St. Louis Personal Injury Blog

Not all crashes during storm are storm-related

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Monday, January 14, 2019.

The winter storm that dumped about a foot of snow on St. Louis over the weekend blew out of Missouri and continued to snarl traffic and cause chaos elsewhere as it moved east across the country. According to news reports, at least nine people were killed and dozens more injured in motor vehicle crashes in which the storm was a factor.

The Washington Post reported that “Missouri took the brunt” of the storm, “logging more than 800 snow-related crashes that injured 57 and killed four, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.”

Drowsy truck drivers continue to be a concern on the roads

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

Large trucks, semi-tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles can pose extreme dangers for motorists while out on the roads. Due to their size, limited maneuverability and blind spots, being involved in an accident with one of these vehicles can cause severe injury and even death.

Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show that in 2016, there were 4,440 large trucks and buses that were involved in crashes that resulted in a fatality. From 2009 until 2016, crashes involving large trucks and buses increased 29 percent. Why are collisions with these large vehicles not only rising but causing catastrophic injuries? One reason may be due to increased fatigue from its drivers.

Report: Missouri drivers take a turn for the worse

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Late last year, a report was released that confirmed what many St. Louis residents have believed for some time: Missouri drivers are getting worse. According to CarInsuranceComparison.com, Missouri drivers had managed to stay out of its annual top ten ranking of worst state drivers since 2014, but that streak has ended.

We ranked 10th in the most recent ratings. The rankings are determined by an analysis of factors involved in motor vehicle accidents: careless driving, drunk driving, failure to obey traffic laws, fatality rate and speeding.

Police: Missouri holiday crashes take toll on those not buckled in

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

We hope that this, our first St. Louis Personal Injury Blog post of 2019, finds you and your family happy and healthy in the new year. Unfortunately, not everyone was fortunate enough to escape 2018 safely.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has reported that 8 people were killed in traffic crashes in our state during the New Year’s holiday period. The Patrol said there were 352 crashes that resulted in 112 injuries and the aforementioned fatalities. Officials said there were also 127 DWI arrests across Missouri over the holiday.

‘Most dangerous time to be on Missouri roads’

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Thursday, December 27, 2018.

Two of the three year-end holidays are in the rear-view mirror, but perhaps the wildest, most perilous one is still ahead. Thanksgiving and Christmas are behind us, but New Year’s Eve – the most notorious drinking holiday of them all – is just a few days away.

While alcohol-related motor vehicle wrecks have been declining in Missouri for years, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, “New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have persisted as perhaps the most dangerous time to be on Missouri roads.”

Do you know these rules for safe winter driving?

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC on Friday, December 21, 2018.

We all know that there are added risks to winter driving that can easily cause a devastating accident. Besides dealing with snow, ice, sleet and extreme cold, there are other factors that go into making winter driving so dangerous. Here are some circumstances around winter driving that you may not always be thinking of but can make you much safer until spring returns.

‘Tis the season to be careful on Missouri roads

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, December 18, 2018.

It’s the time of year when we are focused more than ever on our families and friends. Holidays bring Americans together across political, religious and cultural divides. The easiest way for most of us in the St. Louis metro to go and visit those who are important to us is to get in our cars, pick-ups and SUVs and drive there.

Unfortunately, this time of year is fraught with road danger. The risks of being involved in a motor vehicle crash caused by an impaired driver rises dramatically during the holiday season. Last year, impaired drivers were in 21 percent of all Missouri traffic fatalities.

New study shows cellphone laws and bans are effective

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

We’ve all seen it while out on the roads – the driver in the car next to us is texting. Distracted driving and the casualties it causes are an issue we continually hear about. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the use of electronic devices while driving is the leading cause of motor vehicle crashes.

Nationally, crashes involving distracted drivers cause multiple fatalities and injuries every year. Statistics from the CDC say nine people are killed each day with thousands more injured as a result of distracted driving. And the thing is, it’s entirely preventable with safer choices.

Missouri State Highway Patrol helps victims of impaired drivers

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Monday, December 10, 2018.

While much media attention has been rightly focused on the dangers posed to motorists by distracted drivers, there is little doubt that impaired drivers remain the most dangerous people behind the wheel. At this time of year, when weather and holiday travel combine to increase risks of motor vehicle crashes that result in injuries and fatalities, it’s good to know that the Missouri State Highway Patrol continues to offer assistance to people whose lives have been affected by impaired drivers.

The Highway Patrol’s Filling a V.O.I.D. (Victims of Impaired Drivers) program has been help victims and their families for 21 years.

St. Louis nurse and mom tragically killed in car crash

On behalf of The Wilbers Law Firm LLC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

The 32-year-old nurse and mother of two was working extra shifts at St. Louis University Hospital, determined to buy holiday presents for her children. But as the hard-working mom was driving to work this past weekend, she was killed in a traffic crash.

Law enforcement officials said a pick-up truck slammed into her car, causing her vehicle to leave the road and crash into a guardrail. Police said they do not yet know what caused the pick-up to crash into the nurse’s vehicle and that their investigation continues.