Missouri Injury Lawyers Blog

Nicholas White, 32, of Springfield, MO was seriously injured after being struck with a truck on August 23 at 9:52PM on Highway 160, a half mile west of Springfield. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D, White was attempting to cross lanes of Highway 160 and was struck by a 2008 Dodge that was being driven by Sharon Hancock, 65, of Springfield, MO. White was taken to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. The accident was investigated by Trooper Stevens.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit Bicycle Safe's article, 10 Ways Not To Get Hit

In the U.S., approximately 23 million children ride a school bus to and from school every day. Contrary to what you might think, most injuries related to school busses do not occur when the children are on the busses. Most injuries happen while children are getting to and from the bus.

Drivers can help keep children and other pedestrians safe by implementing some of these safety tips:

• Always check behind your vehicle before backing out of a driveway. Watch for children who may be walking or bicycling to school.
• Watch out for children and parents who may be distracted and are thinking about school or work instead of getting there safely.
• Slow down and watch for children walking in the street, especially in areas where there aren't any sidewalks.
• Take extra care when driving near bus stops. Watch out for children who are playing near the roadway and may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• Be alert when you meet a school bus on the road. Pay attention to onboard stop signs and flashing signal lights intended to alert you to the presence of children on or near the roadway.
• Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is beginning to slow to a stop to load or unload children.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Wait until all flashing lights and onboard stop signs have been turned off before you begin moving again.

FOR YOUR CHILDREN:

• Make sure children have plenty of time to get to the bus stop so they aren't rushing to beat the bus there.
• Children should stand at least six feet away from the curb at all times.
• Children should wait until the bus is fully stopped, the door opens and the driver says it's okay to come onto the bus before entering.
• Children who have to cross the street in front of the bus should stay at least ten feet in front of the bus as they cross so they bus driver can always see them.
• Children should be instructed to never walk behind the bus.

Continue reading "Take Caution as Children Return to School This Fall" »

Mark Strange, 21, Robert Hawkins, 20, and Phyllip Franklin, 41, of Edina, MO were seriously injured in a crash that occured on August 24 at 8:30PM on Route C, 6 miles west of Baring. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, the accident occured as Strange, who was driving a 1997 Chrysler was headed southbound and crested a hill where he struck an Allis Chalmbers Farm Tractor that was towing a hay baler. The tractor was being operated by Ira Hoover, 38, of Hurdland, MO. Strange and Hawkins were both transported by Air Evac. to Blessing Memorial Hospital. Franklin was transported by Air Evac. to University Medical Center. The crash was investigated by Corporal Shinkle and assisted by the Knox County Sheriff's Department, Rescue Squad, Ambulance, and the Scotland County Ambulance.

Abby Cockrill, 22, of Platte City, MO was the occupant of a 2006 Pontiac that was driven by Megan Wagoner, 22, also of Platte City, when she was killed in a car crash that occured on August 22 at 1:29AM on Northbound 29 at Tiffany Springs.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A, the accident occured when John McNamara, 27, of Kansas City, MO was driving a 2010 Chevrolet at a high rate of speed. Wagoner was travelling northbound on I- 29 in the center lane. McNamara struck Wagoner in the rear causing her to travel off the right side of the roadway and overturn. McNamara's vehicle overturned on its top and travelled approximately 1000 feet on the roadway before travelling off the right side of the roadway and coming to a rest on its wheels. Cockrill was pronounced dead on the scene by Jackson County Medical Examiner, her body was taken to the Jackson County Medical Examiners Office. Wagoner sustained minor injuries and was transported by KFCD to North Kansas City Hospital. McNamara was transported by KFCD to Liberty Hospital. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Arrest Reports, McNamara was arrested and is being held in the Platte County Jail.

Matthew Boyce, 17, of St. Joseph, MO was driving a 2001 Kia Rio on Easton Saxton Road, 1 mile east of Easton, when he and occupant, Dominnick Hearn, 16, of Hemple,MO were involved in a car crash. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, the accident occured as Boyce was eastbound and reportedly tried to avoid striking a vehicle in his lane and travelled off the east side of the road and struck a tree. The vehicle came to rest of its wheels facing south. Boyce sustained serious injuries and was transported by Lifenet to Heartland Regional Medical Center. Hearn sustained minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to Heartland Regional Medical Center. Corporal C. B. Root investigated the accident and was assisted by Trooper Seabaugh and Buchanan County.

Bridget Kurz, 24, of St. Louis, MO was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Pickup on August 19 at 11:00AM when her and occupant, Martin Bertels, 53, of Laddonia, MO were involved in a crash. The accident occured on Youngstown Trail Road at the Chariton River Bridge in Youngstown. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, the accident occured when Kurz lost control and struck a bridge rail on the left side of the bridge and overturned. The vehicle then struck the ground below the bridge and rolled into the river becoming completely submerged. Both victims were transported to University Hospital in Columbia. Kurz was pronounced dead at the University Hospital by Dr. Kessel. Bertel sustained serious injuries. The accident was investigated by Corporal Grissom, assisted by Corporal Mason, the Adair COunty Sheriff's Office, Adair County Ambulance, and Kirksville Fire.

Joyce Garr, 59, of Greentop, MO and Suzanne Elmore, 40, of Kirksville, MO were both injured in an accident that occured on August 13, at 3:45PM on 63 HWY a half mile north of Kirksville. According to the MSHP Troop B, the accident occured as Elmore who was driving a a 2004 Ford was turning left from a private drive and failed to yeild the right of way and was struck by a 2004 Dodge that was being driven by Garr.

Both women sustained moderate injuries and were transported to Northeast Regional Hospital in Kirksville by Adair County EMS. Trooper Mark McIntire investigated the crash and was assisted by Sgt. Thomas Rohn and the Adair County Fire Department.

Anwar Al- Bulushi, 41, of Overland Park, KS, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet at 6:00PM on August 9th on MO 92, 3 miles west of Shilch Ave. when he and his occupant Melinda Trayford, 49, also of Overland Park, KS were involved in a car crash. According to the MSHP Troop A the accident occurred as Al- Bulushi crossed the center line into oncoming traffic and overcorrected in attempt to avoid the traffic. Al- Bulushi ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a fence, stuck a tree, overturned and came to rest on its top. The vehicle then caught on fire.

Al- Bulushi was pronounced dead on the scene by Benton County Coroner Jim Miller. Trayford was transported to St. John's Hospital in Springfield by life flight. The MSHP was assisted by Sergeant Crowe, Benton County Deputies, St. Clair County Deputies, and Hickory County Deputies.

Lori Mahurin, 49, of Kirksville, MO was driving a 2004 Chevrolet southbound on MO 149, six miles North of Novinger on August 11 at 3:20PM when she was involved in an accident. According to the MSHP Troop B the accident occured when Sandra Ciccone, 40, of Novinger, MO was driving a 1992 Ford with her three children and failed to yeild the right of way as she turned into a private drive. Mahurin then struck Ciccone. Both vehicles came to rest off the west side of the roadway.

All persons involved sustained moderate injuries. This including Mahurin and Ciccone as well as Anna Ciccone,4, Jacob Ciccone, 12, and Michael Reeder, 16 all occupants of Sandra Ciccone's vehicle. All were transported to Northeast Regional Hospital in Kirksville, MO. The accident was worked by Trooper McIntire and he was assisted by the Novinger Fire Department and the Adair County Sheriff's Department.

Jonathon McClure, 25, of Lebanon was the cause of an accident that occurred on August 7th at 11:45PM on Potomac Drive, 4 miles south of Lebanon. According to the MSHP Troop I the accident occurred when McClure and occupant Eldon Wallace, 21, of Mountain Grove were being pursued southbound on Potomac Drive at a high rate of speed in a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, when it drove into the rear of a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer that was stopped at the intersection of Potomac Drive and Highway HH. After impact both vehicles came to rest on the south side of Highway HH. The Mountaineer was being driven by Ethan Hash, 21, of Phillipsburg, MO. Hash had one occupant, Devyn Williams, 19, of Lebanon.

Hash sustained moderate injuries and Williams sustained minor injuries. Both were transported by St. Johns Ambulance to St. Johns Hospital in Lebanon. McClure sustained moderate injuries while occupant, Wallace sustained serious injuries. Both of them were transported by Air Ambulance to St. John's Hospital in Springfield. Trooper K. Brackett worked the crash and was assisted by Sergeant B. Arnold, Trooper J. Riggs, and the Laclede County Sheriff's Department.

Jonathon McClure was arrested for 1) DWI- Persistent Offender, 2) Three counts of vehicular assault, 3) Felony resisting arrest by fleeing, 4) C & I, 5) No proof of insurance, 6) DWR.

This month the law firm of Tatlow, Gump, Faiella & Wheelan LLC is celebrating fifteen years of service by Judy Cummings. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Judy for her many years of service and loyalty to the firm. We know that the growth and success of our firm is largely dependent on having strong and capable staff members, and we recognize the contribution Judy has made. Judy has been the firm's bookkeeper and information technologist since August 1995.

Bryan Lebansky, 50, of Austin, TX, Noel Keen, 69, of Moberly, MO, and John Osmundson, 18, of Stillwell, KS were all the drivers involved in a car crash that occurred on I35 at MO 92 on August 8th at 6:05PM. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A, the accident occurred when Lebansky, who was driving a 2005 Mercury, and Osmundson who was driving a 2007 Chevrolet, were southbound in a construction zone. Lebansky came to a stop for traffic congestion. Osmundson overtook and struck Lebansky's vehicle in the rear, causing them to cross into oncoming traffic. Keen's who were headed northbound in a 2003 Mazda, struck Lebanskys head on.

Bryan Lebansky and his occupant Rachel Lebansky, 48, both sustained serious injury. Noel Keen and his occupant Linda Keen, 63, sustained serious injury as well. Osmundson sustained minor injury. All were transported by Kearney EMS to Liberty Hospital. Investigation continues and charges are pending. The MSHP was assisted by Clay County Sherriff's Department.

Gary Hargis, 36, of Higbee, MO was injured on August 6 at 8: 57PM on Route A south of Route B. According to the MSHP Troop B, Hargis was traveling northbound in a 2001Honda Civic when he crested a hill and struck two horses that were standing in the roadway.

Hargis sustained serious injuries and was transported by Randolph County Ambulance to University of Missouri Hospital & Clinics in Columbia. The MSHP was assisted by the Randolph County Sheriff's Department and the Randolph County Ambulance District.

The Missouri Attorney General is warning consumers to stop paying out to Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery because you're not getting credit for your payments. The AG has found that many people have paid in money to Mt. Washington, but there is no record of where the money has gone. James Fritz is one consumer who has paid hundreds of dollars and has the paperwork to prove it. Mr. Fritz just recently found out that up to 40% of it cannot be found. Some consumers have up to $7000.00 missing.

Mt. Washington is a part of an "umbrella company" called National Prearranged Services (NPS). Other companies under NPS are the Baretto Family Funeral Home and the Forever Cremation Society in Independence, MO. Customers who have been making payments since 2008 are likely not receiving credit for their payments.

Every year as summer heats up, Americans head for the nearest lakes, rivers and pools for fun and relief from the scorching heat. The tragedy in Shreveport this week demonstrates how quickly accidents can happen on the water. According to news reports, the Shreveport teens drowned in the Red River after they were playing shallow water, when they inadvertently stepped off a ledge into an 18 foot drop off. Although there were some adults in the group, it is reported that no one knew how to swim.

When swimming and playing in lakes and rivers, the American Red Cross offers these safety tips:

• Learn to swim and make sure that your children know how to swim.

• Understand that swimming ability alone, is not enough to always prevent drowning--even good swimmers have medical emergencies or unexpected situations that can affect one's ability to swim to safety or to save others.

• Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions. Murky water, hidden underwater objects and unexpected drop-offs, like what occurred in Shreveport this week, can turn a fun event into a tragedy.

• Learn CPR and make sure that other people supervising your children also know CPR.

• Remember that feet-first entry is much safer than diving. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow.

• Maintain constant supervision of children around any water environment..

• Make sure children and other non-swimmers use a coast-guard approved life vest, but remember that floatation devices are no substitute for adult supervision.

• Don't use alcohol. Alcohol influences balance, coordination and judgment, and its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.

The lawyers and staff at Tatlow, Gump, Faiella and Wheelan, LLC of Moberly, Missouri hope that you and your family have a safe and fun summer and enjoy your time on and around the water.

Continue reading "Six Teenagers Tragically Lose Their Lives In Louisiana Drowning Incident" »

Gary Tawney, 51 of Paris, MO was injured in a crash that occurred on July 31 at 8:15AM on MO 15 at Bodine in Paris. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, Tawney was southbound on a 2009 Harley Davidson when a northbound 2000 Chevrolet driven by Jeffrey Crain, 29 of Holliday, MO failed to yield to Tawney while making a left hand turn and turned into the path of Tawney. Tawney sustained moderate injuries and was taken by the Monroe County Ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia. The MSHP was assisted by the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.