Southeast Missouri Car Accident Lawyer Blog

About 3 million people were left without power after the recent snowstorm that blew through the northeast region of the United States. Roughly 2 feet of snow crashed down on a number of areas, while utility companies, emergency responders and transportation departments scrambled to get things back in working order. Winter weather always creates complications, especially for drivers.

Though we've had a mild winter so far here in southeast Missouri, the weather is expected to turn cold very soon. Of course, residents know all too well how fickle Missouri weather can be: it can be 60 degrees one day, and snowing the next. As always, it's important to prepare your home and your vehicles in anticipation of winter weather. Preparing your vehicle can help you to avoid a car accident in Sikeston, while preparing your home will allow you and your family to comfortably wait out any winter weather.

Our Sikeston car accident attorneys understand how devastating these kinds of storms can be. After the recent winter storm in the northeast, authorities reported that nearly 30 people had died because of electrocution from car accidents, downed wires, and carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly ventilated power generators.

In the event of a serious snowstorm, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will be here to help clear our roadways. MoDOT has more than 3,000 employees and nearly 2,000 pieces of equipment to clear snow-covered roadways--the Department also has the option to hire even more emergency equipment operators to help clear snow and ice, when needed. Overall, MoDOT covers more than 30,000 miles of highway in 10 districts.

MoDOT asks that motorists do their part to keep our roadways clear and safe during active winter weather. Just as the Department has to adjust its efforts with every storm, they request that drivers do the same. In bad weather, drivers are urged to check road conditions before venturing out. You can visit MoDOT's online Traveler Information Map, or you can call MoDOT toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT.

Continue reading "MoDOT Urges New Madrid County Drivers to Help Prevent Missouri Car Accidents by Preparing for Winter" »

Most Missourians are likely familiar with this old adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It's an old cliche, but it still offers sound advice. In fact, this sentiment especially true when it comes to car accidents. In this spirit, the Sikeston car accident lawyers are proud to support the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety: like us, they believe prevention is the best way to save lives on Missouri roadways. Here are some examples of the resources they offer, in an effort to advocate safe driving behaviors:

The Rollover Simulator
Often, a visual demonstration can be the most affecting. The Rollover Simulator shows what happens to crash-test dummies when a vehicle rolls over, and the occupants are not wearing seatbelts.

The Seat Belt Convincer
Perhaps one of the most powerful of the Coalition's resource tools, the Seat Belt Convincer gives you a ride you won't soon forget. Comprised of a seat and a ramp, the Convincer simulates a suddenly deceleration into a collision.

Fatal Vision
Put on a pair of fatal vision goggles, and you'll see the world from the perspective of a drunk driver. These goggles are designed to demonstrate the different effects of increasing levels of intoxication. The Fatal Vision resource also includes SAFE-T, which utilizes golf carts and goggles to simulate various levels of blood alcohol content, illustrating the dangers of drinking and driving.

Buckle Buddy
Buckle Buddy the Dragon is a mascot used to teach elementary-aged kids about the importance of wearing a seat belt. The idea is to instill this behavior at a young age to foster a lifelong habit of buckling up.

Middle School Nick
Middle School Nick is a multi-media tool available for download and free distribution to students and teachers. The program includes videos, posters, clothing, silicone bracelets, and a game designed to reach middle-school aged children about safety. The message: Nick transforms from a nerd into a cool guy simply by clicking his seat belt.

Continue reading "Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety Provides Resources in Sikeston and Throughout Missouri" »

Whether you drive in Cape Girardeau, the Bootheel, or Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the odds are good that uninsured drivers are traveling on your roadways. As the economy continues to struggle, many people remain uninsured or underinsured. The Butler County car accident attorneys want to make sure Missourians understand that driving without insurance is not only foolish (and illegal): in the event of a car accident, it puts a serious financial strain on everyone involved.

Between June 2010 and June 2011, there were over 6,000 traffic accidents in Missouri that involved an uninsured motorist. This problem is an expensive one for all Missourians: the victims of these accidents are left with medical bills and property damage caused by someone who can't pay, and the cost of insurance (and medical treatment) keeps rising to compensate for accidents involving uninsured and underinsured drivers.

Missouri State Insurance Laws
Part of the Missouri Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law requires that drivers have liability and property damage automobile insurance. The state required minimums are as follows:

However, these amounts are very low, especially when you compare them to the costs often associated with an injury accident. Missouri drivers who only carry the minimum insurance requirements, while legal to drive, are underinsured: these minimum dollar amounts do not provide enough funds to fairly compensate a accident victim who suffers a significant injury.

Continue reading "Uninsured Motorists Involved in Car Accidents in Southeast Missouri Create a Costly Problem" »

More than 800 people died in car accidents in Kennett and elsewhere in Missouri in 2010. While this is a 7 percent decrease from the previous year, the slight decrease illustrates that even more needs to be done to help to ensure the safety of motorists in our roadways.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released statistics for the 2010 totals of traffic accidents throughout the U.S. Through the entire year, nearly 33,000 people died in car accidents around the nation. The NHTSA reports that in 2010, we saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities since 1949. While the Administration is patting everyone on the back for lower numbers than 2009, it's important to point out that there were increases in quite a few accident scenarios.

Our Kennett car accident attorneys understand the risks among motorcycle riders, bicyclists and pedestrians actually increased significantly. We also noticed that the number of fatal accidents grew through the last part of the year. This signifies the struggles we'll face on our roadways as the economy recovers. When there's a better economy, more people travel and more accidents are likely to happen. Motorists are urged to drive defensively to help to reduce these numbers. Driver awareness is one of the most important ways that motorists can be proactive, making accidents less likely.

"While we have more work to do to continue to protect American motorists, these numbers show we're making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation's roadways," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The NHTSA is using new tools to help track even more types of car accidents. As technology continues to evolve, distracted driving-related car accidents occur more often on our roadways. In 2010, nearly 3,100 people lost their lives because of car accidents involving a distracted driver. Because of this increase, the NHTSA created "distraction-affected crashes," a new measure to keep track of these accidents. Of late, the most common distractions are cell phones and text messaging devices, but there are plenty of others: eating, drinking, interacting with passengers, reading road maps, playing with the radio, applying makeup, etc.

The Administration is also using the new "alcohol-impaired driving crashes" measure to track alcohol-related accidents. These types of accidents still account for roughly 30 percent of all fatal car crashes.

Continue reading "2010 Statistics Released by NHTSA Totaling Car Accidents in Kennett, Nation" »

According to St. Joseph Hospital West, hundreds of people have been killed because of car accidents in Perryville, Kennett and elsewhere in Missouri this year. With the holidays upon us, we can expect not only an increase in the volume of traffic also but an increase in the number of accidents, including fatal accidents on our roadways. Of particular concern is traveling safely through construction zones in Missouri.

If you or your family are planning a trip through the state over the holiday period, you're urged to check the road conditions in advance. This is a good strategy to help locate the areas that are likely to be congested due to construction projects so that you can plan and act accordingly. Make plans for detours and have other alternate routes available just in case your main plan doesn't work.Use a GPS when possible, but also have printed routes available. Pull off the road to a safe place when using printed maps, though.

Our Perryville car accident attorneys understand that about 75 percent of motorists in Missouri wear a seat belt regularly. This is one of the best precautions that a motorist can take to prevent injury in the event of an accident. Parents are urged to make sure that children are properly buckled in as well. Make sure they're fitted in a seat that's appropriate for their size and age.

Drivers are also asked to curb all potential distractions when behind the wheel during this time of year--meaning no phone calls and no texting. This is most important for teen drivers. These young drivers are most likely to be involved in a distraction-related car accident. It's no secret that they want to socialize with their friends during winter break, but make sure they do it when they're outside the car. Talk to your young driver about the dangers of using a cell phone behind the wheel, especially when driving in busy holiday traffic.

Cell phones and text messaging devices aren't the only distractions you should be concerned with, though. There's also no need for loud music, DVD players, laptops, etc., in the vehicle. There are far too many accidents every year that are blamed on these devices.

Continue reading "Motorists Beware: Risks Increase for Car Accidents in Perryville Through Holidays" »

Over the last three years, there have been nearly 550 people killed and more than 3,000 seriously injured in car accidents in Dexter, Perryville and elsewhere in Missouri that involved an older driver. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), drivers over the age of 64 accounted for about 15 percent of the total driving population. These elderly drivers were involved in nearly 20 percent of all fatal traffic accidents and about 12 percent of all accidents resulting in serious injury,

As our baby boomers age and increase the life expectancy average, the proportion of senior residents in the state is expected to rise from the current 10 percent to nearly 20 percent by 2020.

Our Dexter car accident attorneys understand that MoDOT has a few tricks up its sleeve to help address older driver safety through its older driver intervention program. This program will be promoted throughout Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City. This program includes the following core programs; DriveWell, CarFit, NHTSA Law Enforcement Module, Roadwise Review, and Assessing & Counseling the Older Driver.

DriveWell:

This program is a toolkit that provides comprehensive information to plan, promote and present public information events on the safety of elderly drivers. The kit includes a 20-minute video and a guide to help family members to start the conversation about the safety of the elderly drivers in their lives. DriveWell trainings will be conducted throughout the state. The training is about five hours and each participant will receive a copy of the toolkit.

CarFit:

This is a program that is used to help make sure that elderly drivers fit in their vehicle properly. CarFit comes with a 12-point checklist that a trained professional can review with elderly drivers.

NHTSA Law Enforcement Module

The NHTSA Law Enforcement Module is a course that will be taught by enforcement officers. Videos, handouts, group exercises and simulated traffic stops educate elderly drivers about the importance of safe driving habits. This is a 3.5-hour course.

Roadwise Review

Roadwise Review is a CD program that elderly drivers can use to tune up their driving abilities in the comfort of home. The program will help to identify fitness and health issues that can potentially affect safety on our roadways. The program also points out steps to improve general health for better driving skills, and gives advice about how to discuss driving fitness with a doctor. This is a 45-minute program.

Continue reading "Elderly Drivers Face Serious Risks for Car Accidents in Dexter, Missouri through Holiday Season" »

Roadway traffic through the holiday season is expected to increase significantly, and with the boost in traffic comes an increase in drunk driving car accidents in Cape Girardeau and elsewhere. To help make the roadways safer, Troop E of the Missouri Highway Patrol will be conducting a number of sobriety checkpoints in the area. According to Captain George E. Ridens, troopers will be administering a number of intoxicated-driving "saturations" in conjunction with sobriety checkpoints in Dunklin County, as well as the counties of Cape Girardeau and New Madrid.

"The driving while intoxicated saturation is a mobile operation in which troopers saturate a specific area in an effort to arrest intoxicated drivers," Ridens explained in a statement.

Our Gape Girardeau drunk driving accident attorneys understand that these types of accidents are so prevalent during the holiday season that national organizations are joining the fight. During this time, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. For this year's efforts, MADD released a new report that rates each state on its efforts to stop alcohol-related traffic crashes. The U.S. as a whole received a ranking of three out of five stars.

"While we've made substantial progress with the Campaign over the past five years, the ratings earned by each state show that there is still much work to be done," said MADD National President Jan Withers.

Missouri received a rating of three out of five stars for its efforts to combat drunk driving. The report said that the expansion of ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders paired with high-visibility law enforcement helped to decrease the number of drunk-driving fatalities in our state by more than 20 percent since the campaign started. Still, the report suggested that we use ignition interlock devices for first-time offenders to reduce the number of accidents even more. Lastly, it was suggested that our government beef up penalties for those who are busted driving drunk with a child in the vehicle.

Continue reading "Law Enforcement Beefs Up During Holidays to Combat Drunk Driving Accidents in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Elsewhere" »

Back in 2009, a Missouri law was enacted to stop drivers who are 21-years-old and younger from texting behind the wheel to help prevent distraction-related car accidents in Kennett, Sikeston, Perryville and elsewhere. Still, there are too many young drivers texting behind the wheel, making the roadways dangerous for everyone. The U.S. Department of Transportation is now stepping in with its "OMG" public service announcement (PSA) campaign to stop the irresponsible and dangerous habit nationwide.

"Young people will be forced to at least keep their fingers off their keyboards while they drive," said Leanna Depue, director of Highway Safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "The law is a small step toward counteracting some of the distracted driving that causes crashes in Missouri."

Our Kennett car accident attorneys understand that teenage drivers face higher risks for accidents than any other age group of drivers. These risks are increased by nearly 25 percent when young drivers text at the wheel. To help raise awareness about the risks, dangers and consequences of texting while driving, the USDOT will be airing its "OMG" campaign PSAs at Regal Cinema theaters, gas station pump-top screens and on Distraction.gov through the entire month of December. Officials expect these mediums to reach a majority of young drivers on our roadways, helping to make our roadways safer through the busy holiday travel season.

"Today's teenagers make no secret about the fact that they want to stay connected to their social networks and enjoy text messaging. That's why it's so important that we educate young drivers of the dangers of distracted driving and help them make smart decisions that will keep them safe during the holiday season and beyond," said National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's David Strickland.

With the holidays approaching, teenagers will have winter break and time away from school. During this time, many will venture out on our roadways to visit with friends and family members. The increase in traffic during the holidays already puts them at a greater risk for an accident. Their risks increase even more when they're playing with cell phones and text messaging devices behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Texting Teens Focus of Nationwide Campaign to Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Kennett, Nation" »

Parking lots are considered to be a part of a business owner's property. These lots are connected to shopping malls, stores, gas stations and other retail facilities. Missouri law states that property owners have an obligation to keep parking lots, ramps, stairwells, sidewalks, etc., safe for public use. When these areas are not properly maintained and hazards are ignored, parking lot accidents in New Madrid, Kennett, Sikeston and elsewhere throughout Missouri are significantly more likely. Many parking lot accidents leave residents with serious injury and an abundance of bills.

For people who have been injured in a parking facility accident due to the negligence of a property owner or a motorist, it's critical to contact an experienced parking lot attorney in New Madrid. You may be entitled to compensation for damages, including pain, suffering, lost wages and medical bills.

Property owners are required to make parking lots and parking garages as safe as possible. There are a number of preventative measures that should be taken to make these areas safe for the public, especially during the busy shopping season.

Parking lot safety measures:

-Keeping the area free of debris.

-Keeping the surfaces of sidewalks smooth and well maintained.

-Providing pedestrians with crosswalks and sidewalks to keep them safe from vehicular traffic.

-Posting signs to help direct traffic and warn of known dangers.

-Removing snow and ice when present.

-Making sure that all areas are properly lit.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 20 percent of all traffic accidents happen in parking lots. Pedestrians are also warned to be on the lookout for vehicular traffic. Many of these accidents seriously injure pedestrians even though they happen at a low rate of speed. When walking with young children, always hold their hand and keep everyone buckled in the car, even through you're traveling slowly.

With the holiday season approaching, parking lots are expected to be jam packed. If possible, avoid shopping on a Saturday. This is typically when most shoppers head out and parking lots will not only be full, they'll be more dangerous. Try shopping during the weekdays and during the morning hours.

Continue reading "Risks of Parking Lot Accidents in New Madrid Increase with Holiday Traffic" »

Ever wondered what recourse is available when a bus trip turns into a nightmare? What happens to a commercial bus driver when they drive aggressively, or worse, cause a bus accident? A recent situation leaves many questions after a six hour Greyhound bus trip turned into a twelve hour ordeal, when a driver for a usually reputable and safe company violated policies and safety rules.

Federal regulations abound regarding the qualifications, licenses, and physical fitness of commercial vehicle drivers. And most passenger transit companies are reputable, providing safe transport and hiring safe drivers. But all of these rules only work to the point that a driver is willing to follow them.

What recourse is available when a driver fails to follow company policies and federal regulations?

A Bizarre Greyhound Bus Trip
The trip started in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday November 18, 2011. 45 passengers experienced a much longer than anticipated journey, which included unscheduled stops and unsafe behavior exhibited by the driver. The first indication of trouble came when the bus stopped along I-55 near Sikeston, MO. The bus driver, a Greyhound employee since 2004, pulled the bus over to let off a 65 year-old passenger she called unruly.

Continue reading "Bizarre Greyhound Bus Trip through Southeast Missouri Shows that Regulations and Company Policies Aren't Fool-Proof" »

Data from car accidents in Kennett and elsewhere help researchers to determine which days you're most likely to be involved in a serious crash on our roadways. Unfortunately, the top two days are right around the corner.

During the holiday season, increased travel, weather conditions, and drunk driving-related accidents are common occurrences on our roadways, and contribute to a bulk of the accidents.

New Year's Day and Christmas Day were the top two most dangerous days to be on our roadways. These times saw the most fatal car accidents on roadways across the U.S. Our Kennett car accident attorneys understand that millions of Americans use the holiday season to catch up with friends and family across the country.

As many residents head out on that holiday car ride, the roads become more congested and your risks for an accident drastically increase. Drivers are urged to be cautions and careful when hitting to road for the holidays.

Most dangerous holidays, from 2008 statistics:

-New Year's Day:
Fatalities: 423.
Average number each year since 1982: 401.
Average percentage of fatal alcohol-related accidents since 1982: 46 percent.

-Christmas Day:
Fatalities: 420.
Average number each year since 1982: 414.
Average percentage of fatal alcohol-related accidents since 1982: 42 percent.

A study conducted by the University of Alabama shows that it's not just the actual holiday days that you have to worry about: it's also the days preceding and following the holidays that often have the highest risk for serious accidents. This time period is when most travelers are heading to or heading from their holiday hot spots.

"There are definitely times to be avoided, especially if bad weather is a possibility," said Dr. Allen Parrish, professor and director of CAPS at The University of Alabama.

Parrish says that drivers should probably avoid driving on the two days after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and the evening hours of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. These are some of the most dangerous days on our roadways.

Typically, the days surrounding Christmas are more dangerous than Christmas Day itself. During this time, people are usually either scurrying about time trying to get those last minutes gifts or heading out for family vacations.

Continue reading "Holiday Season Contributes to Record Numbers of Car Accidents in Kennett and Elsewhere" »

Our Southeast Missouri Car Accident Lawyers recently discussed the dangers that drivers face on our roadways after the sun sets. With the recent change to Daylight Saving Time, drivers are likely driving more during the evening hours. While only 25 percent of travel takes place at this time, about 50 percent of accidents happen when it's dark out.

A recent podcast on Healthy Vision with Dr. Val Jones discussed nighttime driving dangers with optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider and John Ulczycki with the National Safety Council. According to Dr. Jones, one out of every three drivers say they have trouble seeing all or most of the time in the dark. Even drivers with perfect 20/20 vision can experience a reduction to 20/40 when the sun sets.

Our Kennett car accident lawyers understand that many drivers misconceive roadway dangers while driving at night. Since visibility is reduced, drivers see less and assume that these hazards don't exist. What's important for drivers is to adjust their driving skills to accommodate for the low-light environment.

Since drivers have must less to focus on at night, the eye typically wanders around looking for something to focus on. When there's less to focus on, our vision can be blurrier. Optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider discusses a condition called night myopia, which is used to describe the difficulty drivers have on focusing. Since there's not a lot to pull in and focus on, drivers find themselves focusing on the glare or bugs on the windshield. It's difficult to make eyes leave this focus and drivers are missing what's going on down the road. It's important to consciously focus on what's beyond the windshield.

She also points out that drivers don't typically see colors in their peripheral vision at night. Motion is more likely to be picked up in peripheral vision. For this reason, drivers are urged to continuously move their head to look around to take in the surroundings.

John Ulczycki with the National Safety Council tells Dr. Jones that drivers work with a reduced reaction time at night because our visibility hindered. He urges drivers to slow down to allow them more time to react to roadway dangers.

Ulczycki also discusses the glare we experience from the headlights of oncoming vehicles. He says you want to keep your eyes moving across the roadways, not only to get your focus off of that glare but to keep your eyes on surroundings dangers.

Drivers are urged to slow down when driving at night. Ulczycki says that you're able to put on your emergency blinkers if you're driving under the posted speed limit. Remember that even though the dangers aren't as visible at night, they're still there. Alter your driving skills appropriately and be careful on our roadways after the sun sets.

Continue reading "'Healthy Vision' with Dr. Val Jones Discusses Risks of Nighttime Car Accidents in Kennett and Elsewhere" »

There's going to be some new parking spaces for trucks on Interstate 70, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). The state recently was granted $1 million in federal funding for the project. These spaces are going to be used to make it easier for truckers to find spots to rest during their long road trips. More space to rest hopefully equates to less-sleepy drivers and fewer drowsy driving-related trucking accidents in Perryville, New Madrid, Dexter and elsewhere throughout Southeast Missouri.

To help keep our roads safe and keep drowsy drivers from getting behind the wheel there's a limit to how much time a truck driver can spend behind the wheel. These rules were enacted to reduced truck driver fatigue. Drowsy driving accidents have reduced by nearly 40 percent from 2004 to 2010, but officials worry that sleepy drivers are still causing too many preventable accidents on our roadways.

Our Perryville trucking accident attorneys understand that Interstate 70 is an important freight corridor, but we also realize that many residents use this roadway as well. It connects river ports with large rails and five interstates for cities across the state. Transportation officials are using their time and money to help reduce the risks of trucking accident on this roadway.

"This grant will help us maintain highway safety as the number of trucks on the interstate grows," said Jan Skouby, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services director.

In the last few years, the state has doubled the available spaces for trucks to park along interstates, but it's difficult to keep up with the expansion of the industry and the increasing number of trucks. The number of these commercial vehicles on I-70 is expected to double by 2030. MoDOT is continuing its efforts to add spaces to keep up with the growth and accommodate truckers' needs.

The DOT recently applied for the federal funding to create more spaces and was approved by the Federal Highway Administration grant to push on with its efforts. Construction is planned to begin by the end of 2012.

Skouby says the transportation department will be working alongside freight-hauling customers to help determine the best locations for the parking spots. She says that the availability and location of these rest spots directly affects a trucker's ability to pick up and drop off shipments in a timely manner. On-time deliveries can in turn affect the prices that consumers pay for these products.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are at least 100,000 accidents reported each year caused by a drowsy driver. These estimates figure that more than 1,500 people die and more than 70,000 are injured, resulting in nearly $13 million in monetary losses. Many estimates figure this number to be much higher because it can be difficult for officers to attribute sleepiness specifically as an accident cause.

Continue reading "MoDOT Receives $1 Million to Fight Trucking Accidents in Perryville and Elsewhere" »

Distracted driving car accidents in Dexter, Sikeston, New Madrid and elsewhere took the lives of more than 5,400 people in 2009. Another 448,000 people were injured in these incidents. To help push the importance of focused driving habits, the U.S. Department of Transportation is pushing its "Faces of Distracted Driving" campaign. The Department is adding even more stories to this video series as a reminder to drive safely during the holiday travel season.

"Faces of Distracted Driving" consists of stories from families across the country who have lost loved ones in a distracted-driving traffic accident. The campaign is used to raise awareness in drivers about the risks, dangers and consequences of these types of accidents. The campaign was originally launched in November 2010 and has been viewed by motorists around the country more than 100,000 times since.

Our Dexter car accident attorneys understand that there were more than 1,500,000 reported distracted driving-related car accidents in the U.S. in 2009. These accidents accounted for roughly 20 percent of all accidents resulting in injury. These accidents are completely preventable and the U.S. DOT will continue to urge drivers to make smart decision behind the wheel to help stop them from happening.

Every day, motorists across the U.S. are killed in traffic accidents caused by distracted drivers. Every day, families lose loved ones because of the irresponsibility of other drivers.

"I thank all of the families of distracted driving victims who have bravely chosen to share their stories of loss with the world," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Missouri is one of the few states left that has no law governing cell phone use for drivers. Everyone behind the wheel is allowed to jab on a cell phone while driving. Our text messaging law isn't any better. Only drivers under the age of 21 are prohibited from texting while driving. Everyone else is free to send and receive text messages as they wish, causing them to take their attention off the roadway.

When we talk about distracted driving, most people will relate the behavior to talking on a cell phone or text messaging. Distracted driving can mean much more though. The term also includes drinking, eating, engaging with passengers, grooming, smoking, operating a GPS, applying makeup, messing with the radio, etc.

Drivers under the age of 20 are most likely to drive while distracted, but drivers of all ages are guilty of it one time or another. Distracted driving increases your risks for an accident by four times. Using a cell phone while driving gives a driver the same reaction time as someone who is legally drunk behind the wheel. These accidents are completely preventable and drivers are asked to keep their full attention on the roadway to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

Continue reading "NHTSA Pushes Campaign to Reduce Risks of Distraction-Related Car Accidents in Sikeston and Elsewhere" »

Nighttime driving isn't a simple task. Road hazards are more difficult to see after the sun sets. Even drivers with perfect vision experience a reduction in visibility during the night. Pedestrian accidents in Charleston, Jackson, Perryville and elsewhere throughout Southeast Missouri are a common occurrence after sun set. These crashes are even more frequent as the holiday travelers roll in.

Only about 25 percent of travel occurs during the evening hours, yet about half of all fatal accidents occur during this time. Drivers fail to alter their driving habits to accommodate the low-light environment. While the hazards still exits at night, many drivers don't see them or recognize them.

To help reduce the risks of nighttime accidents, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and our Charleston pedestrian accident attorneys are here to share some safe traveling tips to motorists and pedestrians.

From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 1,000 pedestrians killed in the state of Missouri. These accidents cost nearly $3.5 billion. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if motorists were to travel more cautiously during the evening hours.

In the United States, more than 4,000 pedestrians died in traffic-related accidents in 2009. Nearly 60,000 pedestrians were injured in these types of accidents. Most of these accidents occurred from either 4 to 8 a.m. or from 4 to 8 p.m.

Drivers oftentimes have a misconception of the dangers that are present on the roadways after the sun sets. Because drivers don't see many of these hazards, they drive as though they don't exist. Oftentimes drivers overlook pedestrians on our roadways, too. It's important for motorists and pedestrians to travel safely and alertly to avoid an accident with one another.

Safe tips for drivers traveling at night:

-Slow it down. Drivers need more time to react to road hazards. With the reduced visibility, drivers also have less time to react. Slowing down will allow you with more time.

-Keep in mind that some pedestrians wear headphones while walking. Headphones, hats, earmuffs and other head wear can reduce their ability to hear your vehicle approaching.

-Keep your windows, your windshield and your mirrors clean to maximize visibility.

-Make sure your defroster is working properly and that you have enough windshield wiper fluid.

-Allow pedestrians the right-of-way.

Safe tips for pedestrians traveling at night:

-Always walk on a sidewalk when there's one available. When there's no sidewalk and you must walk along the road, do so facing oncoming traffic.

-Never rely on traffic signals or traffic lights. These devices don't always stop drivers. Walk defensively.

-Never jaywalk. Cross the road only at a crosswalk, an intersection or a street corner.

-Always walk with a flashlight or with reflective tape attached to your clothing. This will help motorists to see you.

Continue reading "Pedestrian-Car Accidents in Charleston Common with Daylight Saving Time Change" »