Heading south down Howdershell Road, you make it through the wonky Brown Road intersection and are about to merge onto I-270; a hot shot flies out of the car dealership and crashes into your vehicle. At first, you’re simply shocked and do a quick body analysis to make sure you’re still in one piece. The smoke seeps out of the sides of your hood; you’re still vaguely aware of the rap music being played from the other car’s swanky stereo system. When you’re finally able to focus on what has happened, you do a survey of your car. It is totaled.
When you collect your thoughts, you also become aware of the police sirens behind the music that is still blaring from the other car. The Florissant Police Department cruiser pulls up and calmly assesses the situation. You become more attentive to your own health when the officer calls in an ambulance and asks you to remain seated in your vehicle.
Four weeks later, you’re still trying to piece together exactly what happened, but two things are certain: your whiplash took you out of work for three weeks, and you still don’t have a car to drive.
Talking to friends and family about the accident is good for your healing, but it does very little for the need you feel for justice. The person that hit you should be held accountable for his or her negligent behavior that caused you weeks of recovery, not to mention thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages.
When you get in a car accident, the most common reaction is panic. So many things can transpire from one mistake on the road, and it’s hard to avoid thinking about all of those things at once. The feeling can be overwhelming and understandably so. Whether the car accident is your fault, someone else’s fault, or a combination of both, the long-term consequences are always flying through your mind.
Even simply hearing about an accident can bring back memories of car accidents in the past, loved ones lost in car accidents, or stories about friends in accidents. The thoughts and memories are powerful because they’re so realistic. According to the United States Department of State, 85 percent of Americans get to work by car, and 95 percent of American households own a car. Considering those statistics, it is no wonder car accidents are the leading cause of death in America.
Distracted Driving
When drivers are distracted, they are 26 times more likely to crash than if their full attention was on the road. Because of these daunting statistics, lawmakers are taking action; Missouri bans texting for those who are 21 years of age or younger. However, Missouri is one of only a few states left without a ban on texting and driving by all drivers except in 7 municipalities and Florissant is one of those. The fine for texting and driving in Florissant is up to $300 dollars and does not take age into consideration. The crime can also lead to a 90-day jail sentence in some situations. The other cities with those same regulations are: St. Charles, Kirkwood, St. John, Ellisville, Manchester, and Lake St. Louis.
State representatives are working hard to pass laws that will protect the citizens of Missouri from careless, distracted behavior. Teen drivers make up about 13 percent of distracted driving deaths. This is the largest percentage of all the age groups recorded, according to the state insurance department. State Representative Michele Kratky seeks to expand the state texting law to cover drivers of all ages, instead of just younger drivers. State Sen. David Pearce has a vision to make handheld communication devices illegal, like many other states have decided. In 2014, at least six bills were filed to strengthen the distracted driving laws in Missouri.
Speeding
When drivers are distracted, it’s easy for him or her to forget the speed they are going. Speeding puts the driver and everyone else on the road in serious danger. Speed limits are strategically and methodically calculated numbers that have a great deal of factors weighing on them. Violating the speed limit is proven to reduce reaction time, compromise the ability to handle your vehicle, and increase the difficulty in taking curves.
Road Defects
Road defects are another cause of car accidents. With the constant construction on I-64 and around I-270, drivers should always be aware of problem areas. The freeze-thaw cycle that our roads go through in the Midwest is merciless, and our roads usually take the brunt of that brutality. This can lead to potholes and uneven pavement, and these defects can be especially hard to detect in inclement weather.
It’s the responsibility of the city of Florissant to keep your roads safe for the citizens to drive on. If that isn’t happening, legal action should be taken. You have enough things to worry about when you’re in the car. The state of the pavement you’re driving on should not be something occupying your thoughts while you’re behind the wheel.
These issues and more can put you and your family in danger when you’re driving through your hometown of Florissant. If you’re involved in an accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about the financial burdens it puts on your family. Let us deal with the insurance companies, the lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering compensation, so that you can worry about the most important thing — recovery.
Solutions
Our compassionate, experienced lawyers bring a wealth of knowledge to every case. We value each of our clients. The Finney Law Office will diligently comb through the facts of your case to assess every detail of the accident, especially the negligence of the responsible party.
We care about your case and we want to help you find justice for the wrong that has been done to you. When you’re the victim of a car accident in Florissant, Missouri, contact the lawyers at The Finney Law Office, LLC to request a free consultation.
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