Missouri Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

According to research conducted for an article in Men's Health magazine, St. louis has the worst drivers in a survey of 100 U.S. cities. The study analyzed the rate of fatal crashes; the percentage of fatalities involving alcohol, speeding, or hit and run; and the rate of seatbelt use (from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Then we factored in the average number of years between accidents (data from Allstate) and laws on cellphone use while driving (taken from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and various city governments).

Based on this data, we advise people to be extra careful when driving in St. Louis. Motorists should keep a careful lookout, but don't assume that others around them are doing the same.

Continue reading "St. Louis Has The Worst Drivers" »

We saw this coming. According to a story posted on-line in today's LA Times, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging states to ban all use of electronic devices while driving. The NTSB is also considering options for national restrictions or an all out ban on their use. This is partly in response to a major accident in 2010 near Gray Summit, Missouri in which a 19-year old driver sent and received 11 text messages in the few minutes just before causing a multi-car pile-up involving trucks and buses that left two dead and 38 others injured.

The attorneys at the Injury Law Center have seen an increase in the frequency of accidents caused by distracted drivers on their cell phones. We aggressively pursue these individuals when they hurt innocent motorists.

Continue reading "NTSB Considers Ban On Use Of Electronic Devices While Driving- Urges States To Do So" »

We all know that AT&T is one of the largest US based cellular phone service providers. It's easy to dislike large companies like this who charge honest working people alot of money for their services. However, they do occasionally use that money to do the right thing.

In an effort to increase public awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, AT&T has produced this 10-minute video. The video isn't very graphic, yet it's still very powerful because it shows the emotional aftermath of senseless tragedies that could have easily been avoided. The simple message is that "IT CAN WAIT."

According to a joint announcement today from the Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there were less than 1,000 traffic fatalities for the second straight year in 2010. This marks the lowest two-year totals since 1921. The Illinois' Transportation Secretary called it a "historic accomplishment."

The data gathered reflects that there were 911 motor vehicle fatalities in 2009, followed by 923 fatalities in 2010.

IDOT and the ISP are crediting increased use of safety belts, increased holiday police patrols, as well as safety programs such as Operation Teen Safe Driving, Motorcycle Safety, Impaired Driving, Work Zone Safety, Motor Carrier Safety, and Occupant Protection.

Continue reading "Illinois Traffic Fatalities Are Historically Low For A Second Straight Year" »

According to reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol website and an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch today, an 8-year old boy was killed in a car accident yesterday, and the driver of the car- the boy's 31-year old mother- was arrested by police 15 minutes after the crash under suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Involuntary Manslaughter. The crash happened at about 11:58 AM in Franklin County. Apparently the mother also had her 3 daughters, ages 1, 1, and 2, in the car as well, but they weren't injured.

If the mother/driver is charged with DWI and Involuntary Manslaughter, it will be based upon the conclusion that there is no proof the she intended to kill her son. However, if she is found to have been intoxicated before noon and driving her young children around in that condition, she is very likely headed for prison. A wrongful death case may also be pursued by family members on behalf of the boy.

Continue reading "8-Year Old Boy Killed In Franklin County, Mother Charged After Crash" »