Missouri Injury Lawyers Blog

Below are things you should do or have on hand in case you have a power outage.

1. Stock up on batteries, flashlights, portable radios, canned foods, manual can openers, bottled water, and blankets.

2. Do not use candles for a source of light, use your flashlights.

3. If the temperature is below freezing outside and your home has no heat, run water at a trickle to help prevent the water lines from freezing and busting.

4. If the power goes out store all perishable foods outside in the snow or in an unheated outside building so they don't go bad.

Falls on or from stairs is the leading cause of death due to residential falls, according to the Home Safety Council. Below are a few things you should do so that your home is safer from falls.

1. You should have handrails on each side of the stairs and steps.

2. Have a lot of light at the top and bottom of the stairs.

3. Be sure the stairs are clear of toys or other objects.

4. It is easy to mistake the bottom step which could make you lose your balance and fall,
so you should paint the bottom basement step white to make it clearer.

5. If you have young children in the house you should use safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

6. Carry small loads up and down the stairs, always hold onto the handrail.

7. If you have rugs at the top or bottom of your stairs be sure to tape them down or just get rid of them because it is very easy to trip on them.

8. Finally, if you have steps outside of your home always keep them clear of objects and always be sure to keep snow and ice off as well.

Frances Cornell, 23, of Bevier, MO was pronounced deceased at the scene of an accident that occurred January 29th at 4:45PM on Route C, 1 mile North of Huntsville. Cornell was transported to Patton Funeral Home in Huntsville.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, the accident occurred as Cornell, who was driving a 2002 Pontiac was headed Southbound when the vehicle ran off the right side of the road onto a snow embankment. The vehicle then traveled atop a highway guardrail onto a bridge rail, overturned off the bridge coming to rest on its top on a creek bank.
Crystal Fainter, 19, of Bevier, MO was also in the vehicle at the time of the accident, she sustained moderate injuries and was transported to University Hospital in Columbia.

Carbon Monoxide, also known as "the silent killer," claims nearly 300 lives per year. You cannot smell, see, or taste Carbon Monoxide (CO). CO is produced by fuel- burning heating equipment such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and kerosene heaters. The following guidelines will be useful in keeping your family safe.

1. Install at least one CO alarm near each sleeping area in the home.

2. Have a trained professional inspect and tune- up your home's central heating system and repair any problems they come across.

3. Keep gas appliances properly adjusted and serviced.

4. Never use an oven or range to heat your home.

5. Never use a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage.

6. Portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them in a confined area that may allow CO to collect. Follow the usage directions very carefully.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, an accident occurred in Chariton County on Route M, half a mile South of Triplett on January 25th at 1:05PM.

Chelsey George, 16, of Triplett, MO was driving a 2006 Pontiac too fast for weather conditions which caused her to lose control of her vehicle. She crossed the center line and traveled into the path of a 1997 Chevrolet, driven by Leslie Arp, 51, of Brunswick, MO. Arp sustained minor injuries and George sustained moderate injuries. Both were transported by Chariton County Ambulance to Fitzgibbons Hospital in Marshall, MO.

When driving on snowy or icy roads it is important to go slow, keep your headlights on, and try to avoid using your brakes.

Below are some tips on how to safely burn wood and a few examples on what should not be burned in your home fireplace or wood stove.

1. You should only burn seasoned hardwoods such as oak, ash or maple. You should not burn trash, cardboard boxes or Christmas trees because they may contain poisons and because they burn unevenly it could cause a house fire.

2. Have your chimneys swept by a professional every year. They will be able to fix any cracks, blockages and leaks and clean out build- up that could be the cause of a fire.

3. Creosote logs can be used to help reduce build- up. You should check the label to be sure the logs have been tested and approved by UL. Even if you use the creosote logs you still need to have your chimneys swept annually by a professional.

4. Open the flues in your fireplaces before using them.

5. Use sturdy screens or glass doors to keep the embers inside the fireplace.

6. Install one smoke alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.

7. Keep all young children away from wood stoves and heaters to avoid burn injuries.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, an accident occurred on US Highway 63, 3 miles North of Clark. The time of the accident was at 9:15AM on January 22nd. Gayla Adams, 46, of Smallsville, MO was driving a 2010 Kia and Kristopher Bennett, 18, of Fulton, MO was driving a 1996 Ford. Adams and Bennett were both headed northbound when Adams re- entered the highway into the passing lane from the northbound shoulder, when Bennett crested the hill he struck Adams in the rear.

Adams sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Boone County Hospital by Randolph County Ambulance.

In the winter months, many home fire are started by heating equipment such as portable space heaters. The following are safety precautions you should take when using your own portable space heater.

1. Make sure your heater has been safety tested. You can usually find this on a label on the bottom of the heater.

2. Make sure that the space heater has plenty of empty space around it.

3. Space heaters need a minimum of 3 feet of space between it and other objects such as furniture, pets, and curtains.

4. An adult should always be occupying the room where a space heater is turned on. Always turn space heaters off before leaving a room or going to bed.

5. Children and pets should be supervised at all times when space heaters are in use.

6. Never use a space heater to dry clothing or blankets.

A 6 year old boy of Williamsburg, MO was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident involving a school bus at 3:54PM on January 18th. The accident occurred on County Road 182 near the North outer road of I-70. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F, after the boy exited the school bus he was somehow run over. The driver of the school bus was Willie Leonberger, 77, of Auxvasse, MO. The incident is still under investigation.

It is very important to have more than just a cell phone for a survival kit during the winter months when you can easily become stranded in bad weather. Here are some of the most important things you should keep in your car's winter survival kit:

To begin you need to purchase the following items: duffel bag, first aid kit, high calorie short- term food supply, water, a heavy warm blanket, zip lock bag, large sharp knife, flashlight, batteries, several butane lighters, and road flares. Small items such as your flares, lighters, high calorie foods(candy bars and other foods containing a lot of sugar), and spare batteries should all go in the pockets on the side of duffel bag. Be sure to place lighters and flares in the zip lock bags to prevent them from getting wet.

You should have a 12 pack of unopened bottled water either in the trunk or backseat of your car. Your first aid kit should be placed at the bottom of your duffel bag. If your first aid kit does not have all the items you need be sure to add them along with a supply of any medications you take regularly. A large knife should be the next thing on your list and that should go in your bag on top of your first aid kit. The final thing you need to add is a big, warm blanket which should be put into trash bags and then placed in your duffel bag. Finally place your new survival kit in the trunk of your car.

If you ever become stranded, you should get your survival kit out immediately. Get your road flares out and set them up and then get into your car and leave the doors shut, do not get out for anything until help arrives. Use your cell phone or OnStar service to call for help if you can, but if not just sit tight and wait.

In order to make sure that your car is in good condition during winter, consider the following suggestions:
1. Check the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses, and fan belts.
2. Be sure to adjust your spark plugs.
3. Check your air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.
4. Inspect the distributor.
5. Check the battery, the tires for air, and the sidewall wear and tread depth of the tires.
6. Check your antifreeze levels and the freeze line.
7. Carry a well stocked survival kit with you.

To find out more on how to prepare your car for the winter click on the following link: Winterizing Your Car.

The programmable thermostats manufactured by White- Rodgers of St. Louis, MO are being recalled because of a fire hazard. There are around 180,000 in the United States and 8,300 in Canada. Because the thermostats constantly charge the backup batteries used to power the clock on the thermostats that can cause the batteries to leak which could then cause a fire. They were distributed by more than 40 utility companies to consumers nationwide. Consumers should immediately remove the batteries and contact White- Rodgers for a repair kit immediately.

Consumer Contact for White- Rodgers: (888) 624- 1901.

To help prevent having an accident during inclement weather, you should learn how to correctly handle your car when something goes wrong. Here are some safety tips from The Weather Channel.

How to Drive Safely on Icy Roads

1. Drive slow and allow yourself plenty of room to stop. Allowing three times as much space between you and the car in front of you is about the right amount.

2. Do Not slam your brakes, gently ease down on the brakes. If your wheels lock up then let off the brake slowly.

3. Turn your lights on so you can clearly see other motorists and they can as well see you.

4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.

5. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roadways, use low gears to keep traction.

6. You want to be the most careful on bridges, overpasses, and roads without much traffic. Those roads will freeze first even if the temperature has not got below the freezing point. Ice can still form in shady areas.

7. Don't attempt to pass any vehicle that is trying to clear the road, like a a snow plow or a sanding truck.

8. Do not assume your vehicle will handle poor road conditions well.

What to do when your rear wheels skid: Take your foot off the accelerator. Steer in the direction that your rear wheels are headed. If they are going left then turn the wheel to the left if they are going right then turn the wheel to the right. It may take some repetition before you are in control of your vehicle again. If you have standard brakes then pump them gently, if you have anti- lock brakes (ABS), do not pump them only apply steady pressure.

What to do when your front wheels skid: Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, do not immediately try to steer. As the wheels skid sideways, they will begin to slow down the vehicle and traction will eventually return. When traction does return then steer in the direction you want to go. Next put the transmission in drive or let off the clutch and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck: Do not start spinning your wheels because that only digs a bigger hole. Turn your wheels from side to side to push some of the snow out of the way. Lightly touch the gas to begin to ease yourself out. Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and from underneath the car. If you have sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt pour in the path of the wheels to gain traction. Try to rock your vehicle but be sure it will not damage your transmission by reading your owner's manual. Shift from forward to reverse giving it a little gas each time it is gear to help it to go.

Schools across the United States are being urged to replace the electrical components in the older light fixtures. The light fixtures pose a threat of contamination that could lead to cancer later on in life. The Environmental Protection Agency say that the light fixtures contain a man- made chemical called polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs). The PCBs can do harm to the reproductive and immune systems in the body and if they build up enough even cause cancer. Schools are to remove the electrical components immediately if they are leaking the PCBs.

To learn more, read this article at the PCBs">Washington Street Journal.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Japanese auto maker announced the recall of nearly 18,500 snow blowers, after receiving about 90 reports of seeping or dripping fuel from their snow blowers. This seeping or dripping fuel can cause fires although none have been reported yet. The snow blowers were sold from April 2005 up until last month. Consumers should stop using the snow blowers immediately and contact a Honda dealer.

There are many harmful things in our world that keep people wondering if there are better or safer options. Consumer Safety Agencies are now going to step in to make all this questioning just a little easier. By March 2011 there will be a fully functional website made available by the Consumer Product Safety Commission at SaferProducts.gov. This site is going to have reports of harmful products so that you will know ahead of time what will and will not be best for you. There will even be a place for you to comment or talk about your dangerous product.

Food safety will also be addressed. The Food Safety Modernization Act states that the FDA will begin checking facilities and farms which haven't been inspected at all, or only every 10 years by the FDA. This is the biggest food regulation overhaul in over 70 years.