident case demonstrates, the monetary expenses of catastrophic injuries and the subsequent cost of lost wages can greatly impact the financial stability of a family, especially if more than one family member was involved in a crash. It is not uncommon for injured vehicle accident victims to file claims against the negligent driver that was responsible for the collision taking place. However, such claims often require extensive investigation by specialized research teams that gather evidence to support the claim that the driver responsible for the accident exercised negligent or reckless driving behavior. Along with a thorough investigation being conducted, you may also require the legal counsel and representation of an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney in order to be successful in receiving the compensation that you deserve as a personal injury victim.

Continue reading "$200K for Injuries and Lost Wages Sought by Couple" »

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An Elkland, Missouri, woman sustained serious injuries in a car accident, according to the Marshfield Mail. The car crash occurred on Highway 38 three miles north of Elkland when an eastbound 2006 Saturn Ion driven by the 37-year-old woman went off the right side of the roadway. According to Missouri Highway Patrol officials, the woman then overcorrected causing the Saturn to then travel off the left side of the roadway and roll over. Officials also say that the woman was not wearing her seatbelt and that she was ejected from the vehicle. She suffered major injuries and was transported to a hospital in nearby Springfield, Missouri.

Rollover car accidents can result in extremely serious personal injury or even death because of the intensity and violence of the crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rollover accidents cause about 10,000 traffic accident fatalities each year in the United States. That's about one-fourth of all traffic accident fatalities in the country, according to these statistics. People injured in rollover accidents also tend to suffer debilitating injury such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries due to roof crush or seatbelt failure.

Continue reading "Missouri Woman Seriously Injured in Rollover Car Accident" »

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Toyota Motor Corp., the manufacturer of automobiles that used to be synonymous with safety and reliability, has now issued a major defect recall for 3.8 million vehicles. According to an Associated Press news report, the automaker has recalled several of its Lexus and Toyota Corolla and Camry sedans for a defective floor mat that may slip and jam the accelerator. This auto product defect came to light after a fatal San Diego car accident in August that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family.

Toyota is still working with federal officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to find a remedy for this problem. Consumers who own these recalled vehicles are asked to remove the floor mat on the driver's side and not replace it. NHTSA officials say they have received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck. But it is not clear how many of these incidents led to crashes and how many of those crashes led to serious personal injury or deaths.

These are extremely serious car defects. It is not clear why Toyota did not address these complaints earlier. The company's president has issued an apology about these defects, but at the same time, Toyota has not been forthcoming about information involving the exact number of complaints, injuries or fatalities.

Continue reading "Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles for Defective Floor Mats" »

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A man sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident in Farmington, the Daily Journal reported. According to Farmington police officials, the motorcyclist was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital. His injuries, however, are said to be non-life threatening. Police said a pickup truck driver pulled into the path of the motorcycle at Bray Road and Highway 221.

Missouri motorcycle accidents commonly occur when a car, truck or any other motor vehicle comes into contact with a motorcycle. The motorcycle rider usually loses balance, causing devastating personal injuries or death. Statistics show that the number-one cause of a motorcycle crash is when a car, truck, or semi driver fails to yield the right-of-way of the motorcyclist.

As attorneys who have represented numerous victims of motorcycle accidents in Missouri involving other vehicles, one of the common responses we hear is that the other motorist did not see the motorcycle. What typically happens at intersections is that motorists look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles or smaller vehicles. These accidents are common reminders to us that we need to be more aware of motorcyclists with whom we share the roadway.

Continue reading "Man Injured in Missouri Motorcycle Accident" »

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A recent bus collision in St. Louis reported by ozarksfirst.com has left 3 people dead and 13 injured. Although bus accidents are more common than most Missourians would like to believe, this accident has an especially high number of injuries and casualties. With thousands of people utilizing public transportation throughout the State of Missouri, the safety of passengers should be a priority to bus operators. However, some bus accidents are caused by bus driver negligence or poor driving skills due to improper training.

According to the article, this particular bus accident was caused by inattentive driving. Apparently, the church bus was broadsided by a pickup truck, which then proceeded to hit yet another vehicle. The bus, meanwhile, crashed into multiple cars as a result. Although law enforcement did not release a statement regarding the driving status of the man in the pickup, a neighbor told reporters that the pickup driver had a revoked license and should not have been operating the vehicle in the first place.

As this incident demonstrates, the aftermath of a bus accident can often lead to detrimental consequences. As a bus passenger, you have particular legal rights if you are injured in an accident and wish to file a claim. However, the State of Missouri has stern laws pertaining to common carriers (public buses) and the compensation injured victims may be able to receive. This is why it may be in an injured bus passenger’s best interest to contact an experienced St. Louis bus accident attorney that has the legal skills and knowledge necessary to handle such cases.

Continue reading "St. Louis Church Bus Collision Kills 3, Injures 13" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Bus Accident , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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According to a recent stltoday.com article, it was reported that a motorcyclist lost his life in a traffic crash on Highway 367. According to Missouri Highway Patrol, the 41-year-old motorcyclist from St. Louis was traveling at a “high rate of speed” immediately before the crash. The motorist involved, a 62-year-old St. Louis man, was attempting to make a left hand turn onto Highway 367 while driving his 1995 Cadillac Seville. The motorcyclist, unable to bring his vehicle to a complete stop, began to skid until he eventually crashed into the driver’s side of the Cadillac. It was not reported whether or not the driver of the Cadillac was injured. The motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident.

While accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, most of those reasons usually stem from reckless driving practice of some kind. Traffic laws have been put into place in order to curb the number of accidents that occur, ultimately safeguarding motorists against injury and wrongful death. However, in instances where traffic laws are not followed, and an individual is injured, the negligent party responsible for the accident can be held liable for damages associated with the accident, including medical bills and other resulting accident costs. In the event that an individual is killed in a motor vehicle crash, the family of the victim can seek monetary compensation from the negligent party for costs associated with the accident, including funeral expenses.

Regardless of the situation, it is important to remember that the best course of action for an injured victim after any motorcycle accident in Missouri is to retain the services of a St. Louis motorcycle accident injury lawyer. An experienced attorney will examine the details surrounding your case to help attribute negligent action to responsible parties who caused the accident in the first place.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Speeds into Cadillac, St. Louis Man Killed" »

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A car accident on the River Heritage Parkway could have ended fatally if not for the quick thinking of some nearby construction workers. A single car crash involving a 24-year-old man from Jerseyville took place near Dam Way and Lock, reports thetelegraph.com. The man’s vehicle crashed into a galvanized metal light standard when the man apparently fell asleep at the wheel. According to the report, the man had recently completed a 14-hour shift at his job, and remembered being sleepy one minute, and being pulled out of his flame-engulfed vehicle the next. There was no mentioning of whether or not drugs or alcohol were involved. The man was taken to Alton Memorial Hospital for treatment, and then transferred to Barnes-Jewish.

Luckily for the 24-year-old man, five nearby workers became aware of the crash, rushed to the scene, and extracted the near unconscious man from his vehicle only moments before the car became completely engulfed in flames. Though both vehicle doors were unable to be opened, one of the workers grabbed his crowbar from his own vehicle, and the five men were able to pry the passenger-side door open. It certainly didn’t hurt that two of the five men had firefighter experience and had received emergency training for just such a type of accident. Even though the men were able to pull the accident victim to safety, the Jerseyville man still suffered a concussion, a fractured pelvis, and possibly eternal bleeding and an ankle fracture. Reportedly, the man was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Continue reading "Sleepy Driver Nearly Loses Life in Car Fire" »

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With the new law on the horizon banning teens from texting while driving, what better way to inform teens of the new law than to spread the word via a mass text message sent by the Governor? According to a faircitynews.com story, the Governor sent about 6,000 text messages to Springfield teens informing them of the new law. Although it is debatable whether or not teens will respond amiably towards such a message, it is understandable that the State of Missouri considered it essential to contact teens. Distracted driving in the form of texting has contributed to far too many auto accidents.

Based on the report, one teen was about to start her car when she received the text message and then allegedly “blocked” the Governor’s number. Another teen who got the message said that he was parallel parking at the time and collided with an SUV in the process of reading and parking. It is a bit ironic that an accident, although small, took place while a teen received the Governor’s message warning about the new law banning teens from texting while driving. Although this new law focuses on teen drivers, adults too should certainly take notice and choose not to text or use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle.

It will be interesting to see how teens respond to the new law, and hopefully incidents of auto collisions involving teens will lower as a result. State officials claim that if teens do not adhere to the new ban, then a new program will be ready for implementation. Referred to as the Text-a-lizer, the new program would involve installing an application onto the mobile phones of teens. The application would then be able to detect whether or not a teen has been texting while driving. When the Text-a-lizer is activated, it will automatically turn the teen’s vehicle off, or lock out the ignition system.

Continue reading "Missouri Teens Informed of the Ban against Texting While Driving...Via Text" »

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The first court challenge against a red-light camera ticket in Columbia concluded with a dismissal of the ticket on September 28, 2009, according to a columbiamissourian.com report. Apparently, this particular driver filed an affidavit and claimed that he was not the driver of the vehicle that was cited. According to the report, since two red-light cameras have been installed in Columbia on September 4th, 153 tickets have been issued. However, only 30 of those tickets have been paid and an additional affidavit has already been filed by another motorist.

Red-light cameras are installed for the purpose of raising motorist awareness of traffic laws and safety. The idea is that drivers are more inclined to stop instead of running a red-light when they know that a red-light camera may capture a picture of them. Although the City Council of Columbia is unsure at this point as to whether or not a change in the red-light camera system is required, some are concerned that the efforts being made to prevent accidents are being damaged by cases that challenge the effectiveness of the cameras.

As experienced Missouri auto accident lawyers, it is our hope that any glitches in the red-light camera system are corrected immediately. We also hope that the drivers who filed affidavits are in fact telling the truth. Running a red light is a serious issue, and is an example of reckless driving, which is a form of negligence that can lead to serious injury and even wrongful death of innocent people.

Continue reading "Are Red-Light Cameras Worth the Fuss?" »

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Based on a ksdk.com article, the Illinois Department of Transportation declared on September 29, 2009 that the Martin Luther King. Jr. Bridge will be entirely closed for up to 12 days starting on October 12, 2009. A representative of Illinois’ Department of Transportation stated that the construction project was initiated by a recent road safety evaluation conducted on the bridge. While the bridge is off-limits to commuters in both Illinois and Missouri, the article stated that the following work will be done:

• A concrete barrier will be placed in the middle of the bridge to divide oncoming traffic.


• Guard rails will be redone.


• The bridge will be re-striped.


• Four lanes along the bridge will be rearranged into three lanes.

Although some residents greatly rely on the bridge as a part of their every day commute, developing a new itinerary is definitely worth the efforts that will be made to help reduce the risk of head-on collisions on the MLK Bridge. It is possible for the repaired bridge to open sooner than expected if weather conditions prove to be non-threatening. Taking note that the contractor of the operation gets a $50,000 bonus for each day the bridge opens early, let us hope that this incentive does not cause any work to be rushed and therefore improperly carried-out.

Continue reading "Road Safety Assessment Leads to MLK Bridge Construction Project" »

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A total of four people were injured when a Toyota Tundra truck crossed the centerline on Missouri Route 52 and collided with a Chevrolet 1500 truck traveling in the opposite direction. The 51-year-old male driver of the Tundra was taken to Lake Regional Hospital, while the 25-year-old female driver of the Chevy 1500 was taken to the University of Missouri-Columbia. Passengers involved in the crash were also taken to medical facilities. Conditions of all drivers involved were not made available.

The newstribune.com article did mention one detail that all motorists should be made aware of. Only one of the passengers was wearing a seatbelt. While it has not been reported whether injuries sustained during this accident are life-threatening, it can certainly be speculated that not wearing a seatbelt increases the degree of a person’s injury.

Motor vehicle accidents on Missouri roads and highways can be devastating. If large trucks are involved, motorists must take advantage of every safety precaution they can in order to lessen the likelihood of severe injury. Reckless driving practices put all motorists on the road at risk of sustaining injury, and such careless behavior is representative of negligent action on the part of the at-fault driver. A skilled Missouri auto accident lawyer can help those injured in such incidents hold negligent drivers liable for their injuries and any property damage.

Continue reading "Two Trucks Collide, 4 MO Motorists Injured" »

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According to recent reports, new legislation in Illinois will reverse a state law regarding how fast truck drivers are allowed to travel. The new law will reverse a previous law that prohibited truck drivers from traveling faster than 55 miles per hour. This new legislation raises the question of whether more truck accidents will occur if such large vehicles are allowed to drive at higher speeds. While passenger vehicles traveling at excessive speeds are certainly dangerous, semi-trucks and big-rigs doing so are certainly recipes for disaster.

Instances of truck accidents are certainly not new, and may in fact not end up being more problematic than they have been in the past, but it still seems counterintuitive for any state government to adopt legislation that permits any vehicle to travel at higher rates of speed. Faster speeds will ultimately lead to more instances of vehicular accident injury and increase the likelihood of wrongful death. AAA and other highway safety advocates argue that a uniform speed limit will only lead to deadlier traffic accidents. Truck drivers and higher truck speed limit advocates argue that the safest possible conditions for vehicular traffic must always dictate vehicles traveling at the same rate of speed, and that trucks that are forced to drive at a slower rate than passenger cars are nothing more than targets waiting to get hit.

Continue reading "IL Speed Limit Rise Could Increase MO Truck Accidents" »

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It was recently reported by newstribune.com that a 35-year-old motorist was injured when his truck rolled over several times. The Gravois Mills man was traveling on Route RA in Camden County when he lost control of his 2004 Dodge 2500 truck. It was reported that the man was traveling at a high rate of speed and was unable to make a turn, forcing his vehicle off the road and causing it to overturn multiple times.

Thankfully, the man was treated for his injuries and was soon released from the hospital. It was also reported that the man was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, which could also help explain why he didn’t sustain serious injury. However, it should be noted that, while the man did take at least one safety precaution into account, he did not consider the tendency that large trucks have to rollover. In this particular incident, no other motorists were involved. However, all it takes is for one motorist driving a truck or other large vehicle to disregard vehicle limitations and cause an accident that is capable of affecting the lives of numerous other motorists.

When vehicles are more susceptible to rollover, motorists operating those vehicles are obligated to exercise safe driving practices. While it should be considered common sense that all motorists take not only their own safety into account at all times, but the safety of others as well, it is an all-too-often occurrence that reckless driver behavior results in injury, property damage, and, in the most tragic of cases, death.

Continue reading "Truck Rolls Over in Camden County One-Car Crash" »

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An unusual story published on kmov.com details the story of a 17 year old who was injured in his school bus. Despite the fact that most school bus accidents that result in injuries involve collisions, this one involved assault. The student was physically attacked by both a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old onboard a bus heading to Belleville West High School on the morning of September 14, 2009. The two alleged attackers have been suspended from school for causing the victim to suffer bruises and cuts on his face; he was fortunate not to have suffered a more serious injury.

This bus attack has prompted the concern of many parents regarding the safety of their children when traveling to and from school on buses. The transportation company, First Student, which monitors buses for Belleville West and East, stated that the driver followed company policy when the attacks started. Until the case of the violent bus attack is resolved, the driver is on leave.

Although this incident did not involve a collision, bus accidents in Missouri and Illinois are responsible for many injuries on an annual basis, and in the most severe of cases, wrongful death. Drivers have the responsibility to exercise extreme caution when operating their vehicle, not only for their own safety, but for the safety of others on the road as well. In examining this specific bus incident, a collision could have resulted if the driver had been distracted by the attack on the bus and thus unable to pull over safely; however, fortunately, this was not the case.

Continue reading "Injury Sustained During School Bus Attack is an Uncommon Occurrence" »

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Pedestrian accidents can cause some of the most serious injuries seen in auto accidents, posing a tremendous and unfortunate risk of wrongful death, especially when vehicles traveling at high speeds are involved. The impact of a pedestrian either hitting concrete, the vehicle itself, or any other object near or on the road or sidewalk, can be enough to inflict catastrophic head injuries, spinal injuries, and other severe injuries.

A recent pedestrian accident has sadly taken the life of an 83-year-old man in St. Louis. According to reports, the elderly man stepped in front of a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old young man who was traveling on Virginia Avenue around noon on September 14, 2009. The elderly man hit the windshield of the car after being struck and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

It is not known at this time whether the teenage driver will be charged for the pedestrian’s death; however, police were reported as saying that they didn’t expect such charges to be filed. Fortunately, the driver stayed at the scene of the auto accident and cooperated with police, otherwise, circumstances for facing charges may have been different. Some may argue that one of the causes of this auto accident was driver inexperience in addition to other feasible factors.

Continue reading "St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Kills Elderly Man" »

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According to a recent report, a single-vehicle car accident that occurred in Missouri, on Monday, July 27, 2009, along Interstate 44, claimed the life of a 23-year-old man from Dallas, Texas. The tragic death increased the number of 2009 auto accident fatalities in the Troop D area of Southwest Missouri to 59. What is staggering to imagine is that this calculation only relates to a portion of Missouri, thus leaving higher numbers of traffic deaths for the state.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the decedent lost control of his 1991 Voyager minivan when he was headed east on I-44. He was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle slid off the right side of the road and struck a tree, catching fire. It is not known at this time whether the victim was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Based on a 2007 traffic crash statistic report conducted by the Missouri Department of Transportation for accidents that occurred on Missouri’s State Highway System, there were 14 total fatalities and 196 injuries resulting from auto accidents where the vehicle ran off the road. There are many factors such as dangerous road conditions, a stalled auto, an animal or object in the road, or threatening weather conditions, that can cause a driver to lose control of his or her vehicle and be forced to leave the road. The families of victims killed in auto accidents would be well advised to seek counsel from a skilled St. Louis auto accident lawyer if they believe a negligent driver was responsible for the accident and wrongful death.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Marks 59th Fatality for 2009" »

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St. Louis County’s upcoming election in November will determine whether or not a 0.1-cent sales tax will be implemented, which according to a recent report, would raise nearly $13.6 million a year to finance an upgraded program for advanced emergency communications systems. This money would also go towards equipment to determine the location of those in distress or those reporting an accident via cell phone, and an improved siren system for police and firefighter vehicles. Already putting efforts into action, supporters and organizers of the sales tax have created a campaign committee and have begun raising money.

Whether or not the program will receive enough votes is yet to be determined. After being involved in an accident, whether it is a car accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident, many drivers aren’t sure what their precise location is. This issue may be enough incentive to make citizens want the 28 emergency 911 centers in St. Louis County upgraded so that dispatches can easily determine the position of callers with cell phones.

The campaign’s slogan is, “If we cannot find you, we cannot save you.” For more information about the campaign and the program, visit www.citizensfore911.org.

Continue reading "St. Louis County Sales Tax for Emergency Communications Proposed to Make Response to Accidents More Acute" »

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According to a story on stltoday.com, a large church van overturned in an accident that left 16 people injured in Hollister, Missouri. Of the 16 injured passengers, 13 were treated and later released with only minor injuries. One accident victim was airlifted to a Springfield area hospital, while two other victims were driven to Springfield area hospitals. There is no update on the condition of the remaining three victims.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash, but suspect that slippery road conditions may have contributed to the incident. The auto accident in Missouri occurred at the bottom of a hill, and apparently resulted when the van crossed the center line, went off road, and then proceeded to crash into Kohler Creek. While inclement weather can certainly play a significant factor in causing a traffic accident, it is not the only danger that drivers of 15-passenger vans face.

Vans have a relatively high center of gravity to begin with, and their propensity for rolling over is considerably greater than nearly all over vehicles on the road. Factor in the shifting combined weight of passengers, especially since seatbelt usage may not be deemed a requirement by passengers, and the likelihood of a van rolling over is even greater. In any event, manufacturers of 15-passenger vans need to accept accountability for their shoddily designed vehicles.

Continue reading "Church Van Rollover Injures 16 in Hollister" »

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A recent article reported that a 48-year-old woman riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle was killed in a Missouri motorcycle crash near Doniphan on Route 21. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident was caused by a deer in the road that was struck by the motorcycle, which consequently was forced off the road and overturned. The Harley-Davidson was being driven by the woman’s 51-year old husband, who was seriously injured and flown to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee for treatment.

Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, but being exposed on a bike makes a rider and passenger more vulnerable to the many dangers associated with a vehicle accident. No one can say if the accident above could have been prevented considering that the motorcyclist only had a short amount of time to react with the deer suddenly in the road. This incident is a reminder to all of us, motorcyclists, car owners, and truck drivers alike, that it only takes a second for some unforeseen hazard to pose a risk to us while traveling, which is why our undivided attention must be, at all times, on both the road and the vehicles that surround us.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s 2007 traffic crash statistics, there was a total of 1,395 motorcycle, scooter, and moped accidents in which there were 61 fatalities and 1,306 injuries. Injuries from a motorcycle collision may include broken bones, leg and arm fractures, brain injury, spinal injury, internal organ injury and damage, lacerations and bruises.

Continue reading "Eastern Missouri Motorcycle Accident Kills Woman" »

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Carrollcountynews.com recently reported that a 75-year-old motorcyclist from Missouri was killed in Arkansas when his motorcycle collided head-on with a pickup truck. The accident occurred on Highway 23 when the 22-year-old driver of the truck crossed the centerline and struck the motorcycle. According to law enforcement officials, charges are pending against the truck driver who was injured in the crash.

Road conditions that day were dry, the motorcyclist was wearing his helmet, and even the driver of the truck was wearing his seatbelt. While the truck driver was injured after his vehicle rolled over, the motorcyclist lost his life. Tragically, it only takes one minor mistake for a life to be lost. While the outcome of the accident could have been prevented if the truck driver had simply remained in his traffic lane, it is an unfortunate fact that reckless driving habits take the lives of motorists throughout the U.S., Missouri included.

Motorcyclists are particularly susceptible to serious injury for the simple fact that they are not protected within the framing of an automobile. Therefore, it is absolutely critical that all motorists refrain from driving at excessive speeds. It is also important for motorists to take necessary precautions at intersections and safely proceed around bends in the road. Truck drivers in particular, being at the helm of large and powerful vehicles, need to exercise proper caution in order to prevent catastrophic accidents from occurring.

Continue reading "MO Motorcyclist Killed by Pickup in Head-On Collision" »

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According to a recent report, on Wednesday, July 29, a 5-year-old boy crossing the street was struck and killed by a car going 10-15 mph. Apparently the young boy was in a hurry to catch up with some of his friends when he was hit. Police are ruling this incident an accident and the driver of the vehicle is not facing charges at this time. What concerns law enforcement, however, is why the young child was unsupervised in the first place. The pedestrian accident in Missouri occurred at 7:45 pm along Livingston Avenue in St. Ann.

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s 2007 traffic crash report indicates that there were 42 fatalities and 240 injures in pedestrian accidents in Missouri. That means that out of all the fatal traffic accidents in the state, 11.3% involved pedestrian deaths. On a more positive note however, the study reported that pedestrian fatalities decreased 18% during the one year period of 2007 to 2006.

Considering that 76% of pedestrian fatalities and 43.5% of pedestrian injuries in 2007 took place during the hours of darkness, both pedestrians and drivers have a serious responsibility to use extreme caution and awareness when traveling. If you are walking at night, remember to avoid wearing dark clothing and do not trust that a vehicle’s driver sees you.

Continue reading "Missouri Pedestrian Accident Kills 5 Year Old Boy" »

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The fifth annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report” reveals a vast amount of information regarding America’s 200 largest cities and their collision frequency to determine which cities have the safest drivers. According to an article, the news isn’t great for Illinois. One of the Allstate data sections related to cities with more than one million residents, which included Chicago, Illinois. The report stated that drivers are more likely than the national average to experience a collision in U.S. cities with a population above one million. Chicago was listed as 170th in this category, making drivers 37.6% more likely to be in a collision compared to the national average. Phoenix ranked highest in this category as the safest large city for commuters.

Senior vice president of Allstate’s Claim Organization reasons that human error is the biggest cause of accidents throughout the nation and that it is “vital for us to educate drivers across the country on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel.” As personal injury attorneys who handle auto accident cases in Illinois and Missouri, we couldn’t agree more.

Continue reading "Safe Driving Tips from Allstate's Best Driver Report" »

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In a press release issued today, text messaging and driving may soon be banned in all states. It will be mandated that all states ban texting while driving if they want to receive highway funding. If they do not comply with the requirement to ban texting while driving, their funding will be withheld. So far 19 states have banned texting and driving. Texting has been linked to many serious Missouri car and truck accident cases. Experienced personal injury lawyers always explore the possibility of an at fault driver texting before a crash.

Illinois is the most recent state to prohibit texting while driving. The law was signed into effect on August 6 bringing the total of states that have banned text messaging while driving to 19. It is expected that Missouri will soon follow the lead of its neighboring state.

In St. Louis, Missouri a tractor trailer accident causing multiple fatalities on Highway 40 was allegedly caused because the semi truck driver was texting while he was driving and caused a chain reaction accident. Entire families were killed during this horrendous truck accident.

According to the Automobile Club of America, the risk of having a car accident increases by 50% for those who text message and drive at the same time. With 46% of new drivers surveyed saying they text and drive, teens are the largest group texting and driving, increasing the risk of cell phone auto accidents in Missouri and throughout the nation.

Continue reading "Texting and Driving Can Be a Deadly Combination" »

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The following article from the News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri describes a two-vehicle crash resulting in two injuries and one fatality in Taney County.

This Missouri car accident happened a little after noon on August 9, on U.S. 160, about a mile east of Walnut Shade, Missouri. A 70 year old Highlandville, Missouri man was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. It was reported that he was wearing his seat belt during the accident.

The driver of the other car involved in this Missouri car wreck was a 19 year old Forsyth, MO resident. He was taken immediately to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri with moderate injuries. He was also reportedly wearing a seat belt.

Additionally, a passenger was airlifted to St. John’s Hospital with serious injuries. The 16 year-old Reeds Spring, MO resident was reportedly not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. According to a report from the Highway Patrol, a 1995 Ford F-150 crossed the center line and hit a 2005 Chevrolet van head-on.

The Highway Patrol report says there were no apparent signs that alcohol was a factor. At the time of this article, it is unknown whether law enforcement authorities plan to charge anyone for causing the auto accident in Missouri that led to the unfortunate death.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Kills 70 Year Old Resident" »

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A tour bus for the Christian rock band MercyMe, en route to Six Flags in Eureka, Missouri, near St. Louis, was recently involved in an accident resulting in fatalities. The bus collision took place in northeastern Indiana, killing two passengers and the 18 year old driver’s unborn baby. No one in the band was seriously injured.

The two passengers in the car, a male and female, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was in her third trimester of pregnancy and the baby died. The driver was hospitalized Saturday in critical condition, Officer Liza Thomas of Fort Wayne, Indiana police said.

Reports did not mention whether any passengers were wearing seatbelts.

According to Thomas, witnesses said the bus was going through a green light in the early hours of the morning at about 1:15 am on Saturday, August 8, when the car made a left turn in front of it.

Because of the driver’s condition, it has not been determined why she turned in front of the tour bus. It is unknown if she was trying to beat it through the intersection or just didn’t see it.

A photograph of the damaged bus was posted on the band’s website, depicting moderate crumpling to the front area of the vehicle. Six Flags issued a statement confirming the concert has been rescheduled for Sept. 5 and all concert tickets will be honored for the new date.

Continue reading "Tour Bus Accident Fatalities" »

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An article reports that a Swansea man was killed and another man hospitalized for injuries he received when he was thrown from a vehicle in a car accident near Belleville recently. The man who was killed in the auto accident is reportedly a 79-year-old resident from Swansea who was driving a 2008 Buick LaCrosse when his car was struck head-on by a 1992 Dodge Ram conversion van. The van’s driver was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville and later airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital shortly after 10 in the morning. At the time the article was published, the condition of the van’s driver was unknown.

According to law enforcement authorities investigating the accident, the auto accident occurred on Illinois 161 near Shiloh Road and east of Southwestern Illinois College. The impact threw the van’s driver onto the road and emergency response personnel say that the 79-year-old victim died on impact. The St. Clair County Coroner arrived about 9:45 a.m. to officially pronounce the Buick’s driver deceased.

Accident reconstruction indicates that the Dodge van was westbound when it crossed the center line and struck the LaCrosse, causing the fatal car accident which closed Illinois 161 in both directions for several hours. At the time the article was published, the results of routine blood tests from the drivers were not yet known, and it is also unknown whether or not law enforcement authorities plan to charge the van’s driver for causing the car accident that led to the other man’s death.

Sadly, car accidents claim many lives in the St. Louis area each year and many more people’s lives are changed forever from injuries they receive in car accidents caused by drivers who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving recklessly, or operating their vehicles in a negligent manner. Beyond the injuries that St. Louis car accident victims suffer, they must often also contend with catastrophically high medical bills from hospital stays, rehabilitative regimens, prescription medication and loss of income.

Continue reading "Swansea Man Killed in Belleville Car Accident" »

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A Missouri motorcycle accident has resulted in injuries for a Columbia man hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. This recent article in the Columbia Tribune claims that the 25-year-old Columbia man was riding a 2007 Kawasaki which was westbound on Route F east of Route J when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle which turned into the motorcycle’s path. According to law enforcement officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the motorcycle accident occurred around 6:30 in the evening when an eastbound 2008 Chevrolet driven by a 47-year-old Columbia woman turned directly in front of the motorcycle.

The impact with the car threw the motorcycle’s rider some distance and he was taken to University Hospital in an ambulance where he was listed in fair condition. The Missouri motorcycle accident report did not say whether or not the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet’s driver was wearing a safety belt and was apparently unharmed in the accident.

A vehicle of some kind which crosses into the path of a motorcycle is a frequent cause of Missouri motorcycle accidents and the drivers of these vehicles often claim that they did not see the motorcycle in the moments before the accident occurred. Sadly, many motorcycle accidents in Missouri and other states across the country result in the motorcycle rider being seriously injured or killed. With the exception of a helmet, motorcycle riders simply have little to protect them from an impact with a vehicle which outweighs their motorcycle by thousands of pounds.

Continue reading "Missouri Motorcycle Accident Injures Columbia Man" »

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This article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that two St. Louis men caused a St. Louis car accident that claimed the life of a 48-year-old Dittmer man.

The two men—a 28-year-old and 21-year-old—were allegedly chasing a vehicle sometime on May 5, 2009, after a reported drug deal went awry in High Ridge. The two men reportedly fired weapons at a Jeep driven by a woman who had an adult male passenger and a 2-year-old child in the Jeep with her. Law enforcement officials with the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office say that after the shots were fired at the Jeep, the female driver of the Jeep lost control of the vehicle and struck a truck. The driver of the truck suffered fatal injuries in the accident.

The victim’s mother said that her son had just dropped off his 11-year-old son nearby in Festus and was heading home after treating his son to an evening at the movies. She said that the man was only two miles from his home when the accident occurred.

Continue reading "St. Louis Car Crash Kills Man" »

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This article which appeared recently in the Joplin Globe describes a car accident in Missouri which occurred near Carterville in August 2008 around a mile east of Carterville on Highway 171. The Joplin man was allegedly the driver of a Porsche that was racing a Ford Mustang and was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the Porsche which struck the rear of a Dodge Durango driven by a 33-year-old Carthage man. The accident report submitted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol claims that the collision caused the Durango to leave the roadway and overturn.

Other passengers in the Durango included the driver’s 28-year-old wife, an 8-year-old son, and 7-year-old daughter who all sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital. The 8-year-old sustained serious injuries, the mother’s injuries were described as moderate, and the 7-year-old daughter’s injuries were reportedly minor. An hour after the accident occurred, the Joplin man was given a breath test which indicted that his blood-alcohol content was 0.158 percent. In Missouri and every other state in the country, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08 percent.

Racing on state highways at excessive speed could be considered reckless driving and operating a vehicle in a negligent manner. In addition, driving under the influence of alcohol can exacerbate charges of negligence and reckless driving. With three family members hurt and hospitalized due to the Missouri auto accident, the family in the Durango probably faces steep bills for their medical care.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Caused by Drunk Driver Injures Woman and Children" »

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According to this report in the Hannibal Courier-Post, the driver of a tractor-trailer faces involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with a St. Louis truck wrongful death accident that claimed the lives of two northeast Missouri residents last summer. The driver, a 49-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, Ala., allegedly plowed his truck into stopped traffic on Interstate 64/40 in July 2008. The resulting impact killed an 88-year-old Kahoka man and 55-year-old woman from Canton. The truck driver is currently being held in the St. Louis County Detention Center in Clayton on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

Accidents involving tractor-trailers are especially deadly as these large trucks often haul up to 80,000 pounds of freight. Smaller passenger vehicles simply cannot withstand the impact of this much weight traveling at any rate of speed, and the rates of death and catastrophic injury are much higher when a semitrailer truck is involved. The survivors of truck accidents in Missouri often face a steep and very expensive uphill climb to recovery with lengthy hospital stays, grueling physical rehabilitation regimens, and medical bills that quickly climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a truck accident, the St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Page Cagle may be able to help. This St. Louis personal injury law firm has helped countless clients injured or killed in St. Louis auto accidents receive the compensation they deserve to offset steep medical expenses, and hold those responsible for the accident accountable for their actions. To speak with their experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys, call them today at 866-620-5757. More detailed information can be found at www.truckaccidentlawgropup.com.

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A three-vehicle auto accident in Missouri killed a 76-year-old woman from Camdenton and critically injured a 45-year-old woman from Richland. Both women were wearing their seatbelts. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the decedent, who was driving a 1990 Honda, stopped her car on Highway 5 to make a left turn onto Christopher Drive. A young man from Lebanon, MO, slammed into the rear of the decedent’s car, pushing the Honda into oncoming traffic.

A third person sustained severe injuries in the car accident. She was driving the opposite direction of the decedent on Highway 5 and struck the decedent’s vehicle head-on. The decedent was killed on impact and pronounced dead at the scene. The young man was alleged to have caused this Missouri car crash and was not wearing his seatbelt.

Allegedly the young driver failed to keep a proper lookout because he did not stop behind the decedent’s car while she was attempting to make a left turn. This could create liability on his behalf for the car accident and resulting damages. Car crashes occur every day and often result in multiple injuries and wrongful death in Missouri. Chain reactions usually occur when one car hits another and so on down the line, especially when cars are traveling at high speeds in high traffic areas.

Cautious driving is always advised, but a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence can’t always be avoided. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, it is important that you immediately seek a car crash lawyer to make sure your legal needs are represented. As a founding partner of Page Cagle, A Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, and as an experienced St. Louis auto accident lawyer, I zealously represent my clients to make sure they are rightfully compensated for injuries. Call me for a free consultation at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit www.missouricaraccident.com for more information.

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In Texas, a high school golf coach was badly injured after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. He has been listed in critical condition, suffering from head injury, broken arms, legs, ribs, and a severe foot injury. The motorcycle accident allegedly occurred because the pickup driver failed to yield while merging onto the highway and did not see the motorcyclist. The motorcycle ran head-on into the driver’s side of the truck, causing significant external and internal injuries. The motorcyclist was not wearing his helmet, the pickup truck driver was not injured, and neither was speeding.

Helmet safety in relation to Missouri motorcycle injuries is always an issue of debate, as some states require helmet use where others do not, and some motorcyclists claim that helmets hinder their vision and hearing capabilities. The NHTSA sponsored a study of fifty motorcyclists of various ages and riding experiences to assess the abilities of motorcyclists wearing helmets. The study tests motorcyclists’ abilities:

1. To visually detect the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes before changing lanes; and


2. To detect traffic sounds when operating at normal highway speeds.

The hearing results showed there were no significant difference in riders’ ability to hear the auditory signals regardless of whether they were wearing a helmet or not. At higher speeds, wind noise obviously makes hearing more difficult in general, but the helmets did not affect hearing abilities. Overall, any possible drawbacks of helmet use are severely negated by the benefits in terms of the protection offered in the event of an accident.

Further, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of crash fatality by 37 percent. Helmets are most important in preventing brain injuries; NHTSA statistics indicate that in the event of a motorcycle accident in Missouri and throughout the nation, motorcyclists not wearing a helmet are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries. Further, 65% of fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all-rider helmet laws as compared with only 13% in states with such laws.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Helmet Vision and Hearing Study" »

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A recent Missouri tractor trailer accident killed one person and has led to a personal injury lawsuit. Specifically, the family of the young man killed in this big rig crash has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The crash occurred while the decedent was driving on east on Martin Luther King Bridge, from Missouri into Illinois.

As the decedent was driving eastbound, the tractor trailer and another vehicle, rented from Enterprise Leasing Company, were driving west on the bridge. The driver of the Enterprise vehicle wanted to pass the tractor trailer, despite being in a no-passing zone. When the car tried to pass the tractor trailer, he allegedly pulled into the decedent’s eastbound lane and caused the collision with the vehicles.

The family of the decedent seeks compensation for deprivation of the decedent’s love, affection, society and support in addition to costs associated with the death itself. This Missouri wrongful death suit was filed against the driver of the vehicle for negligence and also against Enterprise Leasing Company because the family alleged negligent entrustment of the vehicle being leased to the allegedly reckless driver. The family claims that the actions of Enterprise combined with the negligent driver were the proximate causes of the injuries and death suffered.

The family seeks in excess of $200,000 in this Missouri personal injury action. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, call Page Cagle for a free consultation with a skilled St. Louis trucking accident attorney. We are happy to assess your legal rights and discuss your legal options with you.

Call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.injuredclient.com for more information. You pay nothing until you recover.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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It has been reported in stltoday.com story that the Missouri Legislature recently passed a bill that makes it illegal for anyone 21 years of age or younger to text while driving. The article claims that Illinois lawmakers are considering similar legislation in the very near future that will ban people of any age from composing or sending text messages, browsing the Internet, or downloading from a phone while driving a vehicle. The sponsor of the Missouri bill, Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City, said that he has seen many people come close to Missouri car accidents because they were texting while driving.

Recent cases across the country where pedestrians and bicyclists died after being struck by drivers who were distracted by reading or composing texts spurred the legislation. "It's become so much a part of their life that they don't even think about it," said Illinois state Sen. Pam Althoff, R-Crystal Lake, a co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill in that state. “They need to understand that they're driving this 2,000-pound vehicle, and it could do significant damage as they're texting."

Personal communication devices represent another distraction for drivers, which make our roads more dangerous for other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Under the new Missouri legislation, if someone is struck and injured or killed by a vehicle driven by someone under 21 years old distracted by sending or reading text messages, the driver may face additional criminal charges for that act. This new legislation will also make it easier for proving negligence in a motor vehicle accident claim brought by the victim or victim’s family.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed by a driver texting while operating a motor vehicle, call the Missouri personal injury law firm, Page Cagle. These skilled St. Louis auto accident attorneys can help hold those responsible for the accident and help you receive the compensation you deserve for injuries and damage you have suffered. To schedule a free consultation with experienced Missouri personal injury attorneys, call Page Cagle today at 866-620-5757. You can find more information by visiting www.injuredclient.com.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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A 22-year-old woman died after she was thrown from a motorcycle in Arlington, Texas. The woman was riding on the motorcycle with her friend late at night when they struck a car. The motorcycle was allegedly racing with another motorcycle, and each was estimated to be speeding above 100 mph. The motorcycle then struck the rear of a Sedan, which fled the scene of the auto accident.

The charges for the motorcyclists are pending the outcome of investigation. Police suspect the driver of the Sedan fled in fear of liability; however, the Sedan driver was generally not at fault before fleeing the scene. Although the sedan driver's liability has not been determined, as the circumstances of the event are still under investigation, generally leaving the scene of a car accident or motorcycle accident in St. Louis is a crime. The following is Missouri state law in regards to "hit and run" vehicle crashes:

"A person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highway or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping or giving his information."

Further, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a class A misdemeanor, except it is a class D felony if the accident resulted in:

1. Physical injury to another party; or
2. Property damage in excess of one thousand dollars; or
3. If the defendant has previously pled guilty to or been found guilty of a violation of this section.

When a motorcycle accident in Missouri occurs, the driver should always provide the following to either a police officer or the injured party:

1. Name;
2. Residence;
3. Insurance provider;
4. Motor vehicle number; and
5. Drivers license number.

Also, if a police officer is not in the vicinity, the driver should go to the nearest police station or judicial officer to provide those listed above in order to avoid liability for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, as an experienced Missouri motorcycle accident attorney and personal injury lawyer at Page Cagle, I am happy to discuss your case with you and answer any questions you may have. I can be reached 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). Call me personally and I will answer all the questions and concerns you may have. You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.MotorcycleInjuryLawGroup.com, for more information. There is no fee unless we recover for you.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents

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A Lincoln County car accident killed a Troy, Missouri woman recently. The Missouri car crash occurred on U.S. 61. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Missouri Highway Patrol reported that the 46-year-old decedent was traveling north on U.S. 61 in a pickup truck when another pickup truck tried to cross the highway.

When the second pickup tried to cross U.S. 61 at Cannonball Road, it collided into the driver’s side of the first pickup truck. The first pickup was pushed off of the right side of the highway and hit a road sign before flipping over and throwing the decedent from her truck. The decedent was not wearing her seat belt and was pronounced dead shortly after the accident.

The second truck also ran off the road and ended up in a ditch, although the second driver was wearing her seatbelt and only sustained minor injuries. No personal injury lawsuits have been filed yet. More information about this motor vehicle accident in Missouri can be found in the following article.

Car accidents like this occur every day and often cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one is injured in a car crash, it is crucial to seek medical attention for treatment and also contact a skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyer to represent your legal interests and make sure you are compensated for your injuries. Call Page Cagle for a free consultation. We aggressively represent injured clients every day.

Call Page Cagle, A Missouri Injury Law Firm, 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658) for a free consultation. You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit www.injuredclient.com for more information. You pay nothing unless you recover.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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News reports releasing recent statistics about traffic accidents that are caused by “driving while texting” compare texting to being drunk while driving. Although most of the statistics were related to teenage drivers, who were inexperienced on the road, teenagers aren’t the only ones causing traffic accidents because they are negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout while driving.

In fact, a 30-year-old tractor trailer driver has recently been charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving with serious bodily injury after his 18-wheeler caused a crash with a school bus. The truck crash, which occurred in Florida, has gained increased media attention, as it was caused by a negligent tractor trailer driver, who admits he was text messaging minutes before he rear-ended a school bus that was stopped on the road. The school bus burst into flames. This crash ultimately injured 11 children and killed a 13-year-old girl, who could not be pulled out from the flaming bus.

The tractor trailer driver turned himself in to authorities after the tractor trailer crash, accepting that he was distracted from the road and negligent in driving. Despite his remorse, the fact of the matter is that a young girl died and eleven others were injured because of a simple negligent action on the road that could have been prevented. Recent legislation in some states ban texting while driving, although Florida is not one of them. Despite the lack in particular legislation, texting while driving can still be used to show negligence and prove liability in personal injury claims stemming from a tractor trailer accident.

Injuries stemming from big rig crashes are often life-threatening and unfortunately fatal, as the above case shows. The damages that result from St. Louis big rig accident injuries range from broken bones, head trauma, brain damage, and death. Many of these injuries require life-long medical treatment and therapy.

Injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of a truck driver are compensable. As a founding partner of Page Cagle, A Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, I aggressively represent clients injured in tractor trailer accidents in Missouri on a daily basis. Call me for a free consultation to discuss your case at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also visit www.truckaccidentlawgroup.com for more information.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents

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StJoeNews.net reports in an account that on April 5, 2009, a compact car driven by a 23-year-old Liberty woman rear ended a Missouri DOT truck. The accident occurred a few miles south of St. Joseph on I-29. The DOT truck was stopped in the passing lane of I-29 northbound with a warning directional arrow activated to signal motorists into the driving lane. The driver of the compact car suffered minor injuries from the auto accident in Missouri.

During spring, the Department of Transportation rushes to repair the toll that winter takes on Missouri’s roadways. As part of that repair effort, state workers often have to stop in one or more lanes of a roadway. Although the big orange trucks of the DOT carry warning lights to notify motorists that the vehicles are moving slowly or have stopped, obstructed sight lines or other situations can slow driver reaction time, creating the potential for dangerous accidents.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind Missouri motorists to be careful on the highways and interstates during the annual spring road repairs. Be cautious approaching hills, curves and other places where sight lines are restricted.

Over 40,000 people are killed each year on the nation’s highways. Don’t become another statistic. Stay alert behind the wheel and pay attention to the lights and warning signals on state vehicles.

If you have any questions about car accidents, truck accidents or workers compensation, please contact us at the Missouri personal injury law firm Page Cagle. We have handled numerous cases of individuals suffering catastrophic injuries caused by the negligence of someone else as well as helped families receive financial compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one. Call us today at 866-620-5757 to discuss your case with an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents , Workers Compensation

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A car veered onto a sidewalk, striking two Cahokia teens, killing one and injuring another as they were walking to a friend’s house. According to this report, an 18-year-old male and 17-year-old female were walking between the 700 and 800 blocks of Falling Springs Road near Cahokia around 7:50 in the evening when a car left the road and traveled along the sidewalk where it struck the 18-year-old male victim. Cahokia Police officials are still investigating the car accident in Illinois, but reports state that the vehicle dragged the male victim about 100 feet until the car hit a tree.

The female victim sustained bone fractures and received treatment at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis.

The male victim’s family has been unable to make funeral arrangements because they cannot afford to pay for the costs of a funeral. According to the report, a family friend established a trust for the funeral costs at a local bank.

Law enforcement officials have not issued any charges related to the car accident, but expect to after completion of a report from an accident reconstruction team investigating the incident. It is unknown whether the driver was ill, driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but the evidence suggests that the driver was negligent in the operation of the vehicle.

Continue reading "Cahokia Car Accident Kills One Teenager, Another Wounded" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Pedestrian Accident , Personal Injury

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A St. Louis man driving the wrong way on I-255 caused a head-on accident that killed three people, including a 9-year-old boy. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the driver was obviously drunk and had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. The driver has been charged with 14 criminal offenses, including reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence (dui) of alcohol and aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm.

Drunk driving charges have been filed according to a report on this Missouri drunk driving accident.

According to authorities, the driver in this case has an extensive record for driving under the influence and had previously served five years in jail for drunk driving. When this accident occurred, he was still serving court supervision and was driving with a revoked license.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Kills 3 People" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents

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A St. Louis woman died after her truck was hit by an Amtrak train as she tried to cross railroad tracks. According to this news report, the woman was on her way to conduct soil tests at a pipeline construction site when she was hit by an eastbound Amtrak train in Hartford. She was pregnant at the time of the train accident. No one in the train was injured.

The crossing where this auto accident occurred is marked but has no lights or gates, according to the news report. Some say it is tough to see approaching trains at the crossing because of vegetation, but Hartford police say they haven't had a train accident at that crossing in 25 years. The fatal accident is still under investigation.

If an accident occurs when a worker is on-the-job or on the way to his or her job then he or she would be entitled to workers compensation benefits. In cases where the accident is fatal, the victim's family would be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Missouri workers compensation laws and procedures can be confusing and complicated. But a knowledgeable and top workers compensation attorney in Missouri can advise you about your rights and how to go about getting the compensation you rightfully deserve.

In auto accident cases that involve other parties or other vehicles, a skilled Missouri personal injury attorney will be able to look at all aspects and scenarios to determine who should be held accountable for the accident and injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri auto accident, please call Page & Cagle to find out about your legal rights and options. We offer free consultations and case evaluations.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Railroad Accidents , Workers Compensation

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A car accident victim recently appealed a judgment after she was not awarded damages for pain and suffering from two car accidents, although economic damages were awarded for medical bills. Medical records established the girl suffered head, neck, back and jaw injuries in two automobile accidents that were within the same year; thus, the Plaintiff alleges that the refusal to award damages for pain and suffering was not supported by the evidence.

The facts are as follows: Plaintiff’s car allegedly collided with Defendant 1’s car when Defendant 1 pulled out from a parking lot without looking. Plaintiff’s head whipped back and forth and hit the headrest. The next day, Plaintiff sought medical treatment for head, neck and back pain. Plaintiff saw a chiropractor and her primary care physician, and both diagnosed her with myofascial pain syndrome resulting from the car accident.

Seven months after the accident with Defendant 1, Plaintiff was a passenger in a stopped car that was rear-ended by Defendant 2. In this accident, Plaintiff’s neck was jolted back and forth, and the next day her head, neck and back pain increased. She sought medical treatment and noticed that her jaw was also in constant pain after the accident. She sought constant care for her injuries through dentists, doctors and physical therapists, to name a few.

Because of the increasing pain and complications arising with the injuries Plaintiff suffered through the car accidents, she sued Defendant 1 and Defendant 2 for said injuries. Plaintiff alleges that she suffers regularly from debilitating headaches and pains that impact her daily life choices as well as career choices and participation in social activities.

Plaintiff produced medical testimony at trial and the only medical matter disputed was the diagnosis of pain. Some doctors testified Plaintiff suffered from temporomandibular joint disorder (extreme jaw pain) and others diagnosed her with myofascial pain syndrome that occurs from soft tissue damage. Neither of the Defendants presented material to dispute the whether the accident caused Plaintiff’s injuries.

Continue reading "Car Accident Victim Awarded Medical Compensation" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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A recent Missouri car crash killed four and critically injured two. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, the Des Peres accident was caused by an off-duty Sunset Hills police officer, who was allegedly drunk. Police are considering filing manslaughter charges against the police officer, whose negligent actions killed four female college students. Civil cases have not yet been filed.

Although the Missouri State Highway Patrol will not definitively comment on whether or not the officer was drunk, they have confirmed that there are strong suspicions she was drunk at the time of the auto accident in Missouri. The 41-year-old police officer, from Kirkwood, is still in critical condition. Additionally, the police officer’s son is currently facing manslaughter charges because he drove while drunk and killed a passenger in his vehicle last year.

In this case, the police officer was driving her Mitsubishi Eclipse at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday when she crashed into a vehicle carrying five people. The police officer was driving the wrong way on the road when she crashed into the other vehicle, carrying graduate students from Eastern Illinois University. Those killed in the accident were all females under the age of 25, and the one survivor in the vehicle, a 27-year-old female, is listed in serious condition at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Crash Kills Four, Injures Two" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Two people were injured in a rollover accident in Missouri on southbound Highway 63. According to this news report, one auto rear-ended another car. Authorities suspect one of the drivers was drunk at the time of this auto accident. So far they have not arrested the suspect or issued any summons. One of the cars went off the road and rolled over, while another hit a fence, the news report states. The Missouri car accident is still under investigation.

If you or someone you love has been struck and injured by a drunk driver in Missouri, then you are the victim of someone else's negligence. It is crucial that you know and understand your rights so that you and your skilled St. Louis DUI victim lawyer can effective pursue claims for injuries and damages resulting from the DUI auto accident. In the state of Missouri, it is illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

The first action you need to take if you have been injured because of a drunk driving accident is to immediately seek medical treatment. Once you receive the medical care and attention you need, please contact a Missouri DUI victim attorney as soon as possible. A skilled St. Louis personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and determine which claims you may be able to pursue. Please call me, John Page, today to schedule your free consultation. It won't cost you anything. We don't charge any fees unless you get compensated for the personal injuries you suffered.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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A car accident lawsuit attempts to place fault on a state trooper. Allegedly, the trooper’s careless driving practices seriously injured two Fayetteville, Illinois residents on I-64. The injury suit claims that the state trooper was negligent for failing to keep a lookout and for failing to keep his vehicle under control in addition to speeding.

Allegedly, the plaintiffs were traveling west on I-64 when the trooper in route to another collision, crossed the median and crashed into the plaintiffs’ car. The injury suit claims the trooper was driving 126 miles per hour seconds before causing the collision.

It was reported that both plaintiffs were transported to the hospital and treated for injuries. One of the injured victims sustained injuries to her leg, which required surgery, in addition to later experiencing complications in giving birth, as she was in the third trimester of pregnancy when the accident occurred.

Continue reading "Illinois Car Accident Seriously Injures Pregnant Woman" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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Two Granite City residents were both killed when a suspected drunk driver rear ended their car forcing it onto oncoming traffic in a recent drunk driving accident in Illinois on Route 111 near Pontoon Beach, according to a report from the St. Louis Dispatch. Another individual of Granite City was driving southbound on the two-lane highway when he struck the rear of the vehicle the two decedents were driving, officials said.

The impact of the collision pushed the auto transporting the two individuals into the path of a third vehicle. They died at the scene of the Illinois car accident, while four occupants of the third car were taken to an area hospital for treatment. The man who caused the accident was speeding at the time and has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Tragically, the woman killed in the accident was nearly five months pregnant.

An August 2008 report issued by the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis estimates that of the 1,325 total fatalities in Missouri vehicle traffic crashes that occurred in 2007, 315 or 23.8 percent involved alcohol impaired drivers. In the United States, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). These deaths constitute 31.7 percent of the 41,059 total traffic fatalities in 2007.

Continue reading "Madison County Multi-Vehicle Auto Accident Caused by Suspected DUI Driver" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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According to a recent article in the whig.com, a single car rollover crash happened near Louisiana, MO. The driver’s car went off the road before hitting an embankment and overturning.

The car accident in Missouri occurred on 11274 Route B at Pike County Road 107 when the individual was headed east when she apparently overcorrected and lost control of her 2003 Ford Focus, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said. The woman was wearing her seat belt but suffered serious injuries as her Focus rolled over. She was transported to an area hospital.

In the United States, one of the main causes of fatalities in auto accidents is a rollover crash. Rollover car accidents in Missouri typically cause fatal or catastrophic injuries including brain and spinal cord damage that often require long term care. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that of the approximately 40,000 auto accidents that occur each year, rollover crashes account for 25 percent or 10,000 motor vehicle traffic crashes.

The news report does not provide details of what made the driver in this incident lose control of her vehicle. It is possible that there was a dangerous condition or a hazard on the roadway. It is also possible that the Focus had a preexisting mechanical condition or a product defect that contributed to the accident.

The skilled Missouri auto accident attorneys of Page Cagle specialize in personal injury cases caused by motor vehicle accidents. We have the resources to look into your case, determine all the facts and establish who or what should be held responsible for your suffering. As the victim, you deserve just compensation to pay for the damages, and offset medical bills including any long term costs, loss of pay and other expenses. Call our experienced personal injury lawyers in Missouri at Page Cagle today to schedule your free initial consultation so we can help secure the best result in your case.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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A St. Charles man was recently killed in a tractor trailer accident in Missouri. Allegedly, the 62-year-old man’s car ran out of gas on Interstate 55 near Benton, so he pulled over and tried to push his car up to the next exit. The man and a passenger in his vehicle pushed the car up a hill in the far-right lane of I-55, when they came to an overpass.

A tractor trailer headed southbound came up behind the two men at the overpass and was unable to stop his truck in time. One of the men, who was pushing on the right side of the car, was able to jump across the bridge rail and avoided severe injury. He was treated at a local hospital for injuries received. The driver was unable to avoid the tractor trailer and was killed instantly on impact.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there was no shoulder or area to pullover on the overpass where the man was killed. Additional details as reported by the St. Louis Post Dispatch can be found in this account.

This Missouri tractor trailer crash shows the difficulty big rigs have stopping when traveling at high speeds. Although the truck driver allegedly did all he could to stop, the weighty commercial vehicle continued to push forward, ultimately causing death. This was the second pedestrian killed in a Missouri traffic accident in one day.

Unfortunately, traffic accidents like this occur frequently and can severely impact many lives. If you or a loved one is injured in a tractor trailer crash, call the top Missouri tractor trailer collision lawyers at the Page Cagle Personal Injury Firm for a free consultation. You can reach them 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email John Page, a partner at Page Cagle, at john@pagecagle.com for more information.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Tractor Trailer Accident

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An individual was killed in a rear end car collision in Missouri when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver, according to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. According to the account, the driver, a Wright City resident, was driving a 1990 Mercury Topaz eastbound on the I-70 and was in the right lane when another vehicle doing over 100 miles an hour hit the rear of the Topaz.

The Missouri auto accident happened near Bryan Road as one vehicle switched lanes to get past a tractor-trailer and then hit the other car. The impact of the collision from the speeding 1991 Mustang pushed the other car off of the freeway, Missouri Highway Patrol officials said. One individual ran away from the crash and was arrested later. That individual’s blood-alcohol content was approximately three times the legal limit of .08, investigators said. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an drunk driving accident in Missouri.

According to Chapter 577 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, "a person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle … and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident …." In this case the intoxicated driver could face felony DUI charges also.

The experienced Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Cagle are committed to handling your motor vehicle accident in a thorough professional manner. We know that even a low speed rear end car accident can result in serious injuries which may require long term treatment and care. Our skilled motor vehicle accident attorneys in St. Louis will dedicate 100 percent of their time and resources to getting you the compensation you deserve. Please contact our law firm to discuss your case and to better understand the legal rights and options that are available to you. Visit www.missouricaraccident.com for more information.

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Three people were recently killed in a car accident in Missouri. Ectonville is located between Smithville and Kearney, Missouri. The Missouri Highway Patrol reported the car was found upside down and filled with water in Clay County Creek, which is off of Highway 92 and County Rd E.

Allegedly, the car ended up in the creek after striking a bridge wall. The three individuals killed in this Missouri car crash were all under 21 years old. Apparently, none of these victims were wearing their seatbelts.

Authorities say the three decedents were driving eastbound on Missouri 92 when the car veered from the roadway. The car then struck a bridge abutment before flipping over and landing upside down in the creek bed. Authorities report speed was a factor in this car accident, which adds up to five speed-related car accident fatalities in this Missouri area over the course of a few days. This report provides additional information on this Missouri car accident.

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, call the experienced Missouri car accident attorneys at Page Cagle. You can reach John Page, a partner at Page Cagle, by calling 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email John Page at john@pagecagle.com for more information.

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Driver fatigue and drowsiness are both conditions that can have a deadly impact on a commercial truck driver's ability to wield and maintain proper control of his or her vehicle. If control is lost, St. Louis truck accidents happen. With over 4,350 large truck accidents a year, it is important to make sure truckers are not avoiding sleep to stay on the road.

In order to tame this problem, in 1937 the Federal Government began regulating the amount of hours truck drivers are allowed to work in one time span. Referred to as the hours-of-service regulations, the Interstate Commerce Commission required truck drivers to work on a 24-hour cycle, limiting a driver's maximum drive time to 10 hours and requiring the driver to stop after 10 and rest for at least 8. There was also a cap put on the maximum amount of drive time one could accrue over several consecutive days. Truckers were allowed to drive 60 hours over 7 consecutive days and 70 hours over 8.

Many debates regarding the appropriate time limits have taken place over the past 70 years; however, in 2005, new rules dramatically increased the maximum driving hours. Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the United States Department of Transportation, is the agency in charge of enforcing the hours-of-service regulations. The new rules allow a truck driver an 11 hour daily driving limit and a 14 hour daily duty limit, thus providing the driver an extra hour of driving and 3 additional hours to be working during the day, as long as he or she is not driving during those 3 hours.

Continue reading "Trucking Hours-of-Service Regulations: Good Law Going Bad" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Truck Accidents

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Drug and alcohol abuse play a major role in the number of automobile and truck accidents in Missouri and throughout the country every year. Because of this, truck companies are supposed to enforce a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy for their truck drivers; however, accidents still occur while truck drivers are under the influence of one or both.

Commercial truck drivers can be under great deals of pressure and often have very strenuous schedules. These sorts of conditions can easily lead a trucker to employ controlled substances to assist him or her in fighting fatigue, the number one cause of St. Louis truck accidents as well as collisions across the nation. However, combating fatigue with drugs or alcohol is no solution. Using drugs or alcohol while driving a tractor trailer can lead to cloudy judgment and slower reflexes, both of which contribute to driver error.

In a study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Board concluded that one-third (33%) of all the truck drivers studied, who died in a highway accident had recently used drugs or alcohol, based upon the examination of their bodies after the accident. Of the one-third examined, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and other various stimulants, including amphetamines, were discovered in their systems.

Continue reading "Trucker Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Real Facts" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Law & Information , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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In addition to fatigue and drug /alcohol abuse, faulty trucking equipment, specifically brakes, plays a major role in the amount of truck accidents in Missouri per year. Today, most tractor-trailers on the road employ an air braking system, opposed to the hydraulic braking system utilized by cars and non-commercial trucks. While the latter uses hydraulic brake fluid to engage the systems stopping power, the former utilizes high pressure air (hence the hiss you often hear from these vehicles when the brakes are released).

The current problem is that most of the tractor trailer air brake systems do not automatically adjust for wear, so unless they are diligently maintained, brake performance can seriously deteriorate. The simple truth is that most of the brake systems are not diligently maintained.

In a report published in 2005, by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to determine the causes of, and contributing factors to, crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, the FMCSA concluded that brake failure and lack of adjustment had affected 41,000 trucks in the study, or approximately 30%. The study also noted that while brake problems where present for almost 30% of the trucks, only 5% of the passenger vehicles were found to have brake issues.

Continue reading "Tractor Trailer Accidents and Brake Problems…When Will They Ever STOP" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents

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The Jefferson City, Missouri News Tribune recently reported in a story about a motorcycle crash in Missouri. A 28-year-old motorcyclist, who was fleeing from police officers, allegedly caused this motorcycle accident. This injured motorcyclist is now facing formal charges for leading a police chase.

The Jefferson City, Missouri motorcyclist was traveling south on Big Horn Drive, near U.S. 50, when the accident occurred. After speeding and losing control of his bike in an attempt to flee from members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a Cole County deputy, the man was unable to negotiate a turn and struck a curb. He was ejected from his motorcycle and was immediately taken to Capital Region Medical Center for medical treatment.

Continue reading "Missouri Motorcycle Accident Injures One During Police Chase" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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A 50-year-old Springfield, Missouri man recently sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident in Missouri on Route ZZ in Green County, MO. The accident, which occurred four miles south of Republic, allegedly occurred because the motorcyclist lost control and veered off of the right side of the road.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported the motorcyclist, riding a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle, ran into several trees with his bike after running off of the road, causing the moderate injuries.

The man was treated at St. John’s Hospital.

The Springfield News-Leader reported on this Missouri motorcycle crash. Additional Missouri motorcycle injury news reveals that many motorcyclists across the state are experiencing difficulty in controlling their bikes and regaining control after slipping on patches of ice now that the weather has changed.

Continue reading "Green County Motorcycle Accident Injures Man" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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A Missouri truck driver died in a single-vehicle accident after his truck ended up in a Lawrence County creek. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the 57-year-old man from Stotts City, Missouri was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck crash allegedly occurred on Farm Road 1040, near Stotts City.

The truck crash facts are as follows:

1. The man was allegedly driving his truck southbound on Farm Road 1040, when he ran off the road;

2. After running off the road, the truck hit an embankment and flipped over, sliding into a bridge;

3. The truck then ran into the creek where it was found.

Continue reading "Missouri Truck Driver Dies in Single-Vehicle Accident" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A tractor trailer overturned on three cars in a recent Arkansas semi-truck crash. Two injured drivers were airlifted to the hospital for serious injuries; another driver and the tractor trailer driver walked away from the accident without injuries. The accident allegedly occurred because the tractor trailer driver lost control of his commercial vehicle while going downhill on U.S. 412. The tractor trailer driver swerved after going around a curve, ultimately colliding into three other vehicles.

The tractor trailer driver attempted to regain control of his weighty vehicle but was unable to manage the big rig and swerved into a Missouri truck driver; the trailer next struck another vehicle and pushed it into an engineering firm located off the road. Finally, the tractor trailer collided into one more automobile before coming to a stop. The Arkansas tractor trailer driver was cited for careless driving.

Arkansas averages around 2,000 large truck accidents per year, including tractor trailer crashes. Of these accidents, roughly 100 are fatal truck crashes and 800 result in injury. Most of these accidents are blamed on truck drivers for negligent actions, like the tractor trailer crash discussed above.

When a truck driver loses control of his/her vehicle and injures another driver, passenger or even pedestrian, a negligence claim will almost always be asserted. It is important to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer immediately. Truck drivers, like all drivers on the road, are required to practice reasonably safe driving practices to avoid injurious truck accidents. When a truck driver breaches this duty of safe driving and causes an automobile accident resulting in injury or death, he/she will likely be found at fault and will be liable to those injured as a result of such negligence.

Continue reading "Missouri Truck Driver Involved In Arkansas Tractor Trailer Accident" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents

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The Springfield News-Leader recently reported on a Missouri tractor trailer crash. This semi truck crash reportedly took police over 8 hours to clean up.

The accident occurred while a semi truck was traveling north on U.S. 65. The large tractor trailer crashed on a section of the highway, which crosses over Catalpa Street, and ran into a bridge. Diesel fuel leaked from the damaged big rig, although nothing caught fire. The bridge involved in the collision was damaged, and the Missouri Department of Transportation is investigating possible structural damage.

Continue reading "Missouri Tractor Trailer Crash Makes a Mess" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents

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A 66-year-old man was killed this week in a tractor trailer crash in Lima, Ohio. The man was driving his van when a tractor trailer driver failed to stop at a stop sign and collided into the decedent’s van. The man was killed on impact and the tractor trailer driver was arrested for vehicular homicide.

Failure to yield to traffic signals proves driver negligence, as the driver failed to use the highest degree of care when he ran the stop sign. In this case, the tractor trailer driver’s action, or inaction, was allegedly the sole cause of this collision, making him and/or his employer liable for the truck accident. Driver negligence is the leading cause of all traffic accidents. Unfortunately, many crashes are fatal, like this one.

Two weeks prior to this tractor trailer crash in Ohio, another similar tractor trailer accident occurred in Florida. In Moore Haven, Florida, a tractor trailer driver failed to stop at a stop sign and ran into a van. In this crash six people were thrown from their vehicle and instantly killed. Additionally, 50 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled on the two-lane highway. As in the Ohio case above, the tractor trailer driver was at fault. Both the driver and his employer will most likely be held liable for the damages incurred pursuant to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Continue reading "Ohio and Florida Tractor Trailor Accidents Kill Innocent Victims" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Tractor Trailer Accident , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A two-vehicle accident that happened recently on U.S. 60 at Greene County F has caused the death of a Sarcoxie woman. According to a report in the News-Leader, 64-year-old Phyllis Long died Monday from the serious injuries she suffered in the crash.

The accident occurred when Rebecca Sawyer, 61, of Brookline who was driving a 2003 Toyota sport utility vehicle was hit by a 1995 Buick driven by Carthage resident Florence Long, 69. Phyllis Long was a passenger in the Buick that had turned into the SUV’s path, Missouri Highway Patrol said. Florence Long and Sawyer, who were both said to be wearing their seat belts, were injured in this Missouri auto collision and taken to Springfield hospitals.

Continue reading "Greene County Auto Accident Turns Fatal" »

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According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, ten people have died in Missouri car accidents recently. Nine of the ten people killed were not wearing their seatbelts. One of these fatal car accidents occurred in Camden County, Missouri. The accident occurred on Route A and killed a 21-year-old girl. The girl was a passenger in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old Marine, was allegedly driving too fast at a curve and ran off the road. The car hit a fence and flipped over, partially throwing the girl from the vehicle. The driver of the car walked away without injuries, but was found drunk and arrested for several infractions. He was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, Careless and Imprudent Driving, Minor in Possession of Alcohol and Involuntary Manslaughter.

Continue reading "Camden County Car Accident Claims Life of 21-Year-Old Passenger" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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An injured Missouri truck driver was saved from a truck fire after an accident on Interstate 64. The man who saved the driver, and also allegedly caused the truck accident, was driving from Cape Girardeau to Columbia, Missouri. The man, who is a Mizzou employee, saw a two-car accident along the side of the highway; directing his attention away from the road and to the other accident, the man didn’t see a truck that was partly parked on a median near Highway 141.

He hit the truck going between 30 and 40 miles per hour, and a third car also rear-ended his vehicle. The third car that rear-ended him left the scene of the Missouri truck accident. Ironically enough, because the hit-and-run driver fled the scene, the Mizzou employee was able to reverse and move his car, which allowed him to save the injured truck driver from the flames.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch report details the events leading to both vehicles being totaled by the truck fire.

The injured truck driver was rushed to the hospital. West County EMS authorities say the man’s injuries would not have allowed him to escape his truck without assistance. Severe, life-altering injuries like this are frequently sustained in truck accidents, and injured victims often don’t know where to turn.

For experienced legal assistance and guidance on what to do after a truck crash, call an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer at Page Cagle, a Missouri Injury Firm for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless you recover. Our truck accident lawyers are experienced litigators and trial attorneys.

Call Page Cagle at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.TruckAccidentLawGroup.com, for more information.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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Changing weather conditions often create compromising driving conditions. The Missouri State Highway Patrol recently investigated and responded to over 60 weather-related accidents in just one day. Dropping temperatures change road conditions quickly, from light snowfall to frozen roadways, creating perilous driving situations and causing car accidents.

The Rolla Daily News reported on several recent Missouri car accidents, caused, at least in part, by changing road conditions.

One of these weather-related Missouri motorcycle accidents killed a motorcyclist recently. The victim, a 52-year-old man, was riding his motorcycle when ice caused his bike to run off Highway 17. The motorcyclist crashed into a ditch, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Continue reading "Missouri Motorcycle and Auto Accidents Rise Sharply Amid Adverse Weather" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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A Missouri car accident left a police officer injured after she lost control of her vehicle. The Blue Springs officer was in route to assist other officers in a foot chase when she lost control of her car on South Outer Road. The officer was driving at high speeds when she hit a curb, and rolled the car over near Missouri 7.

The Kansas City Star reported, her car rolled down the embankment and rolled over twice. She was immediately taken to the hospital and treated for injuries.

Car accidents, like this one, regularly result from increased speeds and loss of control. The faster a car is going, the harder it is to control, and the more severe the damages in the event of a car accident.

Missouri car accident statistics, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol compilations, revealed that over 40% of all fatal Missouri automobile accidents in 2007 involved speeding. The majority of all Missouri car crashes, averaging over 15,000 per month, are speed-related. Because many of these accidents involve injuries, and even death, car accident lawsuits frequently arise.

Page || Cagle is a Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm that represents clients injured in car accidents, tractor trailer crashes and motorcycle accidents. For a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658).

You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit www.injuredclient.com for more information.

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A recent Missouri semi truck accident, which caused another tractor trailer crash, injured three people. The large truck accidents occurred last Wednesday in Waynesville, Missouri. The first semi truck crash, on Interstate 44 near Big Piney River Bridge, occurred because the semi truck was jackknifing and crashed through median guard cables, pushing a car into a rock bluff.

The tractor trailer from the first large truck accident blocked both eastbound lanes of traffic on I-44, causing another Missouri tractor trailer crash. In the second large truck crash, a Freightliner trying to avoid the blockage on the interstate collided with another automobile.

Authorities say the woman driving the car involved in the second Waynesville auto accident moved to the shoulder of the road to avoid the previous crash when the Freightliner, also trying to avoid the first crash, slid on wet pavement, hit the first towed truck and caused it to strike the car. The Waynesville Daily Guide reported that the three individuals injured in the truck crashes, one of whom was 73 years old, were sent to a hospital in Rolla, Missouri for treatment.

If you or a loved one is injured in a truck crash call Page || Cagle, a St. Louis Personal Injury Law Firm, for a free consultation at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit my website, www.TruckAccidentLawGroup.com for more information.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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Missouri police are investigating a three-car accident that occurred near Ashland, Missouri. The accident involved one large truck, a sport utility vehicle, and a van. The Missouri car accident critically injured one and sent two to the hospital. The Missouri Highway Patrol suspects the driver of the truck, who allegedly caused a portion of the accident, was under the influence of alcohol.

According to authorities, the accident occurred when the driver of the SUV was attempting to cross Highway 63 at Route A. The SUV hit the truck while trying to cross the highway, but regained control. After the truck was hit, the truck crossed over a lane of traffic and continued to hit a van that was entering the highway. Those injured in the Ashland auto accident were airlifted to the hospital; the driver of the van was the only uninjured driver.

Although no citations were issued at the scene of the accident, authorities report that the truck driver seemed to be under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol-related traffic accidents are, unfortunately, quite common and cause severe injury and death. In 2006, national statistics indicate that over 30% of the year’s traffic fatalities, nearly 14,000 deaths, were caused by alcohol-related accidents. Additionally, approximately 2,000 of those killed were children under the age of 14.

Alcohol-related car crashes often lead to car accident lawsuits and wrongful death claims. Page Cagle, A Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, aggressively represents injured clients in Missouri car accident claims as well as the families of those killed in traffic accidents in wrongful death actions.

Contact Page Cagle for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless you recover. Call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me at john@pagecagle.com or visit www.missouricaraccident.com for more information.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Truck Accidents

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A Missouri woman filed a personal injury claim after sustaining severe injuries in a St. Clair County car accident. The woman alleges injuries to her neck, back, shoulder, hip, and wrist. She is suing for injury against the driver of the vehicle, as well as his employer.

This Missouri car accident lawsuit alleges the Plaintiff was driving west on State Street, and the employee (defendant) was driving his truck in the same direction on the same street when he hit her. Allegedly, the driver of the truck traveled outside of his lane and hit the woman's car, causing her to not only sustain injuries but also to miss work. She sued for lost wages, medical costs and pain and suffering.

It is alleged that there is evidence of truck driver negligence in several respects:

1. That he was driving over the speed limit;
2. That he failed to drive with reasonable caution or carefully;
3. That he failed to stop or slow down before the collision; and
4. That he drove without a driver's license.

Continue reading "St. Clair County Truck Accident Puts Driver and Employer on Defense" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents , Workers Compensation

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Five Seriously Injured in Fatal Motorcycle Crash

A recent motorcycle accident killed two motorcyclists and seriously injured three others. In this motorcycle accident, a group of motorcyclists were riding together and were traveling southbound when a northbound automobile swerved on the road. The driver of the swerving vehicle was a 16-year-old girl. She overcorrected towards the left and into the group of motorcycles. The young girl hit one motorcycle, which caused the motorcycles following behind to react.

The first motorcycle hit was thrown off the roadway and landed in a ditch. Both the motorcyclist and its passenger were thrown from the bike and were killed at the motorcycle accident scene. Additionally, two motorcyclists behind the first bike reacted to the initial crash by skidding and sliding several feet on the highway before being thrown off of their bikes. These motorcyclists were immediately transported to the hospital, along with the young automobile driver, who also sustained severe injuries.

With more motorcycles on the road than ever, the number of motorcycle crashes and motorcycle injuries continues to rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that the number of registered motorcycles has increased tremendously, but the percentage of fatalities per motorcycle has increased at a much greater rate. Statistics always indicate that automobile drivers are the leading cause of motorcycle crash injuries, as in the case above. Studies also point a finger of blame at speeding bikes and drivers without adequate training.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Accident Kills 2, Injures 3" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury

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Statistics indicate that millions of Americans are involved in car accidents every year. It is important that you know what to do in the event of an automobile accident. The following tips will prepare you and make handling the aftermath of a car crash a little easier.

1. Always call the police and file a police report. Many car accident victims have lost deserved compensation because they have decided not to call the police and they didn’t have a formal police report made. It is important after a Missouri car accident to stay at the accident scene until emergency personnel arrive. If you are able, give an accurate description of the car accident and make sure you have the Missouri police officer’s name and that he/she has your version of the automobile accident.
2. After the crash, exchange information with others involved in the and those nearby the accident scene. You should always get the names, addresses, driver’s license number and insurance information from the other drivers involved in the car accident or truck accident. It is important that you get the same contact information from individuals near the accident scene, who witnessed the accident. If there ends up being a dispute over the sequence of events leading to the car crash, third party witnesses will be an important tool in providing information.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Tips" »

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A Missouri car accident involving three vehicles on Highway 5 in Camden County, Missouri seriously injured four people. According to Missouri Highway Patrol, a man driving a Cadillac traveling northbound on Highway 5 rear-ended another vehicle, a Chevrolet. The Cadillac sent the Chevrolet across the centerline and into oncoming traffic. The Chevrolet then hit another vehicle head-on.

The four individuals seriously injured in the accident were between the ages of 72 and 89. They were all sent to the hospital and all are residents of Columbia, Missouri. The driver of the Cadillac was not injured, but the two occupants of the Chevrolet sustained moderate injuries, although both refused medical treatment at the scene of the accident. All injured parties were wearing seat belts.

This car accident on Route 5 likely resulted from the Cadillac driver’s negligence. When a car is rear-ended, like the Chevrolet, usually the driver who collided into the vehicle’s rear, will be found at fault for failure to drive cautiously and maintain an adequate distance between vehicles.

Continue reading "Camden County Car Crash Sends 4 to Hospital" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury

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Saint Charles, Missouri is the county seat of St. Charles County. In the early years of its statehood, Saint Charles served as capital of Missouri until Jefferson City was ready to assume the role. Saint Charles is arguably the starting point of the Lewis and Clark expedition as it was the last established American city along the route and where Clark waited for Lewis to arrive from St. Louis. Much like any growing city, the inflow of new residents leads to an increase of cars on the road and an increase in auto and truck accidents.

The Saint Charles tractor trailer accident attorneys at Page//Cagle have represented those seriously injured in accidents for their entire careers. A large number of the cases we handle are referred to us by other lawyers and law firms because many law firms simply do not have the time or the resources needed to take on serious injury cases. Whether you were injured in a Saint Charles car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident the St. Charles County personal injury lawyers at Page//Cagle will provide the kind of expertise that’s needed to win serious auto accident cases and justly compensate the victims for their injuries.

As Saint Charles auto accident lawyers, Page//Cagle, a Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, we have been handling these cases our entire careers. We have successfully and aggressively represented clients injured in many types of vehicle accident cases.

To reach the Saint Charles motorcycle accident lawyers at Page//Cagle, 24 hours a day, call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). If you do not want to call or cannot call, you can email John Page directly at john@pagecagle.com. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we recover for you. We look forward to discussing your case and helping you through these difficult times.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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O’Fallon, Missouri is located in central Saint Charles County, Missouri. O’Fallon is one of the largest cities in Missouri and is currently in the midst of a population boom. During the 1830’s and inspired by Gottfried Duden’s Republic of the Western States of North America, many Germans settled in the O’Fallon area. Many rapidly growing cities, like O’Fallon, experience sudden rises in personal injuries as more people flood the area and require the assistance of an experienced personal injury law firm.

The O’Fallon car crash lawyers at Page Cagle have represented those seriously injured in accidents for their entire careers. We do not believe in simply taking and processing large amounts of cases; rather, we limit the number of cases we accept so that each and every client receives the proper personal attention they deserve. Whether you have a O’Fallon truck accident injury or were injured in a boating accident or railroad accident the Saint Charles County auto accident attorneys at Page Cagle will provide the kind of expert representation that wins cases and earns our clients the compensation they need.

The O’Fallon motorcycle accident attorneys at Page Cagle will be happy to discuss your case with you and answer any and all questions you may have. The consultation is always free.

We can be reached 24 hours a day at (314) 322-8515. There is no fee unless you recover for the serious personal injuries you sustained. If you do not want to call or cannot call, you can email John Page directly at john@pagecagle.com. We look forward to discussing your case and helping you through these very trying times.

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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One man was injured in a Missouri head-on collision Sept. 27 on the Interstate 57 after the left rear tires failed on a recreational vehicle, causing it to cross the median and strike a tractor. According to an article in the Standard-Democrat, the recreational vehicle was being driven by 78-year-old Paul E. Rose of McAllen, Texas. The tractor, driven by 38-year-old Kevin Taylor on the southbound lanes struck a car being towed by the recreational vehicle, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said.

Both the vehicles went off the roadway and rolled over. The towed vehicle, which Taylor struck, reportedly exploded on impact and caught fire. Taylor was reportedly uninjured while Rose was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries.

Based on this news report, it appears that this auto accident was caused by the tires that blew in the recreational vehicle. Any time a tire failure causes an accident, injury victims should consult and experienced Missouri product defect attorney to examine the tires to see if they were defective. If this accident had caused catastrophic injuries or death, the company that manufactured the defective tires could be held liable.

Sometimes, tire blowouts on the freeway could also be caused because of lack of proper maintenance. In such cases the vehicle owner may be held liable if the other party is injured or killed.

It takes a knowledgeable and skilled Missouri personal injury attorney to dissect these cases, investigate specific incidents, pinpoint causes and determine who was responsible. If you or someone you love has been involved in a Missouri auto accident, please call me or e-mail me to find out if you have a personal injury case. At my firm consultations are always free.

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Lee’s Summit, Missouri is a moderately sized city located in Jackson and Cass Counties. The city’s name is actually a misspelled version of its intended name: Lea’s Summit, after a doctor that once lived and was murdered there by Jayhawkers. Also calling Lee’s Summit home were four members of Jesse James’ famous James-Younger gang. While the violent clashes between Union and Confederate supporters are long since over, the citizens of Lee’s Summit still need representation when the negligence of others results in personal injury.

The Lee’s Summit personal injury attorneys at Page//Cagle have represented those seriously injured in accidents for their entire careers. A large number of the cases we handle are referred to us by other lawyers and law firms because many law firms simply do not have the time or the resources needed to take on serious injury cases. Whether you were injured in a Lee’s Summit car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident the Missouri vehicle accident attorneys at Page//Cagle will provide the kind of expertise that’s needed to win serious auto accident cases and justly compensate the victims for their injuries.

As Lee’s Summit personal injury lawyers, Page//Cagle, a Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, we have been handling these cases our entire careers. We have successfully and aggressively represented clients injured in many types of vehicle accident cases.

To reach the Missouri tractor trailer accident attorneys at Page//Cagle, 24 hours a day, call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). If you do not want to call or cannot call, you can email John Page directly at john@pagecagle.com. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we recover for you. We look forward to discussing your case and helping you through these difficult times.

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A Jackson couple suffered injuries Sept. 21 in a four-car collision in Fruitland on Highway 61, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said. According to an article in the Southeast Missourian, the accident occurred when a 1996 Ford driven by 58-year-old Donald J. Reisenbichler traveling northbound made a left turn into the path of a 2006 Toyota driven by 76-year-old Roy L. Glass.

Reisenbichler allegedly went off the roadway and hit two vehicles that were parked. Glass and his wife, Iverne, suffered moderate injuries and were transported to an area hospital. Reisenbichler was issued a citation for failure to yield. In this case, police have determined that Reisenbichler is at fault for causing this injury auto accident. The party that is negligent and caused the accident is usually held financially liable in an auto accident.

The Missouri auto accident attorneys at Page Cagle make a practice of representing victims of traffic collisions. We have helped victims obtain compensation, which helps pay for medical expenses, therapy, lost wages and even cost of medication. There are several steps you should take following a car accident. First, you should inform your insurance company about the crash. A police report should be filed if any injuries occur or if your vehicle has been damaged or totaled. Please make sure you immediately receive appropriate medical care if you have sustained injuries.

We would recommend that you also get tested thoroughly for other internal injuries, which sometimes do not surface until days after an accident. Victims of an auto accident who have suffered injuries would be well-advised to contact a St. Louis motor vehicle accident attorney to find out how they can get the best possible result in their case.

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Columbia, Missouri is the county seat of Boone County and the largest city in mid-Missouri. Columbia is well-known both inside and outside Missouri as a college town. Three institutions, the University of Missouri, Columbia College and Stephens College contribute to Columbia’s “College Town USA” nickname and status. In fact, over half of the city’s near 100,000 residents have bachelors degrees and over a quarter have graduate degrees. A city so densely packed with college students will invariably lead to personal injuries of all sorts.

The Columbia auto accident attorneys at Page Cagle have represented the college students of Columbia for their entire careers. We do not believe in simply taking and processing large amounts of cases; rather, we limit the number of cases we accept so that each and every client receives the proper personal attention they deserve. Whether you were injured in a Missouri auto accident, boating accident, or railroad accident the Columbia truck accident lawyers at Page Cagle will provide the kind of expert representation that wins cases and earns our clients the compensation they need.

The personal injury lawyers at Page Cagle will be happy to discuss your case with you and answer any and all questions you may have. The consultation is always free. There is no fee unless our Columbia personal injury attorneys recover for the personal injuries you sustained.

We can be reached 24 hours a day at (314) 322-8515. If you do not want to call or cannot call, you can email John Page directly at john@pagecagle.com. We look forward to discussing your case and helping you through these very trying times.

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Springfield, Missouri is a city of over 150,000 residents in Greene County, Missouri. Like many cities in Missouri and surrounding regions, Springfield is the site of many notable historic events. The first of the infamous quick-draw gun dueling battles of the Old West took place in Springfield between Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt Jr.

Additionally, Springfield was the site of two Civil War battles, both of which won by the Confederates, and a major rail stop during westward expansion. As a town that was practically forged in violence, Springfield is no stranger to serious and even fatal personal injuries.

Page Cagle personal injury attorneys in Springfield handle cases in which victims are seriously injured in accidents. A large number of the cases we handle are referred to us by other lawyers and law firms because many law firms simply do not have the time or the resources needed to take on serious injury cases. Whether you were injured in a Springfield car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident the Missouri vehicle accident attorneys at Page Cagle will provide the kind of expertise that’s needed to win serious auto accident cases and justly compensate the victims for their injuries.

As personal injury lawyers handling cases in Springfield, Page Cagle, a Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, has been handling these cases our entire careers. We have successfully and aggressively represented clients injured in many types of vehicle accident cases.

To reach the Springfield tractor trailer accident attorneys at Page//Cagle, 24 hours a day, call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). If you do not want to call or cannot call, you can email John Page directly at john@pagecagle.com. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we recover for you. We look forward to discussing your case and helping you through these difficult times.

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A recent lawsuit stemming from an injury auto accident has been filed against a sheriff’s deputy in Lake County, Illinois. The case involved two squad cars and a resident vehicle. One deputy was driving his squad car behind another deputy; both were in route to investigate a possible trespass incident. The squad car slowed down to pull on the shoulder. A squad car following behind slammed into the first squad car. When the second squad car collided into the first, the first squad car was thrown into oncoming traffic; the first squad car struck an oncoming car driven by the plaintiff.

The plaintiff retained a auto accident attorney in this personal injury lawsuit that primarily alleges negligence. The claim sets forth that the police officer breached a duty to exercise reasonable care while driving, which directly led to the plaintiff sustaining bodily injury. The complaint specifically states the deputy failed to keep a proper lookout and failed to maintain proper control of his squad car. Further, the claim alleges the deputy was driving at a higher rate of speed than was reasonable in the traffic conditions.

In this car accident injury claim, the plaintiff suffered several injuries. Two passengers riding in Plaintiff’s car were also injured and transported to the hospital for immediate medical attention. Additionally, the deputy, allegedly at fault for the car accident, was injured and treated at the hospital. The suit seeks compensation for medical damages and lost wages for the injuries sustained.

Continue reading "Multiple Car Accident Likely the Fault of Police" »

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Independence, Missouri is situated in Jackson County, in western Missouri. It is known as the “Queen City of the Trails” for its historical role as the departure point for the Oregon Trail as well as the California and Santa Fe trails. It was also very important historically as the western-most point traversable by steam boat and thus became an important spot for the then-emerging fur trade.

Independence lost its local prestige as nearby Kansas City developed and expanded but remains the county seat for Jackson County. As a county seat, those injured in Jackson County may end up pleading their case in the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence and Page Cagle will be there to help.

The Independence car accident attorneys at Page Cagle have represented those seriously injured through the negligence of others for their entire careers. A significant number of the cases we handle are referred to us by other lawyers and law firms since many law firms are not set up to handle serious injury cases.

Continue reading "Independence Car Accident and Tractor Trailer Crash Lawyers" »

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St. Louis, Missouri is by far the most well-known city in Missouri. The city goes by many nicknames, including “The Gateway City” and “Saint Louis.” The Gateway City’s namesake landmark, The Gateway Arch, is a symbol of the city itself and, including the park surrounding the Arch, also acts as a memorial for several important aspects of American history.

St. Louis is also the site of many national sports teams such as the St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams. In a city that draws so many tourists and sports fans, auto accidents and injuries are inevitable.

The St. Louis car accident attorneys at Page Cagle have represented those seriously injured for their entire careers. We do not believe in simply taking and processing large amounts of cases; rather, we limit the number of cases we accept so that each and every client receives the proper personal attention they deserve.

Continue reading "St. Louis Truck Accident and Car Crash Attorneys" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Personal Injury , Truck Accidents

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If you are involved in a Missouri car accident and cell phone use is proven, the issue will be used as a factor in the car crash. Cell phone use can impair driving ability and even having a phone in your car can be a distraction that can be used as proof of negligence.

For instance, if your phone is ringing, but the phone is not in reach, you may take your eyes off of the road to find your phone, causing a Missouri car accident. Such a basic, everyday occurrence that happens in a split second can drastically change your life and the lives of others.

Several studies have recently been conducted to determine the percentage of drivers using cell phones and the percentage of car accident causes that are the result of cell phone use or distraction. Studies also incorporated states, such as New York, that ban drivers’ handheld cell phone use and note if such regulation has decreased harmful effects.

Studies found, that at some point, about 75 percent of Americans will talk on their phone while driving, and that cell phone use results in a slower reaction time for drivers. This data revealed that drivers using a handheld cell phone are comparable, in reaction time, to a drunk driver.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Liability Proven with Cell Phone Usage" »

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Posted In: Auto Accidents , Truck Accidents

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Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in Missouri. Its impressive 318 square mile footprint sprawls into four different counties: Clay, Jackson, Platte and Cass. Kansas City is officially recognized as the “City of Fountains” and is second only to Rome, Italy in fountains within its city limits.

Kansas City is also known as “Paris of the Plains” as only Paris, France has more boulevards. In such a large city with so many sights to behold it is an unfortunate side effect that personal injuries are as common as a Kansas City fountain or boulevard.

The Kansas City auto accident attorneys at Page Cagle have been representing the seriously injured for their entire careers. We believe in limiting the number of cases we accept so that every client receives the proper and personal attention he or she deserves. If you were injured in a Kansas dog attack, motorcycle accident, tractor trailer accident or need an attorney to help with your Missouri birth defects, medical malpractice or Jones Act case, the Kansas City auto accident and medical malpractice attorneys at Page Cagle will provide the resources, advice and representation you need to ensure a positive result in your case.

The Missouri truck accident lawyers at Page Cagle will be happy to discuss your case with you and answer any questions you may have. The consultation is free.

We can be reached 24 hours a day at (314) 322-8515. Call John Page personally and he will answer any and all questions or concerns. There is no fee unless you recover for the serious personal injuries you sustained. If you do not want to call or are unable to call, you can email John Page at john@pagecagle.com. We look forward to speaking or corresponding with you and helping you through these difficult times.

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A woman suing for an injury sustained in a car accident was recently barred from bringing her personal injury claims in North Carolina. The court initially found insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service of process, but the main reason the court barred the car accident injury claim was because the woman, after attempting to serve process, voluntarily dismissed the action.

Several years later she attempted to re-file the claim, alleging the same negligence action. The court found regardless of process and service of process inadequacies, the statute of limitations had run on the claim, barring the woman’s lawsuit. The woman still appealed her car accident claim, arguing she was the victim of negligence and she had attempted to properly serve process a couple times. She further argued the law should allow her time to perfect her appeal and service of process. (the law does afford plaintiffs time to perfect an appeal in certain situations, however as explained below this is not one)

Each jurisdiction has laws describing the specific elements needed to serve process. Generally, service of process is the means of giving legal notice to a person that a court can exercise jurisdiction over that person in legal proceedings. Service of process involves a summons and other court documents to be served upon the defendant personally. In some circumstances, service of process can be served at the defendant’s home or place of employment and given to a third party, provided that the person is over a certain age and with sound mental capacity.

Continue reading "Car Accident Victim Barred from Suing for Personal Injury Claims" »

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Missouri auto accident cases can get messy because, in most cases, insurance companies are responsible for paying resulting damages. Nearly every time, the insurance company puts up a fight in an attempt to reduce the amount of damages paid. Call it human nature to cut costs, call it what you want… the bottom line is that insurance companies battle hard before paying out.

A recent Missouri lawsuit shows how car accident cases can result in an ongoing battle with insurance providers. In this case, the plaintiff’s insurance company refused to pay the injured motorist the full amount owed because the company felt the $10,000 judgment was excessive. The $10,000 award was the full amount that could be granted under the insurance policy for medical care.

The insurance company argued their medical specialist, a neurologist, did not believe that the injured driver needed certain treatment for, presumably, head or brain injuries. The insurance company argued they should not have to compensate the injured driver for the amount awarded, as they believed the medical treatment was unnecessary.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Claims Fought Hard by Insurance Companies" »

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It is estimated that car accidents kill over 100 people a day. When car accidents cause damage and injury, it is likely that a car accident lawsuit will ensue in order for those injured in the accident to recover for the harm sustained. In the case of a fatal car accident, typically a wrongful death claim will be filed by the family of the deceased to recover for such things as medical expenses, as well as the loss of a loved one.

A recent wrongful death claim was filed after a car accident when a mail truck killed a woman in Madison, Wisconsin. In this case a 76-year-old woman was driving to the post office and pulled around a mail truck to park. When the woman stepped out from her car, allegedly, the mail truck struck her. She fell to the ground and smashed her head on the curb; she was immediately rushed to the hospital where she died. The woman suffered a skull fracture, and the driver was cited for inattentive driving; he pled no contest.

Here, the decedent's husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. Government, as the mail truck is a government vehicle and the driver is a government employee. The lawsuit claims that the driver was negligent while driving, did not yield to a pedestrian and failed to maintain control of his vehicle. The suit seeks damages for medical expenses, funeral costs, pain and suffering and loss of consortium (a legal term meaning relations / companionship).

It is likely that this lawsuit will prevail because a wrongful death action is proper when a death results, at least in part, because of another's actions even though there was no direct intent to kill the decedent. When negligent actions accidentally kill someone, although the action was unintentional, the negligent person will still be liable for the resulting damages stemming from the incident such as death.

Continue reading "Woman Dies in an Auto Accident Involving a Mail Truck" »

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A recent Missouri car accident lawsuit and three Missouri wrongful death claims were settled for $18 million. Another wrongful death claim associated with the same accident is still pending. The suits were filed after four people were killed in a Missouri tractor trailer crash on I-70 when the tractor trailer slammed into a line of cars backed up in traffic. The accident resulted in the tractor trailer colliding into the vehicles and then breaking through the median and crossing into on-coming traffic. The destruction finally ended when the commercial vehicle was stopped after hitting an embankment.

Allegedly there had been a semi-truck accident ahead on the highway, which was why traffic was piled up. The tractor trailer driver allegedly had a diabetic episode, impairing his motor functions. The diabetic episode basically rendered the man unconscious and allegedly caused the car accident, as the man was unable to control his body and vehicle.

Wrongful death lawsuits often stem from car and truck accidents in Missouri. Automobile accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. The causes of car accidents are typically related to driver negligence of some form. When someone is injured by a another driver’s negligence, the injured party has a legal right to recover. When the injured party has been killed, their family has the right to recover through a wrongful death lawsuit.

I have seen many lists on what to do if you are in a Missouri car accident. However, there are also many things you do not want to discuss when you are involved in a car accident, unless it is with the police or other emergency personnel.

Continue reading "Missouri Car Accident Suit Settles for $18 Million" »

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Odds are that everyone will become involved in an automobile accident at least once in their lives. Hopefully the accident you happen to be involved in won’t involve any death or serious injury, but this is not always the case. Last year, the Department of Motor Vehicles reported a total of 6.2 million accidents in the United States, 2.2 million of these resulted in an injury. Currently, the US averages 40,000 vehicular deaths a year. In fact, in the 4 to 34 age range, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death.

Currently, the data suggests that one out of every three automobile accidents involves an injury of some kind. These injuries may be something simple like cuts or bruises that are obvious and easily detected. There are other injuries that aren’t noticeable right away however, and may include: stiffness, numbness, soreness, severe or repeating headaches, and brain injury. These could appear days, or even weeks after the accident. These so-called hidden injuries can even be difficult or impossible to test for, even using state of the art CAT Scans and MRI technology.

A couple of the more common hidden injuries include whiplash and concussion. Whiplash, also known as Myofascial injuries, causes pain due to muscle spasms that are the result of sudden distortions of the neck. The problem may usually result in torn tissues or nerves, disc damage, or even ruptured ligaments and fractured vertebrae can occur as well. The other common automobile accident injury, concussion, is a form of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. This is physical injury to the brain which alters its functionality. Mild Brain injuries have 3 grades. A Grade 1 injury will result in confusion that usually recovers within 15-20 minutes. A Grade 3 injury can cause a person to lose consciousness for a few minutes.

Continue reading "Ages 4-34 More Likely to Die in Auto Accident Than Any Other Cause" »

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The truth of car accidents is that they are often painful, sometimes deadly, and always costly. In addition, car crashes occur numerous time each day. Approximately 40,000 people are killed every year in car accidents in the United States. Millions more are injured in automobile related traffic accidents. Due to the lengthy stretches of highway that run from one end of the state to the other, car accidents and serious truck accidents in Missouri are common.

What are some things you should do if you are involved in a Missouri car accident?

1. Collect the other driver’s name, address, and phone number


2. Collect the other driver’s insurance information


3. Get the names and phone numbers of all known witnesses


4. Photographs of the vehicles involved and the scene of the accident


5. Call an experienced Missouri car accident lawyer immediately

Continue reading "Statisticians : Accidents Kill 40,000 Each Year in US" »

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A Missouri car accident case often involves numerous parties, insurance companies, and allegations. Recently in Missouri, a court was forced to sort out liability issues dealing with an accident caused by a four-year-old child. The main issue dealt with the parent’s liability. The parent allegedly allowed a four-year-old child to stay alone in a running car. The child shifted the car out of park, causing the car to move. The car eventually crashed into an SUV, causing damage to the SUV and injuries to its owner.

Several issues were present regarding the parent’s liability for the Missouri car accident. The main legal issue was whether the parent could be held liable for negligently supervising her minor child. The SUV owner alleged the car was a dangerous instrument and a four-year-old child was too immature and incompetent to be entrusted with a motor vehicle.

Under Missouri car accident laws, parents will be held liable for their minor children in five instances:

Continue reading "Parents Liable in Crash Caused by Four-Year-Old?" »

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Seven people were injured in a one-car traffic accident near Jefferson City, Missouri. Allegedly the car ran off the left side of the road and struck an embankment. Of the seven occupants, three were not wearing seat belts; all went to the hospital.

Although this particular single car accident was not found to have occurred because of a car defect, many one-car accidents deal with cars that have defective brakes or tires.

Often times, lawsuits ensue after someone has purchased a used car with unknown defects that become apparent during an automobile accident. When a car accident occurs because of a defective used car, the car dealer's knowledge of such defect is typically assessed to determine if they could be found at fault or liable for resulting injuries.

The American Jurisprudence discusses the liability of a used car dealer for personal injuries or property damage suffered because of the dealer's sale of a defective used car.

An action to recover damages for injuries resulting from a defective used car purchased from a dealer is subject to the same basic rules generally applied in other products liability actions. Thus, such claims against used car dealers may be based on such theories as negligence, breach of warranty, strict liability, or fraud or misrepresentation. The first three theories are the most common bases for recovery, but all have been used in actions against used car dealers involving the defective condition of such items as accelerators, brakes, steering mechanisms, tires, and other parts and accessories.

Continue reading "Jefferson City Car Accident Injures 7" »

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A state employee was killed in a DUI accident in Frankfort, Kentucky, after her car was struck by a tractor-trailer loaded with concrete. Her family filed a wrongful death claim against the trucking company that owned the tractor-trailer involved in the fatal wreck.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was allegedly under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamines when his truck crossed the centerline.

The decedent's husband filed a lawsuit, accusing the trucking company of carelessness, negligence, and reckless disregard of duty. The family estate claims $17,300 in damages for funeral and burial expenses, in addition to an undisclosed amount for emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship and loss of future earnings.

The truck driver pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on charges of murder, promoting contraband, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In wrongful death claims, generally the death must have been caused by the defendant's conduct, even if it was only partially caused by the defendant and even if there was no direct intention to kill the victim. The defendant must have been found negligent for the victim's death. The deceased usually must have dependents to file the suit, such as family members who have suffered from emotional and monetary damages as a result of the death.

Wrongful death claims may arise out of a number of circumstances, including but not limited to:

* Medical malpractice that results in decedent's death;
* Airplane or automobile accidents;
* Occupational exposure to hazardous conditions or substances;
* Criminal behavior; and
* Death during a supervised activity.

Continue reading "Man Dies After Crashing Into Tractor-Trailer" »

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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" »

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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" »

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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" »

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