Missouri Injury Lawyer Blog

A Webster Groves-area high school student is recovering after being hit in a pedestrian accident Jan. 9, the Webster-Kirkwood Times has reported. The teen was crossing at a crosswalk outside the public library to meet his ride home, the paper said. One car stopped at the crosswalk and motioned him forward, but another passed the first car on the right and hit the teenager. Authorities told the paper that the teen's padded bookbag and the tough clipboards inside may have taken some of the force of the impact. Nevertheless, he sustained a broken shoulder, a sprained ankle and some cuts and bruises.

As a Missouri pedestrian accident lawyer, I believe this is a good chance to discuss the importance of yielding at crosswalks. Most drivers realize that they absolutely must stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are crossing, but not all of them realize that it's also a crime to pass a car that's stopped at a crosswalk. These laws were likely designed to help pedestrians avoid just this sort of accident, in which the oncoming driver literally can't see the pedestrian until it's too late. The penalty is normally just a ticket, but when someone is hurt, the driver may be legally liable for both serious criminal charges and a Missouri pedestrian accident lawsuit.

The article also mentions numerous calls for a stop sign at the intersection, many of which predate this accident. This is a common concern; many people can point to intersections in their own neighborhoods that they wish had stronger traffic signals. It is rare for roadway design to cause or contribute to accidents, but it does happen. And when it does, the local government agencies that design, build and maintain roads may be partly or entirely to blame. As a motor vehicle accident attorney in Missouri and southern Illinois, I handle cases of defective road design as well as cases of vehicle defects and negligent driving.

Lawsuits involving government agencies are generally much more complex than other legal claims. To sue a local, state or federal government agency, you generally have a very short deadline (just sixty days for federal claims) to give the agency advance notice, without which you cannot sue at all. In some cases, you may have to fulfill other requirements before filing. Because this process can be difficult and confusing, experts recommend that you talk with an experienced car wreck lawyer as soon as possible. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Missouri car wreck, with or without roadway defects, and you'd like to learn more about your legal rights and options, The Lowe Law Firm offers free consultations. To set up a meeting today, please contact us online.

A Plattsburg, Mo., man was killed and two other people were injured in a traffic accident on Missouri Highway 116 on the evening of Friday, January 2, the St. Joseph News-Press reported.

Gailon V. Green, 45, was killed after his eastbound 1997 Dodge crossed the center line and collided with a westbound Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Melissa R. Prescott, 29, of Riverside, Mo., the highway patrol said.

Mr. Green was pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. Prescott was transported to North Kansas City Hospital, according to the patrol report.

A passenger in Mr. Green’s vehicle, Jessica A. May, 21, of Plattsburg, Mo., was taken to Liberty Hospital, where she was reported in good condition Saturday evening.

Drivers who lose control of their vehicles are legally responsible for the results of any serious car wreck that results. If you or someone you love was hurt in this kind of auto accident in Missouri, you have the right to claim compensation for your financial, physical and emotional injuries. The Lowe Law Firm can help. To set up a free case evaluation with our experienced attorneys, please contact us online or call us at 1-877-678-3400.

A 50-year-old man was killed Jan. 10 in a crash on Interstate 70 near Kansas City, the Kansas City Star reported. Gregory Hawley, who was known for his role in unearthing the sunken Steamboat Arabia and turning it into a museum, was on his way home from that museum when he was hit by an out-of-control BMW. The BMW was reportedly racing another vehicle on the highway when the driver lost control and hit Hawley's pickup truck. The truck left the highway and rolled over, throwing Hawley from the vehicle and killing him. The BMW's driver was charged Jan. 12 with involuntary manslaughter.

It's well-known that street racing is dangerous, which is why it's also illegal in many states. The federal Department of Transportation doesn't keep Missouri car wreck statistics for street racing in particular, but it does keep national statistics on speeding-related crashes. According to the department, speed caused or contributed to 31% of fatal accidents in 2007, at a cost of more than 13,000 lives nationally and 434 in Missouri. Speeding is a problem because it reduces the driver's control over his or her vehicle -- as was the case here -- and makes it harder to react in time to hazards. And of course, higher speeds translate to greater force in a crash, raising the likelihood of a serious injury or a wrongful death.

Unfortunately, enforcement of criminal laws against street racing is spotty, in part because law enforcement cannot always charge racers unless they are caught in the act. Too often, it is only after a tragedy like this one that racers face criminal charges. If those charges seem like too little, too late for some victims, they also have the option of filing a civil claim -- a Missouri car wreck lawsuit. A lawsuit cannot undo a terrible accident, of course, but it can help victims defray some of the more severe consequences of a crash, including high medical bills, loss of income and sometimes funeral costs. Just as importantly, it can also compensate victims for the pain and lost quality of life they suffered when they became permanently disabled or lost a loved one forever.

At the Lowe Law Firm, we're proud to handle both injury-related car accident claims and wrongful death lawsuits. Based in St. Louis and in Belleville, Ill., we represent clients throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. If you or someone you care about has suffered a serious crash, we want to learn about your case and help you understand all of your legal options. And we offer free consultations, so there is no risk in speaking with us. To set up your free consultation today, please contact us through our Web site or call 1-877-678-3400, toll-free.

Last week, the parents of a 14-month-old patient who died in a medical helicopter crash filed suit against the companies that operated the helicopter as well as the pilot, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The accident happened on Oct. 15, 2008. A Bell 222 helicopter was flying Kristin Reann Blockinger to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago when it hit a radio-tower support wire and crashed. In addition to Kristin Reann, three crew members also died in the accident. The helicopter was operated by Air Angels of Bolingbrook and Reach Medical Holdings.

The parents, Robert and Brooke, filed their negligence lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Air Angels, Reach Medical Holdings and the helicopter pilot. They allege that the defendants failed to follow safety practices recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration such as assigning two pilots to flights, supplying night-vision goggles and advanced training and equipping the helicopters with terrain-awareness systems.

Failing to follow best practices can be a tragic mistake.

At The Lowe Law Firm, our attorneys have handled similar cases involving failure to follow safety procedures. In 2003, a $13.5 million verdict was upheld on appeal in a case where a boxer suffered brain damage due to the failure to have an ambulance at the match.

If you have been hurt or someone you love has been hurt or killed as a result of another’s carelessness, please contact our attorneys today by calling 877-678-3400 or by filling out our online contact form.