Missouri Personal Injury News
-UPDATED WEEKLY-
Minivan Struck by Tractor-Trailer on I-64
Posted 6/22/2008 - Illinois State Police are still investigating why a mother decided to stop her minivan in the middle of Interstate highway 64/40 last weekend. The minivan slowed to a stop and was placed in park. Shortly thereafter a tractor-trailer slammed into the back of the minivan, causing serious injury to four children who were riding in the minivan. Apparently the tractor-trailer did not have enough time to stop prior to the impact. The children were flown to hospitals in St. Louis for immediate medical care.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: It goes without saying that stopping on an interstate highway is unsafe to everyone, not just the stopped vehicle. Moreover, never give a tractor-trailer a higher probability of impacting your vehicle. Tractor-trailers can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and require a much greater distance to stop than cars and trucks. In fact, tractor-trailers can take up to 5 times the distance required by a car to come to a complete stop from 60 mph. Never merge in front of one of these large trucks and abruptly slow down. Our attorneys have represented several victims of collision with a tractor-trailer where the car was merging onto the highway from the shoulder or an on-ramp.
St. Louis Family Continues to Mourn Death of Father
Posted 6/10/2008 - An Olivette family continues to grieve the death of local man Glenn Morgan. The man was killed almost two years ago in a car accident where another driver ran a red light a broadsided Morgan's vehicle. Apparently the other driver had a seizure, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash. The other driver pleaded to criminal charges due to the fact that he ignored doctor's orders which forbid him from operating a vehicle due to recent seizures.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: It may surprise the common citizen that many car accidents each year are caused by another driver's medical condition. Missouri law commonly allows for 'a first time' medical condition which leads to an accident because the driver may of had no reason to suspect a problem. However, civil negligence and even criminal negligence may be imputed to the driver if he or she knew of the adverse medical condition yet willfully chose to operate the vehicle. A common such situation arises when a driver prone to seizures decides to operate an automobile despite restrictions against driving alone or even with another occupant. Doing so places the general public at risk. Not only could the car or truck strike another car, but it could veer off the roadway into a crowd.
Boy Dies in Lake Ozark Helicopter Crash
Posted 5/26/2008 - Local Camdenton divers recovered the body of a young 8-year old boy from a submerged helicopter. The helicopter crashed at approximately 7:00 pm the night before, as it approached the lakeside landing pad. Four other persons aboard the helicopter were able to escape as it rolled into the water. The helicopter was engaged in a sightseeing flight at the time. The cause of the crash is unknown, and the Federal Aviation Admistration is investigating. The young boy has been identified as one Zachary West of Eureka Missouri.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: There has been a surge in helicopter crashes lately, especially in areas where they are engaged in sightseeing for-hire. Outdated equipment and improper maintenance are sometimes to blame. For example, the helicopter involved in this crash was a MD-500 model, manufactured by Hughes/McDonnell Douglas. It is too early to speculate whether this crash was caused by faulty equipment or pilot error. It is important to inquire as to the service record of any helicopters you plan to see the sights in. It is also a good idea to ask about the experience of the pilot. Reputable sightseeing operations will readily comply with such a request. If they don't then potential patrons should probably look for 'another ride'.
Teen Dies When Car Strikes Parked Tractor-Trailer
Posted 5/6/2008 - According to authorities, it may be some time before it's decided whether charges are filed in the death of a Republic Missouri teenager. A young Republic High School student, was killed Saturday when the car she was riding as a passenger slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was stopped on Zora Road north of Joplin Missouri. The Missouri Highway Patrol states that the tractor did not have any emergency lights on or triangles placed on the road. Investigators said the driver didn't even have any triangles in his truck. Emergency triangles are required by Missouri law and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. A spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol states that a crash report may take 10 days to prepare and a crash reconstruction team investigation report can take up to 45 days to finish.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Missouri Law are clear that tractor-trailers must make every effort to warn others on the roadway when these big trucks are broken-down. That includes using flares, safety triangles, flashing hazard lights, and any other means available to clearly warn others of the potential hazard. Our Missouri injury attorneys have litigated countless cases where this exact factual scenario unfolds and serious personal injuries result. Our attorneys find that most of the time these tractor-trailer drivers could have avoided the collision entirely by simply placing flares or triangles in the roadway near their trucks.
Friends Remember Oakville Senior Killed in Crash
Posted 5/6/2008 - Friends of a 19-year-old Oakville High School senior killed in a crash over the weekend continued to grieve at a local gathering this afternoon. The group has received word that a second person involved in the same accident has also died. Mr. Kenny Jaco was riding as a passenger in a car that was being operated by 19-year-old Ashley Wilson when the car ran off the road and struck a tree in St. Francois County Missouri. Wilson, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene. Jaco died later at the hospital. The third person in the vehicle also suffered serious injuries and remains in urgent care at St. Louis Children's Hospital in St. Louis Missouri.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: It is always tragic when the lives of young teenagers are lost in automobile-related incidents. Unfortunately, car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death in teenagers in this country. Whether it is lack of driver experience or carelessness, these crashes leave friends and family in despair. While it is certainly a sensitive time for everyone involved, the family should seek the consultation of a Missouri injury lawyer to discuss any legal rights the family may have. Missouri has statutes of limitation that will operate to bar any legal claims if they are not brought to the courts in a timely manner. Missouri injury attorney Stephen Schultz is seasoned in representing the grieving families and can provide competent advice on the legal rights available to each party involved.
Fatal Car Crash Near Drag Strip
Posted 4/24/2008 - Power was back on at a medium-security St. Louis Workhouse after a fiery fatal car crash knocked out electricity there Sunday night. The driver killed in the crash has been identified as Daryl Cook, 18. His passenger was injured and is now listed as being in stable condition, police say. Police say Cook was driving east on Hall Street when his Saturn drove over train tracks, hit a puddle and went airborne. The car swerved across Hall Street and hit a utility pole. Cook's car then split in half, its front half hitting a chain-link fence and a utility box. The rear half of the car burst into flames.
"It has to be moved away from the street, because that's a drag strip, and this could happen again tomorrow night," said Charles Bryson, director of the St. Louis public safety department.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: Drag racing or “street racing” is a large cause of single car crashes in Missouri. A ‘single car’ crash is one which does not involve contact with any other motor vehicle on the roadway. However, single car crashes can involve other objects in the roadway, such as animals, road debris, or other non-vehicular hazards. Even though single car crashes typically don't involve multiple vehicles, the resulting personal injuries can be catastrophic.
Two Critically Hurt in Van / Tractor-Trailer Crash
Posted 4/18/2008 - A van careened into the side of a tractor-trailer, critically injuring two men in the early morning hours of April 17. The crash happened about 5:20 a.m near Stratford Avenue, just south of Interstate 70. Police indicate that a van was going north on Goodfellow Boulevard when it crashed into the back of the tractor-trailer. The front end of the van was pinned beneath the truck. No one in the truck was seriously injured. Both men in the van, ages 23 and 45, sustained personal injuries that left them in critical condition, police said. Police indicate that the older gentlemen will likely die due to his catastrophic personal injuries.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: Crashes that involve tractor-trailers usually result in catastrophic injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. The laws of physics rarely allow for a car to be the winner in an encounter with a tractor-trailer. Safety in the commercial trucking industry is highly regulated by the government; specifically the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If you have been involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler, there is a possibility that the carrier and/or its driver have violated some aspect of the rules and regulations set forth by the FMCSA. Our firm has become skilled investigators and advocates in this area of personal injury law, which is absolutely critical since the injuries involved are typically quite severe. Been involved in a tractor-trailer collision? Call personal injury attorney Stephen Schultz for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Ford Explorer Rolls, Killing One and Injuring Three
Posted 3/14/2008 - A 2000 Ford Explorer was involved in a single-car crash last weekend just outside Quincy, Illinois. Four friends were returning home to Hannibal Missouri from shopping late that afternoon when the Ford Explorer they were riding in was caused to roll several times on the highway. Two of the four occupants were ejected from the SUV. Three of the four friends sustained catastrophic personal injuries, one of which died as a result. One of the young ladies was evacuated from the scene by helicopter. Investigators are still working to determine the cause or causes of the crash.
ATTORNEY COMMENT: Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) have a high center of gravity, which can sometimes cause them to become unstable when turning at high speeds. However, recent investigations into SUV’s, and the Ford Explorer in particular, has resulted in litigation alleging defective design. If you have been involved in an SUV crash, it is critical to retain the services of an experienced Missouri injury attorney versed in the field of Products Liability law. Time is of the essence in these types of cases, because an immediate preservation of evidence is necessary in order to properly evaluate the merits of any possible claim against the vehicle manufacturer.