Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

In this post, our Missouri truck accident lawyers share information from a US Department of Transportation study. The study tested how stability control systems on tractor trailer trucks work in reducing rollovers for semi-tractor trailers. The study verifies that stability control systems do function, but they can only do so much. Many tractor trailer accidents can still be traced back to driver error.

A major tractor-trailer accident that happened in Missouri last summer is relevant to this discussion. In August 2011, a UPS tractor trailer traveling westbound on I-44 caused the highway to be closed between Stanton and St. Clair for several hours. The driver was pulling tandem trailers and overturned shortly before 8 a.m. One hour later the driver was still trapped, as local firefighters worked to free him from the wreckage. The tractor-trailer accident closed both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of I-44. No other vehicles were involved and the driver, with serious injuries, was taken to St. John's Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur by helicopter.

According the Missouri State Highway Patrol initial tractor-trailer crash report, the driver was traveling westbound when he left the road on the left side and struck the cable-median barrier; then he reentered the road only to leave it on the left side again where the truck and first trailer then overturned. Reports suggest the driver over-corrected after the leaving the road the first time, which caused the tractor-trailer to leave the road a second time and tip over.

The news is full of tractor trailer accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted an extensive study on tractor semi-trailer roll stability to evaluate stability control systems. NHTSA wanted to assess the latest technology developed in the trucking industry. Vehicle stability control systems attempt to keep a trailer more stable when one or more of the wheels begin to leave the road as occurs during turns, lane changes, swerving, or jack-knife type incidents.

Continue reading "Do Stability Control Systems Help Prevent Missouri Trucking Accidents?" »

If you've ever driven on a Missouri highway, you've probably seen "alligators" by the side of the road. And no, we're not talking about the alligators you might find in a Florida swamp. A roadside alligator is tire debris, often referred to as a "gator skin" by the trucking industry, and commonly found along any stretch of roadway, from St. Louis to Springfield and from Kansas City to Cape Girardeau. These roadside alligators can cause trucking accidents and truck related traffic accidents: in fact, our Missouri truck accident lawyers have seen many accident cases involving tire debris. Trucking accidents can be caused by loss of control due to a tire blow out. Other vehicles can be struck by tire debris. When drivers try to avoid debris, or run it over, additional collisions can occur.

A Retread Study with Missouri Trucking Accident Implications
A common belief is that gator skins come from retread tires. A retread is a tire manufactured by bonding new tread onto a used (but still in excellent condition) tire casing. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) decided to find out if these traffic hazards are indeed the product of retread tires.

During the summer of 2007, UMTRI begun a two year nationwide study. They collected tons of tire debris and tire casings from interstates and truck stops near major trucking routes. Then, the tire materials were analyzed to determine if the debris and casings came from new tires or from retreads. UMTRI also attempted to pinpoint what exactly caused the tire failure. Part of trucking accident law (and part of UMTRI's mission) is to determine the cause of trucking accidents, and make efforts reduce the number of truck related damages, injuries and fatalities.

The Study Results
The study showed that 60% of the tire casings tested, when the origin could be determined, came from new tires. The study also showed that only 21% of the tire debris came from new tires, meaning 79% of tire debris came from retreads.

Perhaps more importantly, the study determined the primary causes of tire rupture of failure. They found the following causes, In order of prevalence:

• 38% of the fragments came from a roadside hazard, such a nail puncture or hitting a curb.
• 36% of the casings came from a roadside hazard.
• 32% of the tire casings came from operational or maintenance issues.
• 30% of the fragments came from excessive heat.
• Fewer than 15% of failure in both casings and fragments actually came from the retread process.

Continue reading "Roadside "Alligators" and Missouri Trucking Accidents: Are Retread Tires to Blame?" »

This week, our Missouri truck accident attorneys were pleased to see that the Missouri Senate passed an important bill that directly impacts the safety of Missouri motorists in more ways than one. Bill SB443 puts Missouri in compliance with federal standards related to commercial truckers who have a history of driving under the influence.

To read a summary of SB443, click here.

The bill passed 29-4, and will now proceed to the House. Under the terms of the new legislation, drivers who have suspended or revoked licenses will find it much more difficult to have limited driving privileges reinstated. Those drivers will no longer be able to obtain restricted licenses due to the need for medical treatment, or to prevent an "undue hardship." Additionally, drunk driving offenders would be required to wait 45 days (instead of 30, under current law) to regain any limited driving privileges. Finally, importantly, interstate truck drivers will be required to submit written medical proof that they are indeed fit to drive.

Aside from the obvious safety benefits of SB443, the Senate's passage of the bill will likely stop the state from losing tens of millions of federal dollars for Missouri road construction and improvements. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had set a January 30 deadline for all states to comply with federal mandates, but in late 2011, approximately 1/3 of states (including Missouri) reported that they would not meet that deadline. Last year, about $20 million in Missouri's federal funds were repurposed from construction to highway safety efforts, because the state was one of 15 not in compliance with federal regulations related to drunk drivers. Until the law is changed, those funds will continue to be repurposed.

FMCSA has warned that states failing to meet the deadline could lose 5% of highway funding, meaning that Missouri stands to lose approximately $30 million this year. For that reason, state legislators have put a rush on the bill. The Senate Transportation Committee took a single day to approve SB443, and the Senate voted for its passage on January 27.

Continue reading "Missouri Senate Passes SB443 to Comply With Federal Mandates Regarding Truck Drivers and Drunk Driving Offenses" »

Our Missouri truck accident attorneys urge you to be ever-cautious of big rigs, whether you're in a passenger vehicle, on a motorcycle, or on foot. Even though you'd like to believe that you won't get in an accident with a semi (because you'd obviously see it coming), the fact remains that large trucks are responsible for about 1 in 10 fatal accidents nationwide.

This week in Chicago, a high school student was severely injured by a semi-truck. The 18 year-old pedestrian was wearing headphones and failed to notice the semi making a left turn. He crossed directly into the truck's path, and was pinned under the vehicle. Luckily, he survived, though he remains hospitalized. As this accident demonstrates, large trucks are often unable to react quickly enough when a pedestrian (or another vehicle) suddenly appears in front of them. Staying safe in traffic - as a driver or a pedestrian - requires that you keep track of what's happening around you.

Collisions between semi-trucks and pedestrians are not as uncommon as you might think. A pedestrian was recently killed by a postal truck in the Detroit metro area, while another pedestrian was critically injured on a highway near Lake Odessa, Michigan, after being struck by a semi. And last year, a pedestrian/tractor-trailer collision killed a Chesterfield, Missouri man when he walked into the path of a semi-truck on I-70.

In many cases, highway pedestrians are motorists who break down and wind up stranded. It is not uncommon for drivers with disabled vehicles to become victims of fatal traffic accidents, even though they're not even driving.

In the event of a highway break down, there are a number of safety precautions you can take to ensure that you and your passengers stay safe while you wait for help.

Being Safe When You're Stranded: A Few Safety Tips:

* Always keep a cell phone with you for emergency situations.

* If your car breaks down, make sure you pull off the roadway to the right (as far as possible).

* Activate your emergency flashers to warn other vehicles and law enforcement of the location of your disabled vehicle.

* Call law enforcement, a friend, a family member or roadside assistance for help.

* Be patient when you're waiting for assistance to arrive. Remember that it may take them a while to navigate through any traffic delay that your disabled vehicle may have caused.

* Keep emergency equipment in your vehicle, including a flashlight, emergency flares and basic tools that may help to fix minor problems with your car.

Continue reading "Commercial Trucks Can Pose Dangers to Missouri Drivers and Pedestrians Alike" »

As Missouri truck accident attorneys, we write frequently on this blog about the devastating aftermath of big-rig accidents. Collisions involving commercial trucks are often deadly: because of their massive size and weight, they're capable of inflicting serious damage on passenger vehicles and their occupants.

This week, we were horrified to read about a trucking accident so terrible that it's receiving worldwide attention. It happened south of Sydney, Australia on the Hume Highway: a commercial truck crossed the median to the wrong side of the highway and literally ran over the top of a Ford sedan. Responders had to use a crane to lift the cab of the truck off the completely flattened car.

The three occupants of the sedan were killed. Law enforcement officials were forced to call Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) experts to assist forensic officers: the car was so destroyed that it was initially impossible to determine the age or gender of any of the occupants.

Witnesses and nearby motorists were aghast. "It's the most horrific thing I've ever seen," one passerby said immediately following the collision. "Stay away from the area, especially if you have children in the car. They don't need to see that."

The occupants of the sedan have since been identified as Donald and Patricia Logan, both age 81, and their son, Calvyn Logan, age 59, who was driving the car. The family was returning home after traveling to visit the couple's newborn great-granddaughter, who had been delivered prematurely on the day after Christmas. Their other son, Garry Logan, was waiting for them to arrive when he saw a story about the accident on a website and recognized the vehicle. Donald and Patricia Logan were married for 60 years.

Continue reading "Fatal Big Rig Wreck in Sydney Illustrates the Potential for Devastating Damage in Missouri Truck Accidents" »

The Oak Grove, Missouri truck accident attorneys have been investigating the fate of the Safe Roads Act, a piece of legislation that addresses a significant problem on Missouri roadways. The bill is designed to address a giant loophole that can allow drug users to seek - and obtain - employment as a truck driver. What's worse, a recent study has concluded that of the roughly 3.5 million truck drivers on U.S. highways, about 68,000 of them have at one time of another tested positive for drug use. It's not a mystery that big-rig accidents can cause massive damage and serious injuries, so a drugged trucker is a truly dangerous weapon.

Road Safe America and the American Trucking Association have both supported the bill, demanding that the United States establish some sort of central clearinghouse to keep an eye on commercial drivers who have returned positive drug and alcohol tests. The loophole is this: if a driver is involved in a trucking accident and tests positive for drug use, that driver will be terminated, but he or she can simply look for a job with another carrier in a neighboring state. Drivers don't have to volunteer this dangerous information during the interview process, and there has never been a way for trucking companies to find out for themselves.

We agree that a central clearinghouse would make a major difference: importantly, it would increase the safety of motorists on our roadways, by helping to keep drivers with a history of alcohol and drug habits from getting behind the wheel of tractor-trailers.

The Safe Roads Act (S.1113) was first introduced back in May 2009 by Senators Pryor, Nelson, Snowe and Wicker. Then, it was reintroduced to Congress last year. Since then, it has been read twice and subsequently referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It remains on the agenda for 2012 (for details, click here). And it's worth noting that Arkansas has a similar bill already in effect: since that bill became active in 2007, Arkansas alone has located more than 300 violators.)

To put it bluntly, the idea of a drugged driver operating an 80,000 pound truck is frightening. This negligent behavior can seriously threaten the lives of drivers and passengers that share the same roads. These truck drivers and their employers are required to follow specific rules and regulations while operating in the United States. If they fail to do so, and an accident results, injured parties will likely be entitled to seek compensation for their damages and expenses.

Continue reading "Drugged Drivers Cause High Risk of Missouri Trucking Accidents: How the Safe Roads Act Could Help : " »

It sounds like a scene from a movie. A big-rig rear-ends a small passenger vehicle on a freeway bridge, crashing through the guardrail and into a creek 100 feet below. Meanwhile, the passenger vehicle, carrying a young mother and two children, is left hanging from the edge of the bridge. If you saw the national news yesterday, you know that on January 14, near Santa Barbara, California, this scene was very real. Our Kansas City, Missouri truck accident attorneys want drivers to understand that collisions involving commercial trucks can easily cause destruction, injury, and death: it's imperative that all motorists adopt safety behaviors to help reduce these risks. Saturday's accident in California offers an apt illustration of a worst-case scenario, demonstrating what the aftermath of these collisions can look like.

It happened around 2:40 p.m. Kelli Lynne Groves, a 36 year-old first grade teacher, was traveling north on Highway 101, accompanied by her daughters, 10 year-old Sage and 10 week-old Milo. Groves' BMW was rear-ended by a gravel truck, driven by 48 year-old Charles Allison Jr., and the force of the impact sent both vehicles out of control. The truck plummeted into Nojoqui Creek, 100 feet below the freeway, bursting into flames and killing Allison instantly.

Groves' BMW was left hanging sideways from the bridge: the California Highway Patrol reports that the vehicle had been forced onto the center of the concrete guardrail, which trapped all 3 occupants inside. "This was a complex situation," said Ray Navarro, chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. "We had a vehicle with occupants trapped on the bridge and [hazardous materials] under the bridge." Almost 50 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled from the gravel truck into the creek.

(To see the unbelievable photographs of the accident site, click here.)

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending for the Groves family - in fact, it's nothing short of miraculous. While emergency rescue responders worked fiercely, a group of Navy Seabees happened by the accident site. Incredibly, they were carrying the very equipment needed to keep the vehicle from falling into the creek. Using a forklift, they were able to assist responders, steady the teetering BMV, and free all three occupants. Groves remains hospitalized, though her condition has been upgraded to fair, while 10 year-old Sage has been upgraded from critical to serious. 10 week-old Milo, treated for minor injuries, is already back at home with family: in fact, Milo slept through the entire ordeal, and was still sleeping when she was rescued. She never cried a single time.

What can we learn from this accident? There are several points worth noting.

Continue reading "Dramatic Rear-End Trucking Accident in California Highlights Dangers for Drivers in Missouri and Nationwide" »

Here in Missouri, we had our first round of winter weather today: statewide, roads were pretty nasty during the morning commute. All day, the Greene County truck accident attorneys have been hearing reports of accidents caused by poor road conditions. Here in Springfield, there were dozens of slide-off and rear-end accidents, and throughout the state, collisions - particularly those involving tractor trailers - caused problems on Missouri highways. Several of these accidents necessitated the closing of Interstate 44 in multiple locations, while local police departments and the Missouri Highway Patrol went on emergency status.

Two tractor trailer accidents happened early this morning in Newton County, near Neosho. An eastbound truck jackknifed at the 4 mile marker on I-44. Then, near the 6 mile marker, a westbound tractor trailer rear-ended a passenger vehicle, which forced closure of all four lanes of traffic: the westbound lanes remained closed for several hours, and traffic was diverted off the highway. Specific details about that accident have not yet been released, but police confirm that there were injured parties, and at least two tractor trailers were involved in the collision.

Meanwhile, two additional accidents caused the closing of I-44 in Phelps County, just outside Rolla, between mile markers 184 and 189. First, an accident involving a tractor trailer stopped westbound lanes of traffic. Then, just a short time later, another accident in the eastbound lanes forced the closure of those lanes as well. The highway remained closed until midmorning.

Elsewhere on 1-44, there were several other tractor trailer incidents, including a truck that slid into a pickup at mile marker 89 (in Greene County), and another jackknifed truck at mile marker 36 (in Lawrence County). On Missouri Highway 90, a tractor trailer overturned in McDonald County, and on MO 13, south of Osceola, a collision left a truck stuck in the median.

Continue reading "Winter Weather Causes Truck Accidents and Highway Closings Throughout Missouri" »

The Independence, Missouri truck accident attorneys frequently handle accident cases involving distracted drivers, so we know how much damage these accidents can cause. Studies show that when drivers use cell phones, they experience a 37% reduction in the amount of brain activity associated with driving. And when the distracted driver is operating a tractor trailer, the potential for extensive damage and serious injury rises dramatically. However, a new federal law is designed to combat this issue: effective January 3, 2012, it is now illegal for commercial truck and bus drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving.

The new law was created in response to the rising number of injury and fatality accidents caused by cell phones. In 2010, 23% of car accidents were precipitated by cell phone use, according to the National Safety Report. Further, because of their sheer size and weight, commercial trucks can inflict some of the worst injuries on accident victims. Sergeant Jason Pace of the Missouri Highway Patrol says that "Distracted driving is becoming increasingly dangerous...and it can become especially deadly when the driver...is behind the wheel of a vehicle pulling 80,000 pounds."

Transportation officials are concerned - and rightly so - that trucking accidents connected to distracted driving are becoming far too common. For example, in 2008, a truck driver caused a massive Missouri accident when he reached for his cell phone and failed to notice traffic stopped in front of him. He subsequently plowed into several cars. Three people were killed and fourteen people were injured (including a man who sustained severe brain damage and is now unable to walk or talk). The truck driver eventually pled guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Under the new law, commercial truck and bus drivers are only allowed to place or receive phone calls if they can do so by pushing a single button (as on a Bluetooth headset). Hand-held phones are totally banned, and drivers are not permitted to reach for any electronic devices. Violations carry strict penalties: drivers can be fined over $2,700 for each offense, and their employers can be fined up to $11,000. (To read the law in its entirety, click here.)

Continue reading "Federal Law Bans Cell Phones for Drivers of Commercial Trucks and Buses in Missouri and Nationwide" »

Have you ever had the life scared out of you by a large commercial truck or semi-tractor trailer while you were trying to merge onto the highway? Have you been so sure a big rig was going to rear end you that you braced for impact? Or worse, have you or a loved one been the victim of a commercial truck accident? Missouri truck accident lawyers know all too well the how damaging tractor-trailer and commercial truck accidents can be. What's more, many of these accidents are 100% preventable: they're caused by aggressive truck driving practices.

Major Factors Behind Unsafe Truck Driving Practices in Missouri and Elsewhere
*Unsafe drivers are still being hired.
*Some trucking companies fail to utilize the pre-employment screening program provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
*Some employees do not receive adequate training.
*Logs and other programs for safe driving quality assurance are sometimes not properly monitored.
*Some truck drivers avoid medical examinations, or or provide false medical documents.
*Some drivers who should be suspended are able to obtain special permits or probationary licenses for drivers.

Unfortunately, many truck drivers are between a rock and a hard place at present. As the economy toughens even more and trucking companies keep trying to make a profit, truckers feel more pressure to drive longer and faster, and to bend or even break federal regulatory rules and state laws. If they don't, they may find themselves jobless. This pressure creates the potential for devastating accidents impacting Missouri motorists.

The problem does not just lie on the shoulders of the trucking industry, either. An ABC News report discusses many state agencies and jurisdictions that are also at fault. From failing to suspend driver's licenses to not sharing infractions with other states in a timely fashion, state departments of motor vehicles contribute to the problem also.

Continue reading "Factors that Cause Commercial Truck Accidents in Kansas City and Throughout Missouri" »

Luckily, school bus accidents are uncommon. But the Butler County auto accident attorneys know that they do happen, and that it can be hard for a child to deal with such an experience. Even minor bus accidents can be frightening for the children who are passengers; in fact, simply seeing one on the news can be scary. It's important for parents to be aware of what their children are feeling in the aftermath of a bus accident: indeed, a Poplar Bluff school bus accident did happen recently, and the death of a 6 year old from a bus accident in Callaway County last January has been in the news again.

Poplar Bluff School Bus Accidents
The recent accident occurred on November 17, about two miles east of Poplar Bluff. Shortly after 3 p.m., the school bus was stopped on Route NN to off-load students when a woman driving a 2001 GMC struck the bus, sending nine kids to the hospital, all with minor injuries. (Incidentally, a second school bus accident had happened locally only seven days earlier: a car ran into the front wheel of an R1 bus. None of the students were hurt in that collision, and the bus was able to continue driving.)

And several media outlets are reporting on the criminal charges filed against a school bus driver stemming from a Callaway County accident last January. The driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter (a Class D felony) after he ran over and killed a 6 year old boy: he has since pled guilty to those changes, and could be facing up to four years in prison.

Monitoring Your Child After a School Bus Accident
For most kids, death is an intimidating mystery. It's hard for them to wrap their minds around any kind of tragedy or loss of life. There is no "normal" reaction for anyone who survives or witnesses a traumatic event, like a fatal traffic accident or school bus incident. Some kids will go along like nothing has happened; some will show signs of depression; and some will feel very happy and relieved to have survived. Still others will feel guilty for surviving. Remember, as a parent, you know your child best: it's important to monitor the situation, and create opportunities to talk about it.

Continue reading "Two Poplar Bluff, Missouri School Bus Accidents Raise the Question: How Do Children Cope?" »

In the aftermath of a Missouri truck accident, there are often many parties involved beyond those who actually experienced the collision: different agencies, corporations, insurance companies and investigators all become part of the picture. The Jackson County truck accident attorneys want you to be as informed as possible about the people and entities that could be involved in your commercial truck accident injury claim. You can find some examples of these parties on the following list:

Agencies Involved in Missouri Commercial Trucking and Truck Accidents
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
FMCSA was created from the 1999 Motor Carrier Safety Act (49 U.S.C.), and began operations on January 1, 2000. FMCSA is a division of the Department of Transportation (DOT); prior to its creation, many of its functions were performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The primary mission of FMCSA is to prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents and accident related fatalities and injuries. FMCSA employs 1100 people across the country. They oversee over 500,000 trucking companies, 12,000 bus companies and over 5 million commercial motor vehicle drivers.

FMCSA Activities:

• Partners with federal, state, and local authorities for enforcement of safety regulations


• Develops standards and tests for commercial drivers' licenses


• Collects and disseminates data on motor carrier safety and directs resources to improve that safety


• Monitors regulatory compliance and enforcement and works to remove high-risk motor carriers from the Nation's highways.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
NHTSA, established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970, has a much broader scope than the FMCSA. Its mission is to achieve the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety, which involves the study of all vehicles (focusing on safety, anti-theft measures, and fuel economy).

Continue reading "Who's Involved in My Kansas City, Missouri Semi Truck Acccident Claim?" »

It's not news to Missouri drivers--or to Kansas City truck accident attorneys--that collisions involving large trucks and tractor trailers often result in extensive damages, serious injuries and fatalities. The sheer size of these vehicles makes them especially dangerous to motorists on Missouri highways. It only takes a fraction of a second to make a poor choice that causes an accident, and when big trucks are involved, the stakes are automatically higher. We've seen many cases where what would seem like a minor error on the part of the truck driver causes disastrous results.

Recently, a Lake St. Louis man was killed in such an accident. 34 year-old Kyle David Brown was crossing the Champ Clark Bridge over the Mississippi River, traveling east, when a westbound tractor trailer hit one of the bridge's guardrails. The approaching truck was carrying logging equipment (described by police as "similar to an oversized forklift") that had been secured with safety chains. The impact of the guardrail collision caused those chains to snap: the logging equipment broke loose and fell into the eastbound lanes, directly into the path of Brown's BMW sport utility vehicle. Brown struck the equipment and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since the collision occurred on the east side of Champ Clark Bridge, this accident was investigated by the Illinois State Police, who cited the truck driver for improper lane usage. Illinois Police Master Sgt. Jeff Schisler suggested that additional charges may be forthcoming, since the truck may have been too wide to cross the bridge legally. Vehicles weighing 80,000 pounds or less are allowed on the narrow Champ Clark Bridge, which includes most vehicles: only super loads and oversized vehicles must apply for special permits in order to use the bridge. The bridge is 83 years old and narrow, only about twenty feet wide.

The accident necessitated the closing of Champ Clark Bridge for approximately 6 hours, so that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) could evaluate the condition of the bridge and ensure that it was safe for drivers. Travis Wombwell, bridge inspector for MoDOT, said, "We have made immediate repairs to get the bridge safely open, and we will make more permanent repairs within the next few months."

Continue reading "Fatal Missouri Trucking Accident Caused by Improper Lane Usage" »

If you've been injured in a Missouri car or truck accident, consulting an attorney is usually a wise practice. After all, the Independence, Missouri truck accident attorneys offer a free initial consultation, so there's really nothing to lose. Too often, we hear about clients who try to negotiate their own settlements with insurance companies and wind up with far less than what they're entitled to. When you have an attorney, you have an advocate--someone whose top priority is to make sure your interests are represented.

Recently, a Dallas woman settled with a Missouri insurance company regarding a St. Louis County trucking accident three years ago. In June of 2008, Roxann Coulam was driving a rented sport utility vehicle as part of a funeral procession. As she passed through an intersection with a highway off-ramp, a cement mixer driven by David Chaudoin exited the highway, failed to stop, entered the intersection, and struck the passenger side of her vehicle. The force of the impact pushed Coulam's SUV into another vehicle in the procession.

Chaudoin complained of pain in his neck and left shoulder, and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. At the scene, he told police responders that the brakes in his truck had failed, causing the collision. He said that he tried to aim the truck towards a ditch to avoid hitting cars in the procession, but instead he hit a yield sign and overturned, causing him to crash into the line of cars.

Coulam, on the other hand, refused treatment at the scene, even though she reported injuries to her knees. As most personal injury attorneys will tell you, this choice is usually not the best one. Many auto accident victims think they aren't hurt, only to have symptoms of injuries appear within a few days. And importantly, declining (or failing to seek) treatment immediately following an accident can be extremely detrimental to a personal injury claim. Insurance companies can use that choice as a way of demonstrating that the victim couldn't have been badly injured if he/she did not require immediate medical attention.

Continue reading "Woman Awarded $375,000 Settlement in 2008 Missouri Cement Truck Accident" »

Bus accidents and accidents involving commercial trucks and tractor trailers are damaging enough, but throw alcohol into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster. While buses and school buses are safer to ride in than cars or other passenger vehicles (fewer accidents per mile driven), a bus or school bus accident can have a larger and more devastating impact because of the number of people involved, especially when those people are children. The size and weight of the bus can also increase the actual damage and the severity of injuries. A drunk driver on the road naturally increases the chances of traffic accidents, and the stakes can be high when a bus or a tractor trailer is also involved.

School Bus Accidents Involving Alcohol
A local school bus accident involving a drunk driver occurred Friday, November 4, 2011 shortly after 4 p.m. in the Springfield, Missouri suburb of Willard. A Willard School District school bus was traveling south on Farm Road 105, two miles north of Willard. The drunk driver was traveling north when he struck the school bus and then collided with a tree, totaling his 2003 Mercury. This particular accident only involved minor injuries to the drunk driver's passenger, and it appears the bus was empty of students at the time. But the potential for serious injury and death is very great for school bus or tour bus accidents involving drunk drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 25 million kids ride a school bus to and from school each day nationwide. Annually, more than 500 children are killed in alcohol related traffic accidents. The highest percentage of this type of accident involving children occurs between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. as children are riding home from school or traveling to after-school activities.

Alcohol and Accidents
In 2010, in Greene County, Missouri, alcohol was involved in 345 of the 8,401 traffic accidents that occurred. Needless to say, driving while intoxicated is irresponsible and careless. It endangers not only the driver but other drivers and their passengers. Driving a school bus or motor coach requires an awesome responsibility for the driver to deliver passengers safely. This job is made more difficult when any driver decides to drive while intoxicated.

Continue reading "Springfield, Missouri School Bus Accident Caused by Drunk Driving" »