Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

It seems like you can't watch the news lately without hearing something about distracted driving. Whether it's an accident report, proposed distracted driving laws, or research findings, distracted drivers are certainly commanding a great deal of media attention in Missouri and nationwide.

Consider these articles from various news outlets:

USA Today: Parents distracted while teaching kids to drive
A State Farm survey reveals that the majority of parents admit to using electronic devices while driving or - even more shockingly - while teaching their teenage children to drive. 53% of parents say they've been distracted by cell phones while giving their teens driving lessons. And teens? They say it happens even more often: 61% reported seeing their parents distracted by cell phones during these lessons. What's more, 54% of teens surveyed said they had seen their parents talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, either "sometimes," "often," or "all the time."

State Farm's Chris Mullen called the findings "alarming": "There is a need to remind parents that they are the role models. Whether it's deliberate or not, we're showing these teens what's acceptable in the car," Mullen said.

MSNBC: Feds to crack down on texting while driving
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has recommended that automakers take voluntary steps to limit the use technology in moving vehicles. These recommendations develop a set of safety criteria that would affect hands-free calling, navigation systems and entertainment systems. The article reports that "the guidelines are mainly an attempt to reach younger drivers, who are the most inexperienced and whose daily lives are most influenced by wireless technology."

Note: In addition, USA Today also reports a growing interest in smartphone applications that stop people from using their phones while a vehicle is moving: they are especially popular with corporate fleet managers and the parents of teen drivers.

Continue reading "Distracted Driving: Still Making News in Missouri & Nationwide" »

Here in Springfield, Missouri, our city's red light camera program is a controversial subject. City officials are currently considering whether or not to reinstate the program, and there's been some measure of opposition from local residents. Springfield will have to address certain procedural issues to legally reactivate the cameras, which have been turned off since 2010. For many drivers, however, the issue is more about safety.

Our Kansas City, Missouri personal injury attorneys are aware that there are two schools of thought regarding red light cameras and their effect on car accidents. Opponents maintain that red light cameras actually cause more car crashes, since drivers are more likely to slam on their breaks to avoid a camera-enforced ticket - which increases the number of rear end accidents. Others argue that the cameras are an important means to preventing red light violations, thereby decreasing the number of T-bone collisions at intersections, which can be extremely brutal and deadly.

A red light camera in St. Louis captured one such T-bone crash earlier this week - and it's tough footage to watch. The accident happened at Grand Boulevard and Natural Bridge last Saturday. In the video, you can see a white Grand Prix tear through the intersection, running a red light - police estimate that the car was traveling at least 80 mph. The Grand Prix clips one car, sending it spinning, and then slams into a Metro Call-A-Ride bus. The impact of the collision is so strong that the bus is knocked onto its side.

To see the video, click here. Warning: the footage is extremely graphic.

Two backseat passengers in the Grand Prix - Daionsha Scott, 19, and Marion Robinson, 21 - were killed. The driver and a front seat passenger were both hospitalized, along with both occupants of the car clipped by the Grand Prix. There were no passengers aboard the Metro bus: the bus driver suffered minor injuries.

The circuit attorney's office is expected to file charges against the driver of the Grand Prix, who was a friend of Scott and Robinson. Why he ran the red light - and why he was traveling at such a high speed through such a busy city intersection - is still a mystery, though there have been some reports claiming that someone was chasing the Grand Prix. The accident is still under investigation.

Continue reading "Red Light Camera Captures Fatal Missouri T-Bone Collision" »

Our Missouri personal injury attorneys are continually amazed that so many people still choose to drive after drinking. Unfortunately, they do: drunk drivers remain a safety hazard for drivers in Springfield, Kansas City, Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Joplin, and throughout Missouri.

Early Wednesday morning, a Fordland man was arrested in Springfield after leading police on an hour-long chase before crashing at Park Central Square. The incident started around 1:30 a.m. near Commercial Street, north of Evangel University. Springfield Police attempted to stop a pickup truck on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, but the truck sped away: law enforcement followed the vehicle north on Glenstone to I-44. When the chase went outside of city limits, the Greene County Sheriff's department joined in the pursuit. Speeds reached about 50 mph in town, and up to 90 mph on I-44.

Law enforcement attempted to use stop sticks throughout the chase, but the driver was initially able to avoid them. Corporal Matt Brown of the SPD says this problem is common in pursuits: "They see them out in the road, or they see the officer throw something...so they'll slow down, try to drive around it," Brown says. And the pickup truck was successful at avoiding the sticks, until it reentered the city via Chestnut Expressway. Finally, it struck the SPD's spike strips at the West Bypass intersection, leaving both front tires blown. The truck continued to downtown Springfield, where it crashed into a concrete barrier at Park Central Square.

The driver of the truck, 37 year-old Andrew Hegger, is now facing multiple charges, including DWI and multiple traffic violations. Police found alcohol in the truck, and after his arrest, they discovered that Hegger was driving a stolen vehicle; he was on probation for a 2008 DWI conviction; and he was wanted on four outstanding warrants. After the crash, Hegger was hospitalized with a leg injury, and his two female passengers also suffered minor injuries.

According to Cpl. Brown, the SPD's pursuit policy sets limits on the conditions allowing law enforcement officers to give chase. One of the criteria that gives officers the authority to pursue is suspicion of drunk driving, because such behavior endangers public safety. "Our pursuit policy is pretty restrictive for us, because we always take into account the public's welfare foremost above anything," Brown said.

Continue reading "Hour-Long Police Chase Leads to Accident, DWI Arrest in Downtown Springfield, Missouri" »

As Missouri personal injury attorneys, we're frequently asked about the settlements our clients may receive. Here are some of the most common questions...

Q: Why would I need a personal injury lawyer if I've already been offered a settlement that covers my bills from the other driver's insurance?

A: We advise never accepting any settlement before you are completely certain of what injuries you have suffered. It's easy to immediately see what has happened to your vehicle, but not as easy to see what has happened to your body. You need to consider the long term implications for recovery, to what extent you will require ongoing medical treatment, and any lost wages while recovering.

Always determine the full value of your claim before accepting any settlement from an insurance company. Otherwise, you might find that it does not cover your needs: once you've accepted, it will be too late for you to do anything about it. We know it's tempting to take that check immediately and be done with it, but if you do that, you may very well be cheating yourself out of funds you'll need to manage your recovery. The best way to determine if a settlement offer is fair is to consult with a Missouri personal injury attorney, whose specific experience in this area can guide you.

Q: What if I can't afford an attorney?

A: Most personal injury law firms provide a free initial consultation, and will only receive money if they win a claim for you. In this case, they would take a percentage. So, you have no need to worry about legal bills on top of medical bills--you can feel confident in hiring the proper legal representation to get you the settlement you deserve.

Continue reading "Commonly Asked Questions about Missouri Personal Injury Settlements" »

Several million Americans, including many Missourians, have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) - a sudden violent blow to the head that affects normal brain function. Our Missouri personal injury attorneys know that the most common cause of these injuries is automobile accidents. Brain injuries can result in many difficult symptoms, such as memory loss, decline in motor skills, and other physical effects. Many sufferers are unaware that they've even had this type of injury until long after other symptoms and conditions have developed.

Studies show that depression is another common side effect of brain injuries, one which often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Although depression from a brain injury usually appears within a year of the injury, the risk of it developing later in life is permanently elevated. In fact, a study by Vanderbilt University reports that 30 percent of traumatic brain injury sufferers will develop depression at some point in their life.

TBIs result in 1.2 million emergency room visits each year, and "[a]ny patient who has a traumatic brain injury is at a real risk for developing depression, short and long term," according to study co-author Oscar Guillamondegui. The study found that, on average, 27% of patients met criteria for depression 3 to 6 months after injury; 32% at 6 to 12 months; and 33% beyond 12 months.

"Whether you look at depression 3 months after TBI or 1 year or even 5 years, the prevalence is consistently about 30% across the board at all time points regardless of type of injury or severity of injury. When you consider that estimates of depression in the general population run at about 8% to 10%, this is very high," said Dr. Melissa McPheeters, the co-author.

Continue reading "Brain Injuries and Depression Are Directly Linked: Most Brain Injuries Result From Car Accidents" »

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal the dangers that large trucks pose to Missouri motorists: in 2009, there were nearly 3,500 fatal truck accidents nationwide. An additional 74,000 injuries were also reported. In these types of accidents, Injuries are typically very serious.

Our Missouri personal injury attorneys urge drivers to practice safe and cautious driving habits, especially when sharing the roads with large vehicles.The large size of tractor-trailers make them a deadly threat to motorists in the event of a crash.

Fatalities from these accidents decreased by 20% from 2008 to 2009. Roughly 75% of the 2009 fatalities were drivers or occupants of passenger vehicles. 15% were drivers or occupants of large trucks, and 10% were non-occupants. As you can see, the vast majority of victims are passengers of other vehicles, or are bicyclists or pedestrians. The 2009 data shows 74,000 people suffered injuries in these accidents involving large trucks. This statistic illustrates an 18% drop from 2008: 90,000 injuries were sustained in trucking accidents throughout that year.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) offers passenger-vehicle motorists several tips to help them travel more safely around large trucks.

Continue reading "Motorists Urged to Use Caution around Large Vehicles to Avoid Fatal Trucking Accidents in Missouri" »

If you have been injured in a Missouri accident, and you want to file a claim for damages, the first step is typically an initial consultation with a qualified Missouri personal injury law firm. This meeting gives you a chance to discuss your case with an attorney, and decide if the firm is the right one to represent you.

However, the point of the initial consultation is not just to discuss your case: it's also an opportunity for you and the attorney to get to know each other. It's important to use this time to learn about the legal process you are embarking on, and get to the all the information you need about that process.

Every case is different. Bear in mind, without having the complete details of your case, it will be difficult for any attorney to give you a sense of what your claim will entail. It's a good idea to bring any medical records, physician's diagnosis, police reports from the accident, or any other pertinent documentation with you to this consultation.

This meeting is designed to help you make several informed decisions, including whether or not you actually have a case worth pursuing. If you've never retained an attorney before, or if you've never filed a claim for damages, it is likely you will have have many questions.

Continue reading "What Happens During an Initial Consultation with a Missouri Personal Injury Attorney?" »