Roll-over Crash on Missouri Interstate 55 Leaves DeSoto Man Injured
John E. Powell crashed his car into a rock bluff on I-55 early this morning. He was heading north on Highway 61 when his 1998 Ford Escort went off the right side of the road and rolled over. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The police report claims that he had not been wearing a seat belt.
I wish John a speedy recovery and my thoughts are with his family as they help him through this difficult time.
It will be vital for John to maintain the car after a crash like this. Since there are two parts to every accident (what actually causes the accident externally and what happens inside the car during the accident), he would be well-advised to contact an attorney who could determine whether his injuries were caused by the accident itself or any defects present within the car.
Though the police report reads that he wasn’t wearing his seat belt when they discovered him after the crash, a defectively designed seatbelt could have just made it seem as though he wasn’t. An experienced personal injury attorney could certainly help John Powell get the compensation he needs from the insurance company to speed his recovery and ease his loss.
St. Peters Woman Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Killed Passenger
Ashley P. Matthews, of St. Peters, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony assault after being accused of driving drunk and causing a crash. The crash, which occurred back in May, resulted in the death of Ashley W. Walker, her passenger, and the serious injuries of David Mann, another driver. According to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ashley crashed into David after overcorrecting her car on eastbound Highway 94 in Defiance.
Ashley Walker was killed after being thrown from the overturned vehicle. The report does not confirm whether she was wearing a seat belt or not.
My condolences go to the family of Ashley Walker. I wish them strength through these hard times.
It will be important for the accident reconstruction team to determine what exactly occurred during the accident. If Ashley Walker had been wearing a seatbelt, then it seems suspicious as to why she’d be thrown from the vehicle. It could have been the result of a faulty seatbelt or other deficiency within the vehicle itself.
The family is at least entitled to understand what truly happened during the accident. They would be well-advised to contact an attorney experienced in defective auto design to help them determine the exact nature of the accident. The best personal injury attorney will always offer a free consultation to help the family of an accident victim.
Driver Pleads Guilty in Fatal Drunk Driving Crash
An accident that occurred back in February which resulted in the death of Robert Wood has resulted in a criminal trial. The other driver in the crash, Chad Frazer, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of more than three times the legal limit. His actions could get him up to 15 years in prison and a $5000 fine.
I want to express my condolences to the family of Robert Wood. It is hard to have to go through such a tragic event over and over as the trial continues.
The article made sure to mention that Robert had been wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash which brings up an interesting issue. As mentioned in previous posts, there are two parts to every car accident. There are the events that lead to the actual crash and then what happens inside the car during the crash. If Robert had been wearing his seat belt, why did it not prevent his death?
The family would be well-advised to contact an attorney who is experienced in seat belt malfunction. The seat belt that he was wearing could have been deficient, ultimately leading to his death. If this is the case, his family is not only entitled to the justice they will receive from the trial but also compensation for the auto deficiency.
Young Man Dies, Five Others Injured in Jefferson County Car Accident
An accident on Highway 67 in Jefferson County claimed the life of one young man and killed five others. Benjamin Warf, 21, a driver involved in the accident, was killed and reported to have not been wearing a seatbelt. Warf was hit by a Dodge Caliber while attempting to make a left turn. Benjamin’s passenger, Jessica Holloway, 19, was injured along with the driver and three passengers in the Caliber. Everyone in the Caliber was reported as wearing their seatbelts, however.
My thoughts are with the family of Benjamin Warf and the other young people injured in the accident. It is devastating for an accident to claim the life of someone so young. I wish those injured a speedy recovery.
This is a tragic example of the importance of keeping a car after an accident for investigation. While police have stated that Benjamin had not been wearing a seatbelt, it is possible that a deficiency in his vehicle caused his seatbelt to be ineffective during the accident. If the car is properly inspected, an attorney experienced in traffic fatalities as a result of auto defects may be able to help Benjamin’s family. It is not always clear what truly happened during an accident. Benjamin’s family and the families of the other victims would be well-advised to contact an attorney that handles defective seat belt cases and who can help them understand what happened during the accident that caused these tragic results.
Two Women Killed After Crash with Pickup on Skinker
Two elderly women were killed and eight other people were injured in a crash involving a church van and a pickup truck. According to an article in the Post-Dispatch, the pickup truck failed to yield to oncoming traffic when attempting to make a left turn onto Etzel Avenue. The pickup smashed into the driver’s side of the van, which set the van into a spin and killed Anner Daniels. Another woman died on the way to the hospital. Her name hasn’t been released yet.
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the two women who were killed in the accident. An accident that involves so many people is really a tragedy for the whole community. I hope this accident can bring to light the dangers of reckless driving. It will be critical for the family and friends of the injured and killed passengers to contact an attorney who is experienced in serious injuries and traffic fatalities. Even though it appears that the other driver was clearly at fault at this stage, it would benefit the parties to have an attorney who handles auto defect cases to investigate whether or not the deaths of these two women were the result of the failure of any safety features. Defective seatbelts and seatback collapse are just two possibilities that are often overlooked.
In the days after an accident, passengers will be contacted by an insurance adjuster who will attempt to minimize their ability to receive fair compensation. It will be vital for the injured parties to understand that they do not have to make a recorded statement and they must keep careful track of their injuries and losses. I wish the best for the victims and their families as they move through these hard times.
Highway DD to Be Revamped But the Roads Might Not Be the Only Problem
If you’ve driven on Highway DD in St. Charles, you know the inherent dangers of the road. In early September, 16 year old Elise Sunderhuse was killed in an accident on highway DD—but she is not the only casualty of the road. They highway curves around the Busch Wildlife Area toward Augusta and Defiance and has been reported as one of the most dangerous roads in the state. To make matters worse, traffic has dramatically increased due to new residential development.
The state has responded with plans to build paved shoulders along a one-mile stretch from Highway 40 to Frontier Middle School. Senator Scott Rupp of Wentzville has also planned a town hall meeting for later this month to discuss ways to urge the state to move quickly in its new construction plan.
While the new construction is needed, I see some issues that are being ignored. When Elise Sunderhuse, the 16 year old killed in September, crashed, she was wearing a seat belt. Seat belt failure is an area that is commonly overlooked when reviewing a serious auto accident claim. When a faulty seatbelt is put in a car, drivers and passengers are under the false impression that they are protected when in fact they may not be. And it is not as if car makers do not know these dangers.
Some of the most common seat belt defects have been well known to car makers for years but they’ve been ignored because of the cost to fix them is less than the potential cost of settling a lawsuit by someone who can detect a seatbelt failure actually occurred. In the case of Elise Sunderhuse, detection of the faulty seatbelt could’ve been critical to her survival. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in auto accident while wearing a seatbelt, it is vital that you contact an attorney who understands auto defects and knows the right way to pursue legal action.
Will You Be Stuck Under a Pile of Medical Bills Too?
A friend called me recently to tell me a nightmare story about a man who had suffered serious injuries after an accident. After my three installments on insurance adjusters, I thought I’d share this story with you too.
A man came into my friend’s office. He had been in an accident and had disc replacement as a result. His injuries resulted in $80,000 worth of hospital bills. He pulled out a check he had received from the insurance company and cashed for $250.00. He tells my friend that he has not signed any release, though. However, as my friend knew, the claim was actually settled when the unsuspecting man cashed the check and he verified that with the insurance company. Turns out, the release of liability was actually printed on the back of the check. And the real nightmare is, my friend had to turn him away because he had already settled his claim for the $250.
This is just one example of what an insurance adjuster is really capable of doing. Do not ever forget their job is to pay as little out as they can on every claim. They can trap you in a recorded statement, rush to settle your claim, and send you a check that doesn’t begin to cover your losses with the release language conveniently placed on the back of the check in tiny print.
If this man had contacted an attorney experienced in serious injuries, he could’ve avoided this situation. He could’ve had the time and the resources to get the compensation he needed to cover his staggering medical bills. In my experience with cases like this, if the medical bills were all related to the accident, he should have received well into the six figure range as fair compensation. Don’t make this same mistake.
Hurry Up and Settle Your Claim…Or Should You?
So, now you know that the insurance adjuster isn’t working to help you but what other than recorded statements should you be looking out for? The adjuster may seem like he is in a hurry to settle your claim. And, of course, you comply because you are hoping the nightmare will be over. And wow, he or she is making this awfully easy and being really nice. But rushing to settle your claim may not help you get the right compensation.
What is really happening is that an adjuster is concealing that he knows injuries and losses from accidents don’t always surface until months—or years—after your accident. And he wants to settle your claim fast for three reasons:
- First, he knows you are likely confused because so many things are happening all at once.
- Second, he can settle the claim for a lowball offer because your injuries haven’t fully surfaced.
- Third, he doesn’t want to give you a chance to talk with an experienced attorney.
What if your back starts to hurt next week and you have to miss work? What if your neck injury becomes so bad that you need surgery? If you’ve already settled your claim, the response from your insurance company will be good luck since you already signed a release of liability.
An experienced serious injury attorney will know that you have to keep track of your injuries and losses until you are healthy again in order to get the fairest compensation. At our office, we offer a very unique accident diary for you to know what information is important to keep and which facts could be vital to the success of your claim. If you have been injured in an accident, it is crucial for you to contact an attorney who understands how to make the best claim possible.
Seattle Boy Dies After Error By Hospital Staff
A painkiller prescribed to a Seattle boy after some routine dental work left him dead at only 15 years old. The boy, Michael Blankenship, suffered from autism, a brain development disorder that affects social interaction and communication. He was given a prescription for a fentanyl patch, which is a drug that the FDA warned is only to be for patients who have developed a tolerance for opium-derived painkillers. Though his dentists had not prescribed the drug to any of their other patients before, Blankenship was given the maximum dosage of 100 micrograms per hour. He was found dead the morning after he had received the prescription.
Seattle Attorney Chris Davis has filed suit against Seattle Children’s Hospital and Barbara L. Sheller, DDS for the wrongful death of Blankenship. A Seattle press release read:
[…] According to the complaint, Seattle Children’s Hospital and its doctors were negligent and reckless by failing to maintain and/or follow appropriate safeguards for the proper and accurate prescription of the powerful pain medication. The complaint also asserts that there were numerous factors present that would have shown any careful medical provider that Michael was not a suitable candidate for the drug, and that he certainly never should have been given the highest dosage available.
The tragedy has left Blankenship’s mother and brother devastated, with his younger brother so emotionally distressed that he is unable to stay in their home. I wish Chris Davis and the Blankenship family the best of luck as they battle these hard times and attempt to get the compensation that they deserve. Chris is a friend of mine and I know his expertise in children’s injury will guide them through this long, hard road.
Fredericktown Man Killed in Car Crash and Ejection
A crash in Madison County led to the untimely death of Denver Fortner of Fredericktown. He apparently experienced a medical problem and crashed his car into a tree off Route H. He was ejected from the vehicle. He passed away at SLU Hospital six hours after the crash.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Denver Fortner. It will be critical for Denver’s family to preserve his car. Accidents are actually two-fold. While there was no other driver involved in the accident, the fact that Denver was ejected from the vehicle brings up some suspicion. There has been no evidence released on whether he was wearing his seatbelt or not, but if he had been, why was he ejected from the vehicle? Was there a malfunction in his seat or seatbelt?
If the car that Denver was driving was shown to be deficient, the family may be entitled to compensation that would aid in their recovery process. They would be well-advised to contact an attorney who is experienced in auto defects.
