Missouri Injury Attorneys Blog

Two Warrensburg men were transported to the hospital with moderate injuries after another vehicle lost control and forced their vehicle off the highway.

On January 24, 2011 at approximately 5:50 am, 77 year old John Johnson was the driver of a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Mr. Johnson and his occupant, 65 year old Robert Rochenderfer were traveling westbound on US HWY 50 at the junction of County Road NW 1751.

At that said time and place, 25 year old Kristine Norton was traveling southbound on County Road NW 1751. Ms. Norton then attempted to stop at a stop sign and slid on the ice covered roadway. She then traveled into the westbound lanes of US HWY 50 and struck Mr. Johnson's vehicle. This collision caused Mr. Johnson to lose control and travel off the right side of the roadway where he struck a ditch and overturned.

Mr. Johnson and Mr. Rochenderfer (driver and occupant of overturned vehicle) were transported by Johnson County Ambulance to St. Luke's East. Both men sustained moderate injuries. The overturned vehicle was totaled and was towed from the scene by Ron's Towing. The at-fault driver was not injured and was able to drive her vehicle from the scene of the crash.

All drivers and occupants involved in the crash were wearing safety devices.

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2 year old boy of St. Louis, Missouri was killed after his kitchen stove turned over on top of him.

Deondre Watson Jr. was killed July 11, 2010 when the kitchen stove turned over on him; an accident that was rare, but very preventable and the subject of an ongoing public awareness campaign. Safety experts who examined the case say that a simple bracket (which is required in many jurisdictions) would have saved him.

The underlying story in this suit is a topic nationally well known. Many people across the county (upwards of 34, nearly half involving children age 2 and under) have died due to similar accidents since 1980. In addition to the fatalities, nearly 100 people have been seriously injured since 1980; a lot of which were burn injuries sustained when hot substances spilled on them during the tip over. This number is very frustrating to safety advocates who have been trying for years to get people to realize the danger, and react by installing a simple bracket.

Fred Pritzker, a personal injury attorney from Minneapolis who has represented several of the families who have experienced loss of loved ones due to tip-over accidents says, "This is something that should never happen. We've known about this lurking disaster in homes for years. Yet it's inexpensive and easy to fix."

This tip-over epidemic started in the 1980's when manufacturers began making stoves lighter. Eventually the industry agreed to an easy fix: anti-tip brackets. Manufacturers started including an anti-tip bracket with every new stove beginning in 1991. Now the challenge is getting homeowners and appliance installers to use them.

In mid-September, 2010, Deondre Jr.'s parents, Deondre Watson Sr. and Diana Taylor, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court. The suit names Oak Tree Apartments (apartment building in which they lived) as defendant, stating that the landlord at the apartments should have secured the appliance. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages.

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Greenville, Missouri man is sent to the hospital with serious injuries after another vehicle struck him from behind, forcing him off the road.

On January 4, 2011 around 9:40 a.m. a serious injury crash took place in Osage County. 46 year old Mickel Yount of Greenville, Missouri was the driver of a 1996 ford traveling northbound on US 63 approximately .2 miles north of County Road 632. At that said time and place, Thomas Dixon, 70 year old from Salem, Missouri, was operating a 2005 Dodge also traveling northbound on US 63.

When Yount began to decrease his speed on the highway, Dixon drove his car immediately into the back of Yount's vehicle. After being struck from behind, Yount's vehicle was forced off the highway, onto a private road; striking several trees.

Both vehicles were totaled as a result of this crash. Mickel Yount was taken from the scene to St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City with serious injuries. The at-fault driver and his passenger had minor injuries but refused medical attention at the scene.

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HIV-positive inmate in St. Louis City jail was denied his medication for 17 days and has filed a personal injury suit accordingly.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit on Thursday, November 18th, 2010. The lawsuit alleges that John Doe Plaintiff was deprived of his rights at the Justice Center in downtown St. Louis as well as the Medium Security Institution on Hall Street. The ACLU claims that Plaintiff, an HIV-positive inmate, was deprived of his medications for 17 days and received only sporadic care after that.

The suit names the city and a contractor, Correctional Medical Services, as defendants along with Eugene Stubblefield, the jail superintendent, and two CMS physicians, Drs. Brenda Mallard and Susan Singer. Nancy Kistler, Deputy City Counselor responded to the suit, "Contrary to the claims of the ACLU, the records of the inmate in question reflect that he received adequate medical care consistent with his constitutional rights."

Plaintiff was detained in March 2010 and was released in mid November 2010. The suit states that Plaintiff had been successfully treated by his doctor prior to his incarceration but was deprived of necessary medications once incarcerated even though he informed officials of his condition. His physician had faxed the jail information about medication and dosages prior to Plaintiff's detainment.

Plaintiff received only Tylenol, not until the 11th day, and did not get his HIV medications until the 17th day. Thereafter, the suit states, Plaintiff received only sporadic treatment which caused continuing effects to his health. Test of Plaintiff's current medical condition are pending.

This is only the most recent of times in which the medical care in St. Louis city jails has been brought into question. The city jails are already subject of numerous wrongful death lawsuits.

In early November, 2010, 37 year old inmate Vanessa Evans died at the city jail after having trouble breathing in her jail cell. Relatives of the woman believe she was not treated with necessary urgency and severity as she should have been given her medical history, including asthma.

31 year old inmate Courtland Lucas collapsed from heart failure and died May 25, 2009. Lavonda Kimble, 30, suffered an acute asthma attack and died April 11, 2007. Wrongful death suits regarding these individuals are pending.

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Missouri woman of Linn Creek was involved in a head-on collision which resulted in serious injury and being struck blindside by another vehicle.

On January 3, 2011 at approximately 4:47 p.m. a head-on collision occurred on Highway 54 in Camden County which caused serious and moderate injuries to two. Kimberly Scott of Linn Creek, Missouri was the driver of a 2009 Toyota traveling eastbound on US Highway 54 about one mile west of Route AA. At that said time and place, Steven Owens of Macks Creek, Missouri was the driver of a 1998 Ford traveling westbound on Highway 54. Owens crossed the center line and struck Scott head-on. The impact caused Scott to cross the center line where she was then struck by a third vehicle traveling in the westbound lane of Highway 54.

Kimberly Scott sustained serious injuries and was transported to Lake Regional Hospital by Ambulance. The at-fault driver, Steven Owens, sustained moderate injuries and was also transported to Lake Regional Hospital by Ambulance. The driver of the third vehicle was uninjured.

Vehicles of Scott and Owens were totaled due to the crash and moderate damage was incurred by the third vehicle. The at-fault driver, Steven Owens, is uninsured.

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Residents of Kansas City, Missouri suffer serious injuries after being hit broadside on US 71 in Bates County.

At approximately 9:00pm on December 16, 2010 Rodrigo Zavala-Hernandez, 28 year old of Kansas City, Missouri, was driving a 1998 Jeep northbound on US 71 carrying several members of his family. The Jeep was occupied by 57 year old Emilo Zavala and 34 year old Silvia Zavala-Hernandez also of Kansas City.

At that said time, Coty Taylor, 17 year old male of Archie, Missouri, was attempting to turn onto or cross US 71. Taylor failed to yield to the Zavala's vehicle and struck the family in the driver's side, causing their vehicle to overturn several times.

Driver, Rodrigo Zavala-Hernandez, was seriously injured and taken to KU Medical Center by Life Flight Eagle. Occupant Silvia Zavala-Hernandez was also seriously injured and taken to St. Luke's Hospital by Life Flight Eagle. Second occupant Emilo Zavala had minor injuries and was taken to Cass County Regional Hospital by Central Cass County EMS. Driver and occupants of the at-fault vehicle all suffered minor or moderate injuries and were taken to various hospitals in the area.

Responders to this crash include Bates County Sheriff's Department, Archie Police Department, Adrian Police Department, Central Cass Columbia Fire and Adrian Fire Department. Investigation of this crash continues.

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