Springfield Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Car accidents happen in a matter of seconds, but they can have devastating long-term consequences for victims and their loved ones. In this post, our Springfield personal injury lawyers discuss ten facts about motor vehicle crashes and common contributing factors.

Ten facts about car accidents for Missouri drivers:

1. The average American has a 30% chance of being involved in a serious motor vehicle crash at some point during their life.

2. Annually, more than 30,000 people are killed in U.S. car accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the total societal cost of these fatal accidents is more than $200 billion each year.

3. Distraction is a leading cause of serious traffic accidents. A study conducted by Monash University found that drivers who use hand-held electronic devices are about four times more likely to be involved in crashes resulting in injuries.

4. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), speeding was a contributing factor in 31% of 2011 auto accidents. Since 2002, speeding has played a role in about one-third of all traffic crash fatalities nationwide.

5. Nearly 30 people are killed every day in U.S. crashes involving drivers who are under the influence of alcohol - that's one death every 48 minutes.

6. Pedestrians accounted for about 14% of 2011 auto accident fatalities. Approximately 69,000 pedestrians were injured in car crashes and 4,432 were killed.

7. Younger and older drivers have an increased risk of involvement in accidents. Teens between age 16 and 19 have a higher crash risk than any other age group - in fact, they're three times more likely to crash than drivers over age 20. And the IIHS reports that 'per mile traveled, fatal crash rates increase noticeably starting at age 70-74 and are highest among drivers 85 and older."

Continue reading "10 facts to know about car accidents in Springfield, Missouri & nationwide" »

On Monday, a Missouri man pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an injury crash in connection with a St. Louis accident that killed a tow truck driver. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 21 year-old Aaron Bogue will appear in court for sentencing on December 7.

Police say Bogue struck and killed 51 year-old David Bense Sr. on Interstate 70 near West Florissant Avenue. Bense, a tow truck driver for AAA, had stopped on the shoulder of I-70 to assist a motorist on his last call of the night. At about 9:20 p.m., Bense was putting cones and flares around a disabled vehicle on the highway when he was hit by an eastbound motorist. The vehicle - a white sedan - did not stop after the collision. However, another driver who witnessed the crash followed the sedan and contacted police.

Ultimately, law enforcement officials located Bogue near the intersection of 11th Street and Salisbury Street. His vehicle was seriously damaged and Bense's blood was found on it. At the time of his arrest, Bogue told officers that he thought he had hit an animal on the interstate.

Authorities say Bogue has an extended criminal record, including convictions for burglary, property damage and drug possession. In addition, the Post-Dispatch reports that Bogue has a pending St. Louis County charge for fraudulent use of a credit card.

Leaving the scene of an accident causing injury carries a minimum penalty of one day in jail and a maximum penalty of four years behind bars. Bense's wife and other family members recently met with prosecutors, as the family was unhappy that Bogue hadn't been charged with more serious offenses. After his arrest, Bogue was tested for drugs and alcohol, but the results were reportedly inconclusive.

"Over the past several months, a thorough investigation was conducted and we exhausted every possible scenario to ensure Aaron Bogue was charged with the highest charge under Missouri state law and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, given the circumstances and evidence available in this matter," the prosecuting attorney's office said in a recent statement.

Continue reading "Missouri man pleads guilty to felony hit and run for crash that killed STL tow truck driver" »

A Kentucky teen was sentenced to 48 hours in jail after causing a crash while driving drunk and posting an "LOL" comment about the accident on Facebook. A judge in Woodford County imposed the sentence on 18 year-old Paula Asher, who is still facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance.

Local law enforcement officials say Asher was drunk when she T-boned another vehicle in July and then drove away. When she was arrested later the same night, her blood alcohol content was over the legal limit and police discovered two Xanax pills in her vehicle. Asher reportedly told the arresting officers that she didn't realize she had hit anything.

After she was formally charged, Asher posted the following sentence on Facebook: "My dumb (expletive) got a DUI and hit a car LOL." Of course, "LOL" is a commonly used internet acronym meaning "laugh out loud." According to LEX18 News, Asher's post was seen by parents of the teenagers who were in the car Asher struck. They reported Asher's comment to Woodford District Judge Mary Jane Phelps, who ordered Asher to delete her Facebook account immediately.

However, Asher didn't follow that order. When Judge Phelps learned that the Facebook account was still active, she charged Asher with contempt of court and ordered her to spend two days behind bars. Officials at Woodford County Circuit Court say that deactivating the Facebook account was a condition of Asher's release.

Asher says she didn't intend to be flippant about the accident, and that she has apologized to the victims and to Judge Phelps. "I didn't think LOL would put me in jail," she said. Asher appeared in court on September 10 told the judge the account had been disabled. She is scheduled to appear again on September 24.

Because of social media's growing role in daily life, it can impact car accident investigations and legal proceedings in numerous ways. After all, websites like Facebook and Twitter can provide specific, time-stamped details about user's activities. People write about what they're doing, where they're going, and how they're feeling - and some do so multiple times each day.

As a result, social media can be a useful tool for law enforcement officials as they conduct investigations. In fatal crashes (especially where distracted or impaired driving is suspected), social media accounts can help police determine what a user was doing in the hours leading up to (and following) the accident. This week, police officers in Minnesota used Facebook photos and tweets to identify, locate, and arrest a suspected thief who escaped during a high speed chase. And Virginia police recently used tweets sent by two college students to help establish the sequence of events leading up to a fatal train crash.

However, using social media can also have unwanted consequences, particularly if you're a car accident victim who's involved in a personal injury lawsuit. It's now common for defense attorneys and insurance companies to request access to social media accounts - and it's fairly easy to take a photograph or a post out of context and use it as evidence undermining an injury claim. For example, if an injury victim posts "I feel great!", an insurer could characterize the post as evidence that the victim's injuries aren't as serious he or she claims.

Continue reading ""LOL" Facebook post about drunk driving crash lands KY teen behind bars" »

For most of us, getting behind the wheel is the riskiest thing we do all day. Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States, but according to Forbes, the general public doesn't always recognize how dangerous driving can be. Because crashes are scattered throughout the country, happening in "ones and twos," many of us lose sight of how many accidents take place every single day: approximately 110 nationwide.

Locally, Missouri auto fatalities are on the rise for the first time since 2007, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol: there have been 375 deaths from auto accidents in the first six months of 2012, which means 62 more motorists died this year than during the first six months of 2011. The Springfield and Joplin areas are experiencing the highest increase in traffic fatalities with a 59% rise compared to 2011.

If you've ever been involved in a serious accident, you know the experience can be nightmarish. What's more, in addition to the physical consequences that accompany car crash injuries, research has shown that motorists may experience mental consequences as well. Traumatic accidents can cause symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although PTSD is most often associated with the horrors of combat, millions of Americans suffer from this mental disease, which can be brought on by a number of different causes: many Americans report PTSD symptoms after living through auto accidents, house fires and natural disasters.

Of course, it's natural to feel nervous, afraid and upset after an accident: most people do. It is good to have a healthy fear of the road, but too much fear can actually put a driver in danger. To help overcome feelings of anxiety about driving, start slow. Start by just sitting in the driver's seat and simply starting the engine. Then, step by step, try to work your way up to taking a short drive. As you become more comfortable behind the wheel, extend the length of your driving time. Remember to push yourself, but not too far. Take small steps. Over time, driving will become easier, and fear and panic will subside.

However, there's an important distinction between normal feelings of uneasiness and fear and PTSD symptoms. Familydoctor.org reports that "strong feelings that stay with a person for a long time and start to get in the way of everyday life are signs of [PTSD]." For most car accident victims, the symptoms subside as time passes, but those afflicted with PTSD experience fear and panic that seems overwhelming and never-ending.

Continue reading "Car accidents can cause both physical and mental injury, research shows" »

On Friday, a jury returned a not guilty verdict in the trial of 35 year-old Monica Chavez, who was charged with five counts of criminally negligent homicide and two counts of child abuse. The charges were connected to a fatal car crash caused by Chavez, who had a seizure while behind the wheel.

On February 17, 2011, police say Chavez lost control of her SUV and slammed into a Mazda sedan before hitting a median, which launched the SUV into the air. It landed on a pickup truck carrying a family of five: 34 year-old Randy Stollsteimer; his wife, 31 year-old Crystaldawn; and their three children, 12 year-old Sebastian, 9 year-old Darrian, and 7 year-old Cyrus. All five were killed in the crash. Chavez's passengers - her two children - were also injured in the wreck.

During the trial, which included three days of testimony, prosecutors argued that Chavez was negligent because she failed to follow up with a neurologist after having a seizure-like episode in 2006. At that time, Chavez was treated at a hospital, and the physician told her not to drive until she had been cleared by a neurologist. However, that recommendation wasn't appropriately transferred to Chavez's discharge papers, and Chavez instead followed up with her own primary physician, who didn't feel that the episode was actually a seizure.

"No doctor will tell you that she should not have been driving five years after something that they never called a seizure," Chavez's attorney, Megan Downing, said in court. "She was told she was fine and that's why she was in the car that day."

Then, in 2010, Chavez reportedly had another seizure-like episode, but she did not seek treatment. Downing said both Chavez and her husband believed that episode was connected to heat stroke.

The trial earned increased interest after Secretary of Commerce John Bryson was found unconscious in his vehicle on June 9 after reportedly suffering a seizure while driving. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Bryson rear ended a vehicle at a railroad crossing, spoke with the occupants of the vehicle, and then drove away, hitting the vehicle again as he left. Then, Bryson struck another vehicle about five minutes later. He has not been formally charged, and no one was seriously injured. Three days later, Bryson announced that he was taking a medical leave of absence.

Continue reading "Jury Finds Driver Not Guilty of Negligent Homicide in Crash That Killed Family of Five" »

Seven people were killed in Missouri auto accidents between 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25 and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 28, according to a recent news release from the Missouri Highway Patrol. Troopers reported a total of 232 accidents over the holiday weekend, which caused 95 injuries to the involved parties. In addition, 184 Missouri motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated.

All seven fatal crashes were lane departure accidents, meaning they involved a vehicle leaving the appropriate lane of travel and either running off the road or crossing into the path of oncoming traffic.

Memorial Day Auto Fatalities in Missouri

Friday May, 25

• 16 year-old Rachelle Alling of Ozark died on Friday evening in a single vehicle crash in Christian County. At around 8:00 p.m., Alling's vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a culvert, which caused the car to overturn into a volunteer fire department's driveway. Alling was pronounced dead at the scene. She was wearing a seat belt.

Saturday, May 26

• On Saturday, another single vehicle wreck claimed the life of 23 year-old Ulyses Neal IV of Sikeston. Neal was a passenger in a vehicle that lost control and struck a tree. Neal was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of his injuries. Two other occupants sustained serious injuries in the crash, while a third suffered minor injuries.

Sunday, May 27

• Christopher Harrah, 26, of Rolla, was killed on Sunday in a Franklin County crash. Harrah was a passenger in a vehicle that failed to properly negotiate a curve in the roadway: it ran off the road, struck a driveway, became airborne, and eventually collided with a tree. Harrah was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. A 5 year-old passenger suffered moderate injuries. The driver, 25 year-old Autumn Smith, was seriously injured: she has since been changed with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and driving while intoxicated, according to STL Today.

Continue reading "Missouri Highway Patrol Reports Seven Auto Accident Fatalities Over Memorial Day Weekend" »

Over the weekend, a serious head-on collision in west Springfield killed two motorcyclists and injured four other motorists. Ultimately, the wreck involved a van, an SUV, a pickup truck, and three motorcycles, and its aftermath necessitated the closing of a busy section of roadway for most of the day on Saturday.

The accident happened around 1:15 p.m in the 1100 block of West Bypass, near the intersection at Grand Avenue. According to the Springfield Police Department's press release regarding the incident, a Nissan Quest van and a Chevrolet Suburban were traveling north on West Bypass when they collided. The impact knocked the Suburban across the median into southbound traffic, where it struck a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle head-on.

The SUV then rotated, and it was subsequently hit by a southbound Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Two Triumph motorcycles traveling behind the truck tried to avoid the collision, but both ultimately crashed into the pickup.

The occupants of the Harley were ejected from the bike and pronounced dead at the scene. As of Monday morning, law enforcement officials had not yet released their names as they continued working to positively identify the victims and notify their next of kin.

Four others involved in the crash - occupants of the Suburban and the two Triumphs - were transported to local hospitals by ambulance. None of their injuries are believed to be life threatening. The woman driving the van and her passengers - two children - were uninjured. Police say it appears all of the motorcyclists involved in the crash were wearing proper helmets.

Thus far, police have declined to comment as to which driver was at fault: the cause of the initial collision between the SUV and the van is still unknown, according to Sergeant Tom Luellen of the Springfield Police Department. The issue is a central focus of the investigation. "That's going to take a long time to determine, we're going to have to look at these various pieces of evidence, whether it's marks on the road or injuries to people or other things and it's going to take a long time for us to piece that back together," Sgt. Luellen said.

Continue reading "Six Vehicle Crash on West Bypass Leaves Two Dead, Four Injured" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 70% of fatal single-vehicle car accidents are ROR wrecks, meaning run-off-road. Over the weekend, 2 of these accidents happened right here in southern Missouri.

On Saturday evening, 17 year-old Jordan K. Farr was northbound on Morrisville Road when he ran off the roadway. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Farr's 2004 Mazda 6 struck a ditch, which caused the vehicle to flip and then overturn several times. Farr was taken to Citizens Memorial Hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the crash report.

Meanwhile, 3 people were injured (2 of them seriously) after a similar one-car accident in Douglas County. The driver in that accident - 21 year-old Ryan K. Swearingin - also ran off the road, and his 1999 Chevy S-10 also flipped over. Swearingin was ejected from the pickup and was one of the seriously injured occupants: he and his passenger, 17 year-old Shon Gossett, were flown to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. The pickup's other occupant, 15 year-old Misty David, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Cox. No one in the truck was wearing a seatbelt.

On average, 1 in 5 car accidents are single-vehicle roadway crashes: Forbes.com reports that this kind of accident is even more dangerous than a head-on collision or a T-bone crash. A 2011 report from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis presented the following data:

• In single-vehicle ROR crashes, the most prevalent causal factor was driver performance error (27.7%).

• The other common causes for these accidents are also directly linked to driver behaviors: 25.4% were caused by driver decision errors; 22.5% were caused by critical nonperformance errors; and 19.8% were caused by driver recognition errors.

• So, what causes drivers to make these mistakes? In single-vehicle ROR crashes involving passenger vehicles, NHTSA reports that 14.3% were caused by internal distraction; 13.6% were caused by overcompensation (or overcorrection); 12% were caused by poor directional control; 10.5% were caused by speed (traveling "too fast for curve"); and 9.8% were caused by drivers falling asleep.

Continue reading "Bolivar Teen Killed, 2 Ava Residents Seriously Injured in Separate Run-Off-Road Crashes Last Weekend" »

As a pedestrian, being struck by an automobile can be a traumatic experience. Serious injuries and death are often the result of Missouri car/pedestrian accidents: you can be seriously injured or even disabled if you are hit by a car traveling at just 10 miles per hour. The faster the car is going, the greater the chances of critical or even fatal injuries. Our Nixa, Missouri car accident lawyers want to remind both drivers and pedestrians to be cautious of each other throughout the warm spring months ahead.

Here are a few statistics related to collisions between pedestrians and automobiles, courtesy of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):

• In 2010, 4,280 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States.
• There were 59,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2009.
• On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes.

What Do I Do Immediately After a Missouri Car/Pedestrian Accident?

If you have been hit by a car, truck, or motorcycle, do not move until you are sure you are not seriously injured. Often, the shock and adrenaline that follow an accident make it difficult for victims to realize how badly they're hurt. You will need to be assessed by a professional emergency medical technician, which means that you may need to wait as calmly as possible for help. If you can move and you are still in danger due to oncoming traffic, move to the side of the road and make sure someone has called 911.

If you have a cell phone, and you're physically able, take pictures of the scene and your injuries. Also, when possible, make notes of the road, weather, and traffic conditions. We recommend that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as is reasonably possible, so that witnesses and evidence can be located quickly.

Continue reading "Missouri Collisions Between Cars & Pedestrians Commonly Cause Serious Injuries, Fatalities" »

Our Branson, Missouri car accident lawyers were amazed to hear about the bravery of 3 bystanders following a terrible crash last Sunday. It happened on Highway 86 in Stone County just before 4:00 p.m.: according to the Missouri Highway Patrol, 30 year-old Mystery Anderson was traveling north when she failed to negotiate a curve. Her 2005 Kia Optima ran off the road, smashed into a culvert, and flipped over in the air. When the vehicle hit the ground, it burst into flames. One of the occupants - a 12 year-old girl riding in the backseat - was able to free herself from the vehicle. However, Anderson and another passenger (22 year-old Jaylin Blackbear) were trapped inside.

Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers: Matthew Sams and Dennis Margritz were passing by and witnessed the accident and its aftermath. Margritz tried to use a fire extinguisher, but the fire had already grown too large. Instead, incredibly, the 2 men worked together and pulled Blackbear to safety,

However, the car continued to burn, and Anderson remained pinned between her seat and the steering wheel. At that point - when the flames were nearly 10 feet high - a third bystander, Brent Arnold, ran to help. Through their combined efforts, they were able to drag Anderson from the car: in the end, the men were forced to lift Anderson over the front seat and pull her through the back door. "We ended up having to rip pieces from the door, just rip them out to get us enough room so that we could reach in to get the seat released," said Sams in an interview with KY3 News.

All 3 occupants of the Kia sustained serious injuries and were taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. As of Monday, Anderson's condition had been upgraded to fair. Emergency responders say that the courageous actions of those 3 passersby most likely saved her life: the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire trucks arrived on the scene.

"They truly are heroes," said Eric Nielson, Public Information Officer for the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District. "They said they weren't heroes but if they would not have been there the outcome would have been different." A news release from Southern Stone County Fire concurs: "These three individuals acted in a heroic way. The driver would have most likely sustained fatal injuries without their brave rescue."

Continue reading "Good Samaritans Rescue Occupants from Burning Car in Stone County, Missouri" »

The Greene County car accident attorneys have noted several recent reports of local accidents caused by a driver's failure to yield the right of way. Failing to yield has long been a common catalyst for injury and fatality accidents - here in Missouri and nationwide.

This week in Aztec, New Mexico, police are investigating a fatal accident caused by one driver's failure to yield the right of way. Last Friday, 83 year-old John Gustafson was traveling west when he approached what has been called a "heavily traveled highway intersection." As the light turned yellow, Gustafson attempted to turn left, and his Kia Rondo was subsequently T-boned by an eastbound semi.

Gustafson was killed, while the truck driver sustained minor injuries. Local police continue to investigate the accident; however, Sgt. Joseph Gonzales of the Aztec Police Department says it appears that Gustafson simply failed to yield to the truck, and that the semi was too close to the intersection to stop in time. Police do not believe speed or driver impairment played a role in the collision, though they will have to determine how fast the semi was traveling when the collision occurred. They also plan to examine surveillance footage from a nearby bank.

Right of way issues cause numerous accidents throughout Missouri. In particular, these kinds of crashes are prevalent at intersections that are equipped with stoplights that do not have left turn arrows to allow protected left turns. At these intersections - and there are many throughout the Queen City - drivers making left turns are always expected to yield.

According to findings from the National Safety Council, 14% of all fatal traffic accidents are caused by a driver's failure to yield. Sometimes, this behavior is associated with aggressive driving tendencies - deliberately careless behaviors that increase the risk of an accident. The American Automobile Association's (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that these behaviors are "typically motivated by impatience, annoyance, hostility, or all of the above." In other words, a driver is frustrated by slow moving traffic, or in a hurry to make it through an intersection, or angry about another driver's actions: and, as a result, that driver makes a rash, reckless decision. However, there are also a good number of drivers who fail to yield simply because they don't understand who has the right of way.

Continue reading "Failure to Yield Causes Fatal Accidents: When Do Springfield, Missouri Drivers Have the Right of Way?" »

On Wednesday, following a car accident on Kansas Expressway, a 1 year-old was thrown from a vehicle - while still in her car seat. The driver of that vehicle (Cindy Wells, the girl's grandmother) was attempting to turn left onto Hovey Street when she was struck by a northbound car. The child, who was riding in a front-facing car seat, was ejected from the back of the vehicle.

No one seems to understand how such a thing occurred. In an interview with the Springfield News Leader, Wells said: "The only thing we could figure is that the pressure on the seat belt caused the lock to disengage." Miraculously, the child was uninjured. While we don't know the circumstances that caused this unbelievable incident, the proper installation and use of child safety restraints have long been concerns for parents and safety advocates.

When used correctly, car seats can reduce car accident fatalities by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers (children aged 1 to 4) when compared to seat belts. Accordingly, booster seats can reduce accident injuries by 45% for children aged 4 to 8. In 2009, 31% of children under age 4 who were killed in crashes were completely unrestrained. Shockingly, according to Safe Kids USA, "the overall critical misuse for child restraints is about 73%." Infant seats and rear-facing convertible seats are the most commonly misused devices.

Here are a few guidelines aimed at keeping young passengers safe:

• Make sure you are familiar with Missouri's Child Restraint Law (RSMo 307.182), which requires safety seats for children ages 4 and under (or who weigh less than 40 pounds); and booster seats for children ages 4 to 7 (or who weigh less than 80 pounds or who are shorter than 4'9").

• When you purchase a safety seat, remember to register the product with the manufacturer so you'll receive any pertinent recall information. You can also visit www.recalls.gov.

• Purchasing safety seats secondhand (at yard sales, resale shops, etc.) is a risky endeavor. You have no way of knowing whether or not the seat has been through an accident.

• Babycenter.com stresses the importance of reading both your car seat and vehicle manuals to ensure you install the seat properly. If you're not sure, call the seat manufacturer and/or the automaker. There are also several workshops that teach proper installation (see the resources at the end of this post).

Continue reading "Safety Restraints Prevent Child Injuries, Fatalities in Springfield, Missouri Car Accidents " »

Our Springfield car accident attorneys have noticed a disturbing trend in the Queen City: in less than 2 weeks, there were 3 separate high speed police pursuits within city limits. Even more distressing is the common factor that links all three pursuits: each one involved alcohol and/or drugs. Consider the following headlines:

February 15: Suspected Drunk Driver Who Crashed into Square Was on DWI Probation

When police attempted to pull over a suspected drunk driver at around 1:30 a.m., the vehicle sped away. Police pursued: the chase reached speeds of 50 mph within the city, and 90 mph after the suspect led law enforcement onto I-44. Eventually, the driver reentered the city: stop sticks were used to disable the vehicle's tires, and the driver crashed into concrete barriers on Park Central Square. 37 year-old Andrew Hegger was arrested and charged with DWI, along with several traffic and probation violations. Police also found alcohol in the vehicle.

February 22: Man in custody after speedy chase: Speeds reached 100 mph during pursuit through Springfield

This chase began around 1:00 p.m. when a deputy from the Greene County Sheriff's Department attempted to stop a white Mazda at the intersection of Route H and Missouri AA, just north of Springfield. The deputy followed the vehicle into the city, where at least three other patrol cars joined the pursuit: the driver was believed to be wanted for several felony crimes. Officers fell back when the car reached speeds around 100 mph near Hillcrest High School.

Shortly thereafter, a Springfield driver called 911 to report seeing the Mazda being driven dangerously: the Mazda forced cars off the road and ignored traffic signals as he sped through several major Springfield intersections during the middle of the day. Again, stop sticks were deployed, and the Mazda was finally disabled at Oak Grove and Sunshine. Even at that point, the driver attempted to flee on foot, and deputies had to use a Taser to subdue him. Ultimately, 29 year-old Jason Capps was arrested and charged with felony resisting arrest, and more charges are forthcoming.

Capps is a suspect in several local burglaries. Deputies removed several allegedly stolen items from the Mazda (including a flat screen TV), and they believe Capps threw a bag out the window during the chase that contained 29 grams of methamphetamine.

February 27: High-speed chase in Springfield results in two arrests: Police were trying to pull over the driver for suspected DWI

In the early hours of the morning, another suspected drunk driver led police on a high speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 80 mph in the city. And once again, during the chase, police say it appears that drug paraphernalia was thrown from the vehicle (which was later recovered by police). The chase ended near Walnut and Warren, when the driver struck a guy wire. The driver was charged with DWI, while a passenger was charged with resisting arrest. No names or further details have been released at this time.

Continue reading "Fleeing Suspects Endanger Springfield, Missouri Drivers: Law Enforcement Reports 3 Recent Police Chases Within City Limits" »

Our Springfield auto accident lawyers have seen many cases of people injured or killed as a result of another driver's negligence. Single vehicle accidents, on the other hand, are normally caused by one driver's error - and they can be just as deadly as collisions involving multiple vehicles. A one car accident claimed the life of a Ozark man on February 25. The Missouri Highway Patrol reports that 23 year-old Jordan Jones was traveling west on Riverdale Road near Ozark when he lost control of his vehicle. His 1992 Honda Accord subsequently left the roadway and collided with a parked vehicle.

The force of the collision caused the Accord to flip over, ejecting Jones, who was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Highway Patrol's crash report.

State Trooper Ivy Warren cites speed as the main causal factor in the collision: the Accord was traveling so fast that Jones was not able to regain control of the car. Indeed, speeding is a very common cause of single vehicle accidents. In 2010, 39.5% of fatal Missouri accidents were speed-related, according to the 2010 Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium. Of these fatal speed-related accidents, 58.3% involved a vehicle colliding with a fixed object. In this case, since the vehicle was parked, it is considered a fixed object.

The faster you're driving, the less time you have to react if something unexpected happens. Speeding is even more dangerous under special circumstances: when you're driving at night, for example, or navigating sharp curves, or traveling on a road in disrepair. If you're driving too fast in these situations, it's even more likely that you'll lose control of your vehicle - and that you won't be able to regain control in time to avoid a crash. After that initial loss of control, drivers frequently respond by overcorrecting, or jerking the wheel sharply, which can result in skidding, spinning, running off the road, overturning, and/or colliding with a tree, a utility pole, or another fixed object.

In addition to speeding, there are several other common causes of single vehicle accidents, including the following:

• Driver distraction, such as texting or fiddling with electronic devices
• Driver fatigue
• Driver intoxication due to alcohol or drug use
• Equipment failure, such as brake failure
• Poorly maintained vehicle, such as driving with bald tires
• Poor road conditions or poorly maintained roads

According to Smartmotorist.com, most worldwide car accidents are completely preventable. A staggering 95% of motor vehicle accidents involve some degree of driver behavior combined with other factors. Although accident victims will frequently blame road conditions or other drivers, a sizable percentage are caused by excessive speed or other unsafe driving behaviors.

Continue reading "Single Vehicle Rollover Accident Kills Ozark, Missouri Man" »

Missouri drivers have a reason to pat themselves on the back. According to test results from the 2011 GMAC Insurance National Driver's Test, Missouri was ranked 8th in the nation for having the most knowledgeable drivers in the country. Adequate driving knowledge reduces your risk of a car accident in Springfield or elsewhere in Missouri.

According to the results, one out of five tested drivers in the United States were unable to meet the basic requirements to get a valid driver's license. This means that nearly 37 million drivers -- or 20% of those on our nation's roadways -- would fail a written driver's license test if they had to take it today.

Missouri may have not ranked number one (that was Kansas, with an average test score of 82.9%), but our Springfield car accident lawyers are pleased that we didn't score as poorly as New York or Washington D.C., where the average score was a dismal 71.8%. Missouri's average was an 81.3%.

"The GMAC Insurance National Driver's Test has become the benchmark for America's driving IQ," said Scott Eckman, chief marketing officer, GMAC Insurance. "All Americans need a refresher course when it comes to rules of the road and it begins with education. We're hoping this year's GMAC Insurance National Driver's Test results will inspire drivers to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to stay safe."

The nation's average did see a slight increase from 2010, rising from 76.2% to 77.9%. While every little bit helps, there are still way too many dangerous, ignorant drivers on our roadways. These dangerous driving habits only lead to an increased number of car accidents.

Test results reported that nearly 90% of drivers that were tested could not properly identify the correct action to take when pulling up to a steady yellow traffic light. Another 25% of those drivers were unable to determine what a safe following distance was.

Continue reading "National Driver's Test Ranks Missouri in Top Ten for Driver Knowledge" »