Joplin Car Accident Lawyer Blog

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month! Motorcycle riding season is here, and it's especially important that drivers exercise caution and share the road safely with these riders. Our Joplin motorcycle accident attorneys ask that all motorists be extra-cautious on our roadways, keeping an eye out for hazards, other vehicles and especially motorcycles. Also, importantly, we urge motorcyclists take the necessary precautions to increase their own safety.

"Motorcycle fatalities represent approximately 10 percent of all Missouri highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles represent approximately 2.6 percent of all registered vehicles in Missouri," according to a press release from the Missouri Highway Patrol. "One of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the motorcycle itself provides no protection in a crash."

Unfortunately, these small, two-wheel vehicles can also be easy to overlook. To avoid a crash, drivers of cars and trucks have to take the extra time to look twice before making a turn or switching lanes, simply to ensure a biker isn't traveling nearby. The majority of motorcyclists are law abiding drivers too, and they are entitled to the same roadway respect as any other motorist.

Drivers can also use the following safety practices to help avoid a collision with a motorcycle:

• Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Although it may seem that there is enough room in the traffic lane for a motor vehicle and a motorcycle, the motorcycle needs the room to maneuver safely. Do not share the lane.

• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows motorcyclists to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.

•Allow more following distance -- three or four seconds - when following a motorcycle so the motorcycle rider has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

To read more motorcycle safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), click here.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Safety Month Reminds Missouri Drivers to Share the Road" »

In Missouri, throughout 2010, there were 1,731 injury accidents involving motorcycles, which left 2,036 people injured, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. An additional 94 fatal crashes occurred, resulting in 97 deaths. April has barely begun, and our Joplin, Missouri auto accident lawyers have already written about several fatal crashes involving motorcyclists. So far, in 2012, the Patrol is reporting that fatal Missouri auto accidents in general are on the rise: here in southwestern Missouri, Troop D has seen a 65% increase, compared to this time last year.

See our recent posts: Recent Motorcycle Accidents Cause Injuries, Fatalities in Webster County, Missouri & Throughout the Ozarks and Fatal Accidents Highlight the Importance of Motorcycle Safety in Kansas City, Missouri.

But Missouri riders aren't the only motorists who are vulnerable to fatal crashes. Last Sunday evening, in Perry County, Illinois, a passenger vehicle caused an accident that resulted in 1 death and caused injury to 9 others. It happened just after 5:00 p.m., when 43 year-old Thomas Harris attempted to pass a northbound van, just as 6 southbound motorcycles approached. Harris did not fully complete the pass before he attempted to move back into the northbound lane, and subsequently sideswiped the van. The impact caused his pickup to spin out of control, slinging it back into southbound traffic - and into the group of motorcycles.

Harris' pickup truck struck a Harley carrying a passenger, and both riders were injured. The remaining motorcyclists, who were traveling in a standard staggered formation within their lane, were forced to take evasive action: as a result, 3 went to the pavement. 56 year-old Arlene Hackworth, a passenger on one of those three motorcycles, was killed.

Meanwhile, after striking the motorcyclists, the pickup continued off the west side of the road and rolled over. By the time it came to rest in a field, the vehicle was nearly a quarter of a mile away from the location of the initial impact.

3 helicopters came to the scene to transport the some of the injured, including a 13 year-old passenger in the pickup, and 2 motorcyclists: 38 year-old Scott E. Meadows; and 35 year-old Derek Clay Jenkel, who was driving the Harley that carried Ms. Hackworth. All 3 suffered major injuries. Several other riders and 2 passengers in the pickup truck were taken by ambulance to St. Louis hospitals.

Harris was arrested for DUI after failing a sobriety test at the scene of the accident. He also faces multiple other charges, including endangering the life of a child and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

Continue reading "Driver Faces Multiple Charges (Including DUI) After Sideswiping Van & Spinning into a Group of Motorcyclists" »

Many Neosho Missouri car and motorcycle accidents are caused when motorists fail to yield right of way when they should. This is particularly problematic in the case of crashes between cars and motorcycles. In more than half of all crashes involving motorcycles and automobiles, the car driver simply didn't see the motorcycle until it was too late to avoid the crash.

That might have been the case in an accident which sent a Joplin motorcyclist to the hospital on Oct. 21st. The accident took place on Business U.S. 71, six miles north of Neosho MO.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, a southbound 1993 GMC Trailmaster driven by Stefani R. Reynolds, 26, made a left turn into the path of a northbound 2007 Harley-Davidson driven by Raymond A. Rich, 54. Apparently the truck didn't leave Rich enough time to stop, resulting in Rich's motorcycle broadsiding the truck. Rich was transported by ambulance to Joplin's Freeman West Hospital with serious injuries, and his Harley was totaled.

Read the Missouri Highway Patrol's Traffic Crash Report.

Was this a case of failure to yield right of way, or a truck driver who simply did not see the motorcycle?

Our Joplin motorcycle accident clients frequently ask us how it is possible that a car or truck "didn't see them until it was too late." In fact, motorists become used to looking for four-wheeled vehicles, but no matter how many motorcycles are on the roads, for some reason they don't expect to see two-wheeled vehicles.

Continue reading "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way Causes Joplin Missouri Car and Motorcycle Accidents" »

One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is other vehicles failing to notice them, particularly when the other vehicles are making a turn. Motorcyclists are also much more difficult for a car driver to spot in dense traffic. Joplin Missouri motorcycle accident lawyers know that drivers' attitudes towards bikers are also a factor in accidents. Many drivers simply do not understand that motorcyclists have the same rights on the roads as they do.

We wonder if any of these reasons was the cause of a motorcycle accident south of Joplin MO that sent two riders to the hospital on September 10th, when a pickup truck turned into their path.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (read the full report here) Carl Hayes, 63, of Sulphur Springs, Ark., was heading south on Missouri 43, two miles south of Joplin on his 2008 Harley. Wilma Hayes, 67, was on the bike behind him. Lewis Cheek, 51, of Joplin, was heading eastbound, but failed to yield at an intersection and pulled directly into the path of the bike.

As is so often the case when motorcycles are in collisions with either cars or trucks, the bike was totaled, but damage to Lewis's 1995 Chevy pickup was minimal. Both Carl and Wilma Hayes were taken by ambulance to Joplin's Freeman West Hospital, Carl with minor injuries and Wilma with moderate injuries. Fortunately, both motorcycle riders were wearing their safety helmets.

What can be done to protect motorcycle riders from accidents, other than wearing the appropriate recommended safety gear?

• Motorcyclists are advised to take refresher courses to continue to enhance their driving skills.
• Over reliance on using the rear brake instead of swerving contributes to motorcycle accidents, regardless of who was at fault.
• Anyone who wants to get on Missouri's highways on a bike should continue to learn how to practice defensive driving.
• Bikers should always obey all the same laws as other drivers, particularly the speed limits.

If you are involved in a Joplin Missouri motorcycle accident that was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. Whether or not you need legal assistance will depend on the severity of the crash, and your injuries. However, you have nothing to lose by having a motorcycle accident lawyer take a look at your case.

Our advice to anyone who has been injured in a motorcycle accident is not to sign any papers, give any recorded statements, or accept any initial settlements without finding out what your claim is worth. It might not be possible to immediately gauge the extent of your injuries, particularly if head trauma, spine or brain injury is involved. If an insurance company offers you a settlement before you understand the severity of your condition, you may be limiting or losing any chance to claim further damages by accepting it.

When in doubt, always consult an attorney. Did you know that Joplin motorcycle accident lawyers offer a free initial consultation to assess your claim? The peace of mind you might receive by finding out your legal options could be a huge help in the aftermath of a serious accident.

If you have been injured in a Joplin motorcycle accident, call the law offices of Aaron Sachs and Associates today, toll free. There is never any pressure or obligation--instead, we will give you the straight answers you need.

Every summer, Joplin motorcycle accident lawyers start receiving more calls about motorcycle accident injury cases. On Wednesday, August 23, a Joplin motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Missouri Highway 86, two miles south of Joplin.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol's report stated that the victim, Edward E. Hoagland, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by a Newton County deputy coroner. This accident was Troop D's 62nd motor vehicle related fatality of 2011.

Hoagland was riding his 2005 Harley-Davidson heading west, when for some reason he crossed the center line on a curve and crashed head on into an oncoming 2001 Chevy driven by Kenny r. Tweedy, 43, of Seneca. Tweedy was not injured in the accident, but his vehicle sustained moderate damage and needed to be towed to a repair shop.

The Patrol did not release a lot of details about this fatal accident, such as what caused Hoagland to cross the center line in such a dangerous part of the highway.

Continue reading "Fatal Two-Vehicle Accident Kills Joplin Missouri Motorcyclist" »

Driving around town the other day, we noticed a bumper sticker that said, "Save A Life--Look Twice. Motorcycles are Everywhere." This served as a good reminder for us. Joplin Motorcycle Accident lawyers want to remind all Missouri motorists that motorcycles are nowhere near as visible to drivers in cars and trucks as other larger vehicles are. That quick glance in the side view mirror while making a left or right hand turn might not be enough to avoid a motorcycle accident.

The following news article about a motorcycle crash on August 9th that killed the rider is a sad illustration of this fact.

According to an article in the Lusk Herald, an Iowa motorcyclist died in a crash fifty miles outside of Lusk, Wyoming. The rider, Jefferson Adams of Pleasant Hill Iowa, died an hour and a half after the fatal collision. He collided with a pickup truck pulling a 28 foot camper, which was driven by Damon Hand of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Highway Patrol's report indicated that both vehicles were heading north on US highway 85, when Hand began making a left hand turn. Adams moved to pass on the left at the same time as Hand was turning. Somehow his bike struck the camper and he was flung off his motorcycle and fatally injured.

The driver of the pickup kept turning, and Adams got tangled beneath the trailer along with his bike, and dragged under the trailer until Hand stopped just past the turn. Adams was not wearing a motorcycle helmet, which was legal in that state, as it is in many states in the country.

Joplin motorcycle accident attorneys wonder exactly what happened in this tragic accident. Did the driver of the pickup simply not see the motorcyclist as he was turning, and not know what had happened until he felt an impact? Without knowing more of the details, we do not know if there was negligence involved, or if Adam's family might have cause for a wrongful death suit.

Along with reminding all motor vehicle drivers to please look twice and be aware of motorcycles when turning, Joplin motorcycle accident attorneys also want to remind everyone that it has been repeatedly proven that helmets save lives. There is no way to know if Adams would have survived if he was wearing a helmet--but statistically speaking, his chances would have been much greater.

We know motorcyclists like the feeling of riding bareheaded. However, as more states repeal helmet laws, naturally fewer cyclists are choosing to wear a helmet. In fact, motorcycle helmet use has dropped nationwide from 71 percent in 2000 to only 63 percent in 2008. That has brought a corresponding increase in motorcycle injuries and fatalities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) there were 5,290 motorcyclist fatalities in 2008, along with 96,000 injuries. This was the eleventh increase in deaths and injuries in a row!

If you have been injured in a Joplin Missouri motorcycle accident, a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney can clear up any questions you might have. Please call us to find out if we can be of any assistance.

Speeding is one of the quickest ways for you to get into a serious car accident in Macon, Marshall, Diamond or elsewhere in Missouri. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speeding is the cause of roughly one-third of all motor-vehicle accidents.

Speeding regulations were in the hands of the federal government from 1973 to 1994. Now, speed limits are the responsibility of state governments. There was always the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) policy, which used to set mandatory speed limit caps on interstate highways and other similar roads. The rule was repealed back in 1995, and most states have upped their speed limits since then. Still, many motorists feel the need for speed and neglect to abide by these laws as they continue to exceed speed limits everywhere.

Our Joplin car accident attorneys understand the overwhelming occurrence of speeding on our highways. As a matter of fact, there were roughly 6.2 million reported accidents in 2004 alone that were caused by someone exceeding the posted speed limit.

Speeding is a contributor of nearly one-third of all traffic accidents in the United States. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if drivers were to abide by posted speed limits. In most cases, they would have had more time to react to dangers on the roadways. Speeding-related crashes are indeed a preventable accident.

Speed reduces the amount of time that a driver can use to effectively avoid an accident. It also increases the likeliness of an accident along with the severity of damage. Many safety advocates and local law enforcement have sought to decrease the amount of speeding on our roadways by installing video cameras, or "photo radar," and speed traps in an attempt to bust speeders and to make the roadway safer for everyone.

There are a number of reasons why we have speed limits. It's not just another way for the government to regulate your every motion. It's to help to ensure the safety of all residents. Speed limits are carefully determined upon a number of factors including highway design, highway conditions, highway operations, differences at state or municipal borders and regards for traffic safety.

Some important facts about speeding, provided by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety:

-Traffic accidents that involve excessive speeding result in economic costs of more than $40 billion for a single year. These accidents make up nearly 20 percent of all of the crash costs. They cost each U.S. resident an estimated $144.

-When speed is increased from 40 mph to just 60 mph, the energy that is released in an accident is more than doubled.

-Speeding-related accidents took the lives of more than 14,000 people in 2005.

-According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), when the speed limits were raised in a number of states back in 1996, motor-vehicle accident fatalities increased by nearly 20 percent on Interstate highways.

-The likelihood of speeding decreases as the driver's age increases. In 2002, nearly 40 percent of male drivers, ages 15- to 20-years-old, who were involved in a fatal accident were speeding at the time of the crash.

-In 2002, nearly 40 percent of all motorcyclists that were involved in fatal accidents were reported to have been speeding. Motorcyclists double their chance of being involved in a fatal accident when they're speeding.

Speeding in Missouri, according to GYSA:

-2001: Nearly 40 percent of fatal accidents reported speeding. Police issued nearly 132,000 speeding tickets this year.

-2002: Almost 30 percent of motor-vehicle accidents that resulted in death reported a speeding driver. There were approximately 133,000 speeding tickets issues throughout this year.

-2003: More than 40 percent of accidents were speeding-related and fatal. During this year, nearly 126,000 speeding tickets were issued to drivers.

Continue reading "Increased Speed to Increase Risks of Car Accidents in Pineville and Elsewhere in Missouri" »

When the weather turns nice, Joplin Missouri residents hit the road, eager to enjoy the season outdoors. Motorcycle riders are out and about, but with that comes an increase in dangerous motorcycle accidents. The motorcycle accident attorneys at Aaron Sachs and Associates ask you--what can you do differently to help save lives?

Joplin personal injury lawyers remind all Jasper County residents to drive safely around motorcycles. Whatever your personal opinion of motorcycles, you must share the roads with them. Motorcyclists have the same rights on the streets and highways of Joplin, Neosho, Carthage and Webb City as car drivers.

Tips for Joplin Motorists to Circumvent Motorcycle Accidents:

1. Consider any motorcycle in motion as a PERSON, not a vehicle. They have much less protection than you do in your vehicle in the event of a traffic accident.
2. Motorcyclists are harder to spot, leading to motorcycle accidents. Therefore, make it a habit to look left-right-left before pulling out of a driveway or making a turn.
3. Keep an alert eye out for motorcycles when changing lanes or passing trucks
4. Remember that bikers frequently don't use their brake to slow down - therefore there will be no telltale brake light to warn you. Keep a safe distance behind motorcycles.
5. Motorcyclists frequently adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to steer clear of road debris or passing cars. In other words, they are not moving over to allow you in their lane. They are entitled to an entire lane!

Continue reading "Springtime Means Motorcycle Accidents on the Upswing in Joplin Missouri--Tips to Avoid Motorcycle Accidents" »

A single-car crash that took the life of one passenger has Xanax to thank for the drivers poor driving skills. The young driver now admits that taking Xanax after initially denying consumption, according to The Joplin Globe. The driver sped off in the car and crashed in a field in the 1100 block of North Main Street. Once in the field, the car flipped until its undercarriage struck a utility pole in mid-roll and it landed back on its wheels. The Xanax-popping driver is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.

A recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers are continuing to drive while intoxicated, whether it be alcohol or drugs. Many drivers are now using marijuana, cocaine, over-the-counter and prescriptions drugs and then getting behind the wheel.

Our Joplin car wreck attorneys would like to remind drivers that intoxicated driving is still the leading cause of death on the nation's roads.

Nearly 8 percent of drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher during the previous road survey in 1973. The latest survey illustrated a decrease of more than 3 percent.

"I'm pleased to see that our battle against drunk driving is succeeding," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "However, alcohol still kills 13,000 people a year on our roads and we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent drunk driving."

Unfortunately, previous surveys only searched for alcohol data. The newer 2007 survey screened for other substances, too. The new survey may help to reveal a whole new, and popular way, of participating in impaired driving.

This new survey found that more than 16 percent of surveyed drivers were drug positive during weekend evenings. The survey revealed that the most common drugs were: marijuana (nearly 9 percent), over-the-counter and prescription drugs (almost 4 percent) and cocaine (nearly 4 percent).

"This troubling data shows us, for the first time, the scope of drugged driving in America, and reinforces the need to reduce drug abuse," said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "Drugged driving, like drunk driving, is a matter of public safety and health. It puts us all at risk and must be prevented."

The survey also found that the most common time for drivers to be legally drunk was between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.

Continue reading "Driver Accused of Causing Fatal Car Accident in Joplin Admits to Xanax Use" »

Ozarks First reported a 55-year-old woman was killed on Highway 60. Troopers say she failed to yield to an SUV and was killed in the broadside accident. According to Joplin personal injury lawyer Aaron Sachs, each spring, the number of serious and fatal Joplin car accidents increases. Motorcycle accidents and bicycle accidents increase as riders hit the road in the spring. Teens get their license and are at increased risk for car crashes during the prom and graduation seasons.

The days get longer and drunk driving accidents and pedestrian accidents become more of a concern than during the cold winter months.

The Joplin Globe reports several other serious or fatal accidents have occurred in the past few weeks. Including a 12-year-old girl who was injured on East Princeton Street when her bicycle was struck by a pickup truck.

Nationwide, 5.5 million traffic accidents killed more than 33,000 and injured more than 2 million in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 652 motorists were killed and nearly 30,000 were injured in Missouri car crashes in 2009, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

As the summer driving season gets under way, it's useful to look at the leading causes of fatal car wrecks in Missouri:

-Drinking:154

-Improper Lane Change: 135

-Inattention: 113

-Driving too fast for conditions: 130

Other common causes of accidents are crashes or congestion in the road ahead, failure to yield and following too closely. Please do your part by following a few simple tips this summer:

-Never drink and drive.

-Slow down.

-Avoid distracted driving.

-Wear your seat belt.

-Exercise patients and allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

Continue reading "Joplin Car Accidents Illustrate Spring Travel Dangers" »