tag:,2008-08-26:/50 2010-03-11T02:33:25Z St. Louis, Missouri Injury Law Firm Movable Type Commercial 4.24-en tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.12745 2010-03-11T02:17:29Z 2010-03-11T02:33:25Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Serious truck crashes involve a large quantity of evidence that must be protected.  If a Kansas City truck crash lawyer does not immediately demand that evidence be preserved, a future claim for compensation may be diluted due to destroyed data which is critical to the claim.  A tractor-trailer has a black box known as an "electronic control module" (ECM) that stores data immediately following a hard brake or collision.  An immediate ECM download is critical in determining what the 18-wheeler did just prior to the collision.  Speed, location, direction of travel, throttle, gearing, and additional information is recorded and stored on a truck's ECM at the time of the impact.

If you are injured in a serious truck crash, you may able to obtain compensation by filing a Missouri truck crash injury claim.  If a truck driver is careless and causes a crash, both the driver and trucking company are legally liable to the injury victim.  Missouri law allows truck crash injury victims to seek compensation for pain & suffering and economic damages.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
One of the most common type of serious tractor-trailer crash involves the situation where a truck inadvertently crashes into traffic that is slowing or stopped ahead.  Causes of this type of collision can include defective brakes, fatigue, or impaired line of sight.  Missouri has seen is share of serious wrecks of this type, including the fatal truck crash which occurred on Highway 64 near the Mason Road exit in West County.  The shear force and inertia of 60,000+ pounds of weight into a stopped object has devastating results.

Visit the truck accident injury website at Schultz Legal Group for helpful information and resources.  Don't be victimized twice.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com head-on crash.  Isaak was seriously injured in the head-on collision and was transported to St. Anthonys Medical Center directly from the accident scene.  Both cars sustained total damage in the crash and had to be picked up by a local wrecker service.

Head-on collisions caused some of the most catastrophic injuries of any type of impact.  Only the broadside, or "t-bone", type car accident causes similar bodily injury.  Even low-speed head-on collisions can caused soft-tissue injuries.  These types of injuries can progressively get worse as time goes on, which is why it is critical to seek appropriate medical care, starting at the accident scene.  Selecting the appropriate physician is also important.  For example, soft-tissue injuries require the attention of a orthopedist and neurologist.  Seeking care from a chiropractor is not advised, at least not until an orthopedist and neurologist has had the opportunity to first diagnose the root injury. 

Car accidents are serious and require aggressive and experienced legal representation.  Contact the Jefferson County car accident lawyers at Schultz Legal Group at (866) 840-3636 for an immediate consultation with an injury attorney.  You may be entitled to substantial compensation for your serious injury claim.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
40 year-old Romines, of Sabetha Kansas, was ambulated and transported to Heartland Regional Medical Center.  This truck landed over 50 feet from the roadway.  Romines is probably lucky that he was in fact ejected upon impact.  His tractor and trailer was completely destroyed and had to be removed from the nearby creek bed by a commercial wrecker.  The Buchanan County Sheriff and Missouri State Highway Patrol jointly worked on the accident investigation.

Commercial motor vehicle vs. commercial motor vehicle can result in devastating accidents, primarily given the shear combined weight and mass of the two vehicles.  Accidents involving potential violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations PLUS two commercial motor vehicles, will require the assistance of a DOT expert and accident reconstruction investigator.  Contact the Missouri tractor-trailer injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group for more information by calling toll-free (866) 840-3636. 

 
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Persons who are injured while working in the course and scope of their employment have the right to file a Missouri workers compensation claim.  However, most injured workers do not know that they may also recover compensation from the third party person or persons who caused the injury.  In the case of a pizza delivery driver, truck driver, or courier, the injury victim can file a workers compensation claim and may also be able to file a 'third-party case" against the tortfeasor.

The St. Louis accident lawyers at Schultz Legal Group focus on serious injury cases.  Our injury lawyers can be reached at (314) 448-0934 to discuss the merits of your claim and how to recover all forms of compensation available pursuant to Missouri law.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com serious tractor-trailer accident that took place on US-61 at the intersection of MO-177 in Fruitland Missouri.  A 2000 Peterbilt tractor-trailer being driving by 31 year-old Phillip Ray, of Johnsville Illinois, pulled into the path of a Ford bring operated by Gary Whitledge.  66 year-old Whitledge, a resident of Jackson, was rushed to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau to treat his injuries. 

The trucking company's DOT number is likely on the placard of the Peterbilt, and may offer investigators guidance in better understanding the circumstances of this crash.  A DOT number is provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to commercial trucking companies that operate in intrastate and interstate commerce.  Truck drivers and independent contractors commonly lease their tractors back to the trucking companies they haul freight for, and operate under that carrier's "authority."  DOT numbers are the identifier that authorities often look to in determining prior accident and safety history, as well as contact information of the motor carrier. 

The insurance companies that insure commercial motor carriers typically dispatch crash investigation teams within hours or days of a serious tractor-trailer accident.  These insurance crash investigation teams can manipulate or destroy evidence, which ultimately can prejudice a victim's injury claim and right to fair compensation.  Contact a Cape Girardeau 18-wheeler Injury Lawyer by calling (866) 840-3636 for immediate assistance.  Don't be victimized twice.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com "soft-tissue" injury can be deemed serious and any first-rate orthopedist will opine that soft-tissue disc trauma is in fact a permanent injury.  Victims of car accidents are vulnerable. This creates a potential issue when it comes time for the victim to discuss the claim with an insurance claims adjuster.  The victim, having little to no knowledge of the law, enters into any conversation with an insurance adjuster on an unequal footing.  Insurance adjusters are highly trained and do have a general knowledge of the law in Missouri.  That doesn't necessarily mean that the adjuster plans to share that knowledge with the victim.  Our St. Louis car accident attorneys find that often times an insurance adjuster will misguide the victim into believing that the claim must be settled immediately or else "the file will be closed."

Big insurance companies bet on the odds that most injury victims will not retain a car accident injury lawyer to represent their claim.  The victims that eventually do retain a lawyer are benefited many times over by legal representation.  Most people do not understand all of the types of compensation that are available under Missouri law.  As such, never discuss your car accident with an insurance claims adjuster.  Never accept a settlement without first consulting with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer. 

Attorney Stephen Schultz is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and rated a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Missouri by the American Trial Lawyers Association.  Don't be victimized twice.  Contact the lawyers at Schultz Legal Group for an immediate consultation by calling (866) 840-3636.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com serious car accidents and truck accidents often wonder what types of compensation they are entitled to pursuant to Missouri law.  Unfortunately there is no simple answer.  While car accidents and truck accidents both take place on roadways, the similarities between the two end there.  Persons who are seriously injured in car accidents are entitled to compensation for past medical bills, future medical bills, past pain & suffering, future pain & suffering, past lost wages, future lost wages, loss of earning capacity.  Legal spouses of injury victims are also entitled to compensation under the doctrine of loss of consortium.  The surviving family members of those who are fatally injured are entitled to certain types of compensation pursuant to Missouri's Wrongful Death Statute, Mo. Rev. Stat. 537.080. 

Injury victims should keep detailed records from the date of the injury through maximum medical improvement (if such exists).  Some victims are so catastrophically injured that they require a lifetime of medical care.  Economic damages (such as medical bills) are compensated upon proof of the loss, or "expense".  Missouri does not all plaintiff's to recover compensation based upon speculation.  Itemized medical bills are required. 

Tractor-trailer accidents commonly cause severe and permanent injuries.  These types of unfortunate incidents may necessitate a lifetime of 24 hour medical care from professionals.  Juries are reluctant to award a plaintiff compensation for future medical care in a tractor-trailer injury claim unless a certified life-care planner writes a detailed future medical report as evidence.  This traditionally requires the attention of a licensed physician, otherwise the life-care plan may be stricken as unreliable. 

If you have questions on the types of compensation you can claim in a car accident injury claim or truck accident injury claim, call the injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group for an immediate consultation.  A St. Louis Accident Injury Lawyer is available live by calling (314) 448-0934 or (866) 840-3636.  Don't be victimized twice.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com St. Louis Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyer Stephen Schultz was recently inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.  Attorney Schultz was awarded a lifetime membership into both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.  Membership requires a trial lawyer to obtain a single verdict or settlement in excess of one million dollars and in excess of two million dollars.  This elite organization was founded in 1997 and to-date has just 3000 members nationwide.  Fewer than 1% of trial lawyers in the United States share this distinction. 

Tractor-trailer accidents require exceptional legal representation from a lawyer who is focused in this practice area.  Truck accidents involve a complicated body of federal statutory authority entitled the "Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations."  These Federal Regulations set the minimum safety standards that commerical motor carriers and professional truck drivers must follow.  These laws are designed to protect other motorists who share our nation's highways with trucks that can exceed 60,000 pounds each. 

An experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances of the crash with its own accident reconstruction team.  It is well-known that commercial motor carriers dispatch insurance teams to the scene of a serious tractor-trailer accident within hours.  Evidence such as driver log books, trip sheets, fuel receipts, bills of laiding, and other critical documentation may be purposely or accidentally misplaced.  These types of documents are necessary for an injury victim or wrongful death claimaint to receive full and fair compensation from the negligent truck driver and negligent trucking company.  Don't be victimized twice.  Contact a lawyer immediately by calling toll-free (866) 840-3636, locally at (314) 448-0934, or by email.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Many serious tractor-trailer accidents involve improper lane change/improper lane usage.  In this specific case, it is alleged that the truck driver merged into the lane of the Jeep SUV, without warning, causing this crash.  Improper lane usage by a commercial motor vehicle is in the top 4 of contributing circumstances to serious truck accidents each year according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and its 2006 Large Truck Crash Causation Study.  Improper lane change is a serious safety violation according to Federal Regulations.

Serious tractor-trailer crashes require serious legal representation. Contact a Warren County truck accident lawyer today to discuss your legal options.  A lawyer is available day or night by calling (866) 840-3636, or locally at (314) 448-0934.  Don't be victimized twice.      ]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.11877 2010-01-14T19:38:11Z 2010-01-14T20:40:25Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Commercial motor carriers and truck drivers are required to pull completely off the highway when stopping for rest or to address mechanical problems.  They are required to use flares and reflective triangles when there are potential mechanical issues with the truck or trailer.  Tractor-trailers that are partially stopped on the highway or exit ramp present a real danger to passenger cars and other commercial motor vehicles.  These trucks may be large, but at night they can blend in with surroundings and become indiscrete to other drivers.  Drivers of passenger vehicles or other tractor-trailers may not notice a large parked truck until it is too late.

Time is of the essence in any tractor-trailer accident when serious personal injuries or death is involved.  Evidence at the scene is critical and often times the initial responders do not know what to look for in the way of contributing causes to the crash.  A Marshall tractor-trailer accident lawyer will dispatch his own crash investigation team to the scene.  Even if a few days have passed since the crash, a truck accident injury lawyer will still be able to inspect the truck and conduct an ECM (electronic control module) download to pull data that will prove useful when presenting a claim to the trucking company and its commercial insurance carrier.  Call (866) 840-3636 to speak to a lawyer immediately. 




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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
Coincidentally, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a case advocating for the repeal/amendment of Missouri's non-economic damages cap for medical malpractice lawsuits.  In Klotz v. St. Anthony's Medical Center et al, the plaintiff challenges the constitutional validity of Missouri's non-economic damages cap of $350,000 in a med mal case.  The Klotzes will argue that Missouri Revised Statute 538.210 violates their constitutional rights to economic recovery, as well as challenging the reason (or lack thereof) for the Missouri legislature enacting this statutory damages cap in this first place.  Missouri has some of the most doctor-friendly medical malpractice laws in the country. 

To discuss your Missouri medical malpractice claim, contact attorney Stephen Schultz by calling (314) 448-0934 or toll-free at (866) 840-3636.  The medical malpractice lawyers at Schultz Legal Group hope to see the Klotz's win their argument in the Supreme Court this week.  It would be a victory for all future victims of medical malpractice.     ]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.11820 2010-01-12T01:08:16Z 2010-01-12T01:29:34Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com
In cases involving life-threatening injuries, it is crucial to discover all possible avenues of financial recovery.  This enigma is compounded when you have several victims claiming the serious injuries.  Whether it is liability coverage, uninsured coverage, or underinsured coverage, most persons driving in the state of Missouri are grossly UNDERinsured.  Therefore, it becomes important for a Missouri car accident lawyer to investigate all areas of coverage and all possible parties that share legal responsibility for the cause of the crash.  Those entities can include anyone from a driver to the Missouri Department of Transportation (defective road design).

Call the Franklin County car accident lawyers at Schultz Legal Group for more information on what types of claims for compensation can be presented and what entities may share legal responsibility in your case.  Our lawyers can be reached day or night by calling (314) 448-0934 or toll free at (866) 840-3636.  Don't be victimized twice.
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Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States.  Membership into the organization requires that an attorney win at least one single verdict in excess of $2,000,000.  To date, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum consists of the top 3000 trial lawyers in the country, and is recognized by most injury lawyers as a distinguished accomplishment.  Stephen Schultz is also recognized by the American Trial Lawyers Association as being one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of Missouri.

Stephen Schultz advocates for the victims of serious injury and death claims.  His practice is solely dedicated to personal injury and wrongful death litigation.  Serious car accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, dram shop claims, drug defect claims, and product liability cases require the experience of an accomplished injury lawyer.  Several of Mr. Schultz's cases have been the focus of local and nationwide media attention.  His achievements have been published in local newspapers and legal periodicals. 

To discuss your serious injury case with St. Louis Attorney Stephen Schultz, call local (314) 448-0934, or toll-free (866) 840-3636.  Get the experience and dedication of a top trial lawyer on your side!        ]]> tag:www.missouri-injurylawfirm.com,2010://50.11801 2010-01-11T02:43:53Z 2010-01-11T03:01:24Z

Stephen Schultz http://www.schultzlegalgroup.com single vehicle car accident near Birch Tree resulted in serious injuries and one fatality early Saturday morning.  Authorities report that 27 year-old Brandon Drexler of Winona lost control of his Ford minivan and ran off of Old Highway 60, eventually impacting several trees and overturning.  The Shannon County crash resulted in injuries to the driver and two other passengers, Ryan Keeton and Daymond McAmis.  19 year-old Randi Phelps, of Birch Tree, sustained fatal injuries in the car accident and was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.  McAmis sustained serious injuries and was transported to St. Johns Medical Center in Springfield for treatment.

This fatal car accident has drawn the attention of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Team, which will be doing conducting an accident reconstruction to determine the contributing circumstances to the crash.  Accident reconstruction experts often uncover evidence in single vehicle accidents that assists a car accident lawyer in determining what parties share responsibility for the crash.  Such parties can include automobile manufacturers, automotive parts suppliers, dealerships, or even the entity that designed that particular stretch of roadway.

A fatal car accident attorney will be able to assist in filing a Missouri wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family members (ie. parents).  An attorney can also assist in the investigation by retaining a private crash investigation team to participate in gathering, preserving, and processing evidence.  Call to speak to a lawyer immediately by dailing (866) 840-3636.  Don't be victimized twice.  ]]>