Springfield Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Though today's weather makes it hard to believe, it won't be long before boating season is upon us here in the Ozarks. To promote safe boating and help prevent boating accidents, Missouri law requires certain individuals to pass a state-approved boating education course before hitting the water.

These individuals include:

• Operators who were born after January 1, 1984.

• Operators who have been convicted of certain boating offenses, which include boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, negligent operation of a vessel, leaving the scene of an accident, and failing to yield to an emergency watercraft. Click here for more information.

Recently, Troop D of the Missouri Highway Patrol announced that boating safety certification courses will be offered to the public on the following dates:

• Saturday, April 23 at Cassville High School in Cassville, MO (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 20 at Troop D's headquarters in Springfield, MO (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Saturday, May 11 at U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Dewey Short Visitor Center in Branson, MO (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Boating safety certification courses: What Missouri boaters need to know

• You are required to pre-register online in order to take a course. Courses have a maximum size and may also be cancelled if there is not sufficient interest. Click here to pre-register, or to view a complete list of boating safety classes offered throughout the state.

• You must be present at the course in order to receive certification.

• The course is free. If you pass, you can order a boating safety certification card for $15.

• There is also an online boating safety course available, which is approved by the Highway Patrol. Click here for more information.

Boating accidents: The statistics

• According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 4,588 boating accidents nationwide in 2011. These accidents caused 758 deaths, over 3,000 injuries, and $52 million in costs associated with property damage.

• Here in Missouri, the Patrol says 19 people were killed and 86 people were injured in 2011 boating accidents.

• Of 2011 boating accident deaths nationwide, 70% drowned, and of that number, 84% were not wearing life jackets.

• Only 11% of boating accident fatalities nationwide occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety training.

• The Coast Guard reports that the top five contributing factors in boating accidents are as follows: operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and equipment failure.

Continue reading "Prepare for Missouri boating season: Take a boating safety course" »

On Monday, an 18 year-old semi-tractor driver was arrested leading officers on a dangerous chase and driving the wrong direction on Highway 65 for approximately 20 miles. KY3 reports that Jesse DeJongh is facing a felony charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer for allegedly attempting to strike a Christian County deputy with his semi.

On Sunday evening, employees at Hood's Truck Stop called the Greene County Sheriff's Department to report a truck driving off without paying a $710 diesel fuel tab. As the vehicle left Hood's, a friend of the owner followed it, and the semi driver eventually stopped in a parking lot. The two men spoke and the semi driver promised to return to the truck stop and pay for the fuel.

However, that didn't happen. Around 10:00 p.m., Springfield Police Department officers attempted to stop DeJongh's truck at I-44 and Highway 65, but the semi continued on to southbound U.S. 65 at high speeds. At Evans Road, the driver went up on the overpass and then traveled back down the northbound onramp. He then drove south in the northbound lanes for about 20 miles, until the truck had passed through Ozark. At some points, he turned his headlights off, making himself invisible to unsuspecting northbound drivers on the highway.

"They (oncoming drivers) pulled over because of lights on emergency vehicles," Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Ivey Warren said. "They didn't see him (truck). They would've been hit had they not seen the emergency vehicles."

Motorist Charles Sullivan agreed. He was able to pull out of the truck's path - just barely - because of a highway patrolman's lights. "Within 14 inches of hitting us. If it hasn't been for that police officer pulling us to the side, I wouldn't be here talking to you people," Sullivan told KY3.

Law enforcement officials threw down spike strips twice in an attempt to stop the semi. Under the Highway EE overpass, the driver reportedly attempted to strike the Christian County deputy in the median, missing him by an estimated five to 10 feet. The semi finally ran off the road and down an embankment near Highway BB. The driver fled the scene, but authorities identified him as DeJongh and immediately began to search for him. Christian County deputies arrested DeJongh at around 4:00 a.m. Monday, after he used his cell phone in a public park.

Continue reading "Semi truck driver charged after wrong-way chase " »

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" »

Our Springfield, Missouri car accident attorneys are always happy to hear about initiatives that aim to curb distracted driving, especially in teen drivers. We applaud the Springfield Council of Parent Teacher Associations (SCPTA) for sponsoring the Save-A-Life tour, which visited two local high schools this week: students from Central and Hillcrest participated in activities to promote awareness about the dangers of texting and driving.

Save-A-Life is well-known for its national high-impact alcohol awareness program: its drunk driving simulators have been widely praised for their ability to provide a sober perspective on the effects of alcohol on the mind. Last year, with support from the Missouri Eye Institute, the SCPTA brought the tour to Parkview and Glendale: students and faculty alike reported that the drunk driving presentations were hugely affecting. "They bring people to talk who really know what they're talking about," said Dawn Thompson, SCPTA president.

This is the first year the tour has offered presentations and simulation activities that address distracted driving, and Thompson said the SCPTA felt that it was a timely, relevant subject to discuss with students. "Since a lot more accidents are happening now with distracted driving, we thought this was the way to go. It affects more kids. It seems everybody has a cell phone now," Thompson said.

And she couldn't be more right. Here are just a few of the staggering statistics that reflect trends in teen driving behaviors:

• Teen drivers are significantly more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident caused by distracted than any other age group. (NHTSA)
• 40% of American teens say they have been passengers when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. (Pew)
• 3 out of 4 teens say they own cell phones. (National Teen Driver Survey)
• 48% of teens say they talk on a cell phone, at least sometimes, while driving. (National Teen Driver Survey)

Save-A-Life's distracted driving program uses a combination of personal accounts, videos, and distracted driving simulation to present its message. Students at both high schools saw photographs of car accident damage. They also heard from the friends and family members of people who were injured or killed because of texting and driving. Then, juniors and seniors used the texting and driving simulator, which was equipped with a steering wheel, an iPod touch (which received frequent text messages), and a large screen to simulate the roadway and traffic.

Continue reading "Save-A-Life Tour Visits Springfield, Missouri High Schools, Promotes Teen Awareness of Distracted Driving Risks" »

It's a snowy Monday here in Springfield, which made for slick, hazardous conditions during the morning commute. Our Missouri car accident attorneys want to encourage drivers to take extra precautions today: the snow is continuing to fall, and local weather forecasts indicate that the snow will change into freezing rain this afternoon. As of 9:00 a.m., the Springfield Police Department had already reported dozens of accidents in the Springfield metropolitan area (including slide offs, non-injury collisions and a few injury accidents).

Because so many officers are responding to accident calls, the Springfield Police are currently on "emergency status." If you are involved in a collision this morning, you may be asked to a make a walk-in accident report, under the following circumstances: all vehicles involved are operable; the accident is non-injury; and no alcohol/drug-impaired driver is involved.

At present, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is reporting that I-44 and other highways in the Springfield area are snow-covered, while highways to the southeast are partly covered. Crews continue working to clear and salt local roadways.

Meanwhile, the Missouri Highway Patrol has responded to several accidents this morning, but the majority of these were minor in nature. One more serious wreck happened near Strafford at around 7:15 a.m.: an SUV slid into the path of a tractor-trailer, and the two vehicles collided nearly head on. The impact forced the tractor-trailer off the road, and it subsequently hit a fence and then a tree. Both drivers and a passenger in the SUV were taken to Mercy Hospital with moderate injuries.

Continue reading "Winter Weather Creates Hazards for Missouri Drivers: Springfield Police on Emergency Status" »

Last week, our Springfield, Missouri car accident attorneys discussed our city council's plans for Springfield's red light camera enforcement program. On Monday night, the council met and discussed two separate proposals regarding the cameras, which advocate opposing courses of action. Local media sources report that the issue was hotly debated, with some council members arguing that cameras help prevent certain kinds of collisions, and others maintaining that voters should make the final decision.

Councilman Tommy Bieker had initially lobbied a council committee to recommend doing away with the cameras permanently. When he was unsuccessful, he then proposed a bill that would place the issue on August ballots and in the hands of Springfield residents. Other city council members have since presented their own bill to resume use of the program: six members have signed on as sponsors of that measure.

Only two councilmembers (Bieker and Doug Burlison) appear reluctant about bringing back the cameras, which photograph cars passing through intersections when the light is red. Offenders then receive traffic citations by mail. At the council's meeting on Monday, Bieker again attempted to intervene, moving that council should table both bills and instead explore alternatives to the cameras (including increasing yellow light time at busy intersections). Council rejected his motion, and both bills were discussed.

According to a recent analysis of Kansas City camera use, the number of T-bone and right-angle accidents did decrease at camera-equipped intersections: these types of collisions are often the result of red light violations. However, the number of overall accidents increased, as drivers were more likely to slam on their breaks when the light turned yellow, creating the potential for more rear-end collisions. Traffic engineers in Springfield have argued for the cameras: they maintain that reducing T-bone and right-angle accidents is considerably more important, since these types of wrecks are more likely to cause serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Continue reading "City Council Deliberates About Two Bills Impacting Springfield's Red Light Camera Program" »

Here in Springfield, our Missouri car accident attorneys have noticed that local residents have strong opinions about red light cameras. Currently, there are "Automated Red-Light Enforcement Devices" at 13 of Springfield's busiest intersections, but none of those cameras have been operational since early 2010. The city suspended the red light camera program immediately following a Missouri Supreme Court decision, and now a city councilman wants voters to decide whether or not to continue with the program.

Red light cameras were installed at certain Springfield intersections in June of 2007. The cameras are designed to photograph any vehicle that passes through an intersection while the light is red: the system also records the date, the time of day, the amount of time elapsed since the light turned red, and the vehicle's license plate number. The photographic evidence is then reviewed by city police officers, and tickets are sent to offenders by mail.

To learn more about red light cameras, courtesy of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), click here. To see where our city's cameras are located, via the Springfield Police, click here.

However, in March 2010, the Missouri Supreme Court dismissed a $100 fine imposed on Adolph Belt Jr., a former state trooper. The court found that the city was violating state law by using administrative hearings to process red light camera violations: instead, the court ruled, Springfield would have to deal with those tickets in municipal and circuit courts, which require traditional standards of proof, and allow offenders the right to appeal.

In response to the decision, the city immediately turned off the cameras and announced that all outstanding tickets would be dismissed. The chief problem is this: the existing camera system only photographs vehicles, not the people inside, making it impossible to prove who was driving. So instead, Springfield ordinance was written so that a vehicle's owner was held accountable if that vehicle committed a red light violation. But the Missouri Supreme Court's decision put a stop to that practice, so the current system can no longer be used. To continue the program, the city would need to upgrade to cameras that can photograph the faces of individual drivers. And now, Councilman Tommy Bieker is sponsoring a new ordinance that would allow Springfield voters to decide this very issue.

Continue reading "City Council Considers the Fate of the Red Light Camera Program in Springfield, Missouri: Do Cameras Reduce Accidents?" »