Columbia Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Blog

In the past, drivers were warned against purchasing SUVs, as they reportedly had a high risk of being involved in a rollover accident. That's no longer the case: in fact, drivers of SUVs are now much safer than those in cars, according to USA Today. Drivers of these vehicles are now among the least likely to die in a car accident in Columbia and elsewhere in the country.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) now reports that because of a new technology, electronic stability control, SUVs now receive much higher safety ratings. Electronic stability control utilizes the vehicle's braking system and engine power to help keep these large vehicles on the roadway -- often preventing skids or rollover accidents. After its implementation, the death rate for SUV drivers dropped nearly 70%, from 82 deaths per million vehicles in 1999 to 2002 models to 28 deaths per million in 2005 to 2008 models.

"The rollover risk in SUVs used to outweigh their size/weight advantage, but that's no longer the case," says Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research. "It's a dramatic change and a testament to the incredible effectiveness of electronic stability control."

This trend has taken shape even as more motorists switch to smaller cars amid concerns about higher gas prices. According to Erich Merkle, Ford Motor Company's sales analyst, small cars accounted for approximately 24% of vehicles purchased in February 2012. That's a 4% increase from 2 months ago. In response to the growing popularity of smaller vehicles with better gas mileage, automakers continue to develop more efficient cars. During his weekly radio address on March 3, President Obama said that cars averaging nearly 55 miles per gallon will be available by 2025. The current standard is about 23.7 miles per gallon.

But what about safety concerns? Data reports indicate that the death rate in small sedans was 72 per million vehicles in 2005 to 2008 models. This figure only represents a 35% decrease from the death rate of 110 per million vehicles in 1999 to 2002 models. Safety officials believe that the focus needs to be placed on improvements in the safety of small cars, which are often involved in accidents with these larger vehicles.

"The trend from the reported data is clear: The lighter the vehicle, the higher the likelihood that its driver will be killed in a collision with another vehicle," says Mukul Verma, a veteran auto industry safety official.

Continue reading "SUVs Protect Drivers Involved in Columbia Car Accidents" »

Annually, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety releases its Traffic Safety Culture Index, a national survey designed to assess traffic safety knowledge, attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. Our Columbia, Missouri auto accident attorneys were shocked by some of the 2011 findings: the AAA's most recent Index revealed that nearly 1 in 2 Americans have either been involved in a serious crash, or have a loved one who was seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Or both.

Of late, one of the most common causes of car accidents is distracted driving, usually associated with cell phones or other hand-held electronic devices: the survey indicated that 71% of respondents feel that using a handheld cell phone while driving creates a serious safety threat. However, 68% of drivers surveyed admitted to talking on their phones while driving within the last 30 days. The difference between drivers' attitude and behavior is even more distinct with respect to texting:

Most people view drivers texting and emailing while driving as a very serious threat to their own personal safety and consider it completely unacceptable. However, more than 1 in 6 drivers (17%) don't perceive social disapproval from others; more than 1 in 4 (26%) admit to typing or sending a text message or email while driving in the past month; and more than 1 in 3 (35%) report reading a text message or email while driving in the past month.

Further, consider this observation, from the discussion portion of the index:

Although many Americans seem to think traffic safety is important generally, the survey findings reveal a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude among drivers. For example, substantial numbers of drivers say that it is completely unacceptable to text message or talk on a cell phone while driving, yet admit to doing so anyway.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the average driver using a handheld device is four times more likely to get into an accident. Since 2009, more than half a million drivers have been injured or killed in car accidents resulting from distracted driving. And a 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that truck drivers are 23 times more likely to crash if they are texting while behind the wheel.

Continue reading "The Cost of Distracted Driving in Columbia, Missouri and Nationwide" »

Car accidents in Osage Beach, Boonville, Ashland, Marshall and elsewhere in Missouri are the number one cause of death for teens. According to distraction.gov, drivers of this age group are involved in three times as many deadly accidents as those in any other age group. Distracted driving is one of the main causes for these accidents: one in three teens admit to texting while driving.

There were nearly 5,500 people killed in motor-vehicle accidents that reported distracted driving in 2009. Roughly 500,000 people were injured in these types of accidents.These distracted driving crashes make up 16 percent of all fatal accidents. They also counted for 20 percent of crashes that resulted in injury for that year. It is reported that one in five deaths on our roadways involved a driver that was using a cell phone.

Our Columbia car accident lawyers understand that current technology allows you to remain connected 24-hours a day. We also recognize how many lives have been lost on our roadways because of this distracting and deadly habit. Motorists are urged to put down the cell phone while operating a motor vehicle: it can save your life, the lives of your loved ones and the lives of surrounding motorists.

Dialing a cell phone while driving increases your chances of being involved in an accident by six times, according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study. Texting while you're behind the wheel of a car increases your risk for an accident by 23 times.

Continue reading "Teens at Increased Risk for Columbia, Missouri Car Accidents" »

A back-over pedestrian accident is typically described as when a non-occupant of a vehicle (most commonly a pedestrian, but can also be a bicyclist) is struck by a vehicle that is traveling in reverse. Our Columbia, Missouri car accident attorneys know that these senseless accidents often cause serious injuries or death. By the end of February, the government is expected to finalize a set of new rules for auto makers that are designed to prevent these accidents. The rules would require the installation of backup cameras to improve drivers' rear visibility.

In March 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation, held a day-long public hearing about this issue. They invited various industry leaders, public interest groups and victims to hear their different perspectives on the proposed safety measures from government officials aimed to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles. These are the spots pedestrians often get lost in, causing a large number of back-over pedestrian injuries in Missouri. Young children and the elderly are the most likely to be the victims of these types of accidents.

"Every year, nearly 300 people are killed and 18,000 more are injured when someone, often a parent or grandparent, backs over them," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "To put an end to these tragedies, we have proposed a new safety rule and are seeking further public feedback."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, originally proposed rearview visibility safety regulations in December of 2010. NHTSA proposed this rule as part of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007. This Act was put into effect after a two-year-old, Cameron Gulbransen, was killed when being he was accidentally backed over by his father in the driveway of their very own house.

Continue reading "Backover Pedestrian Injuries a Danger in Macon, Missouri and Elsewhere in the U.S." »

When it comes to pursuing a personal injury or car accident claim there are several factors to consider. Jefferson City, Missouri car accident lawyers examine at these factors to help our clients decide if they have a case that can be successfully pursued through legal channels. In a free initial consultation meeting, one of our lawyers evaluates the following information.

Jefferson City car accident lawyers ask--and help clients answer--these questions:

*How serious was the injury and/or damage to personal property?
*How much has the car accident cost so far?
*What are the the current and potential medical costs?
*Has there been significant emotional pain or suffering?
*Have daily routines and activities changed because of the traffic accident?
*How much current and potential rehabilitation is required?
*Have injuries made working impossible?
*Is there income that has been lost as a result of the accident? Is there potential for additional lost wages?
*Who was at fault, and was the car crash covered by insurance?
*What, if anything, has been paid by insurance so far?

These questions and others are then used to determine if personal injury case exists. If yes, the next step is to decide whether or not pursuing that case will benefit the client.

In making that decision, there are more factors to consider: a car accident lawyer can provide the information necessary to help a client make an informed decision. A personal injury case can be an extended process, and this factor--and others--must be considered.

The following information helps us advise clients about whether or not to pursue a claim:

*How much time will the case take, and is it worth that time to the client?
*Is there an offer from an insurance company? If so, is that offer valid?
*Does it make sense to accept an insurance company's offer or to pursue additional compensation?
*How can an accident attorney be of service in this particular case?
*Have all future considerations been fully explored?

Continue reading "Jefferson City, Missouri Car Accident Attorneys Help Injury Victims Determine the Best Course of Action" »

A recent "crossing the center line" accident that took place near Dixon, MO, illustrates the dangers of head-on collisions.Columbia MO car accident lawyers were not surprised to learn that although head-on collisions account for only around 2% of all U.S. motor vehicle crashes, they account for as much as 10% of fatal U.S. crashes.

Head-on collisions generally occur when one driver inadvertently crosses the centerline, or attempts to pass another vehicle on a two lane road.

According to statistics from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System:
• 75 percent of head-on crashes occur on rural roads,
• 75 percent of head-on crashes occur on undivided two-lane roads, and
• 83 percent of two-lane undivided road crashes occur on rural roads.
• Of 7,430 vehicles involved in head-on crashes on two-lane, undivided roadway segments, only 4.2 percent involved a vehicle attempting to pass or overtake another vehicle.
• 23 percent of fatal head on crashes on two-lane, divided roads are related to failing to properly negotiate a curve.

As a result of the FARS studies, it seems that most head-on collisions result from "unintentional maneuvers" (for example, distracted driving, falling asleep at the wheel, or traveling too fast in a curve). Other contributing factors would have to include driving under the influence and speeding.

Continue reading "Head-On Collisions in Columbia, Missouri and Elsewhere Have a High Percentage of Fatalities Compared to Other Types of Car Accidents" »

Pedestrians being hit by cars or trucks are surprisingly common in Columbia and the rest of the nation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 60,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents in 2006. While hitting an unprotected human being at a speed of over 30 miles per hour will likely result in serious injuries and fatalities - Columbia car accident lawyers know that a pedestrian can be severely disabled even if the driver who hits them is only going 10 miles per hour.

A recent accident in Columbia MO highlights how complicated the issue of fault can be in a personal injury case. In this accident, a man, Isaac Guest, ran across I-63 near its intersection with Route N, just south of Columbia. It was 11:50 at night, so obviously quite dark, and Guest was hit by an eastbound 1996 Dodge driven by Charles Campbell, 45, of Columbia.

Guest was taken first to Boone Hospital Center, but later had to be transferred to University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition at the time of this writing. Campbell was arrested on suspicion of DWI, vehicular assault, and driving with no insurance.

The "Rule of Negligence" in Missouri Injury Cases

A person who doesn't exercise a reasonable standard of care under the specific circumstances may be considered negligent.

Continue reading "Hit By a Car in Columbia Missouri? Proving Fault is All Important in Missouri Pedestrian Accidents" »

Columbia car accident lawyers have seen many clients come through our offices as a result of an accident with a driver who was speeding over the posted limit, or simply driving too fast for the circumstances. A tragic one vehicle accident involving twelve people highlights the dangers not just of speeding, but also of carrying passengers in the bed of a pickup truck. As a result of this crash, seven people were hospitalized and one died of his injuries.

According to the Highway Patrol's initial report, the accident occurred around 5:45 p.m. on County Road 435 just outside Mexico MO. James D. Rippee was driving a Dodge truck at high speed when he lost control, ran off the road and rammed into a mailbox. The truck then rolled over not once but several times, throwing nine people from the open bed and two from the cab. None were wearing any kind of safety device.

Although Rippee refused treatment at the scene, four others were airlifted to Columbia's University Hospital. In total, the Highway Patrol reported 12 injuries in victims ranging from 10 to 40 years of age. Of these twelve, seven suffered serious injuries and five minor ones. The one fatality was Benjamin Ewens, 20, of Mexico who died at University Hospital.

Troop F reports this as their 48th traffic fatality for 2011. Read the Missouri State Highway Patrol's traffic crash report of this incident here.

It has not yet been reported if any charges will be brought against the driver. In Missouri, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to ride in the back of a pickup truck, but legal for those older. It was also not reported at what speed Rippee was traveling when this tragedy occurred.

Continue reading "High Speed Contributing Factor in Mexico Missouri Accident Killing One, Injuring Eleven Others--Can Speed Prove Negligence in Wrongful Death Cases?" »

Although over 90% of Columbia Missouri car accidents are primarily the cause of one or more drivers, there are also instances where the roads themselves are hazardous, poorly designed, or poorly marked. In some cases, there is no stop sign or light in an intersection that badly needs one. In other cases, the increase of motorists over the years turns a formerly safe, low traffic intersection into a dangerous, high traffic one. Unfortunately, it frequently takes a history of car accidents at one of these intersections before the situation is studied and rectified. One of these road design factors might have been partially at fault for a car accident that sent two women to Columbia's University Hospital on the morning of Sept. 29.

Columbia car accident lawyers have learned that The Missouri DOT is currently in the process of replacing the crossover at Missouri 163 with J-turns, in an attempt to help eliminate T-bone collisions. There are also several other J turn replacement projects in the works, as part of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety's Targeted 10 in the Blueprint and Innovative Intersections.

Here's what happened in this Columbia T-Bone accident:

A white Monte Carlo driven by Kimberly A. Garrett, 52, of Ashland, attempted to cross the southbound lanes of U.S. 63. She was T-boned by a red Cavalier driven by Yolandis Patterson, 34, of Jefferson City. Garret was ejected from her vehicle, landing fifty feet away in a ditch. She was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident.
University hospital reported that her injuries were serious, but she was in good condition by that afternoon. Patterson also suffered moderate injuries, including fractures, and was reported in fair condition.

Continue reading "T-Bone Accidents a Serious Danger at Some Columbia Missouri Intersections" »

All-terrain vehicles (ATV) have become an increasingly popular way to have some fun. Introduced to the Missouri public in the early 1970s, these vehicles were marketed as fun toys for the entire family. Most adult ATVs are capable of going up to 95 miles per hour. Marshall MO accident lawyers have noted that when used for farm or work related activities, ATV injuries are rare, but when used for recreation, the story changes markedly.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported an incident which sent a Marshall MO man to the hospital. The ATV accident occurred Tuesday, Oct 4th in a rural Marshall field. David A. Robbins, 61, was driving a 2010 Polaris, which somehow backed over the edge of a six foot drop. He was thrown from the vehicle, and airlifted by Staff for Life air ambulance to Columbia's University Hospital.

According to government statistics, there were 131,900 emergency room reported injuries from ATV accidents and 376 fatalities in 2009. 25% of these accidents happened to children under the age of 16. In Missouri alone there were 62 reported deaths resulting from ATV accidents between 2007 and 2009.

Nationwide, legislators and manufacturers have continued to make efforts to ensure ATV safety, since their dangers became obvious. Some of these changes include banning three wheeled ATVs, limitations on the engine size for child-sized ATVs, and the offering of operator training programs nationwide. Despite these efforts, ATV related injuries and fatalities continue to increase. A 2010 study by the University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery reported that spine trauma from ATV accidents costs our nation $3.24 billion each year!

Continue reading "Marshall Missouri ATV Accident Sends Man to the Hospital--Marshall Accident Lawyers Discuss ATV Safety Tips" »

One of the most frightening and deadly types of car accidents is the head-on collision. Unlike being rear-ended or t-boned, which you might not see coming, people involved in a head on collision frequently see the accident heading straight at them but cannot react fast enough to prevent the crash from happening. Columbia Missouri car accident lawyers know that the direct force of two moving vehicles hitting each head on results in more fatalities than any other type of car accident.

Crossing the center line into oncoming traffic is one of the main causes of head on collisions. Such was the case on Saturday, Sept 17 when a head on collision in Osage County, Missouri, resulted in one dead and seven injured. Loretta J. Thompson, 42, of Fulton Missouri, was killed when her vehicle crossed the center line on Highway 63 south of Westphalia, right near the Route T intersection. At that point, Thompson, who had been heading north, struck a southbound vehicle with five occupants.

MSHP's Troop F recorded this as their 43rd traffic accident fatality this year. Read the Missouri Highway Patrol report.

After impact, Thompson's vehicle careened back across the center line and completely off the road into a ditch, ejecting one of her two passengers. The other vehicle came to a dead halt from the impact of the collision.

An Osage County coroner declared Thompson dead at the scene, while another seven people were taken to two different Columbia area hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to serious.

Continue reading "Head On Collision in Osage County Kills One, Sends Seven More to Columbia Missouri Hospitals" »

A two car accident in Boone County has sent seven people to the hospital, one with serious injuries. This unfortunate head-on collision happened on August 16th near the Midway Expo Center on Hwy 40. Columbia Missouri car accident lawyers were disappointed to hear that out of the six passengers in one of the vehicles, five were not wearing seat belts.

Apparently, a Buick with six occupants was traveling east and turned into the path of an oncoming Jaguar driven by Gregory Robinson of Columbia MO. (Robinson was wearing a seat belt.) The two vehicles collided head on, leaving the Jaguar in a ditch after it first collided with a concrete culvert, and then caught fire. The Buick landed right in front of the Little General Convenience Store.

Battalion Chief Gale Blomenkamp of the Boone County Fire Protection District said the Buick's driver was the only person with serious injuries, but all those involved in the crash were taken to University Hospital.

One of the passengers in the Buick was thrown into the windshield--clearly not the occupant who was buckled in. Unfortunately, three young children in the Buick were reported to have sustained moderate injuries.

Four ambulances and three fire trucks responded to the accident, with an approximate total of 20 emergency responders on the scene.

Continue reading "Head-On Collision in Boone County Missouri Sends Seven to the Hospital--Five Were Not Using Seat Belts" »

You are driving along in your 2008 Honda Civic on a Friday afternoon. This is a holiday weekend and you cannot wait to get home, grab your bags and start the road trip. As you approach the intersection one block from your apartment, all you can think about as you sit at the red light is food, friends and fun. Suddently, without any notice at all, you look in your rear-view mirror and see a a vehicle that appears to have no intention of stopping. Though she did not appear to be driving very fast, you brace yourself the best you can and prepare for the collision.

The police come to the scene and take a report. As it turns out the other driver (we will call her Dolly), was only traveling at a speed of 10 miles per hour. Additionally, the damage to her Dodge and to your Honda was minimal. However, you have an instant head ache and a "pins and needles" feeling radiating down your leg. You don't need an ambulance and your car is drivable, so you decide to go home and take a Tylenol in hopes of possibly resuming your weekend plans on Saturday. But when you wake up, you can hardly move. You cannot get rid of your head ache, your back is strained, your neck is tense, the pins and needles sensation is constant and you have an almost dull, numbing feeling in your back. How could this be?

This was a classic fender bender with little-to-no damage amongst vehicles traveling at low speeds. This is also known as the very common Low Speed Rear Impact Collision. When objects collide with one another, there is an exchange of energy and the momentum changes causing the energy from one vehicle to be transfered to the vehicle that is struck. The vehicle being struck experiences an increase in its momentum, while the striking vehicle generally experiences a loss of momentum. These circumstances all change velocity and for biomechanical experts, such change is commonly referred to as Delta V.

Insurance adjusters typically have a through understanding of LOSRIC cases and will argue that no property damage amongst vehicles traveling at low speeds should obviously result in no injury, however competing experts offer variable opinions on this subject. The reason for variable opinions is that the formula to determine injury is not as simple as property damage + speed = extent of injury or lack thereof.

Rather, in LOSRIC cases in particular, you must look at a number of factors which complicate the formula: whether there are head-rests, the position of the head (If the head is turned, the injury will be greater on the side it is turned to. When head rotation is present, the pattern of tissue injury is potentially more severe), seatback stiffness, (the harder/stiffer the seatback the less forward acceleration and therefore the less injury), shoulder restraints though designed to prevent ijnury can actually lead to great flexion in low speed cases and increase the likihood of injury, pre-existing conditions, age of the injured party (it is common knowledge that younger individuals recover faster and experience less whiplash injury due to age alone).

In sum, an attorney representing a plaintiff in a low speed case or an individual who has been involved in one must know the arguments which support the fact that the injuries experienced are real. Just because the parties may not have been traveling at high speeds and the vehicle damage may not be extensive which are traditional factors leading to reasonable settlements, you may still have a viable and legitimate claim for damages in a LOSRIC case.

If you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault and would like to discuss your case, call Aaron Sachs & Associates at 1-888-777-AUTO (2886) for a free consultation and find out your rights.

22 year old Serenity Crump of Jefferson City was crossing Missouri Blvd in the 2300 block, in front of K-Mart, when she was involved in a truck accident and injured. Crump was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Fortunately, they were described as moderate.

According to the report by the Jefferson City Police Department, Abby Luetkemeyer 20, of Jefferson City was turning left out of the K-Mart parking lot. She turned her 2002 Chevy truck into the center lane, attempting to merge into the eastbound lanes of the road, and hit Crump.

Police claimed that Luetkemeyer used the center lane incorrectly when the accident happened. Truck accidents of this type can result in serious injury or even fatalities, so we believe Crump was in fact quite lucky that her injuries were not more serious.

Why are truck accidents and auto accidents so common in Jefferson City and Columbia, Missouri?

This accident shows one of the main reasons: drivers are either not familiar enough with the "rules of the road," in this case the proper use of the center lane for turns, or they try to cheat fate by purposely doing things that are against the rules. People are impatient and annoyed with city traffic, and if they see a chance to make a turn quicker by doing something that is not quite proper, they frequently take it.

Continue reading "Jefferson City Missouri Pedestrian Hit by Truck Crossing Missouri Blvd" »

If you are like many Missourians, your Fourth of July holiday would not be complete with out an exciting and colorful fireworks display. If you are purchasing your own fireworks, Columbia Injury Attorneys urge you to familiarize yourself with all the do's and don'ts of fireworks before setting them off and possibly joining the ranks of the firecracker-injured.

The CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) reported three fireworks-related deaths and an estimated 8,600 emergency room visits for fireworks injuries in 2010. Approximately 6,000 of these incidents took place in the 30 days surrounding the Fourth of July holiday.

The main reported injuries from firecrackers are burns, lacerations and eye injuries. Loss of a limb is a tragic and not uncommon result of a fireworks accident as well. The large majority of these injuries seem to be related to the use of firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers, with those under twenty years of age accounting for most of the injuries.

"Consumers need to heed our warning: fireworks related incidents, especially those involving illegal fireworks, can be fatal," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Only use legal fireworks and follow CPSC's tips to ensure your holiday remains festive and safe."

Continue reading "Fourth of July in Columbia Missouri--Check out These Fireworks Safety Tips " »