Unfortunately, not a day goes by that someone loses a family member in a motor vehicle accident. As a Missouri Motorcycle Accident Attorney, I meet many people who have lost someone they love because of another driver's negligence. Recently, a family from Columbia, Missouri, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the death of 34-year-old father of three, Michael Heaston.

On July 12, 2010 Heaston crashed into the side of a Columbia, Missouri, City bus. The bus driver attempted to turn left on to Vandiver from Burlington Street and pulled out in front of Heaston's Harley-Davidson. Michael Heaston tried to avoid the collision by swerving but was unsuccessful. According to the lawsuit, Heaston was pinned under the bus for many minutes before being rushed to University Hospital. Michael Heaston died from his injuries the following day.

As a part of the lawsuit, the Heaston's widow and three children claim the city bus driver failed to slow down or swerve to avoid the tragic motor vehicle accident. The city's attorney accused Michael Heaston of speeding and not complying with Missouri state motorcycle helmet requirements. The lawsuit was filed in Boone County but does not have a figure attached. The family only wants compensation for the loss of their husband and father.

When the tragedy of losing a loved one happens at the hands of another's negligent decisions, life can change in an instant. The loss of a loved one can leave you with high medical bills and the loss of wages accumulate quickly each week. If tragedy strikes your family, you need an experienced Missouri car accident attorney on your side. Call 888.956.2487 to speak to an attorney and discuss your motor vehicle accident claim.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles motorcycle accidents that result in personal injury or death throughout the Midwest. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver, please contact a motorcycle accident attorney to learn your rights.  It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

As drivers, we understand the risks associated with driving, but often don't pay attention to the hazardous conditions on the road. As a St. Louis Motorcycle Injury Attorney, I believe that I should make drivers aware of road conditions that could potentially cause an accident. On a Missouri road, it is common to see the black tar that lines the street. The black tar that crosses the streets aren't really threatening to motorists in a passenger vehicle, but they can be deadly for people riding a motorcycle.

 

The black tar lines can be potentially dangerous to motorcyclists and lead to many fatal accidents. The concern for people driving a motorcycle is that the black tar can become slick in wet or hot conditions. Unlike passenger vehicles, motorcycles only have two wheels, so there isn't much that can be done to compensate when conditions cause the driver to lose traction.

 

Missouri roadways are susceptible to cracking because of the winter temperatures and road crews use the tar to fill in the gaps so there are not large holes in the road. Unfortunately, there is not enough money to replace the cracked sections of the road after each winter, so the problem is fixed with tar. The application of the tar directly effects how dangerous the road will be afterward. If too much tar is left behind and not properly scraped, it creates a larger area that can become slick. The mixture of the tar is just as important as the application. If the solution is not made well, a Missouri motorcycle accident is more likely to occur.

 

Unfortunately, there is no reliable data to illustrate the motorcycle accidents that are caused by road conditions such as black tar lines. Seasoned motorcyclists are aware of the hazards on the road because they have been riding for many years. Beginners or inexperienced motorcyclists need to be aware of these road hazards, so they can be prepared when they are accelerating or braking near black tar lines.

 

Please use caution when on your motorcycle and be aware of the risks. If you have been injured in an accident, please see a doctor for your injuries and consult an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. Call 314.720.2706 or toll-free at 888.956.2487 for a free consultation to discuss your accident with an experienced personal injury attorney.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  As a St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, his personal injury law firm routinely handles motorcycle accidents that result in personal injury or death throughout the Midwest. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver, please contact a motorcycle accident attorney to learn your rights.  It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

17-year-old Jacob Laird was riding his 2002 Suzuki motorcycle this past thursday when he was injured.  While driving on Route H in Ralls County, he was involved in a motorcycle crash when another driver failed to yield and pulled out in front of him.  Laird lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown off.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded and confirmed that he was taken to Hannibal Regional Hospital.

What To Do When You Don't Know Who Caused The Accident (Hit-and-run)

I write about this case because the reports indicate that the identity of the offending driver was unknown.  As a Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer, I see this scenario often.  It generally happens when cars pull out in front of you, and you swerve to avoid contact. Of course, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to these types of accidents.

Missouri motorcyle crash lawyers will tell you that motorcyclists need to carry a very high amount of uninsured motorist coverage.  Everyone with car insurance has uninsured motorist coverage whether they know it or not.  The question is, how much coverage do you have.  In this case, even if Laird does not know the identity of the person who pulled out in front of him, he can pursue recovery for his injuries through his uninsured motorist coverage.

A great amount of the cases I handle are uninsured motorist cases because we don't know who caused the accident.  Thus, even if you are injured in a hit-and-run, all is not lost.  You just need to contact a great Missouri Personal Injury Attorney.

If you would like to speak with a Missouri motorcycle accident lawyer, contact Josh Myers at 888-956-2487.  We handle cases throughout all of Missouri and Illinois and it's always free to talk about your case.

In a tragic accident, an Illinois man was involved in a fatal accident recently while riding his motorcycle.  Barry Willingham, from Belleville, IL, was killed when when a car struck his motorcycle from behind.  Willingham was thrown from his motorcycle and later died from his injuries at the hospital. 

After the collision, the car, which was stolen, lost control and hit a utility pole.  Two occupants then exited the vehicle and ran away.  It is believed the car was racing another vehicle on the street which also drove away. 

St. Louis Police are currently investigating the incident but it is unknown if they have any leads on the identity, please contact the Metropolitan St. Louis Department or our lawfirm at 888-956-2487.


It is unknown whether Willingham's family is pursuing a wrongful death claim.  Many people may not know this, you do not have to know the identity of the person responsible in a hit-and-run accident.  In those situations, the family can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the injured persons own insurance company.  This is because virtually every person with car insurance has a type of insurance called uninsured motorist coverage.  With uninsured motorist coverage, your own car insurance company stands in the shoes of the person responsible.  This is a type of insurance that you pay for so don't be afraid to use it.  Additionally, your rates should not be affected since the accident will not be classified as your fault (unless you were at fault).

If you have been in a hit-and-run accident and would like to speak with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer, call Myers Injury Law at 888-956-2487.  As a personal injury lawyer, we handle cases throughout all of Missouri and Illinois.  It's always free to talk about your case and we front all case expenses and do not get paid until we recover for you. 

A recent press release has indicated that fatal accidents in the United States have reached the lowest level in a decade.  In 2007, 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down more than 1,600 people from 2006.  This is the fewest fatal accidents on highways since 1994, when 40,716 people were killed.  Additionally, the fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled in 2007 was the lowest ever on record according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The government agency attributes the decrease in fatalities to safer vehicles and aggressive law enforcement. 

 

Unfortunately, motorcycle deaths buck the trend by increasing for the tenth straight year.  In 2007, there were 5,154 motorcycle deaths, and increase of more than 300 from the prior year.  The increase in motorcycle accidents is attributed to higher fuel prices, which means more people are driving motorcycles to save on fuel.  More disturbingly, nearly one-quarter of motorcycle deaths involve a driver or motorcycle rider who is drunk. 

 

If you have been involved in a motorcycle or automobile accident and wish to speak with a Missouri personal injury attorney, feel free to contact Josh Myers.  It is always free to discuss your case.