St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Super Bowl Sunday hosts America's most popular national sports event. Millions of people are expected to attend gatherings across the county to watch this year's game -- Super Bowl XLVI -- between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Unfortunately, this is a time when drivers get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. For this reason, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous times to be on our state's roadways, according to Market Watch. These irresponsible drivers increase everyone's risk to be in an alcohol-related car accident in St. Louis and elsewhere.

This year, safety officials and organizations across the country are joining together to fight back. The National Football League (NFL), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition are joining forces with law enforcement departments nationwide to help to deter drivers from hopping behind the wheel after drinking. The message for this year's event is "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk."

Our St. Louis Car drunk driving car accident lawyers understand there will be millions of Super Bowl events going on around the United States. At many of these events, alcohol will be served to football fans. Fans are asked to party with a plan to avoid a drunk driving car accidents. On the big football day, it is estimated that about half of all fatal car accidents involve a driver who is under the influence of alcohol. Luckily, the NHTSA is here to offer Super Bowl fans with some safety tips to help keep everyone safe on our roadways this Sunday.

If You're Hosting a Super Bowl Party:

-Be sure everyone has a designated driver before the festivities begin.

-Offer lots of food.

-Make sure everyone who is not drinking always has a non-alcoholic drink.

-Serve alcoholic drinks one at a time with measured amounts of alcohol.

-Treat the designated drivers with first dibs on the food.

-Stop serving alcohol at least an hour before the party ends.

-Keep phone numbers for taxi cab companies available.

-Make room for those who may not have a sober ride home. Allowing them to stay the night could help to avoid a potentially fatal car accident.

-Have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages options for designated driver.

-Make sure everyone who is consuming alcohol is of legal age to do so.

-Remember that you can be held liable and prosecuted is someone at your party who you served ends up in a drunk driving accident.

If You're Heading to a Super Bowl Party:

-Be sure to know who your designated driver is before you leave the house.

-Leave your car keys at your house.

-Be sure that your designated driver is drinking absolutely no alcohol.

-Offer to pay for parking or to chip in on gas for your designated driver.

-Be sure to eat plenty of food.

-Don't drink too much too fast. It would end up ruining your Super Bowl celebrations.

Whether you're drinking or not, it's important to wear your seat belt. Seat belts are your best defense against injury and death in the event of an accident in Missouri. Set your clock for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday to catch the big game. Enjoy responsibly!

Continue reading "Super Bowl Festivities Contribute to Spike in Drunk Driving Accidents in St. Louis and Elsewhere" »

The Fourth of July is the number one holiday for alcohol-related fatal car accidents, according to MSN.

Missouri law enforcement, including the Springfield police, will be teaming up with a number of agencies to aim their enforcement efforts towards drunk drivers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to Ozarks First. Officers will be setting up a number of DWI checkpoints throughout the area from July 1st to July 4th to bust those who drive under the influence of alcohol.

Police are joining forces to help keep motorists safe on our roadways and to reduce your risks of being involved in a car accident in Missouri over the holiday weekend.

Our St. Louis car accident attorneys understand that holidays are a deadly time to be on our roadways. It is estimated every year that hundreds of Americans die because of alcohol-related traffic accidents. This upcoming holiday, Independence Day, has continuously ranked as the top holiday for deadly accidents. It's has even proven to be deadlier than New Year's Day.

"Driving while intoxicated is simply not worth all the consequences," said Captain Ronald S. Johnson, commanding officer of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol. "Our message is simple and unwavering, You Drink and Drive, You Lose."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 25 years of research, Fourth of July almost always tops the list for the most dangerous holiday on our roadways. Statistics over the past 25 years show that, on average, about 50 percent of all fatal traffic crashes on the Fourth of July were related to alcohol.

Back in 2008, which are the latest statistics available, nearly 500 people died in car accidents during the three-day Independence Day weekend. Out those fatalities, more than 40 percent died as a result of alcohol-impaired driving.

When people think of drunk driving and holidays, they may think of New Year's Day, or late on New Year's Eve. For this reason, a number of motorists stay off the roadway. However, most people don't associate drunk driving with the Fourth of July. And with millions of people expected to be on the roads this Fourth of July weekend, the risk of an accident is real.

"Drunk driving is a major public safety threat that still claims thousands of lives every year," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in a recent media release. "Many states continue to step up their efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads, but the numbers tell us we have to do more."

These types of accidents can obviously be devastating because of the injuries, or fatalities, involved. But what is equally frustrating is how preventable they are. Please drive safely and designate a driver or stop someone you're with from driving if they are intoxicated. Paying a few dollars for a cab, train or sub ride is worth it to save someone's life.

Continue reading "Fatal Springfield Car Accidents Common on Fourth of July " »

Many of us already have Memorial Day Weekend plans and can't wait for the first holiday weekend of the year. But law enforcement is cracking down on drunk drivers in an effort to reduce the risk of drunk driving accidents in St. Louis and across the state.

Ryan R. Cox and Associates encourage safe driving during the holiday weekend. A holiday is a time to be enjoyed with family and friends, whether it's enjoying the weather outside, traveling to one of Missouri's lakes or just visiting friends and family. St. Charles DUI accidents can be one of the most devastating things a person can experience, so be safe and be responsible.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during the long holiday weekend. Every available officer will be on the road, enforcing traffic laws. The Patrol will also assign troopers to 20-mile intervals along Interstates 35, 40, 44, 55 and 70 and U.S. Highways 60 and 63. Troopers will be vigilant to aggressive driving behavior.

In 2010 during Memorial Day weekend, six people died and 440 were injured in 1,010 traffic crashes. Inattention, speeding, and failing to yield the right-of-way were the leading contributing factors during last year's holiday weekend.

Troopers are also warning drivers that Memorial Day is also the unofficial start to the boating season. Last Memorial Day weekend, there were 14 boating accidents with eight injuries. Three people drowned. Officers arrested 36 people for boating while intoxicating.

Whether it's on the road or in the water, operating while drinking is dangerous, irresponsible and can be easily avoided. These types of accidents don't have to happen, but if they do, seek justice. Don't let someone's irresponsibility impact the security and financial well-being of you and your family.

Continue reading "Memorial Day Weekend Fast Approaching - Increased Risk of St. Louis Car Accidents" »

The Irish headquarters of St. Louis, Dogtown, will draw many celebrators this Thursday for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, causing an increased risk for drunk driving and St. Louis car accidents.

St. Louis personal injury lawyers urge residents and visitors to safely celebrate the Irish holiday this weekend. Unfortunately, St. Patrick's Day has a history of drunk driving accidents.

Drunk driving continues to be one of Missouri's most-often-committed and deadliest crimes and is often committed on St. Patrick's Day.

The St. Louis Patrick's Day Parade will be held Thursday, March 17th on Tamm Avenue. The real party begins afterward, but good luck getting into any of the bars or restaurants, like Seamus McDaniels, Pat's Bar & Grill, or Colombo's Cafe.

Many celebrators will be out not only enjoying the long weekend, but the green beer as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were 103 St. Patrick's Day car accident fatalities in 2009.

St. Louis Today would like to offer you some tips in staying safe this St. Patrick's Day weekend:

-If the host of a party, offer plenty on nonalcoholic beverages to guests.

-Stop serving alcohol one hour before the end of the festivities.

-Remember to designate a driver before heading out.

-If you encounter an impaired driver call police with information: car make, model, year, color, location, description of the driver.

"Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk," says Allstate Insurance's West Central Regional Sales Leader. "Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant."

Continue reading "St. Louis drivers urged not to rely on dumb luck in avoiding car accidents this St. Patrick's Day" »

Eleven people were killed in Missouri car accidents over the New Year, which included the Missouri Department of Transportation's "Drive Clear in the New Year campaign," which encouraged motorists not to drink and drive.

St. Louis car accident attorneys understand the risks associated with drinking and driving. A staggering 41 percent of all fatal Missouri car accidents involved alcohol in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drunk driving accounted for 358 of the state's 878 traffic fatalities.

Somewhere in Missouri there is an alcohol-related traffic accident every hour and forty-five minutes. A Missouri motorist is killed in a drunk driving accident every day. Last year, the number of deaths drooped to 281, but still more than 1,100 were seriously injured.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reported that 87 percent of drivers say drinking and driver has become universally socially unacceptable. Yet 10 percent of all drivers admitted to drinking and driving at some point in the past year. And more than half of those acknowledged doing so more than once.

"Drunk drivers put everyone on the road in danger," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. Exploring new technologies, such as interlocking devices, are important to ensuring public safety in conjunction with personal responsibility and law enforcement."

Make this the year that you pledge not to drink and drive. Stick with it and encourage friends and family to make the pledge as well.

Continue reading "Pledge not to drink and drive in 2011; nearly half of all fatal St. Louis car accidents involve alcohol" »