Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

A school bus recently overturned and slid into a roadside ditch in Belgrade, Missouri, leaving eleven students injured, according to a recent Huffington Post article. Investigators believe that driver distraction on the part of the bus driver may have caused the accident.

The bus was traveling down Highway C outside Belgrade when a student momentarily distracted the driver, say investigators. The bus’s back wheels slid off the road, and when the driver overcorrected, the bus turned over and slid off the road into a ditch at the roadside. Thirty-five students from kindergarten to sixth grade were aboard the bus at the time, along with the driver.

Three students were rushed to local hospitals via helicopter, but all are in “satisfactory” condition and expected to recover from their injuries, according to a hospital spokesperson. An additional eight students were taken by ambulance or their parents to local emergency rooms to be examined, but no injuries were life-threatening. The driver of the bus was not injured.

This crash makes the second major school bus crash nationwide in two days. The day before the Belgrade accident, a school bus crashed into a bridge upright in Indianapolis, killing the driver and a student.

School bus accidents are usually quite rare. School bus drivers generally take their responsibilities seriously and consider their most important job to deliver children safely to and from school. However, bad weather conditions, distracting situations, or another driver’s negligence can all cause a crash. If someone you love has been injured in a school bus crash, call the knowledgeable St. Louis bus accident lawyers at Page Law today for a free consultation. Our number is (314) 322-8515.

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be among those attending an upcoming meeting to pin down the causes of a 2010 bus crash in Gray Summit, Missouri that killed two people and left 38 others injured, according to a recent article in School Transportation News. A tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle were also involved in the crash.

The accident occurred in April 2010, when two school buses were taking high school band members to Six Flags St. Louis. The first impact in the crash occurred when a pickup truck hit a tractor-trailer that was parked on the side of the road. One of the two school buses hit the pickup truck, and the second school bus rear-ended the first. The pickup truck's driver and one of the bus passengers were killed, and several more bus passengers were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries.

Investigation of the accident has been taking place since April 2010 because the causes of the crash have been difficult to pin down. At first, the NTSB and the Missouri Highway Patrol suspected that the driver of the lead school buses was distracted and unable to respond in time to the truck crash just ahead. Later information revealed that the second school bus may have been following too closely behind the first.

Commercial trucks and buses are considerably larger and heavier than passenger cars, so it's no surprise that a truck or bus crash can cause serious injuries. At Page Law, our experienced St. Louis bus accident lawyers have the legal resources and the real-life experience to help you determine what caused a crash and to protect your legal rights. For a free consultation, call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515.

A Madison County bus was involved in a head-on collision this morning, June 28, 2011, according to bnd.com. The bus was driving down an exit ramp when a car, driven by a 25-year-old man, came the wrong way down the same ramp. The accident occurred near Gateway Commerce Center Drive and Illinois 255.

Approximate Site of the Crash:

The driver of the other vehicle had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. He is in serious condition and the report notes that he also suffers from diabetes. Police say that his diabetes may have played a part in the accident. The driver of the bus was also injured in the crash and was taken to a nearby hospital. His injuries were minor.

This tragic accident appears to be caused by the medical condition of one of the drivers. It brings up an important legal point. It is likely that this accident was caused because the driver that went the wrong direction became confused as a result of a low level of blood sugar. In court, that driver will likely be found liable because he chose to continue to drive in that condition. He had a duty of care to not drive when he was becoming faint because it posed a danger to other motorists. Since he chose to drive anyway and caused this accident, the driver of the bus will likely be able to win if the case makes it to court.

If you or a loved one has a medical condition that limits their ability to drive safely, it is important to make sure that they do not drive when they are impaired.

If you have been involved in a bus accident with an impaired driver, you need to call Page Law at 314-322-8515 today to get us working on your case. Our St. Louis bus crash lawyers will work hard to get you the money you need to feel whole again after a bad car accident.

A school bus from Missouri crashed in eastern Kansas during a return trip from a church camp, according to an article in USA Today.

The accident happened on I-35 near Wellsville when the bus rolled off the highway. No other vehicles were involved. There were 34 people on the bus, which included 29 children, four teenage counselors and the bus driver. Eight children were taken to area hospitals in ambulances. Their injuries included back and neck pain and possibly some broken bones. One child was airlifted to a hospital in Kansas City. The crash is under investigation.

This type of tragic bus accident is rare as school buses have a reputation for being exceptionally safe. Each year school buses carry 24 million students and travel more than 4 billion miles. School buses have a rate of only .02 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Between 1994 and 2004, only 71 passengers on school buses died in crashes. In 2004 alone, 31,693 people were killed in automobile accidents.

However, since 1996 the American Academy of Pediatrics has been urging that school buses contain three point harness seat belts for passengers. The Academy points out that although buses are designed with “compartmentalization”, which are thickly padded bench seats close together with high backs in order to protect passengers; children are still at risk if a school bus were to tip over.

Although injuries in a school bus accident are uncommon, they do happen. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri school bus accident, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced Missouri bus crash attorney. The legal team at Page Law can help you understand and protect your rights. Call us today for a free consultation at 314-322-8515.

A serious school bus collision in Missouri that occurred around 10:30 a.m. on August 5 has killed one student and the driver of the pickup truck involved in the collision. The Associated Press reports that the chain-reaction freeway accident on Interstate 44 west of St. Louis also involved a tractor trailer cab and another school bus. The buses were transporting as many as 50 high school band members from St. James to a Six Flags theme park.

While investigation into this fatal Missouri school bus accident is ongoing, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that slowed traffic near a construction zone caused the pickup truck to crash into the back of the tractor trailer. One of the school buses then collided into the pickup truck from behind and was then rear-ended by the other bus. Dozens of children have been taken to local hospitals to treat injuries that are not reported to be life-threatening.

The responsibility of school bus drivers to safely transport children is significant, as is the importance of drivers receiving thorough training that meets state and federal standards. School buses should frequently be checked for any vehicle components that may require maintenance or repair.

Continue reading "Missouri School Bus Crash Kills Student, Pickup Truck Driver and Injures Several Others" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

A St. Louis County tractor trailer crash injured five high school students and their bus driver. The accident occurred on eastbound Interstate 70 near Bermuda Road. According to St. Louis Post Dispatch reports, the bus carrying 12 students slowed down because of a car accident on the road ahead when the bus was hit from behind by a tractor trailer.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the tractor trailer driver was allegedly not paying attention to the road or the car crash ahead and rear-ended the bus. The bus driver and five injured Parkway West High School students were taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the bus accident in Missouri.

Over the past twenty years, the number of tractor trailer accidents nationwide has increased almost annually according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports. Reflecting the same statistics is the rise in tractor trailer accident injuries and deaths. In 2007 alone over 4,000 people were killed in tractor trailer crashes; most of these accident victims were in passenger vehicles.

If you or a loved one is involved in a tractor trailer accident you owe it to yourself to contact an experienced tractor trailer crash lawyer in Missouri to represent you. As founding partner of Page//Cagle, a St. Louis, MO Personal Injury Law Firm, I aggressively represent clients injured in tractor trailer crashes, as well as the families of those killed in big rig accidents. 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 my website, www.truckaccidentlawgroup.com for more information.