28 year-old John Winterbower died prematurely yesterday on Highway 54 in Audrain County Missouri when his 2000 BMW was violently struck from behind by a large Ford F-350 truck.  The Ford truck was being driven by 21year-old Paul Shields of Carrolton Missouri.  Authorities claim that Winterbower was legally stopped in traffic preparing to make a turn when Shields ran into the back of his car, pushing the BMW into oncoming traffic.  Winterbower was rushed to Audrain Medical Center were he was pronounced dead at approximately 7:34 a.m.  Edward Bigelow of Laddonia Missouri sustained personal injuries in the collision as well.

Remaing innattentive at the wheel is extremely dangerous a common cause of automobile crashes and trucking accidents.  The unexpected rear-end collision can cause catastrophic injury and even death, such as was the unfortunate outcome here.  The surviving family of John Winterbower will likely have a viable wrongful death claim against Shields and any other parties determined to be negligent in causing this incident.  Winterbower's family will have to follow the statutory guidelines set forth within the Missouri Wrongful Death Statute, and if followed they will be entitled to recovery for medical bills for John's treatment, funeral expenses, conscious pain & suffering, and other damages causally related to the incident. 

For more information on the statutory guidelines of recovery found within the Missouri Wrongful Death Statute, visit the Schultz Legal Group injury victim website.  Victims may also contact St. Louis Wrongful Death Attorney Stephen Schultz directly at (314) 448-0934 for immediate assistance with their legal claim.