4 Year Old Wentzville Boy is Killed in East St. Louis Crash

A one-car crash in the 2500 block of Caseyville Avenue in East St. Louis resulted in the death of 4 year old Taqwon Reeves of Wentzville Missouri. The boy’s father was driving the car when he struck a utility pole in the early evening. The boy’s father was critically injured along with another 2 year old passenger.

I wish the Reeves family strength as they suffer through this terrible loss. Losing a child so young is absolutely devastating and my thoughts are with the family. Fatal car accident statistics show that car crash deaths are the number one for children—killing more kids than any other danger.

Since the report did not reveal the conditions of the road or what kind of car Taqwon’s father had been driving, it is hard for me to predict what could have happened during the crash that resulted in the tragic death of the 4 year old. It is critical that the Reeves family contacts a St. Louis auto accident lawyer who can help them understand the nature of the crash.

If the children and adults in the car were properly strapped in, it may make the car accident injuries and fatality more of a mystery. Unfortunately, the insurance adjuster will use the mysteries about the accident to reduce the car accident settlement; which could leave the Reeves family without help with medical bills or under a hefty medical lien. A St. Louis car accident lawyer, however, could help them avoid these mistakes and negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement that could actually help them pay their medical bills and get back on their feet. The family would be well-advised to find free information from a personal accident lawyer like my book, “I Survived! The Crash Victim’s Guide to Dealing with the Aftermath.” In fact, anyone can request it for free by clicking here.

Young Wentzville Driver Killed in Three Car Crash

Michelle Hampton, a 16 year old girl from Wentzville, was killed yesterday in a three car crash. Michelle ran a stop sign and crossed into the northbound lanes of Highway 61, hitting a Chevrolet Avalanche and then running into a Buick Regal. The other drivers were not injured but Michelle was killed at the scene.

My heart really goes out to Michelle’s family. It is a terrible tragedy to lose a brand new driver in an accident. I wish them strength and courage through these hard times.

Even though it appears the accident was her fault, it is odd that the other drivers weren’t injured. This raises a serious question on whether or not the safety features in Michelle’s car functioned properly or were indeed faulty or defectively designed.  If this is the case, the auto manufacturer could very well be responsible for the death of Michelle even though she ran the stop sign.  Running the stop sign did not cause the injuries she sustained, but her impact with the inside of her vehicle did.  If that impact could have been prevented by properly designed safety devices inside the car, Michelle may very well be with us today.  It is extremely important that Michelle’s family preserve the car she was driving before it is scrapped at a junkyard and possibly important evidence is lost.

 The Hampton family would be well advised to speak with an attorney experienced in fatal car accidents. He or she would know the best course of action to pursue to ensure that they can truly understand the nature of the accident and formulate an appropriate claim.

Accident Involving MoDOT Vehicle Shuts Down Interstate 170

Interstate 170 North has been shut down near the intersection of Interstate 70 after a Missouri Department of Transportation vehicle got into an accident. Although there are not many details that have been released yet, a post-dispatch article did report that one person was hurt, though they aren’t sure if he or she is a MoDOT employee yet.

The severity of the injuries for the injured party has not been released yet. Whatever the injury, I am hoping for a speedy recovery.

Until further details of the accident are released, I cannot speculate as to the cause of the accident. I do know, however, that if the injured person was indeed a MoDOT employee, their case could have many potential avenues to explore.  For instance, there is a potential case against the opposing driver, which would be obvious, but there is also possibly a workers compensation claim and if there were any defects in the MoDOT vehicle that caused the injuries or the accident, MoDOT could be responsible. It will be vital for the injured man or woman to obtain a full accident report in order to understand the direct cause of the accident and its results.  In addition, all vehicles involved should be inspected, as well as the stretch of highway where the accident occurred, to determine if there were any unsafe conditions that contributed to the injuries.

The injured person would be well-advised to contact an attorney experienced in auto defects, serious car and truck accidents and workers’ compensation in order to fully understand the accident and what he or she is entitled to.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why Shouldn’t You Sign Anything After An Accident?

One of the most common mistakes I see every day is the inability for accident victims to truly understand what the insurance adjuster is trying to do. When you’ve been in an accident, keep in mind that the adjuster works for the insurance company.  As sincere or sympathetic as they may seem, the adjuster is not there to help you. They want to gather the right evidence to minimize the money they must pay you.

One way that they do this is by getting access to your past records. An adjuster will give you a release that he or she asks you to sign so they can look at your medical records from the accident. If you sign the release, you are allowing the adjuster to not only access your medical files, but in most cases, any file from your past – medical, employment and driving records just to name a few.

It is therefore important not to sign anything before speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer.  In addition, whether you hire a lawyer to help you or not, be completely truthful about your past injuries and prior accidents. The insurance adjuster has access to all of this information and if you are dishonest, it can destroy your case.

Want to avoid this mistake and more? Contact an experienced personal injury attorney that knows these common traps and can help you navigate your way through the legal system and fight your battles for you.