St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

A father and son duo from Alton, Illinois injured in a car collision by a driver who ran a red light have filed an auto accident lawsuit.

The incident occurred on Route 140 at the intersection of St. James Road in Madison County, according to an article posted on the Madison County Record website. While the man and his son were headed west on 140, the defendant was driving north, and he allegedly failed to stop at a traffic light.

The collision has resulted in expensive medical bills for the father and son, as well as lost wages for the father. Their attorney seeks more than $100,000 in damages, which would also include court costs.

The Federal Highway Administration has identified red-light running as a serious safety issue in the U.S. In 2008, there were 2.3 million crashes and 7,770 fatalities at road intersections.

Continue reading "Alton, Illinois Father and Son Sue Red-Light Runner" »

Several family members died in a car accident in the Hancock County, Illinois town of Hamilton.

The lawsuit filed by attorneys Tom Falb and Michael Glisson of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson against a tavern that served the drivers states that the order of death was unknown, but four people all died from the same wreck. Also named in the lawsuit are the builders and maintainers of the road in a subdivision which was unlit, unmarked and dangerous to drivers.

The fatal wreck occurred on a foggy night. The road was a gravel and chip road with dips and curves, most notably a 90-degree curve between two ponds with deep embankments from near the edge of the roadway into each pond. As the driver attempted to make the sharp turn, the vehicle slid into the pond and caused massive car damage and drowning.

The wrongful death lawsuit claims that the roadway owners were neglectful in maintaining a proper level of safety for drivers using the road.

Alton, Illinois-based attorneys Tom Falb and Michael Glisson's lawsuit filed in Hancock County Circuit Court seeks damages for 64 counts against the defendants, including premises liabilities, wrongful death, survival acts, and dramshop violations.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, although only 23 percent of Americans lived in rural areas, 53 percent of fatal vehicle accidents occurred on rural roads in 2007. The study explained that this may be due to a number of factors, including the greater distance to hospitals, higher speeds of driving due to less traffic, a lack of shoulders and marked lane dividers, lower safety belt usage, and a higher likelihood of alcohol involvement.

Continue reading "Hancock County, Illinois Auto Accident Death Leads to Lawsuit" »

One crash led to another on a southbound Interstate 55 wreck in Jefferson County, Missouri.

The complicated chain of events began when a car driven by a young woman from Imperial, MO crossed the right fog line and struck the car of a man from Jackson, MO, who was parked on the shoulder. The man's car then entered the road, where it was hit by another car driver from Litchfield, IL and then a tractor trailer driven by a man from Florida. After colliding with three vehicles and hitting the median on the opposite side of the interstate from where it started, the Jackson man's car (pictured here) was totaled, and several people involved were taken by ambulance to a hospital.

According to the police report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred between the 188 and 189 mile markers south of Richardson Road.

Represented by attorney Michael Glisson from the Alton, Illinois-based law office of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson, the man from Jackson has filed an auto accident suit against the other drivers involved.

Fortunately, no one died as a result of the multiple car wreck. And although the number of driving fatalities in Missouri has decreased in recent years -- from 1,257 in 2005 to 878 in 2009, a National Highway Traffic Safety Commission report states -- the problem still exists and is reason enough to drive carefully on Interstate roadways.

Continue reading "Interstate 55 Multiple Car Accident Leads to Lawsuit" »

Two Alton, Illinois bars are facing dramshop lawsuits after a man from Hardin died in a drunk driving auto accident.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of the deceased man has named Woodstock Lounge and Ten-Pin Lounge in downtown Alton partially responsible under dramshop laws for the fatal accident by allegedly serving the drunken driver--a man from Fieldon, Illinois--an excessive amount of alcohol which caused his impaired driving.

According to an article in The Telegraph, the car accident, which occurred in January 2010, has already led to fines, probation and jail time for the drunk driver. The criminal case against the driver was tried in Jersey County Circuit Court, while the civil case against the two Alton taverns was filed in Madison County Circuit Court.

The victim was killed in a crash on Illinois Route 16 outside of Fieldon, Illinois, where officials pronounced him dead upon arriving to the accident site.

The National Center for Injury Prevention & Control reports that in 2008, 11,773 people died in car crashes where one or both drivers were under the influence of alcohol. According to the Illinois State Police website, impaired driving offenses that result in serious car crashes can result in "Aggravated DUI" sentences, which can carry a fine of $25,000 and up to twelve years in prison.

Continue reading "Ten-Pin Lounge and Woodstock Lounge in Alton, Illinois Sued for Drunk Driving Deaths" »

O'Leary's Bar and Restaurant in St. Louis and a Sunset Hills police officer have settled a drunk driving, dramshop and wrongful death case out of court.

A car accident caused by the suspended police officer killed the other car's four passengers instantly and seriously injured the driver. The accident, which occurred in March of 2009, came at the tail end of a night of binge drinking at O'Leary's Bar.

According to a report on the KMOV St. Louis website, a receipt recovered from the offender's purse revealed that she had drunk five Cosmopolitans, and the hospital's breathalyzer test showed the off-duty officer's blood alcohol content to be nearly three times the legal limit.

The settlement total came to a sum in excess of $2.2 million, which maxed out the amount the officer's and tavern's insurance policies would pay. The criminal case against the officer, who plead guilty, will determine how many years of prison time she will receive. The sentence is scheduled to come in spring of 2011.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 32 people die every day in the United States from auto accidents related to drunk driving.

Continue reading "St. Louis Tavern and Off-Duty Police Officer Settle Drunk Driving Suit" »

A St. Louis County resident from Ballwin, Missouri stands accused of killing a pedestrian due to reckless driving. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed at St. Louis County Circuit Court to remedy the suffering caused by the fatal driving accident.

The defendant hit and killed a man walking across Manchester Road in Ellisville, Missouri. The pedestrian was from a Chicago, Illinois suburb. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch court brief, the driver was using her cellphone, which prevented her from taking proper safety precautions and observing all the rules of the road. In addition, the plaintiffs have accused the defendant of driving too quickly to stop in time. The incident occurred in December of 2009.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports that 37 pedestrians were fatally injured in 2009. 113 fatalities on Missouri roads were caused by inattention, and exceeding the speed limit caused an additional 75 deaths.

Continue reading "St. Louis Missouri Driver Sued for Wrongful Death After Auto Accident" »

A car crash which occurred on west-bound Interstate 64 in East St. Louis, Illinois has become cause for an auto accident suit.

According to a report published Friday on the Madison / St. Clair Record's website, the plaintiff, a female, was rear-ended on the interstate. She stated that after a car in front of her stopped suddenly, she had to follow suit. The defendant, however, did not stop in time, and he slammed directly into the rear of the plaintiff's vehicle.

The vehicle accident, which happened in April, caused injuries requiring surgery, as well as emotional suffering. The plaintiff now seeks an award in excess of $50,000 due to medical fees and money lost from missing work.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that 89,090 people were injured in car crashes last year. 800 crashes occurred each day on average. Approximately 4 percent of car-related injuries in the state occurred in Madison and St. Clair counties.

Continue reading "East St. Louis Illinois Car Crash Leads to Accident Suit" »

The City of Collinsville has settled out of court for a case in which a city police officer caused a car accident.

The plaintiff, who was represented by Attorney Michael P. Glisson, suffered injuries to her left shoulder, neck and lower back on Nov. 9, 2007 when a Collinsville police officer ran a red light at the intersection of Keebler Ave. and Beltline Rd. in Collinsville. Since the T-bone collision accident, The driver has undergone two back surgeries, and she has permanent limitations as a result of the crash.

The officer failed to use his sirens while entering the intersection at a red light. On his way back from a defensive driving class, the officer heard the police dispatcher calling officers to respond to a bank robbery. The officer testified that he was going to assist with the robbery, but failed to inform the dispatcher that he was on his way.

A witness to the wreck testified in a deposition that the plaintiff had the green light and that the officer appeared to be putting on his coat while going through a red light. The police car swung around and struck a second car also going through the green light. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 103,156 people were injured in car accidents in 2007, and 1248 people died.

The depositions of numerous officers and personnel were taken concerning the incident and procedures. The case was settled for a significant amount before a trial was necessary.

Continue reading "Collinsville Illinois Car Accident Caused by Local Police Officer Resolved" »

Illinois State Trooper Matt Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving. The wreck occurred on November 23, 2007, when prosecutors say Mitchell was driving 126 mph and using his cell phone when his car struck another carrying two teenage sisters. The girls, Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13, died at the scene of the accident after their car was engulfed in flames.

The Illinois State Police has not yet said whether or not Mitchell will lose his job; he was suspended from the force with pay after the accident. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, St. Clair County State's Attorney Robert Haida has stated that he believes Mitchell will have his license revoked.

Continue reading "Illinois Trooper Given Probation After Causing Fatal Accident" »

Last Wednesday, the family of a pedestrian who was fatally injured last year took their case to court. On September 14, 2009, 83-year-old Lionel Speidel was crossing the street when a car struck him. The car, a Pontiac Grand Am, was being driven by a 17-year-old when the accident occurred at the 3800 block of Virginia Avenue, less than a block away from the teen's home.

Investigators later learned that the teen had been under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident and he was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Speidel later died in a nearby hospital. Recently, his daughters have taken on the driver and his family, filing a wrongful death suit seeking more than $50,000.

Continue reading "St. Louis Family Sues Over Fatally Injured Pedestrian" »

Last Friday, a 10-year-old Livingston girl was fatally injured in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident. The minor, Montana Garner, was a passenger on the adult-sized vehicle being operated by her 12-year-old friend. At some point the vehicle flipped, landing on top of her head and causing her death.

Upon receiving the call about their daughter, Larry and Diane Garner rushed to the scene of the accident. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, her mother administered CPR without response. Montana was rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis. She was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Garner's parents claim they didn't know their daughter was riding or in any way operating an ATV. They told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that they never would've given the child permission if the parents had asked.

According to ATVSafety.gov, a site sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, children under 16 should never be allowed to operate an adult-sized ATV. Their research found that in 2008 alone, there were 135,100 emergency-room treated ATV accidents and 410 of them were fatal.

Continue reading "New Douglas Illinois ATV Accident Tragically Kills 10-Year-Old " »

Two St. Louis women were killed on Friday when the car they were riding in was broadsided after pulling into the path of an on-coming SUV. The sisters have been identified as Deneice G. English, 54, and Verna L. Smallwood, 43.

The accident occurred near Illinois Route 3 and Missouri avenue when the car the women were riding in attempted to make a left turn into the Lowe's on Missouri Avenue. The SUV was heading north on Route 3 when it struck the side of the car as it turned, flipping the SUV onto its side.

English was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, while her sister was rushed to a St. Louis hospital where she died the next morning. The driver of the car has not been identified, but reportedly has been treated and released from the hospital. Similarly, the driver of the SUV is reported to have escaped serious injury.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there have been 142 fatalities from accidents to date in 2010. In a 2008 study, IDOT notes there were 77 fatalities and 11,376 injuries related to accidents while turning.

Continue reading "St. Louis Missouri Sisters Killed in Granite City Crash" »

Last week, Medora teenager Andrew Ruyle, 18, filed charges against Shipman Mayor Daniel Barnett, 56 for an incident that occurred last July. Barnett, who also serves on the Shipman police force, pulled Ruyle over while he was driving an ATV on a public road. Ruyle claims Barnett cut in front of his vehicle at a high speed, causing Ruyle to break two fingers on the hand brake of the ATV. Aside from allegations that Barnett disregarded the teen's safety while making the stop, the suit also claims that the vehicle Barnett was operating was not marked as a police vehicle and that no sirens or lights were used while making the stop. Ruyle, who was one of two ATV operators that night, was charged with illegal operation of an ATV on a state highway but has not pleaded guilty.

As a result of the accident, Ruyle developed a staph infection in one of the injured fingers resulting in hospitalization and the threat that the finger may have to be amputated if it does not improve. The injury has resulted in 3 surgeries to date. While no court date has been set, Ruyle is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 to cover his injuries and medical expenses.

Continue reading "Medora Illinois Teen Files Lawsuit Against Shipman Mayor" »

On the evening of February 5, two cars were involved in a head-on collision in the southbound lanes of I-255. The driver of one car, Tawanda Jackson, 32, her son, 9-year-old Arnold J. "Jay" Jackson and passenger Jon L. Moss, 28, were all killed upon impact while Jackon's 11-year-old daughter, Takia, was seriously injured. The driver of the other car, Newton M. Keene, 46, was found to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.29 percent after the accident- nearly four times the legal limit in Illinois.

Keene, who was injured in the accident, has a long history of drunk-driving offenses with six convictions on file, a Missouri license that has been revoked since 1997 and indefinitely suspended driving privileges in Illinois. Late last Thursday, Keene was charged with three counts of reckless homicide and a host of aggravated drunken driving charges.

Continue reading "Family Sues Hazelwood Missouri Tavern over Son's Death in Drunk Driving Accident" »

Early Wednesday morning a Bethalto man was killed in a two-car accident near Fosterburg. The victim, William L. Gibson, 36, was driving around an "S" curve when ice and snow caused him to lose control of his Nissan Altima. The car went into a ditch on the right side of the road before Gibson over-corrected, causing the car to slide sideways into an on-coming Chevrolet Tahoe.

The driver of the Tahoe, Alton resident Adam C. Merkel, 28, escaped the accident uninjured along with his passenger, 6-month-old Emmett C. Merkel. Authorities say that Gibson was not wearing a seatbelt, causing him to be thrown into the backseat of his car upon impact. Both Merkel and his passenger were wearing their seatbelts at the time.

Continue reading "Macoupin County Illinois Car Wreck Leaves One Dead" »