Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Fatal Missouri car accidents are on the rise. As of May 6, the Missouri Highway Patrol reported a 22% increase in the number of deadly car crashes statewide, when compared to the same date in 2011. Our personal injury lawyers can't help but notice a common factor that connects the people injured and killed in many of these accidents: a good number of them failed to buckle up.

Recent Missouri Accidents

May 3: Missouri woman dead after crash near Advance; patrol suspects manslaughter

28 year-old Amanda Allenbaugh was killed when the vehicle she was riding in ran off the road and flipped over, colliding with several road signs and a utility pole before coming to rest. Allenbaugh was ejected from the vehicle along with the car's driver, 35 year-old Donald Smith. Neither of the occupants was wearing a seat belt. The Southeast Missourian reports that Smith was initially suspected of manslaughter after the crash, but as of this morning, he has not been charged with a crime.

May 4: 2 teens dead after crash near Warrensburg

24 year-old Travis Arnold was traveling west on U.S. 50 when he lost control of his vehicle, sending it into the median. Arnold then overcorrected, bringing his car back onto the roadway, where it slammed into another westbound vehicle. Arnold's car went off the right side of the road and overturned: all 3 occupants were ejected. His passengers - 18 year-old Jacob Netz and 19 year-old Malcom Thomas - were pronounced dead at the scene. Arnold also sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. None of the 3 young men were wearing seat belts. The driver of the other car was not listed as injured.

May 4: Woman dies after crash in Springfield

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a pickup truck traveling west on Republic Road in south Springfield crossed the center line into eastbound traffic. It struck another vehicle head-on. 36 year-old Melissa Eastland, an occupant of the pickup truck, was taken by ambulance but later died as a result of her injuries. Meanwhile, the truck's other occupant, 33 year-old Darrell Eastland suffered non-life threatening injuries, as did the driver of the other vehicle. Police say that neither Darrell nor Melissa Eastland was wearing a seat belt, and they are still trying to determine which one of them was driving the truck. They do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Continue reading "Recent Missouri Accidents Cause Multiple Injuries, Fatalities: None of the Victims Wore Seatbelts" »

A Sunday drive turned deadly for a family in New York: 3 generations of relatives were killed yesterday in the city's deadliest car crash since March 2011.

It happened on New York's busy Bronx River Parkway. A 2004 Honda Pilot was traveling south when it hit a center median, causing it to bounce off the concrete wall and hurtle across three southbound lanes, leaving a line of skid marks behind it. Then, the SUV struck a curb, which propelled it over the top of a guard rail. The guardrail was undamaged. The SUV plunged 60 feet into an area of dense brush in the Bronx Zoo.

To watch the Today Show's coverage of the accident, including a video simulation of the crash, click here.

All 7 occupants - relatives, heading to a family party - were killed on impact. Among the dead were the driver, 45 year-old Maria Gonzalez; her parents, 85 year-old Jacob Nunez and 81 year-old Ana Julia Martinez; her daughter, 10 year-old Jocelyn Gonzalez; her sister, 39 year-old Maria Nunez; and her nieces, 7 year-old Niely Rosario and 3 year-old Marly Rosario. The family was less than 5 miles from their home when the crash occurred, and they were all wearing seatbelts. Jacob Nunez and Ana Julia Martinez had arrived in the U.S. only 3 days before the accident: they had come from the Dominican Republic to visit their children (they had 13, 6 of whom live in the U.S.).

The site where the SUV landed is a wooded area of the Bronx Zoo that is closed to the public. No animal exhibits are in the vicinity.

Police do not yet know what caused Maria Gonzalez to lose control of the vehicle: it was a sunny day, the roads were dry, and no other vehicles appeared to be involved. At present, police speculate that the vehicle's speed - around 70 miles per hour - may have been a contributing factor. "Obviously, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed," said Ronald Werner, FDNY's Deputy Chief. "It hit something that caused it to become airborne." Some witnesses reported that a tire blew on the SUV, but police have not yet confirmed that. The New York Times reports that there were no visible skid marks on the roadway before the SUV initially collided with the concrete median.

Continue reading "SUV Skids Off Elevated Highway in New York City & Plunges 60 Feet Into Bronx Zoo: 7 Family Members Killed" »

This week, an Atlanta mother formally appealed a conviction of second-degree vehicular homicide. Raquel Nelson's young son was killed by a drunken hit and run driver as she and her family crossed the street: her plight earned national attention when she was charged and subsequently convicted in connection with her son's death.

The incident happened in April 2010. Nelson had spent the day out with her 2 daughters and young son, and the family was walking home from the bus stop. They needed to cross Austell Road to reach their apartment complex directly across the street, but the nearest crosswalks were a half mile away in either direction. Instead, the family crossed the northbound lanes to the median: as they crossed, 4 year-old A.J. darted away from his mother and ran towards his older sister, who had already crossed to the median safely. He ran directly into the path of an oncoming van. Nelson, who was carrying her young daughter, was also injured in the collision: she lunged towards A.J. in an attempt to save him.

It was later revealed that the driver of the van, Jerry Guy (who fled the scene), had been drinking and taking prescription pain medicine that day. He was also partially blind, and he had been convicted of hit and run on 2 separate occasions in 1997. Guy was also charged - he pled guilty and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. In contrast, Nelson could face 3 years in prison if her conviction is upheld. Prosecutors contend that because Nelson was jaywalking, she bears partial responsibility for her son's death.

It's certainly a controversial case. When Nelson was initially charged, the case received national media coverage, with Georgia prosecutors coming under heavy fire for opting to charge her. Also, it has brought attention to the dangers posed to pedestrians in suburban areas, particularly in Atlanta. Several of Nelson's supporters have argued that it was unreasonable to expect Nelson to walk half a mile with her 3 young children, cross the street, and then walk half a mile back to her home. Further, they argue, that her jaywalking offense doesn't make her criminally responsible for her son's death: instead, that burden lies with Guy.

Continue reading "Jaywalking Georgia Mother Fights Vehicular Homicide Conviction " »

We all rely on state and local governments to keep our roadways safe. Unfortunately, for various reasons, defective roadway conditions still cause serious car, truck, or motorcycle accidents, making it necessary to file Missouri defective roadway claims.

How defective roadway conditions cause accidents: A hypothetical example

Michael and Paige were driving home from visiting friends when an extremely strong storm blew in. The wind was so strong that the rain was blowing horizontally: it was everything Michael could do to keep the car on the road. Other drivers on the crowded highway did the same. There was nowhere to pull off to get to safety.

Michael and Paige sustained serious injuries. Michael was unable to work for 18 months and required multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. Paige suffered from post-traumatic stress and complications from her pre-existing Addison's disease. Their 528i BMW was totaled.

What type of Missouri roadway defects cause accidents?

The following Missouri roadway defects may be the main cause or a contributing factor in a serious car, truck, or motorcycle accident.

• Lack of appropriate signs regarding construction zones, speed-limit changes, merging traffic, or weather conditions.

• Lack of appropriate safety barriers such as guardrails.

• Unsafe shoulder drop-off.

• Construction debris on roadway or shoulder.

• Inadequate roadway maintenance.

• Dangerously designed roadway intersections.

• Improper Missouri roadway construction.

Continue reading "Roadway Defects & Their Impact on Missouri Car Accidents" »

It's a gray Wednesday here in the Ozarks: local weather forecasts predict a stormy week ahead. Since we're heading into the rainy season, our Springfield, Missouri personal injury lawyers thought it might be a good time to discuss safe driving practices in bad weather.

The Highway Patrol is already reporting serious problems caused by flash flooding throughout the state. "The flooding situation in Southern Missouri has turned deadly," says Colonel Ron Replogle. "The Missouri State Highway Patrol has conducted approximately 18 water rescues in Troops E, D, and G and has recovered the bodies of two fatally injured subjects in the Troop G area since Friday. Both of these individual's vehicles were swept from low water crossings by swift moving water as they attempted to cross. Many of the roads in the southern portion of the state which are near or crossover waterways are still under water and should be considered impassable and extremely dangerous to cross."

Just this afternoon, KY3 reported that a Stoutland school bus stalled after driving into approximately 3 feet of water. Responders from the Mid County Fire Protection District had to physically carry the driver and 11 student passengers to dry land. (To see photos of the incident, click here.)

Staying safe in these rainy conditions requires making some adjustments when you're behind the wheel. Below, please find a few tips to help you arrive safely at your destination.

Safe Driving in Bad Weather:

• Make sure your vehicle is well maintained. For example, if your tires are bald, you'll have significantly less traction, and you'll be more likely to hydroplane. Also, make sure your wiper blades are in good shape: safety advocates recommend replacing your blades at least once a year.

• Turn your headlights on. It's a simple step that will help you see and be seen. (Also: Missouri state law requires that you turn on your headlights anytime you have to use your windshield wipers.)

• NEVER attempt to drive through fast-moving water, no matter how shallow you think it is. A vehicle can be swept away by a very small amount of water.

Continue reading "Driving in Rainy Weather: How to Stay Safe in Springfield & Throughout Missouri" »

Happy St. Pat's! For those who are planning to celebrate: our Joplin car crash attorneys want to draw your attention to a recent press release from the Missouri Highway Patrol. It's titled "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over on St. Patrick's Day Weekend."

On March 16-18, the release says, the Patrol "will participate with other law enforcement agencies to arrest impaired drivers, and to help safeguard Missouri's roadways." Several troops statewide will participate in multiple checkpoints (where individual drivers are checked for sobriety) and DWI saturation patrols (where multiple offers saturate a targeted section of a roadway).

According to Missouri state law, drivers are required to submit to an alcohol test upon a police officer's request. When a driver refuses, his or her license is automatically revoked for one year. Currently, the penalties for a first-time conviction of drunk driving in Missouri are a 30-day driver's license suspension. After the 30-day suspension, a driver is eligible to get a 60-day restricted driving privilege. A driver is able to get a full driver's license once again after all reinstatement requirements are met. Aside from these legal consequences, even more severe repercussions can result from drunk driving accidents: namely, serious injuries and deaths.

Nationwide, there were nearly 10,250 people killed in 2010 because of alcohol-related traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there was an increase in the number of truck and van drivers' involved in alcohol-related accidents from 2009 to 2010. These numbers demonstrate that the problem isn't getting any better. Although accidents caused by drunk drivers are completely preventable, hundreds of Missourians continue to die in these crashes every year.

Continue reading "Keep Missouri Roads Safe Over St. Pat's Weekend: Don't Drink & Drive" »

Our Springfield car accident lawyers were troubled to see the Missouri Highway Patrol's news release on March 7. The headline reads "Missouri Traffic Deaths on the Rise After Six Year Drop." According to the release, the Patrol is reporting a sharp increase in auto accident fatalities in early 2012: "When comparing early last year to the same time period this year, as of the date of this release, Missouri has experienced an increase of 29 traffic crash traffic crash fatalities." All Missouri drivers would do well to take note of the Patrol's findings, as many of these fatal accidents share common characteristics.

• Of Missouri auto fatality victims in 2012, 2/3 were not wearing seat belts.

• In recent fatal crashes, a "common theme of the contributing circumstances" is lane departure. Many of these accidents involved drivers who ran off the right side of the road, often overcorrecting in response; or drivers who crossed the center line and collided with other vehicles head-on.

It's difficult to identify a single causal factor for the increase. According to stltoday.com, Captain Tim Hull declined to single out texting and driving as the sole culprit: "It's a lot of things that take their mind off that full-time job of driving," Hull said.

This point is an important one. By now, most people know that texting and driving is dangerous, and that it has caused numerous fatal accidents (although many of those same people still admit to doing it anyway). However, it's a misconception that the "distracted driving" label is all about texting. A distracted driver is any driver whose focus is divided between driving and another task. Distracted drivers might be talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones. They might be eating lunch, or putting on lipstick, or flipping through iPod playlists. Or they might be texting. The crux of the matter is this: when your focus is divided, you are much more likely to cause an accident.

Continue reading "Missouri Highway Patrol Reports Increase in Fatal Car Accidents in 2012" »

On March 6, an 18 year-old Florida man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. The charges are connected to a 2010 incident, wherein Ramesse Harris (then, only age 16, and driving a stolen car) fled from Manatee County Sheriff's Deputies and initiated a chase. Law enforcement officials called off the pursuit when Harris entered St. Petersberg, due to concerns about risking public safety by continuing a high speed chase on city streets. About 60 seconds later, Harris ran a red light and T-boned a car driven by 56 year-old Gary Lane Smith. Harris was injured, and Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Throughout the chase, law enforcement reported speeds between 60 and 100 mph.

While relatively few Missouri drivers have been pursued by police, many of us are likely guilty of speeding. Excessive speed is a leading cause of auto accidents in Missouri: each year, drivers traveling well in excess of the posted speed limit are responsible for car accidents that result in serious injuries and fatalities.

As with many other kinds of accidents, car crashes caused by excessive speed are easily preventable: catastrophic injuries and expensive medical costs caused by these accidents can be avoided. Missouri drivers are urged to follow a few simple rules to help prevent car accidents, and keep all motorists and passengers safer on our state's highways:

• Observe and obey posted speed limits. Speeding can limit the time you have to avoid a dangerous collision.

• Pay attention. Distracted driving, often caused by cell phone use and texting, leads to a loss of focus on the road, and can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

• Don't drink and drive. If you do plan to drink, appoint a designated driver.

• Don't tailgate. Following too closely reduces the time and space you need to avoid a car crash.

• Don't drive while tired. Tired driving carries many of the same risks as drunk driving, and can lead to a deadly accident.

Continue reading "Excessive Speed Causes Injuries, Fatalities on Missouri Highways" »

Safe driving advocates often say practice makes perfect, encouraging young drivers to get as much experience behind the wheel as they can. But some worry that old age may be a contributor to a substantial number of car accidents in Missouri. Safety officials encourage older drivers to remain proactive when it comes to safety, and to ask themselves the question, "Is it time for me to hang up my keys?"

Growing old brings many blessings, but it also means that certain of our senses and abilities will inevitably deteriorate. At some point, we will all experience loss of eyesight, or hearing, or cognitive function. While this may be a difficult time in anyone's life, it is important for us to push these feelings aside and put the safety of motorists (and ourselves) at the forefront.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers you these warning signs that may signal that a senior is no long able to drive safely:

• Receiving tickets for number driving violations.
• Getting lost when taking a familiar route.
• Noticing new scratches or dents on your vehicle.
• Experiencing accident or near-misses.
• Finding that roads signs and road marking are suddenly overwhelming.
• Driving either too fast or too slow for no apparent reason.
• Having trouble navigating turns.
• Hitting curbs or other precautionary road objects.

The United States reported a population of 40 million people ages 65 and older in 2009: this age group made up nearly 15% of the entire population. During this year, nearly 5,500 people age 65 and older were killed in motor-vehicle accidents. Another 187,000 people of this age group suffered injuries from the same incidents. These accidents accounted for nearly 20% of all 2009 traffic accident fatalities, and another 8% of traffic accident injuries.

Continue reading "Older Drivers and Missouri Accidents: When Does Safety Become a Concern?" »

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" »

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" »

When Missouri drivers break traffic laws and cause auto accidents that injure their passengers, those drivers can be held liable for their passengers' damages and losses. In fact, our Missouri personal injury attorneys frequently use evidence that a driver broke the law to prove negligence. Our state's roadway and driving statutes were enacted to protect other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others; therefore, all Missouri drivers have a duty to all of these parties.

Four Prongs of a Missouri Negligence Case
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed while a passenger in a car and the driver broke the law, the following four elements must be proven to win your case.

• Duty of Due Care
The driver had a duty of due care to you. This point is established by showing that you were a passenger in that driver's vehicle.

• Failure to Act with Due Care
The driver did not act with due care. The fact that the driver broke the law proves that he or she did not act with due care. Accident reports and records of traffic citations issued can be important evidence with respect to this component of a claim.

• Causation
The driver's failure to act with due care caused your injury. Causation can be established by demonstrating that your injuries would not have been sustained but for the driver breaking the law.

• Proof of Damages
Your injury resulted in some form of loss. Hospital bills, emotional distress, and missed work prove that you have sustained losses.

Relevant Missouri Roadway Safety Statute
All drivers, other than emergency vehicles, must follow traffic controls (such as stop lights and stop signs) pursuant to Missouri statute §304.271. Failure to do so may result in a class C misdemeanor charge and liability for any damages suffered.

Continue reading "Missouri Drivers are Responsible for Their Passengers' Safety" »

All Missouri injury lawyers know that along with liability, the concept of "Duty of Care" is an important factor when attempting to negotiate a fair auto accident settlement. Duty of Care is a core concept, one that allows our society to keep functioning.

This phrase refers to our obligation to behave in a way that will not cause injury to anyone else. As a part of this responsibility, we must obey the law, and act in a manner that doesn't impose on others' safety.

It is easy to apply this concept to driving. When behind the wheel, we have a duty of care to follow the speed limit. We also have a duty of care to avoid driving when we're under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We all know that making irresponsible driving choices can create serious consequences for other drivers, or even the other passengers in our car.

If duty of care is not upheld, that infraction is known as "breach of duty." In the case of car crashes, there is a clear breach of duty if someone fails to use a turn signal, to stop at a stop sign, to obey the speed limit, etc.

In a Missouri personal injury claim, the party who committed the breach of duty is negligent and therefore liable for the auto accident.

Continue reading "How Does "Duty of Care" Apply to a Missouri Auto Accident Case?" »

The Springfield Missouri personal injury lawyers have written many times about teen drivers and the problems facing them on the roads in Springfield, Missouri. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teens in Springfield and the rest of the United States. The risk is the highest between teens 16 to 19. This age group, mile per mile, is four times more likely to crash than older drivers are.

Many states have taken action to help save our teens' lives in the form of restricted driving privileges and higher ages for full licenses. One of the most popular programs is the one we have here in Missouri, known as graduated licensing. This is a three step process a teen must follow to get their drivers' license. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems allow full, unrestricted drivers' licenses for drivers under 18 only after an initial period of supervised driving (drivers permit) and an intermediate period of unsupervised driving that limits driving at night, transporting multiple young passengers, or both.

A recently published study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has examined the results of programs such as graduated licensing. JAMA's study looked at data from 1986 through 2007. They specifically targeted motor vehicle accidents that caused fatalities for teens between 16 and 19, nationwide. The goal was to ascertain just how effective these new nationwide restrictions have been in preventing teen fatalities.

The results were not encouraging. In the years since these restrictions have been introduced, fatalities for teen drivers 18 and 19 have actually gone up. In 2006, 297,878 Missourians age 16-20 held driver licenses. For some reason, stronger GDL programs with restrictions on nighttime driving and allowed passengers were linked with substantially lower fatality rates for 16-year-old drivers--but higher rates for 18-year-old drivers.

Continue reading "New Study Shows Results of Graduated Drivers' Licensing Programs for Missouri's Teens" »