Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Last week, a Missouri man was killed and 4 others were injured after a head-on collision with a semi-truck. It happened on Thursday evening in Callaway County: 24 year-old Jason Hopkins was traveling west on Interstate 70 near Kingdom City when he lost control of his 2001 Pontiac, crashed through the cable median barrier, and drove into eastbound traffic. He collided with a tractor-trailer head on.

A passenger in the Pontiac - 22 year-old Erskin L. Johnson - was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Hopkins was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia with moderate injuries. The vehicle's 3 other occupants were seriously injured: 18 year-old Mary A. Chapman and 21 year-old Marcus L. Singleton were airlifted to Columbia; 15 year-old Bryana J. Jordan was transported by ambulance. No one was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the semi-truck, 64 year-old Charles M. Boerstler, was not injured in the crash.

As of this morning, KRCG 13 reported that 2 of the injured have since been released, and that Hopkins' condition has been upgraded to good. The accident remains under investigation - it is not known what factors may have caused Hopkins to lose control of his vehicle.

Sergeant Paul Reinsch, spokesperson for Troop F of the Missouri Highway Patrol, said that cable barriers are usually an effective tool in preventing median crossover crashes. "We have very few that go through," Reinsch said. "Normally when they hit them at an angle, [the barrier] grabs onto them."

Missouri has used cable median barriers for about 12 years: there are currently 550 miles of barriers on our state's roadways. Indeed, cable median barriers have proven to be safer than concrete dividers and guardrails, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). However, there's been some disagreement about whether or not this method is cost-effective: the barriers are relatively inexpensive to install, but repairs can become more costly. And these repairs are needed regularly: last year, on I-70 alone, the cable median barriers took nearly 700 hits. From MoDOT's perspective, this statistic represents hundreds of lives saved.

Continue reading "Missouri Man Killed in Head-On Crash with Tractor-Trailer on I-70" »

Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) introduced revisions of a few hotly debated rules. These revisions aren't making trucking companies too happy - but safety advocates aren't fans, either.

The rules, which aim to improve highway safety and reduce the number of trucking accidents, requires that truckers limit the amount of time truckers can spend behind the wheel. The daily driving limit remains 11 hours, as it was before, but new rules also require drivers to be off duty for 34 hours, including two-full nights, once they reach their driving limit for the week. The rules also require at least a 30-minute break after seven straight hours behind the wheel, and a maximum work week of 70 hours (previously, 82 hours was the maximum). If a company exceeds these new limits, they could face fines up to $11,000 per offense. Individual drivers can be fined $2,750 per offense.

Companies report that these limits are going to make them fall short of their destinations and deadlines, before having to take a break for the day, according to the The Wall Street Journal. The consequences, they say, will be more trucks on the road and more costs associated with shipping expenses. Meanwhile, safety advocates have pressed for these limits, arguing that they combat driver fatigue, a common factor in accidents involving big rigs. However, these groups had hoped to see the daily driving limit reduced to 10 hours instead of 11.

Federal regulators report that the measures are necessary to reduce the number of highway deaths from accidents that are caused by truck-driver fatigue. Fatigue was reported to be a possible cause in the deaths of six people last year when an 18-wheeler plowed into an Amtrak train in Nevada.

According to Transportation Department data, nearly 3,000 highway fatalities occurred because of accidents that involved a truck in the last 10 years. Another 51,000 motorists were injured in these accidents. Nearly 1,500 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents with trucks in Missouri in 2008 alone.

The trucking industry strongly opposes these new limits. They say that the number of trucking accidents in recent years has seen a steep decline and that these rules are unnecessary. They also say that the burden of these new rules would most likely affect small trucking firms, as they wouldn't be able to adapt to as easily as larger companies with fleets of thousands of trucks.

To comply with these new rules (which all companies must do by July 2013), a number of trucking companies would be forced to either slow their transports by making fewer trips or by adding more drivers to routes that require more than 10 straight driving hours. This would most likely affect a company's overnight or same-day services.

Continue reading "New FMCSA Rules Designed to Reduce Risks of Trucking Accidents in Missouri and Nationwide" »

Our Springfield truck accident lawyers know that collisions between large trucks and smaller passenger vehicles commonly cause serious or fatal injuries: in 2009, 3,380 Americans died and an additional 74,000 were injured in collisions involving commercial trucks. We also know that the vast majority of accidents are caused by a driver's error. The simple fact is that many of these accidents can be prevented if Missouri drivers make safety a top priority when they're behind the wheel.

Such an adjustment is needed now more than ever. For the past 6 years, Missouri has seen a steady decrease in the number of people killed in car accidents, but that appears to be changing in 2012: the Missouri Highway Patrol is reporting a disturbing spike in the number of crash fatalities this year. As of March 14, there have been 139 Missouri deaths, a 28% increase compared to March 14, 2011. In southwest Missouri alone, the crash fatality totals are up 44% from last year. Even more shockingly, 2/3 of Missourians killed in 2012 were not wearing seat belts.

Traffic Accident Statistics:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports that there were nearly 33,000 people killed in U.S. traffic accidents in 2010. This statistic illustrated the lowest number of roadway fatalities in a single year since 1949. The same year, an estimated 2.25 million suffered from car accident injuries throughout the country. Some speculate that driver distraction accounts for the 2012 spike, since drunk driving and drowsy driving are on the decline. And of course, fatalities are more likely in accidents when vehicle occupants aren't wearing seat belts.

The Missouri Highway Patrol offers the most recent detailed traffic accident statistics for the state. Their report outlines the most prevalent factors affecting 2010 crashes throughout Missouri. Among their findings:

• Speed was a factor in nearly 20% of all car accidents.

• Speed was a factor in nearly 40% of all fatal car accidents.

• In accidents where speed was a noted cause, nearly 325 people were killed and another 12,250 were injured.

• Someone was killed every 43 minutes in a speed-related car accident.

• Alcohol was involved in nearly 5% of all car accidents.

• Alcohol-related car accidents accounted for nearly 30% of the fatal accidents that occurred during the year.

• Someone was killed in an alcohol-related accident every 2.2 hours.

• Drivers under the age of 21 accounted for about 26% of all car accidents.

• Teen drivers caused more than 15% of fatal car accidents.

Continue reading "Taking Simple Steps to Increase Safety and Prevent Car - Truck Crashes in Springfield, Missouri and Nationwide" »

On Wednesday, in Guilford Township, Pennsylvania, a box truck collided with a motorcycle, killing a father of 3. Witnesses reported seeing the truck crossing over the highway and moving diagonally into the motorcycle's path. The motorcyclist, 37 year-old Keith Monninger, had no way to avoid a collision: he crashed into the truck and died as a result of his injuries. Monninger's brother-in-law and business partner, Rod Thomas, characterized Monninger as "a very safety minded motorcycle rider" who never went without a helmet.

The box truck left the scene, and police followed up on numerous tips in an effort to locate the driver. Earlier today, a tip led them to the box truck involved in the accident, and they subsequently issued a warrant has been issued for the arrest of 29 year-old Leon Chalmers Deardorff Jr., the alleged driver. Police believe they know Deardorff's general location and are urging him to turn himself in.

Accidents of this nature are totally preventable. Our Missouri truck accident lawyers support the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) in its efforts to promote motorcycle safety, and to prevent tragedies like the one in Pennsylvania. The MSF is a non-profit organization internationally recognized for its motorcycle safety training and motorcycle rider curriculum materials. Their goal is to encourage a lifelong learning approach for motorcyclists. They also develop trainers and rider coaches in their continued initiatives, all aimed at improving overall motorcycle safety.

When it comes to motorcycle accidents, there can be no collision worse than one with a big rig. We urge all Missouri motorcyclists to check out the MSF website for education pamphlets, course locations, and safety information in general. Read the following information as it applies to motorcycle and large truck or semi-truck accident avoidance on Missouri roadways.

Safe Riding Practices to Help Prevent Motorcycle/Large Truck Collisions

• Take a quality, hands-on rider safety training course.
• Follow all traffic laws: they are designed to protect you.
• Know your motorcycle and continuously work on your riding skills.
• Maintain constant awareness of your surroundings. Be on the lookout for potential hazards.
• Do not ride behind a truck. Avoid the blind spots on large trucks, tractor-trailers, or tandem trailers, which are much larger than any other vehicles.
• If a large truck is tailgating you, change lanes. The difference between stopping distances is significant, and poses a huge risk to you as a rider.
• When driving alongside or near a big truck, always be prepared to make evasive maneuvers when needed.
• Don't assume a truck driver (or any other driver) sees you.
• Be prepared for wide turns in front of you.
• Wear bright clothing and utilize reflective materials.
• Always signal your intentions (use hand signals too, when possible).
• Use your horn to get a truck driver's attention.
• Take up an entire lane.
• Make yourself seen.
• Keep the distance between you and the truck greater at higher speeds, after dark, and in inclement weather.

Continue reading "Collisions Between Motorycles and Big Trucks Create Deadly Consequences in Missouri and Nationwide" »

In 2011, teen drivers near the nation's Capital pledged to help make our roadways a little bit safer by allowing more room on our roadways for large trucks, by staying out of their blind spots, and by signing a "No Texting Promise." Teens vowed to consciously practice these habits as a part of a truck safety demonstration they attended that was organized by national safety officials and families of distracted driving crash victims, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Given the rapidly growing number of fatal accidents caused by distracted driving - especially in teen drivers - our Missouri truck accident attorneys believe that more events like this one are desperately needed.

At this FMCSA event, officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) spoke to students in the area about the importance of safe and cautious driving around big trucks in an attempt to prevent truck accidents in Missouri and across the country.

It's important for motorists to recognize that these large trucks drive differently than passenger vehicles do. While a passenger vehicle may be able to brake suddenly when required, a fully loaded tractor-trailer requires nearly twice the distance to stop. Tractor trailers also have large blind spots, or "No Zones," that motorists must avoid. In 2009, nearly 100 large trucks were involved in fatal motor-vehicle accidents in Missouri. A large truck is officially classified as vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

"We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules," said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. "They are: buckle up, don't drink and drive; don't speed, don't text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck's blind spots."

Continue reading "Teen Drivers and Commercial Trucks Can Be a Dangerous Combination in Missouri and Nationwide" »

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?" »

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 : " »

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" »

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" »

Three residents of Springfield, Missouri were injured after the tractor-trailer that they were riding in collided with a freight train, according to News-Press Now. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that the big rig's driver and the two passengers were transported to Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 36 near mile marker 324.9, in Seneca shortly after 4:00 a.m. The driver of the semi claimed that he did not see the railroad crossing lights because of heavy fog. The semi-truck took out the crossing arm and hit the passing train.

Our Missouri truck accident attorneys know how deadly traffic accidents can be when a big rig is involved because of its size and power. An accident with one of these big rigs and a train has the potential to produce much more catastrophic results. Motorists are asked to exercise cautious driving habits around both. Passenger vehicles have very little protection against either in the event of an accident.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, the United States calculates there are more than 136,000 public railroad crossings. Of all of these crossings, roughly 42,300 of them have crossing gates, more than 22,000 have flashing light and nearly 1,200 of them have highway traffic signals, bells and wigwags as of 2009.

During 2009 alone, there were nearly 2,000 accidents that occurred at public highway-rail crossings in the United States. These incidents resulted in nearly 250 deaths and more than 700 injuries. During the same year, nearly 400 people died and another 343 were injured while they were trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property.

Since 2008, Missouri has witnessed 155 highway-rail accidents. Passenger vehicles accounted for most of these accidents. Only 16 tractor-trailers were involved in accidents with trains. There have been approximately 10 casualties in these locations since 2008.

The counties with the most highway-rail accidents are as follows:

-Jackson: 17 accidents.

-St. Louis: 9 accidents.

-Buchanan: 8 accidents.

-Franklin: 6 accidents.

-Stoddard: 6 accidents.

The Federal Railroad Administration offers motorists these tips for safe travel through a railroad crossing:

-Remember that trains can't stop quickly. It takes about 18 football fields for a 100-car freight train that is traveling at 55 miles per hour to stop once the emergency brakes have been applied.

-The newer the train, the more quietly it operates. Don't expect to always hear a train coming.

-Always assume a train is closer and moving faster than it appears. The size and the mass of a train can actually create an optical illusion that can fool you.

-Don't drive around lowered gates. It's illegal and it can be deadly. If you think that a railroad crossing's warning device is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number that's posted on or near the crossing. If you can't find that number, call the local law enforcement.

-Only drive over a highway-rail grade crossing if you are absolutely sure you can clear the crossing without stopping. Don't proceed if the traffic on the other side is backed up.

-If you get stuck on a track and a train's coming, make sure to get everyone out on the vehicle as quick as you can and move everyone away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from. If you move everyone in the same direction that the train is traveling, you could be injured by flying debris from the impact on your car.

-Only cross tracks at designated pedestrian or roadway crossing areas.

Continue reading "Train-Semi Accident Injures 2 Springfield, Missouri Residents" »

Missouri state troopers are looking into a recent tractor-trailer accident near St. Clair. St. Clair is located in Franklin County, Missouri. The accident forced crews to close the westbound lanes of Interstate 44. Traffic was backed up for miles, according to STL Today.

According to Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol, the accident happened just before 9:00 a.m. about a mile west of the St. Clair rest area. The tractor-trailer veered into the median and flipped. The driver was trapped for more than an hour. The driver was conscious when rescuers pulled him from the vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Our Missouri trucking accident attorneys understand that tractor-trailers and other large vehicles pose serious threats to passenger-vehicle motorists. Truck accidents with cars are oftentimes fatal as the truck's weight and power throw more deadly force into collisions. If you've experienced an accident with a tractor-trailer or another large truck, you are urged to contact an attorney to help you fight for the proper compensation; you may not only have to take on the driver, but the company that owns the truck as well.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 380,000 large trucks that were involved in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. A large truck is defined as a vehicle with a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds. More than 4,000 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents that took the lives of 4,229 people that year. These deaths accounted for more than 10 percent of all of the traffic fatalities reported throughout the year. Another 90,000 were injured in these accidents. One out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from a collision involving a large truck.

Passenger-vehicle occupants are most at risk for death in these types of accidents. Of all of the deaths that happened in accidents that involved a large truck, 74 percent of deaths happened to the occupants of another vehicle, 10 percent were nonoccupants and only 16 percent were occupants of a large truck. Injuries distribute just about the same with 71 percent occupants of another vehicle, 3 percent nonoccupants and 26 percent occupants of a large truck. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in deadly fatal multiple-vehicle accidents instead of fatal single-vehicle accidents.

More than 60 percent of deadly traffic accidents that involve a large truck happen in rural areas. Nearly 70 percent of them happen during the daytime and 80 percent of them happen on weekdays. In 2008, more than 100 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents in Missouri alone.

Safety tips to remember when driving near large trucks:

-Take into account the differences in size and weight. While most cars weigh an average of 3,000 pounds. Large trucks are heavy and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Remember that trucks can't maneuver like a passenger vehicles and they can't stop as quickly either.

-Don't tailgate. Allowing more space between you and the truck in front of you allows you to have a better view of the traffic conditions ahead.

-Remember that it takes at least twice the distance for a large truck or bus to stop than it does for a small car. It also takes them longer to accelerate and get up to speed.

-Be careful when passing. One of the most common reasons for collisions involving passenger vehicles and large trucks is the motorist's unfamiliarity with the performance limitations and capabilities of large trucks.

-Don't forget about blind spots. Semis have a large blind spot reaching up to 200 feet directly behind them. Trucks with high hoods have blind spots of nearly 25 feet. Remember, if you can't see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you.

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