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Taking a road trip to a relative’s home that lives outside of Jackson County for the Thanksgiving holiday can be exciting, especially with the thought of a home-cooked meal and time with family looming overhead. However, many Americans have this same idea the day preceding Thanksgiving . In 2009, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration estimated that approximately 91 percent of Americans would travel by car to reach their destination for this holiday.  Decreasing traffic crashes and fatalities over the Thanksgiving holiday With so many travelers out on the road, specifically the night before Thanksgiving, or ‘Black Wednesday,’ the number of vehicle accidents and fatalities increases substantially. According to the insurance provider Progressive, between the hours of 8 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving and up until 3 a.m. the morning of, rear-end accidents rise approximately 24 percent, property damage claims rise by 14 percent and collision claims go up by 17 percent. In order to combat the number of crashes and fatalities on the busiest travel day of the year, the Missouri Highway State Patrol Office launched a program to keep these high numbers at bay. Known as Operation CARE, or Combined Accident Reduction Accident, drivers that travelled over the holiday weekend likely saw an abundance of highway patrol cars out on the prowl for unsafe drivers and to assist motorists as needed. According to OzarksFirst.com, six people were killed in traffic accidents over the Thanksgiving weekend, in 2012, 434 people were injured and 1,208 accidents occurred. In order to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities over the Thanksgiving holiday this year, as a result of Operation CARE all available officers will be placed at twenty mile intervals along several of the state’s highly travelled interstates. Travel tips for drivers Although efforts like Missouri’s Operation CARE are designed to protect travelers during the Thanksgiving weekend, they cannot fully control the actions of other hazardous drivers out on the roads. To stay safe over busy holiday travelling times, drivers should: Pay extra attention to the road around them. Use any passengers as a way to spot unsafe drivers travelling near the vehicle. Keep more distance than usual between their vehicle and the car ahead of them, especially during winter driving conditions. Find a designated driver if alcohol was consumed during the evening. Call a professional driving service if it unsafe to drive. Unfortunately, while extra caution during busy holidays may help drivers avoid an accident, others are not so lucky. If you were injured in a car accident over your holiday travels, contact an attorney in your area that can help you obtain proper compensation for your injuries.

The spinal cord plays one of the most important roles in the body. It is responsible for relaying messages between the brain and the muscular, urinary, gastrointestinal and other vital systems in the body. Needless to say, spinal cord injuries can cause symptoms that are life-long. Unfortunately, according to a recent study from Johns Hopkins, the number of traumatic spinal cord injuries is increasing in the United States. D  uring the study, researchers analyzed a sample of 43,137 adults treated in emergency rooms across the nation for spinal cord injuries. The study focused on a three-year period from 2007 to 2009. During the study, the researchers observed that the number people seeking treatment for spinal cord injuries during this time increased, especially among older adults. More than one-third of such injuries were caused by car accidents , the researchers discovered. Aftermath of spinal cord injuries As a functioning spinal cord is necessary for important bodily functions such as breathing, movement, digestion and excretion, any damage to the spinal cord can result in serious symptoms such as: Loss of bladder or bowel control Difficulty breathing Paralysis Loss of sensation or tingling sensation in the extremities Severe pain The type of symptom experienced depends heavily on which part of the spinal cord was damaged. Depending on the age of the person injured and the severity of the injury, spinal cord injuries can be expensive to treat. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, treatment for spinal cord injuries can range from $1 million to $5 million over a person’s lifetime. Since modern medicine has not yet found a way to reverse damage to the spinal cord, sufferers often require multiple surgeries and a lifetime of medication and rehabilitation therapy. An attorney can help According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents, falls, sports injuries and assault. Unfortunately, many of such events occur because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness. If the spinal cord is damaged as a result, the cost of treatment can be financially crushing for the victim. Fortunately, under Missouri law, if you were injured due to negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for the past and future medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering that accompany your injuries. An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate your claim and ensure that the responsible party is held accountable for his or her role in causing your injury.

Proposed legislation in Missouri would repeal the state’s universal helmet law for motorcyclists. In Missouri and across the country, May has been designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. While law enforcement officers will focus on ensuring motorists in Missouri are traveling safely, some legislators are working to repeal the universal helmet law in the state. Currently, all motorcyclists in Missouri are required to wear helmets when on the road. Recently, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a bill that would limit that requirement. Under the proposed legislation, motorcyclists over 21 years of age would be able to decide for themselves whether they want to wear a helmet. Safety advocates argue the passage of the bill would increase the number of motorcyclist fatalities in Missouri significantly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Missouri’s universal helmet law saved 46 lives for every 100,000 registered motorcycles in the state in 2010. In addition, other states have seen a sharp uptick in the number of motorcyclist fatalities following the repeal of a universal helmet law. For instance, Florida repealed its universal helmet law and motorcyclist fatalities jumped from an average of 160 per year to 246 deaths in 2001 – the year after the law changed. The Missouri Senate will consider the bill next.  Prevent dangerous motorcycle accidents in Missouri According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol , 104 motorcyclists lost their lives in collisions with other motor vehicles in 2012. In addition, 2,404 people were injured in motorcycle accidents in Missouri that year. Across the country, motorcyclist fatalities have been on the rise in recent years. The CDC reported that two times as many motorcyclists were killed in 2008 than 1999 in the United States. In all, over 34,000 motorcyclists died in collisions in the U.S. between 2001 and 2008. During the same period, over 1.2 million people suffered injuries that required emergency room care following a motorcycle collision. Missouri motorcyclists would be wise to continue wearing helmets, in accordance with the law, to reduce the severity of injuries should a motorcycle collision occur. Motorcyclists should be sure that their helmets were approved by the Department of Transportation. If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle collision in Missouri, you may be able to recover damages because of the harm resulting from the crash. In such situations, you should take the time to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney, who will work with you to make certain your rights are protected. Keywords: Missouri, motorcycle, accident

The Department of Transportation, based on findings of its own research, has proposed regulations requiring speed limiters in large trucks. One of the most common illegal activities that you likely observe on Missouri roads is speeding. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, it is also one of the most deadly. According to 2011 statistics from the agency, speeding was a factor in 37.8 percent of fatal car accidents in the state. Common sense will tell you that the bigger the vehicle, the more likely that speeding can cause a fatality, due to the distance needed to come to a stop. Of particular problem are large 18-wheelers that weigh 40 tons or more. It is for this reason that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has carefully examined the problem over the past several years. Based on its examination, the agency decided to propose regulations that would require large trucks that weigh over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with a speed limiter. Speed limiters, which are technically known as electronic control modules (ECMs), are connected to the truck’s computer. Once the truck has reached a certain speed, the ECM tells the computer to start limiting the flow of fuel and air to the engine, which results in the truck being unable to accelerate to a higher speed. The speed that the DOT has decided would be the safest for large trucks is 55 miles-per-hour. Prior studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that trucks are generally involved in fewer accidents than passenger vehicles per 100 million miles driven. Despite this fact, when a truck accident does occur, there is a much higher likelihood of a fatality than in car accidents. Although large trucks only make up about four percent of vehicles that are driven on the nation’s roads, they are responsible for about nine percent of accident fatalities, largely because of their weight and size. Since truck accidents pose a significant danger to occupants of smaller vehicles, the DOT hopes that its proposal to reduce speed will result in a significant drop in fatalities. The agency estimates that up to 1,115 fatal truck accidents could be prevented each year if trucks simply drove slower. The DOT’s proposed regulations have been submitted to the Secretary of Transportation. If approved, they could become effective in as early as October of this year. Speak to an attorney Although the new regulations would, in essence, force truck drivers to drive more safely, it would merely reduce the occurrence of only one cause of truck accidents. Because of this, motorists should remain alert when encountering large trucks on the highway. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident with a truck, it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. In many cases, the accident occurred because of negligence of the driver or trucking company (e.g. driver fatigue, improper loading or maintenance lapses). An attorney can determine whether negligence caused the accident and help you recover compensation for your medical bills and other expenses resulting from the incident. Keywords: truck accidents, speeding

At the beginning of motorcycle season, it is important for Missouri drivers and motorcyclists to take steps to avoid accidents. A  fter a particularly long and harsh winter, warm weather has finally become a regular occurrence in Missouri. With the pleasant weather, many more motorcyclists have taken to the roads. With the increase in motorcycles on the road, it is important for drivers and motorcyclists alike to work together to prevent motorcycle accidents from occurring. Sadly, even though it is only the beginning of motorcycle season, tragedy has already occurred on Missouri roads. In late May, a 37-year-old woman was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident near Nevada. According to the accident report, the motorcycle collided with a car driven by a 17-year-old after the car failed to yield the right of way. Several studies over the years have been conducted on collisions between cars and motorcycles. Many of them have found that the driver of the motor vehicle is to blame for the accident most of the time. Recently, a 2013 study in Florida studied 10 years of motorcycle accident reports in the state and concluded that the motorist was at fault for the accident 60 percent of the time. Working to prevent accidents Although the study was completed in Florida, driver error is a universal phenomenon. It is therefore important for Missouri motorists and motorcyclists alike to take steps to minimize the risk of an accident. In order to do this, experts recommend that motorists: Keep a minimum of four seconds of space between the car and the motorcycle for adequate stopping distance. Check blind spots carefully when changing lanes, as cyclists can be difficult to see due to their size. Always use turn signals. Pay attention to the road by refraining from using cellphones, as doing so increases the risk of a distracted driving accident exponentially. Motorcyclists, in turn, can also prevent accidents by making themselves as visible as possible to other drivers. Experts recommend wearing bright clothing in lieu of traditional all-black leather. Additionally, motorcyclists should avoid riding in drivers’ blind spots as much as possible and always wear a helmet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helmets prevent up to 37 percent of motorcycle crash deaths. Speak to an attorney Motorcycle accidents are a major cause of injuries and fatalities in Missouri. According to statistics from the Missouri Highway Patrol, 2,404 people were injured and 104 people lost their lives in motorcycle accidents during 2012, an increase on both accounts from the previous year. When a car collides with a motorcycle, the large size and weight difference makes it much more likely that a serious injury or fatality will occur. Unfortunately, many such accidents are caused by driver negligence such as failing to follow traffic laws or distracted driving. In such cases, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident. An attorney can help you recover compensation for medical bills and other expenses you incurred because of the accident. Keywords: motorcycle accidents, car accidents

A new system designed to reduce impaired driving among commercial drivers will be set up by the federal government and implemented by early 2016. Missouri residents understand the risks associated with sharing the roads with many large vehicles. Accidents can happen any day for any number of reasons. When commercial vehicle accidents are caused by the impairment of drivers, many people can be left to wonder how such things can happen. T  he Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration realizes the dangers associated with commercial drivers operating large vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and is seeking new ways to reduce the risk of that happening. A new system known as the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is currently being developed with the intention of reducing this risk and improving safety for all people on the roads. What are the components of the clearinghouse? According to an article in the Commercial Carrier Journal, a database will be set up to collect and report information about commercial drivers including drug or alcohol violations as well as any refusals to participate in drug or alcohol testing. Employers will be required to obtain written consent from drivers to check their records which must be done before making any new hire as well as on an annual basis thereafter. For drivers who have had violations, a process to return to work will be identified and monitored in the system. Also included is a method for clearing incorrect information from the database. The goal is to have the entire system up and running by late 2015 or potentially early 2016. How common are truck accidents in Missouri? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data from 2012 shows the serious nature of large truck accidents in the state and in Cass and Jackson Counties. Jackson County actually tied with St. Louis County for the most number of deaths from truck collisions that year and the lives lost in those Jackson County accidents accounted for 7.6 percent of the state’s total. Additional statistics include: Fatalities from truck accidents comprised over 11 percent of all motor vehicle deaths in Missouri. Vehicular fatalities involving alcohol comprised almost 34 percent of the state’s total. Nearly 8.7 percent of the state’s total truck accident fatalities occurred in Cass and Jackson Counties. Almost 9 percent of all vehicular deaths in Cass and Jackson Counties resulted from truck crashes. Jackson and St. Louis Counties each lose seven lives in truck accidents. Green County lost five. The fatality count in other counties ranged between zero and four. How people can get help The new clearinghouse being set up by the FMCSA is a great step forward in improving safety on area roads. However, accidents are still able to happen. When they do, contacting an attorney is always recommended as the best way to get help. Keywords: truck, accident, injury

Adult drivers may be more likely to text or otherwise use their phones than teens, which means novice cellphone bans may not adequately protect drivers. W  hen most people in Lee’s Summit think of drivers who text or engage in other bad habits, they most likely think of teenagers, who may make risky decisions due to inexperience or judgmental errors. However, research suggests that texting and other distracted behaviors may even be more common among adults. This means that Missouri’s ban on texting while driving, which only applies to drivers younger than 21, may leave motorists in serious danger of distracted driving accidents. Adults and texting According to CNN, cellphone company AT&T has conducted surveys that suggest texting is more common among older drivers than teenagers. AT&T surveyed 1,200 teens in 2012 and 1,011 adult drivers in 2013. The surveys indicated that 49 percent of adults texted while driving, while 43 percent of teenagers texted while driving. These differences could be explained in part by the chronological gap between the two surveys; texting may have been slightly less common among both teenagers and adults in 2012, when only teenagers were surveyed, compared to 2013, when only adults were surveyed. However, other surveys that simultaneously include adults and teens suggest that older drivers are more inclined to general phone use while driving. Other forms of distraction According to CBS News, a 2013 report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed information from 2,325 people with current driver’s licenses. AAA reported that phone use was most common among people between ages 25 and 39, with 82 percent – or more than 4 out of 5 – of these drivers admitting to the behavior. Slightly more than half of the drivers in this age group who admitted to phone use stated that it was a frequent habit. Drivers between ages 19 and 24 or ages 40 and 59 had the next highest rates of cellphone use, with 72 percent admitting to it. In comparison, 58 percent of teens reported using their cellphones while driving. The only drivers with lower rates of cellphone use than teenagers were drivers over the age of 60. A growing problem Research also indicates that texting while driving is becoming more common among drivers, regardless of age. According to CNN, the AT&T survey results released in 2013 also shared the following figures: Almost all of the people surveyed – specifically, 98 percent of respondents – stated they know texting and driving is risky. This means a large proportion of people who admit to texting know that they are risking accidents or serious injuries . Six out of ten survey respondents stated they never texted while driving three years before the survey. Compared to the rates of texting while driving reported during the survey, this suggests an increase in the behavior. For four out of ten survey respondents, texting while driving represented a regular routine, rather than a lapse in judgment. These findings suggest that stronger laws may be necessary to deter drivers of all ages, rather than just novice drivers, from texting and engaging in other distractions while behind the wheel. In the absence of these laws, distracted driving accidents may harm many innocent drivers. After one of these accidents, it is essential for victims to meet with an attorney to discuss seeking compensation for any injuries. Keywords: distracted, driving, accident, injury, texting

Observational research suggests that over half of teen accidents, including a high proportion of rear-end and off-road accidents, involve distraction. As many parents in Lee’s Summit know, distracted driving is a common problem among teenagers. Many teens may underestimate the danger of diverting their attention from driving, while others may lack the self-restraint to avoid distractions. Troublingly, half of teens report texting while driving , despite the well-known risks of this habit, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. S  adly, this kind of inattention can have steep consequences, especially since teens have limited driving experience. Not surprisingly, a new study suggests that distraction may contribute to a large proportion of serious teen car accidents. A common cause of accidents As CNBC reports, researchers from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reviewed 1,700 recordings that were taken in the vehicles of teenagers. All of these videos were recorded during the six seconds prior to a crash. The researchers found that inattention was a common problem, with the rates of distracted driving broken down as follows: In 58 percent of moderate to severe accidents, teens were distracted immediately before crashing. Teen drivers were paying attention to things other than driving in 76 percent of rear-end collisions. In a staggering 89 percent of accidents in which teenagers drove off the road, distraction was a factor. The findings of this study suggest that more teen car accidents involve distracted driving than previously believed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that 14 percent of teen accidents involve distraction. The study suggests that the true rate of these accidents could be as much as four times higher. Typical teen distractions The study identified a few widely recognized risky behaviors and a few more surprising ones. Texting played a role in 12 percent of the accidents, but it wasn’t the leading distraction. In 15 percent of the crashes, teens diverted their attention from driving to interact with passengers. The next most common activities were looking at objects, singing, moving to music, grooming and reaching for objects inside the vehicle. Missouri law currently prevents teenagers from engaging in a few of these behaviors. Texting is illegal, and newly licensed teens can’t drive with more than one passenger under age 19 during their first six months of driving. Still, teens may violate these laws, or they engage in distractions that aren’t explicitly outlawed, such as grooming. Teen accidents in Missouri Data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows that in 2013, drivers under age 21 were involved in 7,679 crashes. These accidents injured more than 11,000 people and claimed 124 lives. Although this data set includes drivers between ages 20 and 21, it still suggests that distracted teens could have contributed to hundreds or even thousands of accidents. Sadly, the mistakes or reckless decisions that teen drivers make have the potential to cause serious harm to others. When this happens, accident victims may be able to seek compensation for their wrongful injuries. Anyone who has been harmed in a distraction-related accident should consider meeting with an attorney to discuss this option in greater detail. Keywords: distracted, driving, accident, texting