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.