Winter Weather Increases Road Accidents in Missouri

Recently, a Bonne Terre woman was driving on ice laden Highway 47, when she lost control of her car at the intersection of Old Cadet Road and Highway 47, and ended up crashing into a tree. 45-year-old Elizabeth Markham, was rushed to Parkland Hospital where her injuries were reported to be serious. Her vehicle was badly damaged in the accident.

In another weather-related car accident, Melissa A. Missey, 41, of Cadet, Missouri, sustained minor injuries. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, the victim was heading northbound near Old Bonne Terre Road on Highway 47 when she lost control of her Ford Mustang, and it left the road and overturned. She was rushed to Washington county hospital.

Icy roadway was responsible for another accident on Highway 47 near Kingston Road in Washington County in which two Potosi residents were injured.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported another incident in which Stephanie M. Reinken, 54, and her passenger, John D. Reinken, 49, sustained injuries when she lost control over her pickup truck, while heading north on Highway 47 near Kingston Road. The vehicle slid off the road, and hit multiple trees.

Drivers must exercise caution while driving on icy and slippery roads. Statistics paint a grim picture when it comes to road accidents in the winter. According to Federal highway Administration, your chances of getting involved in an accident become high in bad weather, because it affects vehicle performance, driver’s capabilities, traffic flow, and pavement fiction. In United States, 24 percent of the total road accidents are caused by weather related conditions.

Taking a view of these facts, Missouri car accident attorneys have offered some safety tips for drivers plying on icy and slippery roads.

• Before hitting an icy roadway, make your vehicle is in a good condition. Check the tires, heating system, and make sure your battery is fully charged. Fill up your gas tank, and change the oil before starting long journeys in poor weather conditions.
• Wearing a seatbelt is a simple and effective way to reduce your chances of getting injured in an accident.
• Prepare for bad weather by carrying along all emergency equipment such as blanket, ice scraper, weather appropriate gear, jumper cables, and food and water.
• Missouri car accident attorneys say that by switching on the lights and keeping the windshields clear, the drivers can improve the visibility considerably, and reduce the chances of an accident.

f you have suffered injuries or vehicle damage in a car accident on Missouri roads, you should consult a Missouri car accident attorney to discuss your legal options, and get all the damages that you are entitled to.

Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 if you have been injured int a St. Louis automobile accident.